Nomination and Selection Process Details
Deadline
The nomination period will close promptly at 5:00 pm (Pacific) on
Friday, October 12th.
Submission Forms
There is no limit on the number of products or properties a nominator
may submit for a single category; however no more than two products from one company will be
named as finalists in any single award category.
- Property
of the Year (.doc file download)
Property that had
the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry
- Toy
of the Year (.doc file
download)
- Activity: Toys that inspire creative play through various forms
of activity
- Boy: Toys developed for boys of any age
- e-Connected: An app-cessory or other physical toy that interacts
with a smartphone, tablet or gaming device
- Educational: Toys that help children to develop special skills
and knowledge through play
- Game: Children’s board, card, CD-ROM or electronic game
formats
(NOTE: All electronic games must have an ESRB “Early
Childhood” rating)
- Girl: Toys developed for girls of any age
- Infant/Toddler: Toys developed for infant children and toddlers
(ages up to 36 months)
- Innovative: Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or
manufacturing processes to enhance play value
- Outdoor: Toys designed for outdoor play
- Preschool: Toys developed for preschool-aged children (ages
3-5)
- Specialty: Toys primarily distributed through specialty
retailers
IMPORTANT NOTE
- Please complete the entire form as each submittal is provided to
members of the category nomination committee for review and
consideration in the selection of TOTY finalists.
- The “Toy of the Year” winner is selected from among the
products appearing on the TOTY ballot. There is no separate nomination
form for consideration as a Toy of the Year candidate.
- Processing of a nomination package will not begin until all
product/property nomination forms, high-res images and the nomination
fee summary form have been received.
- Each product category or property marked on the Nomination Submittal
form is considered a separate nomination and requires the appropriate
fee.
- Before returning to toty@toyassociation.org,
please rename the file to replace “product name-company
name” with the appropriate details.
Nomination Fee Summary
- $ 75 per product nomination TIA Members
- $125 per product nomination TIA Non-members
>>>
TOTY 2013 - Nomination Fee Summary
<<<
(.doc file download)
IMPORTANT NOTE
- The Nomination Fee Summary is an important checklist used by TIA
staff to verify that all nominations have been received and processed.
Processing of a nomination package will not begin until the summary
form, all product/property nomination forms, and high-res images have
been received.
- Each product category or property marked on the Nomination Submittal
form is considered a separate nomination and requires the appropriate
fee.
- Before returning to toty@toyassociation.org,
please rename the file to replace “COMPANY NAME” with the
name of the submitting organization.
Eligibility
- Nominators
Products or properties may be nominated by any individual authorized to
submit the nomination on behalf of the product manufacturer, importer or
licensor. Membership in TIA is not a prerequisite for submitting a
nomination.
- Market Availability
All TOTY 2013 nominated products must:
- be available at retail in the United States on or before November
19, 2012
- have been introduced to the marketplace within the last two
years.
(NOTE: This can include a new version of an older
product line, as long as the “new” product or reiteration
has been introduced within the last two years.)
- Safety Reports
If a product herein is selected for the TOTY Award Ballot, the
manufacturer, private labeler, or importer of record must agree to
provide copies of all relevant safety test reports to TIA for reference
should any safety issues be called into question by regulatory or
consumer groups during the fourth quarter holiday shopping season or
beyond.
- Representation
If a product is selected as a TOTY finalist, the nominator (or his/her
designee) of every product or property selected as a TOTY finalist must
attend the awards presentation ceremony on February 9, 2013, in New York
City.
Award Criteria
Each product nomination must include a brief (75 word) product
description PLUS a statement (up to 300 words) explaining to the
Nomination Committee why the product is deserving of recognition on the
TOTY Awards ballot.
- Creativity, Originality and Innovation
Application of design, technology, manufacturing processes, etc.
- Design and Promotion
Outstanding, unusual and creative execution of artwork, product/package
design, promotional strategy and execution, etc.
- Excellence of Product
Description of play value and how play value has been evaluated
- Marketplace
Acceptance (OPTIONAL)
Units produced, sell-through expectations, etc.
Selection of Finalists
Finalists will be selected by Nomination Committees comprised of ten
(10) to fifteen (15) experts knowledgeable of the category. Each
category will have its own nomination committee. Qualified individuals
may be invited to sit on more than one committee. Members will represent
a cross-section of:
- Retail buyers
- Mass (not included for “Specialty”
category)
- Specialty (only for “Educational”,
“Game”, “Innovative” and “Specialty”
categories)
- Journalists / bloggers
- National consumer magazine toy editors
- Trade magazine editors
- Mommy bloggers
- Toy Specialists
- Academia, Graduate (e.g., FIT, OTIS, etc.)
- Academia, practical application (e.g., preschool teacher,
etc.)
- Inventor (requires signed statement affirming no conflict or
special interest in category)
- Professionals (e.g. developmental psychologists, play therapists,
etc.)
Committee members will receive all of the nominations submitted for a
category; the selection of finalists will be based on both the data and
personal statements provided in the nomination materials.
Each product selected as a finalist will be featured on ToyAwards.org, a
website designed specifically to highlight the TOTY candidates.
Voting
In conjunction with the TOTY press conference, voting for TOTY 2013
winners will commence on November 19th and close on Sunday
night, January 13, 2013 at 11:59 pm (Eastern).
Ballots will be weighted as follows:
- Consumers 20%
- Journalists and bloggers 20%
- Retailers (mass + specialty) 30%
- Members of the Toy Industry Association 30%
All results will be confidential until they are announced at the
awards ceremony.
Questions / More Information
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