“The company reps were excited to talk with the students who got to see the latest offerings from the largest toy company in the world to the smallest one-person single-product startup — and nearly a thousand in between,” Raggio said. “The trip was an exciting opportunity to explore an industry they all knew about, but most had not considered as a future employment possibility.”

“I wanted to go on this trip because I have always had a strong passion for everything toys,” said junior Daniel Simes, a business major with a concentration in marketing. “The Toy Fair was an amazing opportunity to learn about the future of the toy industry, relive a little bit of my childhood experience, and find some potential opportunities for my future career.”

Thousands of new toys, games, edutainment, and entertainment-driven experiences were featured throughout the three stories riddled with booths and product displays. Highlights included an expansive display of Barbie paraphernalia and a sighting of well-known television characters, like Barney the purple dinosaur.

“The students appreciated the opportunity to learn about the industry in a fun and interactive way,” said Frank Allen, director of employer relations for UR’s Career Development, who also accompanied the students to the fair.

The students also participated in a private panel featuring a few representatives from the 900-member Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Toy Association. In the small group setting, students could ask questions and gain insights into the industry.

“One particularly meaningful part of that experience was meeting Richard Gottlieb’s wife, [Wendy Levey], and realizing how, in a way, we are carrying on his legacy by bringing curiosity, innovation, and fresh perspectives into the industry,” sophomore Rosio Tenorio said. “That moment truly resonated with me.”

Simes said a trip highlight for him was meeting top executives at Hasbro and representatives from the Lego Group, two of his favorite brands. He was able to pitch some ideas for Hasbro’s Nerf that he’d thought up as a child.

“I’ve been a Lego collector since I can remember, and my first dream job was to be a Lego set designer,” Simes said. Lego is building a 1.7 million-square-foot precision production facility just south of Richmond in Chesterfield, Virginia.

The Toy Fair was open only to retailers, wholesalers, and others in the industry, not to the general public. Some of the larger company showrooms were available by invitation only.

UR students were given personal tours by Mattel's executive vice president and chief brand officer Lisa McKnight, who they may have heard during her C-Suite Conversation on campus last September, and the chief brand officer from Jazwares (known for its Squishmallows) — the industry’s No. 1 and No. 5 companies.

At the event, senior cognitive science major Isaac Choe met 2011 alum Peter Saulitis, the inventor of Lawn Die, a new outdoor game. "I was immediately impressed with his passion for the brand," Choe said. "My favorite aspect was speaking to industry leaders. It was fascinating seeing the toy industry in a behind the scenes way. I had no idea how much licensing and law played a role in toys. The careful planning around each toys’ design, packaging, and marketing was cool to see."

Tenorio, a business major with a concentration in marketing, described the trip as an eye-opener. “After attending the Toy Fair, I would be interested in working in the industry, and I am looking to further some of the connections I made while in attendance.”