Toy Fair Australia 2013 dates & info

[griffin]

The annual Australian Toy, Hobby and Nursery Fair returns to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Center in 2013, from Sunday 3rd of March to Wednesday 6th.

The dates are odd, and were unusual this year as well.
I've been attending them since 2008, and before 2012 they were Thursday to Sunday. Then this year it changed to Tuesday to Friday, which I assumed was to accommodate big business Reps... but this year has the first day on a Sunday (the first day is when the big store chains visit and fill out their orders).

The interesting bit of news is that Mattel will be returning to ToyFair for the first time in several years. (in the five years I've been going, they were never there)
I'll have to see if I can try to sneak into that exhibit.

[KalEl]

The annual Australian Toy, Hobby and Nursery Fair returns to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Center in 2013, from Sunday 3rd of March to Wednesday 6th.

The dates are odd, and were unusual this year as well.
I've been attending them since 2008, and before 2012 they were Thursday to Sunday. Then this year it changed to Tuesday to Friday, which I assumed was to accommodate big business Reps... but this year has the first day on a Sunday (the first day is when the big store chains visit and fill out their orders).

The interesting bit of news is that Mattel will be returning to ToyFair for the first time in several years. (in the five years I've been going, they were never there)
I'll have to see if I can try to sneak into that exhibit.

i'd love to join you at the fair if possible

[Hursticon]

Ooh! - Finally we might get some answers as to why Playmates Toys has whacked a blanket embargo on everything TMNT2012 for Australia, I want me the brothers green for shell's sake!... :D

But seriously, I'd really like to know WTF is going on. :o

[Tallestblue]

Ooh! - Finally we might get some answers as to why Playmates Toys has whacked a blanket embargo on everything TMNT2012 for Australia, I want me the brothers green for shell's sake!... :D

But seriously, I'd really like to know WTF is going on. :o

But....I got all my TMNT 2012 stuff directly from amazon.com?

[Bidoofdude]

Ooh! - Finally we might get some answers as to why Playmates Toys has whacked a blanket embargo on everything TMNT2012 for Australia, I want me the brothers green for shell's sake!... :D

But seriously, I'd really like to know WTF is going on. :o

Yeah! LET ME HAVE MY OOZE ALREADY!!!!! I want that so badly.

[Mechbiter]

I'll be there on the Sunday (in the afternoon), if anyone else is going and would like to catch up?

[i_amtrunks]

But....I got all my TMNT 2012 stuff directly from amazon.com?

Me too (well not all of the 2012 TMNT range but the bigger figures).

However I have found it strange that the figures and Lego sets have not been released here yet considering the first half of the show has been on heavy repeat cycle on Nickelodeon since November. Not sure if any free-to-air channels will end up airing it, but seems a waste to lose the Xmas period for sales.

[Bidoofdude]

Apparently the prices will be quite high, but we'll see...

[griffin]

I'll be there on the Sunday (in the afternoon), if anyone else is going and would like to catch up?

If I end up going, we might run into each other.

I'm aiming to go down on the Saturday, to give me time to meet up with people who don't get a chance on weekdays (the problem with previous years), and head back on the Tuesday... which should give me plenty of time at the Fair, meet up with people who work in the CBD, and do some exploring of Melbourne, for Dispensor's travel album.

Hope it is a lot cooler by then.

[Bidoofdude]

So will this feature the new toys coming out this year or is all stuff we've already seen?
I might go if it's cheap or free.:D
EDIT: Damn. No visitors.:mad::p

[griffin]

So will this feature the new toys coming out this year or is all stuff we've already seen?

Half is usually toys that are already out (for smaller retailers to know what they can order and get now), and half is usually unreleased stuff (for the big retailers to know what they are being talked into pre-ordering for the next 6-months).
Being so close to the American Toyfair, ours doesn't usually have much that wasn't already on display in America (and plastered all over the American fansites). Occasionally we'll be lucky to have some new prototypes on display, or early packaging samples (which give away character details or other toys).
But for Demonac, it's a chance to road-test (play) with toys that may not be seen here for several months, or at all if the retailers don't want it.

These are links to the last five Australian Toyfairs...

2012 - photos (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=13128) - notes (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=13126)

2011 - full report (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=10345)
(http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=13128)
2010 - full report
(http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=7160)
2009 - Transformers (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=3867) - non-Transformers (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=3867) (not sure why, but the board has removed the inserted photos from 2009 and 2008 - If I get around to it, I'll do up a separate web document with the photos for reference)

Most of the images are still on the server though (some are missing, but I still have them on my computer), so if you wanted to look at some of the photos to go with the 2009 and 2008 reports...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair01.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair02.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair03.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair04.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair05.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair06.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair11.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair12.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair13.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair14.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair15.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair19.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair21.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair26.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair27.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair31.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/09toyfair34.jpg


2008 - part 1 (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=862) - part 2 (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=863) - part 3 (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=864)

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair01.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair04.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair05.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair06.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair07.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair08.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair09.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair10.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair11.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair12.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair13.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair14.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair15.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair18.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair19.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair20.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/toyfair/08toyfair21.jpg

[Jetfire in the sky]

Does it still require an ABN to get in? How is it working thesedays? It's been a while.

[griffin]

Yes, it still requires a business number or ABN.