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Ten things I learned at the 2012 Nürnberg Toy Fair
1. If you are fortunate enough to own an iPhone or iPad, then you must download the free Spielwarenmesse app, which not only allows you to search for exhibitors and product groups, it also shows precisely where they are on a map. The Toy Fair is massive – several times bigger than Spiel in Essen – and it's easy to get lost.
2. Games people are the salt of the earth, and if you are lucky your booth neighbors will become firm friends. One morning we had car trouble in the freezing conditions and found that our fellow exhibitors had generously set up our stand and were ready to demo the games on our behalf.
3. This is related to the previous point, but fellow exhibitors are often the best source of information and advice about products and companies. As with most industries, everyone is linked somehow and most people know each other in some way.
4. An Internet connection at the fair costs €8 an hour to an exhibitor, therefore make sure you have a reliable wifi connection at your hotel so you can stay in touch with emails, etc.
5. During the fair, a huge population of visitors descends on Nürnberg. Always try to book a table in advance at a recommended restaurant. Do not walk around in freezing temperatures, and definitely do not go into restaurants that are largely empty. During the busiest time of the year, the only reasons for a quiet restaurant are poor service, food, value, or more likely all three.
6. Perhaps this should be higher on the list, but always prepare for the worst possible weather conditions. The temperature dropped to -22ºC while we were in Nürnberg, which caused the car battery to seize up as well as our aching limbs.
7. Do go and check out as many of the halls as you can during the fair. The big kid inside you will be fascinated by the huge toy railway displays or the entire space dedicated to fancy dress and balloons.
8. The last day of the show is usually the quietest as some visitors return to work on that Monday, so it's the best day to arrange meetings with publishers and manufacturers if they are still there. You can sometimes pick up freebies as exhibitors decide what they can't take home or can't ship to the New York trade fair the following week.
9. It is important to drink plenty of water and to eat well to maintain your voice during the week.
10. Learn to say a few words, such as "hello" and "thank you" in as many languages as you can. Even if your accent is terrible, the effort is always appreciated.
Additional: It is never too early to start planning for Toy Fair 2013. The booth for next year is already booked.
I hope this post is helpful to anyone who might attend in the future. If you manage to get a ticket, feel free to drop by the Gen42 Games stand and say hello.
The insects from Hive visit a neighboring booth during Nürnberg 2012 (image drawn by our neighbor)
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