Build Your Own (Parent company: Paper Engine Ltd)

OUR TOY FAIR STORY
We first attended Toy Fair in January 2020 – a shiny new start-up with one product in the marketplace (our now award-winning Telescope), and two more soon to launch.

We were interviewed and subsequently featured by the BBC due to our eco credentials, which was hugely encouraging. Our range of eco-friendly kits are made from sustainable cardboard with minimal plastics, and our company ethos is ‘Less plastic, paper fantastic’.

During our time at our first Toy Fair, we met lots of retailers and made fantastic connections. Buoyed by positive feedback and an incredibly warm welcome into the toy industry, we left knowing we were creating something that people liked!

TOY FAIR HERO AWARDS + NATIONAL TV COVERAGE
Post-covid, we then returned to Toy Fair in 2022 with our growing range of kits (now 16) and more in the pipeline.

We were delighted to win the Best Designed Stand award – our innovative, eco-friendly stand was made entirely from sustainable cardboard. Our new Pinball Machine also won a Toy Fair Hero award which was incredibly exciting.

In 2023, we were thrilled to win a Toy Fair Hero award for a second time with our new Wallace & Gromit Rocket – our first licensed product. Created in partnership with Aardman Animations, our Rocket then went on to feature on ITV’s This Morning show in their ‘Top Toy Trends for 2023’ segment. This was an incredible opportunity and really helped put our new kits firmly on the map.

Our time at Toy Fair is always hugely positive – to date we’ve met some fantastic mainstream media journalists and influencers, gained invaluable insights into the toy industry, and so much more. And we’re happy that our entire (and growing!) team can attend over the few days to experience it all.

TREND PREDICTIONS FOR 2024
A focus on sustainability and planet-friendly products is an extremely important and growing trend. Post-pandemic, consumers are making considered choices about the brands they purchase from and expect transparency about their eco-credentials.

All our kits are made from sustainable paper and board; we will continue to innovate in this environmentally friendly space as we develop and grow our product range. And we already have many products which are 100% plastic-free – including our recently launched junior kits.

Cost of living pressures mean that consumers are also placing a strong emphasis on value for money.