Blogger Bash and The Big Toy Book's #SweetSuite14 Give Digital Influencers First Look at Holiday Toys and Gifts

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 350 bloggers and 100 members of the traditional media gathered at the first annual Blogger Bash this summer, getting a sneak peek and hands-on demonstration of some of the hottest new toys and playthings hitting store shelves at The Big Toy Book's Sweet Suite 14 opening night party.  The fifth annual Sweet Suite event, the "Biggest Night of Play," which took place in the hip, chic Location05 loft space in New York City, allowed more than 60 children's brands to engage experienced bloggers with established followings.  Throughout the evening, #SweetSuite14 garnered 43.5 million impressions with more than 2,000 contributors, and more than 1,900 unique photos were shared on Instagram.  Those who couldn't join in person were able to tune into the festivities live via Livestream and watch event highlight videos post-event on YouTube.

"This year's Sweet Suite was the biggest and most fun ever!" said Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht, founder of thebigtoybook.com. "It was such a great way to kick off Blogger Bash and allow bloggers and brands to connect in a fun, playful atmosphere."

"Sweet Suite was a great way to connect with family-friendly brands right during the back-to-school and holiday time frames," said Jyl Johnson Pattee of MomItForward.com. "Nothing gives you the power of making informed purchasing decisions quite like being able to touch, feel, and use products while asking knowledgeable brand representatives questions and getting answers on the spot."

Each company exhibiting at Sweet Suite had their own branded space designed to let attendees experience their new products and play like big kids. 

• Activision previewed the new Skylanders Trap Team, which allows kids to defeat the villains of Skylands, capture them using Traptanium traps and then bring them to life in their living room.
• LeapFrog unveiled LeapTV, which offers three ways for kids to play: controller play, pointer play and motion play. Games teach kids ages 3 and up everything from literacy to mathematics and beyond.
• Disney Infinity unveiled two family-friendly classic characters from the newly released Disney Infinity 2.0: Stitch and Tinkerbell. The Marvel Superheroes figures, including the Avengers and Spider-Man characters, were also on display.
• Spin Master showcased new Paw Patrol toys, based on the hit preschool show on Nickelodeon, including the Lookout HQ play set, vehicles and a Real Talking Marshall plush.
• Techno Source created an outdoor play space where bloggers could come, suit up in their Kurio jerseys, and play Kurio Motion sports games—the first body controlled tablet games—on the new Kurio Xtreme Android kid tablet.
• Crayola had a creativity station designed to get attendees into Back-to-School mode where they could make their own lunch bags, backpack key rings and first day of school signs using Crayola art supplies.

Attendees also had a chance to play with McFarlane's Walking Dead Building Sets; Lum Lums dolls and pets from Imperial Toys that light up with the power of friendship; innovative new Doc McStuffins role-play toys from Just Play; The Original Cat Paw from Wicked Cool; the Party Pop scooter from Razor with a light up deck; Vex Robotics from Innovation First that allows kids to build their own Hexbugs; the NERF Rebelle Agent Bow from Hasbro; Bungees from Jazwares; Lego Fusion, which brings kid's physical creations to life in a digital game; the Creativity Cans from Creativity for kids, a Faber-Castell brand; new Lalaloopsy Girls dolls from MGA Entertainment; and the Kidizoom Smartwatch from VTech.

Guests were able to enjoy martinis from The Original Lemonhead and wine from Zipz Premium Wine, as well as sweet treats from Bazooka and organic Vita Chocolate.  Rovio Entertainment Ltd. hosted the Angry Birds Stella Sweet Suite After Party, giving attendees insider demos of the new Angry Birds Stella app and a chance to unwind. 

"I'm very selective about what networking events I take the time to attend these days, and Sweet Suite and Blogger Bash exceeded all of my expectations," said Jill Smokler of ScaryMommy.com.  "I made some great connections, met some fantastic brands and came away inspired.  Can't wait to go again!"

Sweet Suite kicked off the two-day Blogger Bash event, a conference designed with bloggers and brands in mind to breathe life into the blogging world, eliminating stuffy conference rooms, impersonal convention centers and exhausting speeches.  Guests were able to engage with more than 120 leading lifestyle brands representing toys, technology, baby products, fashion, food and more. 

"We aren't just bloggers anymore," said event co-host Charlene DeLoach of CharleneChronicles.com.  "We are business women and men.  We write beyond our daily lives and focus on the future of tech, toys, fashion and food.  Sweet Suite and Blogger Bash was a fantastic platform that allowed us to connect with brands that value our online role, while we, in turn, value their products."

Other Blogger Bash events included a Bat-tastic Breakfast with the highly anticipated, family-friendly video game, LEGO® Batman™ 3: Beyond Gotham; a MommyTech exhibition showcasing the latest innovations in technology for the family; a speed-dating session and media panel; a Rockin' Lunch with Johnny Rockets celebrating National Milkshake Day; a Baby Palooza event showcasing the latest juvenile products, complete with photo tips from world-famous baby photographer Anne Geddes; a Kidz Vuz Back to School themed event; and a Chicken Soup for the Soul event that included quick 10-minute meal demos and a book signing with New York Times best-selling author Linda Francis Lee. GameTruck, the Mobile Game Theater, was also parked outside offering guests the ultimate video game experience.  

"After more than 15 years in media, I have never been a part of something so gratifying as Blogger Bash!" said event co-host Joey Fortman of RealMomMedia.com.  "Where else would I be able to go from interviewing iconic photographer Anne Geddes, to dancing with a life-size Skylander, to canoodling with NickMom and a half dressed firefighter?  As media evolves the talent has to be willing to evolve with it.  Blogger Bash provided a platform opportunity to connect with other media outlets, major brands and companies in a nonthreatening atmosphere."

Overall, #BBNYC generated 117.5 million Twitter impressions with more than 2,400 contributors, and more than 3,500 unique photos were shared on Instagram.

The Big Toy Book will host the third annual "Biggest Day of Holiday Play," in partnership with The Toy Insider and Woman's Day magazine, at the Hearst Tower on October 29, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. for those on the hunt for great kid products for their holiday gift guides.  Attendees, including top bloggers from the Northeast and members of the traditional media, will enjoy a gourmet brunch and a short presentation about some of the hottest toy trends, followed by two hours of hands-on play.  Toys that made The Toy Insider's Hot 20 and Top Tech 12 toy lists for the holiday season will also be on display.  To request a complimentary press badge, please e-mail Marissa DiBartolo at [email protected].

About Blogger Bash 
Blogger Bash is the brainchild of Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht, publisher of The Toy Insider and founder of The Big Toy Book, and influential parenting bloggers Joey Fortman of Real Mom Media and Charlene DeLoach of Charlene Chronicles.  It is a multi-day conference, complete with events, parties, special guest speakers and roundtable discussions, all designed to create a more meaningful dialogue between brands and bloggers.  For more information, visit www.bloggerbash.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

About The Big Toy Book 
The Big Toy Book was developed by a team of moms who know just how frustrating it can be to search online, bouncing from site to site, looking for that perfect toy or gift.  It serves as a toy reference and resource for digital influencers, parents and gift-givers.  Through its online social shop, blogger and media events, and year-round toy reviews and news, The Big Toy Book keeps consumers up-to-date on the latest toy trends.  For more information, visit www.thebigtoybook.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, or YouTube.

CONTACT:
Laurie Schacht
212-575-4510 ext. 2320
[email protected]

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlIL2ypMpwc
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140710/126152 

SOURCE The Big Toy Book and Blogger Bash