Smart Toys & Games

Please provide a brief introduction to yourself and the company you work for

Hi, my name is Karen Clarke and I am the UK Brand Director at Smart Toys & Games.

What is your favourite part about working in the toy industry?

Being part of such a dynamic industry that strives to provide children with enjoyment and the opportunity to enhance a range of cognitive skills

Give us the inside scoop, what products are you launching at Toy Fair 2023?

We will be launching at least 10 new products at Toy Fair including a new pre-school game from SmartGames, new additions to our world-renowned IQ collection as well as new innovative play sets in the best-selling SmartMax ‘My First’ collection.

What trends do you predict for the Toy Fair industry in 2023?

Sustainable products that are built for longevity and be passed down through the generations will continue to grow.

How many years have you exhibited at Toy Fair 2023? Any favourite memories?

Toy Fair 2023 will be our eighth year.

What is your favourite toy?

One of my absolute favourite toys in our portfolio is SmartMax Roboflex. We launched this at Toy Fair 2022 and it won a Hero Toy Award. It allows littles ones aged 3+ to get creative and make their own colourful, crazy robots. The flexible, extendable magnetic bars add an extra dimension to the SmartMax playset. Choose your parts, bend, extend, assemble, and play! The twelve-piece set helps develop fine motor skills and stimulates fantasy. I wonder if any of 2023’s launches will take the top spot?!

What top tip would you give to a fellow exhibitor or visitor attending their first Toy Fair?

Wear flat shoes and be ready to chat a lot!