An ever-growing number of toy awards are announced each year to celebrate the best new products on the market. Magazines such as Mother & Baby, Practical Parenting and Baby & Pregnancy all run their own awards - and the National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries organises The Good Toy Awards which are announced each year. Worth keeping an eye on is the TOTY Awards which are run by the U.S based Toy Industry Association.
In the UK, most eyes are on the Toy of the Year Awards which is announced at a spectacular dinner that takes place during the London Toy Fair each January. This event recognises the toys that have been in demand during the previous year, and the manufacturers and suppliers face a mixture of elation or disappointment.
Also announced at this event are the awards for the best retailers of the year. The country is divided into four areas with an independent and multiple retailer winning an award in each one. Selected from this final eight is the overall winner who wins the prestigious title of Toy Retailer of The Year.
Each year in the lead up to Christmas, the NATLL publish their incredibly comprehensive guide to the best toys available. We are very grateful to have been able to publish some of the articles from the guide on this website.
Our own toy awards were created to give the nation's independent toy retailers a voice in the lead-up to Christmas... a time when most press reporting is skewed towards the predictions of a few big-name toy retailers.
This award is to give recognition to those individuals who have given a special or long service to the toy industry.
In addition to the awards outlined above, it's also worth noting that from July each year, many High Street retailers publish their predictions of what they think will be the top toys for Christmas. These lists however, are more based around their own buying selections, rather than taking a more overall view of the toy business.
Specialising in the full range of Automoblox Cars.
Specialises in everything for Scalextric model motor racing.
A family run business selling ranges of toys and dressing-up clothes.
