Toy Fair 2009

We're back from Toy Fair and into the swing of Spring at KidKraft. The show was a great display of all things magical & childlike, and we enjoyed the hub-bub & activity centered around brightly colored toys, fantastic gifts, and novel treats. Noisy booths and creative new products tempted toy buyers (and me, I'm a big kid), and something about the light-hearted atmosphere and frenzy of grownups wondering around made me (a first-time Toy Fairer) feel like Tom Hanks' winsome character in the movie Big.

We overheard a reporter say some 16,000 buyers from 96 countries attended Toy Fair, and we were pleased to see such a positive response in the marketplace, especially during tough economic times. It's nice to remember our original motivation and get back to the basics of business by focusing on creating quality toys & gifts for children. Looking forward to new products and trends this Spring!

Here are a couple shots of our booth:



and our team enjoying nyc

eating South African food in Brooklyn

*Stay tuned for new products this Spring!

KidKraft's Toy Fair Booth

Follow Avron through KidKraft's Toy Fair booth!

KidKraft Kitchens at Toy Fair

Check out Matan as he describes KidKraft kitchens at
Toy Fair.

KidKraft at Toy Fair in New York!

Join us daily for blog spots from Toy Fair in New York!

Best Toys 2009

*Thanks for the great review, BestToysGuide.com!
Check out our Play Kitchens:

"When you buy a play kitchen set for your kids you want it to be the best possible one you can get. You want your kids play kitchen to be well built, interactive, and from a reputable company. They can be expensive, so you want to get play kitchens that will last for a long time. Below is a list of the best pretend play sets for kids. Feel safe with your purchase with one of the highly rated sets below…"

Nuremberg Toy Fair :: Day 4

Check out our booth at the Nuremberg Toy Fair!

Nuremberg Toy Fair :: Day 3

More KidKraft fun and helpful product information from the Nuremberg Toy Fair.

Nuremberg Toy Fair :: Day 2

The KidKraft team is having a rocking time in Nuremberg!

KidKraft Europe at Nuremberg Toy Fair

Stay tuned for daily recaps of our Nuremberg Toy Fair!

Deluxe Fire Rescue wins IParenting Media Award

KidKraft has won yet another award!
The Deluxe Fire Rescue Set was honored by IParenting Media and received the 2009 IParenting Media Award.

The Deluxe Fire Rescue Set received three outside reviews by a licensed childcare facility/school, an expert, a parent, and was also reviewed by the IParenting Committee. The reviewers completed an extensive survey and provided positive feedback including:

• “This set has lots for a child to do! There are several activities that a child could play, and it is very sturdy and durable.”

• “The firehouse and vehicles were very well made, sturdy, brightly colored, had lots of details and were attractive. The building itself was so sturdy… The strong chunky wood vehicles were fun and the children found many ways to play with both the vehicles and firehouse.”

• “Both of our daughters had a lot of fun playing with the ‘Deluxe Fire Rescue Set.’ They played with the toy everyday… Their favorite piece to the set was the dog which they named Sparky.”

*Please visit IParenting to see KidKraft’s Deluxe Fire Rescue Set. Congratulations to KidKraft once again for producing award winning products!

Trade Shows Galore

2009 is off to a great start and KidKraft is eagerly participating in trade shows across the country and around the globe in cities including Dallas, Atlanta, DC, New York, London, Hong Kong and Nuremberg. The KidKraft sales team reported an enthusiastic response to products previewed at the shows and said it was great to reconnect with retailers and colleagues in the children's toy industry. "January and February give us a glimpse into toy trends and where the market is headed for the year. We always enjoy catching up with our retailers," said a KidKraft sales rep.

"We participated in the Harley Davidson show last week in DC and loved being in the nation's capital city so close to an historical event, the inauguration," said another KidKraft team member. When asked about upcoming European opportunities, Avron the Internet Sales Manager said, "We're especially excited to participate in European trade shows to bring our award-winning product lines to European buyers." Stay tuned for more updates on this season's trade show happenings!

Make a Difference in 15 Minutes

I came across this great article on CharityGuide.com about donating toys and inspiring children:

"When you donate toys to needy or sick children, you provide inspiration and a glimmer of hope. Without sufficient toys and books, children don't develop necessary motor skills, says the National Institute for Early Education Research. Studies also show that infant toys are critical for brain growth that affects learning later in life. Because play is essential for children to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives, all children need at least simple toys like balls, blocks, costumes and crayons... There are over 29 million needy children in the U.S. who live in low income families, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty. These children have little inspiration for the imaginative, fulfilled lives that all children deserve. When you donate a toy to a needy child, you provide a positive outlet for the child's energy and creativity.

To donate a toy to a needy child:

• Drop off a toy donation at a social service agency or homeless shelter near your home. Check your phone book under "social (or human) service organizations." Or use this link to find a social service agency.
• Donate toys during the holiday season to the Salvation Army or Toys for Tots.
• Donate toys online. My Two Front Teeth is a nonprofit organization that provides donated toys to underprivileged children in daycare, preschools and community agencies. Sign up to receive an email notification prior to the next holiday season. Once you browse profiles of the eligible children, choose a child to sponsor, then purchase and donate toys online via My Two Front Teeth.

To donate toys to a sick child:

• Donate toys, books and games to your local Ronald McDonald House.
• Donate board games your family no longer uses to a local children's hospital.
• The Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., keeps "Dr. Bear's Toy Closet" stocked with toys and games for young patients. The medical center provides guidelines and suggestions for toddler and infant toys and games for older children.

If you have children that receive an abundance of gifts at Christmas and birthdays, consider starting a tradition of sharing. Encourage your kids to re-gift one of their many presents to less fortunate children; or at least, ask your children to donate toys they have outgrown, if those toys are in mint condition and still in their original packaging."

Read more here and check out additional ideas & links on making a difference in a child's life today!

Happy 2009!

We wish you peace, health & happiness in 2009!

We hope you'll visit our blog often for KidKraft updates!

Top Chef of Toys

KidKraft hosted a fun team building exercise last week called Top Chef. Our company was divided into 8 teams, and we had 1 hour to decorate a cake & surrounding scene out of edible items and a "secret ingredient." We all got various toys as our secret ingredients and had a blast creating environments in which our toys would be "at home"... here are a couple of the groups' pictures. We love working at a toy company!

Product Spotlight - Chef Accessory Set

Available now!
KidKraft's Chef Accessory Set #63155


A great accessory for any KidKraft kitchen!

Our Tasty Treats Chef Accessory Set lets kids look the part while cooking up fun in the kitchen. This 6-piece accessory set is a great gift idea for the young chefs in your life.

• Adorable apron
• Chef's hat
• Potholder
• Oven mitt
• Plastic spatula & spoon
• Perfect to use with any KidKraft kitchen
  
• No assembly required