Shocker Toys (Toy Fair) Adventures:
Day 1
We arrive in NYC late from traffic to set up about 3 people short. After hours of trying to do a 3man job with two men we decide to call it quits at 11PM and drive back to Jersey! Hey Lance’ the rug looks nice though!

Day 2
We arrive in NYC to stay for the week again late from traffic and begin to set up this time with a 3 man crew. Finally leave at 11pm with about half the booth set up and nothing in Lobby Case upstairs. Go to hotel straight to room and crash.

Day 3 TOY FAIR day 1
Wake up early head off to Toy Fair and start setting up again only to be 75% done as show opens still 3 men short. Packed with appointments we try and accommodate walk-ins throughout the day. The show seems to be more crowded then last year could be from big guys upstairs booking longer appointment times. A lot of press coverage and a lot of people stopping in their tracks for The Maxx and Scud. Out of 500 sales sheets half were cleaned out that first day. We explain Shockinis throughout the day as well as long as they have been around they always seem new to buyers probably because we have changed them so many times and this time is final lol. Finally the case in the lobby upstairs gets filled with our stuff. We grabbed items from other exhibitors in our aisle and place them in our show case in the lobby to help promote their goods and the aisle we were in, see we are not bad guys after all. The aisle we have been faithful to is called Urban Bazaar we actually named it ‘Yes Shocker Toys’ named it. After a day of non-stop meetings with stores and press we close shop take a few minutes to finish setup and head out. The 1st place to hit on an empty stomach is Gray’s Papaya a block up from our hotel. We eat then head back to the bar hotel where after 4 years we have made our little Toy Fair meeting spot. As we still have 15% more to setup it’s off to bed again to rise early.

Day 4 TOY FAIR day 2
Wake up early head off to see the ground hog……ooops wrong story! Head off to Toy Fair to set up remaining 15%. Again booked solid with press and store meetings and again plagued by numerous walk-ins, some crazy people and Toy Fair telling us our banner is too high lol. The day goes by nice and a lot of talking about Indie Spotlight as well as an interview with Washington Times on the whole Marvel Toys/Shocker Toys fiasco. Lunch was quick pounded a few pops and back to work. Close up shop and head a block up from New Yorker to White Castle I don’t remember what I ate but it filled a whole tray by itself. After that it’s off to the local watering hole we call home. Daniel a part-timer for Shocker Toys runs into a lady at the bar who wants to do a broadway play of transformers along with song and dance which she proceeded to sing a strange tune which cause me to move to other end of the bar lol. We ran into the head of Activision and shot the breeze about video games. After that we hit the room and crashed for the night only to be up in 4 hours…..will I ever sleep again!

Day 5 TOY FAIR day 3
Wake up semi-early get coffee with the extra time and head to Javits for a 3rd day of a full schedule with the last hour of the day free. Again seems busier as no snow storm in sight keeps buyers and guests in NYC for a few extra days. We actually saw a lot of people checking in today for the show if it snowed they probably would not have attended. First 4 Figures were next to us great bunch of guys and Randy from NECA stopped to chat and look at The Maxx. Again a good busy day we talk with Diamond, Toys R us, Toys R Us Canada, Blister Direct, Five Below and a unique opportunity for the new 2.5” shockinis. After a nice full day we relax for the last hour and the show dies down. We prepare boxes and everything for pack up tomorrow and head out. Again we hit the favorite watering hole after eating at the Irish Bar by MSG but let me tell you an Irish bar on the outside it was inside it was not so green! We hang with Joe from Super Fun company maker of Toxic Teddies. After one of our party members flips out and storms out of the bar we meet another drunk girl who speaks gibberish and ends up buying us 3 rounds lol. Then another drunk girl goes off on Lance and Joe as they chuckle when she says she was 22 during 9-11 let me tell you she had to be in her late 40s. Well since it has become our bar and we usually handle our drinks like true Irish men the owner tossed her and gibberish out and we got another round lol! This lady had the nerve to demand another drink and said she was friends with the NYC police commissioner and planned to call him at which time it was 2am….who did she think she was batwoman? After that exciting nite it was off to bed.

Day 6 TOY FAIR day 4 (last day)
Not much to tell place was tumble weeds cept for exhibitors walking the floor we had a bunch of last minute orders from walk-ins and a little bit of press last day. We broke it all down and headed back to Jersey to let the dust settle and follow up with all press and buyers.

Finale’
We asked a lot of Industry people’s opinions (fellow toy companies, press and licensors) They loved the articulation, the paints with a small mention of touch up and the lineup and packaging. Buyers seemed to love what we had which was an indication that we had done it right this time. It was a great show and we look forward to Toy Fair 2009and beyond!
 

Shocker Toys Production Schedule: