Spin Master’s Hatchimals, Ty and Smyths Toys triumph at the 52nd Toy Industry Awards

Toy Fair, 24-26 January 2017, Olympia, London

Toy Industry Awards, 24 January 2017, Apex Room, Olympia London

24 January 2017: Hatchimals (Spin Master), Ty and Smyths Toys triumphed at this evening’s annual Toy Industry Awards winning Toy of the Year, Supplier of the Year and Toy Retailer of the Year, respectively.

Organised by the British Toy & Hobby Association with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) – the awards were presented at the gala event held in Olympia’s Apex Room following the first day of the 64^th annual Toy Fair, which is currently taking place at Olympia in West London.

BTHA Chairman, Jon Diver, announced the winners of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, and TRA Chairman, Alan Simpson, unveiled the Toy and Supplier of the Year Awards. The full line up of winners follows:

TOY RETAILER OF THE YEAR WINNERS:

Independent Toy Retailer of the Year JJ Toys, Gerrards Cross

Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (up to 5 stores) Starlings Toymaster

Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (up to 30 stores) SMF Toytown

Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (over 30 stores) Smyths Toys

General Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year Argos

Department Store Toy Retailer of the Year Arnotts of Dublin

Online Toy Retailer of the Year Shop Direct

Overall Toy Retailer of the Year Smyths Toys

TOY AND SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

Action Figures Range of The Year Power Rangers, Bandai

Pocket Money Toy of The Year Mash’ems & Fash’ems, Character Options

Interactive Toy of The Year Snuggles My Dream Puppy, Character Options

Craze of The Year Pokemon, Esdevium

Collectable Range of The Year Shopkins, Flair

Social Media Sensation of The Year Speak Out, Hasbro

Game of The Year Pie Face, Hasbro

Construction Range of The Year Lego Star Wars, Lego

Doll of The Year DC Super Hero Girls 12" Fashion Assortment, Mattel

Imaginative Play Set of The Year Num Noms Lip Gloss Truck, MGA

Creative Toy of The Year Gel-a-peel 3D Design Station, MGA

Pre-School Toy of The Year Paw Patrol Paw Patroller, Spin Master

Outdoor Toy of The Year Phlat Ball, Vivid

Electronic Toy of The Year Selfie Mic, Worlds Apart

Licence of The Year Paw Patrol, Spin Master

Supplier of The Year Ty

Toy of the Year Hatchimals, Spin Master …(cont)

Jon Diver, Chairman of the BTHA: “On behalf of the BTHA, I would like to congratulate all the winners of this year’s Toy Retailer Awards. The standard of entries received this year was exceptional, and it was pleasing to see increased entry numbers from the independent s UK department store sectors. The judges deliberated long and hard to find this year’s winners because of the very high standard of entries received. Congratulations must also go to our worthy runners-up who, it should still be remembered, were the best in their categories, and our sincere thanks to everyone for their participation.”

Alan Simpson, Chairman of the TRA, added: “After last year’s all round success, sales have continued to be buoyant but it has been much tougher and margins have struggled to hold up especially as Christmas approached. The companies who were selected by our panel as worthy winners this year have each made unique contributions to that struggle through innovation in marketing and some exceptional service to the core channel of retailers. In 2017, the only thing we can be certain about is uncertainty and as 2016 brought different challenges, so will 2017. With Brexit negotiations continuing to impact on exchange rates and a new US president, we will again face change and challenges this year. However, I strongly believe that our industry will rise to these challenges, whatever they may bring, and in a year’s time we will again have stars to celebrate.”