Fourth Annual Toy Wishes Holiday Preview to Showcase over 40 Major Toy & Family Entertainment Companies; Key Industry Executives Available for Interview, More Than 500 New Toys on Display, Toy Wishes All Stars and Hot Dozen Revealed

Business Wire, Sept 21, 2005

NEW YORK -- Recognized as the 'official' industry kick-off to the holiday family entertainment shopping and editorial season, Toy Wishes Magazine, The Ultimate Guide to Family Entertainment, will host its fourth annual Toy Wishes Holiday Preview on Thursday, October 6th at Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The Toy Wishes Holiday Preview was created in 2002 for industry manufacturers to showcase and spotlight holiday family entertainment, including toys, videogames and properties all under one roof and an opportunity for members of the press to 'shop' for toys and entertainment products to feature in their holiday and gift editorial.

In 2005, for the first time ever, the annual media event will be open to a wider array of children's and family entertainment companies; in addition to major toy manufacturers, exhibitors will include entertainment companies, licensors and retailers.

More than 40 major family entertainment companies will exhibit a wide range of new toys and entertainment products that will hit store shelves in time for the holiday crunch. Many of the exhibiting companies will have key executives on hand for interview, including: John Barbour, president, Toys "R" Us, U.S.; William To, president, VTech Electronics North America, LLC; Jay Foreman, president of Play Along Toys, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc.; Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price Brands; Brian Goldner, president of Hasbro, U.S. Toys Group; Tim Kilpin, senior vice-president marketing, Mattel Brands; Jerry Perez, president of LeapFrog; Roger Shiffman, president of Zizzle; and, Richard Tait, CEO and Grand Poo Bah of Cranium, Inc. Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of Toy Wishes and Chris Byrne (AKA The Toy Guy(R)), a contributing editor and member of the Toy Wishes editorial board, will also be on hand for interviews.

The exciting day-long event will begin with the announcement of this year's Toy Wishes Holiday 2005 All Stars - selected by the Toy Wishes editorial board as the brightest, most innovative toys in over twenty different categories - and the Holiday 2005 Hot Dozen - the toys predicted to be the most in demand and toughest to find once the buying season gets underway - at a 10 AM press conference. Both the All Stars and Hot Dozen will be on display throughout the day.

Toy Wishes hits newsstands October 6th. Gift givers who frequent Toys "R" Us stores nationwide will receive a complimentary issue of Toy Wishes Holiday 2005 with purchase, while supplies last.

The Toy Wishes Holiday Preview will be held on Thursday, October 6th at Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. The press conference announcing the Toy Wishes Holiday 2005 All Stars and Hot Dozen will be held at 10 AM promptly. Exhibitor displays will be open from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM. For press credentials and more information or to schedule an interview with Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of Toy Wishes, please contact Josslynne Lingard at Litzky Public Relations (201/222-9118, ext. 13).