TOYOLOGY Toyology-The Action Men of the batteries not included industry
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AS THE Sun finally shows us it is searching through the weather wardrobe and making it’s hat selection we’re looking forward to a healthy year for the outdoor toy market. Last year this supercategory managed to climb towards an impressive 20% of overall sales and optimism is rife for another solid year ahead.
The teams at Toyology and the Kidzcoolit network will be overseeing proceedings of the live event in June, mainly managed to over-excited testers who have served to give all our entries a rough-ride, pushing playthings to their creaking point and delivering their no-hold-barred opinions.
The Kidult overseers of the entire affair will handle media and social coverage using #OTA25 to assist whilst working to secure coverage across print, online and broadcast media. A total of ten toys are awarded their gongs as must-haves for get-out, get-up and get-active play.
The categories, as follows:
- Climbing & Adventure
- Sport & Splash Fun
- Outdoor Games
- Science & Nature
- Ride-On
- Trampolines
- Pre-School Play
- Battle & Blaster Toys
- Houses, Tents & Hideaways
- Flying Toys
In addition there will also be one toy awarded with Best in Show, that one item that saw the most action on the testing day, the toy that couldn’t be left alone or put down, the ultimate accolade for any plaything.
Ben Hogg, Head of Marketing at Simba Smoby Toys said of the vent “The Outdoor Toy Awards is a super opportunity for us to understand how our products perform from the toughest judges out there… Kids! I love how the products get real-time reactions from kids as they play. This tells us not only which products they love but also how they play with them, which is something we can feedback to product development. We look forward to putting more of our products forward and hopefully getting some more awards”!
Nick Kidzcoolit, prolific commentator on toys and owner of one of the UK’s leading online media outlets focused on kids (of all ages) said, “Childhood is such a precious thing – as many say, the most important years of our life. And as we’ve seen in recent years with the rise ‘Kidult product’ sales, parents and guardians have reconnected to that special time again with the gifts they buy for themselves. And obviously they still keep a bit of cash spare for their kids too, so they can feel it first hand from the new generation of toy lovers, in their gardens and local parks.
It’s been a genuine joy to work with Pete on these awards over the years. I really wish everyone who supports the event could see for themselves how much fun the judging day is each year. The laughter and excitement from the youngsters judging is electric. If we could bottle it, and send every company a taste of what we get to experience we would do it in an instant.
Summer was made for childhood memories and the products we’re sent each years always enhance those memories for millions of families across the UK”!
A man of few words you’ll likely concur.
The testing takes place in the first week of June at a not-so-secret facility with the winners and other commendations being announced by the 10th of June. Samples need to arrive no later than 26th May for inclusion in the awards. Entry is a standard £200 per item, multiple entries and discounts will be considered.
For more information and to receive an entry form email: nick@kidzcoolit.com or peter@toyology.co.uk.
