eNewsHound

The annual New York Toy Fair will take place early next week. Even with the faltering economy, the Fair, which runs from February 15th – 18th, expects to showcase over 100,000 products, including more than 7000 new toys that are making their world debut.

The fair promises over 350,000 square feet of exhibition space in the jacob Javits Convention Center and a few other showrooms in the surrounding area. Over a thousand media representatives are expected to be present from around the globe and over 20,000 attendees.

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) which sponsors the event is forecasting that this year’s merchandise will focus on price and value as a result of the shaky global economy. Exhibitors are expected to offer fewer high end toys to the retail buyers in attendance. While most toys take several years to develop, many manufacturers have scraped products that are too expensive for the budget-conscious parent of 2009.

One of the other features of the event is safety. With so many recalls in recent years, the fair is offering a four-hour seminar on safety concerns and recent legislation.

New York is hoping to see an uptick in its own economy as a result of the Toy Fair. Those thousands of attendees, exhibitors, and media should bring money to area businesses. The Fair is offering shuttle buses in the evening to take visitors to nearby New York restaurants. Meanwhile, hotels in the area are bracing for the increase in guests and taxis should be in abundance for those who want to explore more of the city.