The Toy Retailers Association (formerly British Association of Toy Retailers) is a trade association that represents its members in the UK & Ireland. It promotes the role of the toy retailer and the value of toys to the consumer. It represents about 75% of the toy trade. The directorate is based remotely in Bodmin, Cornwall.
History
The Toy Retailers Association (TRA) was first established as the National Association of Toy Retailers in 1950 and changed its name first to the British Association of Toy Retailers (BATR) and then the Toy Retailers Association in 2005. It acts as both a watchdog and persuader to ensure fair play for toy retailers and represents the toy retail sector on government panels and safety organisations in the UK.
Awards The association organises DreamToys, where the top 12 and top 72 toys for Christmas are chosen every November. The press-only event used to be held at St Mary's Church in Marylebone, London. The TRA also organises the Toy of the Year Awards, an event where the Toy of the Year award and other prizes are presented, including Toy Shop of the Year, Supplier of the Year and Multiple Retailer of the Year. The event is held on the first night of the UK Toy Fair at Olympia, London, each year in January.
Affiliated members Argos The Entertainer and Early Learning Centre Game Smyths Toymaster Toytown Stores
Toy of the Year
The Toy of the Year awards began in 1965 and are presented annually at an awarding dinner held during the British International Toy Fair at Olympia in January. The criteria are that the toy must have been very popular in the past year and excited interest among customers and retailers in the toy market.
1965 – James Bond Aston Martin die-cast car 1966 – Action Man (Palitoy) 1967 – Spirograph (Denys Fisher) 1968 – Sindy (Pedigree Toys) 1969 – Hot Wheels 1970 – Sindy 1971 – Katie Kopykat writing doll 1972 – Plasticraft modelling kits 1973 – Mastermind board game 1974 – Lego Family set 1975 – Lego Basic set 1976 – Peter Powell Kites 1977 – Playmobil Playpeople 1978 – Combine Harvester (Britains Limited) 1979 – Legoland Space kits 1980 – Rubik's Cube 1981 – Rubik's Cube 1982 – Star Wars toys 1983 – Star Wars toys 1984 – Masters of the Universe 1985 – Transformers (Optimus Prime) 1986 – Transformers (Optimus Prime) 1987 – Sylvanian Families 1988 – Sylvanian Families 1989 – Sylvanian Families 1990 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1991 – Nintendo Game Boy 1992 – WWF Wrestlers 1993 – Thunderbirds Tracy Island 1994 – Power Rangers 1995 – Pogs 1996 – Barbie 1997 – Teletubbies 1998 – Furby 1999 – Furby Babies 2000 – Teksta 2001 – Bionicles (Lego) 2002 – Beyblades 2003 – Beyblades 2004 – RoboSapien 2005 – Tamagotchi Connexion 2006 – Doctor Who Cyberman Mask 2007 – In the Night Garden... Blanket Time Iggle Piggle 2008 – Ben 10 Action Figures 10” and 15” 2009 – Go Go Hamsters 2010 – Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear 2011 – LeapPad Explorer 2012 – Furby 2013 – Teksta 2014 – Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa 2015 – Pie Face 2016 – Hatchimals 2017 – L.O.L. Surprise 2018 – L.O.L. Surprise 2019 – L.O.L. Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper Fashion Camper 2020 – (No overall winner chosen due to COVID-19 pandemic) 2021 – Barbie Day to Night Dreamhouse 2022 – Squishmallow 7.5″, Jazwares 2023 – Bitzee 2024 – RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic
References
External links Toy Retailers Association British Toy and Hobby Association