A Brief History of the New York Toy Fair
9 Feb 2026
We’ll be heading to New York Toy Fair next weekend showcasing our latest releases, our viral hits, and what’s to come for Simplay3 in 2026. If you’re wondering what Toy Fair is and how it made an impact on us, read below!
Toy Fair began in 1903 in New York City. The event featured less than ten toy companies, and in these days, the American Toy Industry was still in its beginning stages. Toy buyers would often go to Europe to make their decisions. In New York, toy versions of Lionel trains, colored crayons, and Lincoln Logs were a few of the toys that pioneered the age of American-made toys, leading to today where all of our toys at Simplay3 are manufactured in the US.
From 200 Fifth Avenue, affectionately known as the Toy Center, to the Javits Center on New York City’s West Side, Toy Fair grew and expanded to welcome tens of thousands of retailers, manufacturers, and toy enthusiasts. The Javits Center hosts 100 different countries presenting toys, and the space covers eight football fields.
In 2020, The Toy Association recognized our founder, Tom Murdough, at the 117th Toy Fair. His tenure in the toy industry spans over three companies, five decades, and countless toys that have changed the game. We are proud to work for Tom, who leads with the motto “Do It Right”, and the same philosophy that caused Toy Fair’s rise to fame- making toys right here in the USA.
Toy Fair is not open to the public. This is an event exclusive to industry professionals, but don’t worry, we’ll be giving you an inside look at all the fun! Be sure to follow us @thesimplay3company on all platforms to see what we’re up to.