Next year's London Toy Fair will run from Sunday, January 24th to Tuesday, January 26th 2016.
The dates for Toy Fair 2016 have been confirmed as Sunday, January 24th to Tuesday, January 26th 2016.
The BTHA and Olympia have been working hard to find a resolution to the clash of dates since finding out about Nuremberg not moving to its normal week at the beginning of February.
The BTHA wishes to alleviate issues for visitors and exhibitors.
Extra opening hours are planned on the first two days, with opening from 8.30am – 6.30pm on Sunday and Monday and opening from 8.30 – 4pm on Tuesday.
Build times have been arranged to allow contractors the same number of hours as previous years in order to create a great event. All opening and build hours are at the bottom of this newsflash.
Costs reflect the changes
To acknowledge that there may be extra cost and inconvenience for some exhibitors, Toy Fair will offer a number of discounts:
Rates will be frozen at 2015 prices 5 per cent special discount to all exhibitors 3 per cent early booking rebate for all exhibitors who have paid deposits by April 21st 2015 4 per cent early settlement rebate for all those paying their final invoice by October 30th 2015
This equates to a 12 per cent rebate, and with the price freeze is equal to a 14 to 16 per cent lower rate in 2016.
In addition the exhibitors that have received a discount for participating on the balcony level will continue to receive a discount on their space, which will be 6 per cent for 2016.
Beyond 2016
The BTHA understands from the Nuremberg Fair organisers that from 2017 onwards, the fair in Germany will be back in its traditional slot in early February.
'Nuremberg organisers have indicated that this one-year clash is an accident caused partly by the early Carnival time in Germany,' read a statement from the BTHA.
'The 2017 dates for London Toy Fair are planned to be Tuesday, January 24th to Thursday, January 26th 2017 and we have been told by the Spielwarenmesse that the 2017 Nuremberg dates are planned for February 1st to February 6th.
'Based on information from Nuremberg, there should not be a clash beyond 2017 (although we are told these are not yet confirmed) and we have shared those dates below. Obviously we have avoided clashes in the past and understand that the situation in 2016 is a one-off.
'The BTHA operates as an Association in the UK and on behalf of members on many issues across Europe. The money generated by Toy Fair is reinvested in this work in the interests of the BTHA membership and the wider industry. Obviously we would not want any future clash as no-one would want to see that overall industry work threatened. The BTHA values creating a busy, vibrant and professional show for the whole of the UK toy industry.'
Majen Immink, head of Toy Fair operations and sales said: “Toy Fair is always run with exhibitors and visitors in mind both in terms of good service, providing a platform for sales and networking and at a reasonable cost to Toy Fair stakeholders - from across the industry.
"We all want to work towards a terrific event in 2016 and beyond”.
