Coming up in February 6th is New York Comic Con.

As some of you have read, Mattel will be attending officially and making announcements regarding exclusive items at MattyCollector.com. Most of the announcements are in regards to DC action figures, He-Man and Masters of Universe. For CARS, there is one announcement regarding the re-introduction of the 1:24 diecast line starting with Lighting McQueen. We’re working on getting photos. If there any other announcements, we will let you know. As for Mattel’s booth, other than action figures, I’m sure there will be some CARS shown there but we’ll have 2-3 weeks to see what they will be 🙂

It is the biggest show on the East Coast and one of the few consumer shows attended by Mattel as a company (Hot Wheels & the Barbie group do a lot of consumer events) – the only other being San Diego Comic Con. Since NY is the media center of the US, most all the Toy companies attend – also since the TRADE ONLY Toyfair is the week after, they might as well do both shows …

Click on the top link for ticket & show info.

It’s at the Jacob Javits convention center and relatively easy access for those in the East Coast Amtrak corridor as Grand Central is walking distance … presuming there’s not a blizzard. And of course, about 10 blocks to Times Square though you do need a cab ride to eat pastrami.

If you’re planning on going – can take pics or be our ears & eyes there, drop us a private  email.

A week later is the TRADE ONLY event Toy Fair. This is the major U.S. show for toy manufacturers and toy retailers. You can only attend if you are in the toy business – as a toy company or preferably as a retailer.

It is not as important of a show as it once was now that the toy market is splintered off into the electronics territory (Mattel had a small presence at CES) and that the power has shifted. Now that WM, Target & TRU hold about 80% of the toy market share, they don’t really want to attend a show with “rabble,” (ie: small indie toy stores, Children’s Toy Closet 🙂  ), they either make a toy manufacturer go to them or for the giants like Hasbro & Mattel, the few buyers at the three big chains go out to their HQ’s for a ‘private’ toy fair – usually in late fall for the following year.

But if you are in the biz, or can get to the show, you can still register and of course, if you can send us pics & info from the show, drop us an private email. Thanks!

It looks like Mattel will be showing off the same products at both shows so we should be able to see everything on February the 6th.

Let us know if you’re going.