The Secret Lives of Toy Makers

Toy Fair Doc Shows You How the Other Half Does It

By Alison Marek
February 2009

If you've ever wondered who invented that game on your shelf, or how other retailers stalk the trade-show booths, these rough sequences shot at Toy Fair 2008 will give you insights into who's on the floor with you. Some of the footage may make it into TDmonthly's upcoming Toy Fair documentary, tentatively titled "Toy Frenzy: Only the Fun Survive."

Toy-Store Owners

Fred and Karen Rosenburg, owners of Toys & Candy on the Park in Kingwood, Texas, get mismatched and sprigged.

New Inventors

Terri Lynn Link of Tales of Abigail and Susan Adams of Ethikids ready themselves and their pets for their first Toy Fair. Brett Diffley of Frolicking Floaters, Davey Crockett of Beyond Chess and Aimee Symington of Successful Kids lean on their families for help with getting their booths up the day before the show. Footage on Puppetoys and Voxal coming soon.

Pitching Toys

You think you have the next hot thing, but what do industry vets think? Watch two inventors pitch their new products to pros at Toy Fair.

Old Timers

How flirty are the workers in the Corolle booth? Why have pirates taken over at HABA? Find out now! See more Toy Fair prep and presentations with your old favorites soon.