By Laurie Chartorynsky, The Toy Association
PlayCon attendees will be able to gather insight from Facebook when the social media giant makes a keynote presentation at PlayCon, The Toy Association’s International Conference for Play Professionals. The conference will return May 8 to 9 in San Francisco, CA.
Eva Press, Facebook’s U.S. Group Lead, Consumer Packaged Goods & Healthcare, will delve into how traditional brands can best leverage digital marketing strategies to reach consumers. Facebook will also sponsor PlayCon’s Opening Night Party, taking place at SPiN, San Francisco’s iconic ping pong social club.
More than 20 thought-leaders, industry analysts, toy influencers, consumer product executives, and other motivational speakers will lead short “TED Talk”-like sessions during PlayCon’s new format. Confirmed speakers include: Google’s Victoria Fang; alternative reality game designer Jane McGonigal; Dale Dougherty, “father” of the Maker Movement; Activision Blizzard’s Tim Kilpin; Trend Hunter’s Armida Ascano and Courtney Scharf; NPD’s Frédérique Tutt; YouTube’s Dan and Lincoln Markham; Bottle Rocket CEO Chas Lacaillade; Sugarfina’s Rosie O’Neill; Ted Curtin of ProdigyWorks and many more.
“PlayCon’s speaker roster includes many heavy hitters that come from a variety of disciplines and who are eager to share their expertise and experiences with the toy and play community,” said Marian Bossard, The Toy Association’s executive vice president of global market events. “The addition of Facebook, both as a keynote presenter and as a sponsor, is a testament to the fact that the new PlayCon will be unparalleled to any other toy industry conference.”
The Toy Association is hosting an open forum focused on succeeding over bankruptcies, retail disruption, and a changing marketplace, taking place Tuesday, May 8, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the SF Jazz Center – prior to PlayCon’s official opening. The forum is open to all toy and play professionals at no cost and registration for PlayCon is not required. Email Robyn Gibbs to RSVP.