The Toy Retailers Association (formerly British Association of Toy Retailers) is a trade association that represents its members in the UK & Ireland. It promotes the role of the toy retailer and the value of toys to the consumer. It represents about 75% of the toy trade. It is based in Bodmin, Cornwall. History The Toy Retailers Association (TRA) was first established as the National Association of Toy Retailers in 1950 and changed its name first to the British Association of Toy Retailers (BATR) and then the Toy Retailers Association in 2005. It acts as both a watchdog and persuader to ensure fair play for toy retailers and represents the toy retail sector on government panels and safety organisations in the UK. Awards The association organises DreamToys, where the top 12 and top 72 toys for Christmas are chosen every November. The press-only event is held at St Mary's Church in Marylebone, London. The TRA also organises the Toy of the Year Awards, an event where the Toy of the Year award and other prizes are presented, including Toy Shop of the Year, Supplier of the Year and Multiple Retailer of the Year. The event is held on the first night of the UK Toy Fair at Olympia, London, each year in January. Affiliated members Early Learning Centre Hamleys The Entertainer Smyths Toytown Stores Argos Toymaster Toy of the Year The Toy of the Year awards began in 1965 and are presented annually at an awarding dinner held during the British International Toy Fair at Olympia in January. The criteria are that the toy must have been very popular in the past year and excited interest among customers and retailers in the toy market. 1965 - James Bond Aston Martin die-cast car 1966 - Action Man (Palitoy) 1967 - Spirograph (Denys Fisher) 1968 - Sindy (Pedigree Toys) 1969 - Hot Wheels 1970 - Sindy 1971 - Katie Kopykat writing doll 1972 - Plasticraft modelling kits 1973 - Mastermind board game 1974 - Lego Family set 1975 - Lego Basic set 1976 - Peter Powell (kite) 1977 - Playmobil Playpeople 1978 - Combine Harvester (Britains Limited) 1979 - Legoland Space kits 1980 - Rubik's Cube 1981 - Rubik's Cube 1982 - Star Wars toys 1983 - Star Wars toys 1984 - Masters of the Universe 1985 - Transformers (Optimus Prime) 1986 - Transformers (Optimus Prime) 1987 - Sylvanian Families 1988 -