When it comes to toy manufacturing, China is the undisputed leader. With an industry that is worth billions of dollars, there are plenty of toy manufacturers to choose from. For most toy buyer, there is no doubt that importing from China is a good way to effectively improve the profit margin. However how to find original and authentic toy manufacturers in China? We write this blog to help them find reliable China toy suppliers with professional solutions and their unique advantages.

The Unique Advantages of China Toy Manufacturers

China is the world’s leading toy manufacturer, responsible for producing over 60% of the world’s toys. But what is it that makes China such a dominant force in the toy industry? There are several factors that contribute to China’s success as a toy manufacturer that make them unique in the toy industry.

First, they have access to a large pool of toy designers and engineers. This gives them the ability to quickly design and develop new products.

Second, China has a large population of skilled workers who are capable of producing high-quality toys. This allows them to keep their production costs low, which allows toy companies to save money on production.

Third, they have a large domestic market. This gives them the scale needed to mass-produce toys at a lower cost.

fourth, they are located near many of the world’s largest toy markets. This gives them a strategic advantage when it comes to shipping and logistics.

Finally, they have a strong government support system. the Chinese government provides a number of incentives and subsidies to toy companies, making it an attractive destination for investment. This gives them the financial and regulatory stability that is vital for toy manufacturers. These strengths give toy manufacturers in China a significant competitive advantage in the global toy market. As a result of these factors, China is able to produce toys more cheaply and efficiently than any other country in the world. 

Do your research online.

If you’re looking for toy manufacturers in China, the search can be overwhelming. There are literally thousands of options to choose from, and it can be tough to know where to start. The good news is that there are a few ways to narrow down your options and find the right company for your needs. First focus your purpose, then you have to do it through the right platform.

There are some tools you can utilize to do it: B2B platform or google.

B2B platform include Alibaba, Made In China, Global sourcing and so on. All of them are similar and Each platform has tens of thousands of results for “toys”. Let us introduce them in short.

1，Alibaba is a Chinese e-commerce platform that facilitates the sale of products and services between suppliers and businesses. Alibaba is the world’s largest supplier directory, with more than 200 million suppliers from around the globe. You can wholesale toys from Alibaba and buy “READY TO SHIP” (that with small MOQ)FROM it. Suppliers maybe manufacturers or factories, however some of them are trade companies. It’s easy to know who they are. Step 1 – click their profile (when you scan their Alibaba website); Step 2 – find business type. If it said manufacturer, must be yes.

To be frank, In China, most of the toy manufacturers have no a very large business scale, and they get many orders from trade companies who are more processional in service or developing. So you have to know what the important advantages you want suppliers can offer, the BEAST CHEAPER prices or with R & D team company.  

2. MADE IN CHINA is the oldest B2B marketplaces in China. And unlike Alibaba,  Made-in-China cannot do READY TO SHIP. So if you have large quantity (usually Wooden toy over 1k per design, plastic toy over 10k per design, plush toy over 3k per design), MADE IN CHINA is a good choice.

3. Globalsources.com is another B2B marketplaces in China. Obviously it has all the features of the other 2 platforms, the provider looks much less. But you may still be able to find the right provider on there. More detail, pls click below.  

4. Google’s aim is to get users to find satisfactory answers on the first page whenever possible, and it does! Have you ever noticed that no matter what you search on google, you always find a satisfactory answer on the first page, and often surprisingly so? That’s why our top recommendation is Google. The first step is to narrow down your searches by including key words like “OEM” (original equipment manufacturer), “customized,” and “wholesale.” These keywords will help you find manufacturers that offer custom design options and wholesale pricing. Also, as I just said, it can be combined with customs data, and it is even better if you can find out that the other party serves customers who are your competitors. If you can serve others well, you can also serve you well. But be careful, it is recommended to sign a non-disclosure agreement with them, it is very important, any smart and sincere supplier will not make such a stupid mistake.

The most important thing is to find out how long the company has been engaged in wooden toys, the main guests. What competencies do you want them to have and can they demonstrate those competencies.

Find the Chinese toy manufacturing base area.

1. Plastic toys, electronic toys and High-tech toys – Chenghai, Guangdong Province – World’s Capital of Toys

Toys and gifts industry is the most characteristic industry in Chenghai, is also an important pillar of the industrial economy of Chenghai. In recent years, the district government vigorously support the development of the toy gift industry, many backbone enterprises, group companies have increased investment, constantly updated production equipment, so that the Chenghai toy gifts gradually formed raw material supply, modeling design, mold processing, parts manufacturing, assembly and molding, the Packaging and decoration and product sales, transportation and other professional division of labor and collaboration of the production system. The general application of computer-aided design, auxiliary production, product integration of light, sound, electricity into the new technology, a large number of international markets, enjoy a high reputation in the domestic and international markets. At present, the region engaged in the production of toys and gifts related enterprises amounted to more than 3,000, employing more than 100,000 people.

Thus their technology about these toys (Plastic toys, electronic toys and High-tech toys) are more professional than other city, like Zhejiang province (including Hangzhou, Yiwu), Shanghai. So they have to buy accessories from factories in Chenghai. Of course you could develop or buy them from other cities, however maybe more expensive and slowly if the company have no R & D ability. However most of the manufacturers in Chenghai don’t have a dedicated sales team, and their English level is not very good as well. So, you’d better find bigger factories or trade company who have their own showrooms which customers can visit their showroom, choose products, and place orders.

To explain how the powerful Chenghai manufacturer develop or produce a toy, if you want to produce a mechanical toy blender, first they confirm the inner structure with gears and springs, then make sample, open mold, purchase these accessories, finally assemble them.

So If you have a plan to purchase these toys, Chenghai might be the best opinions.

2. DIY craft toys with Low-value – Yiwu—The Biggest Small Commodities Distribution Center in The World

If you’re looking for a supplier who can offer very cheap price in China, then Yiwu City is the place to be. This small city in eastern China is home to the world’s largest wholesale market, making it the perfect place to source products for your business. Actually many of the little things that you see in your market, not necessarily toys, like clothing accessories, other accessories come mostly from Yiwu.

The toys from Yiwu are diversified. You can fins low-value all toys in Yiwu. Such as plastic toy, simple electronic toy, plush toy, wood toy, fabric toy, DIY, Pool Rafts & Inflatable Ride-on toy, magnetic toy, silicone toy and so on. There are some remote control and other high-tech toy suppliers in the market, but not at the most competitive prices, because there are no manufacturers of complicated remote control and high-tech in Yiwu.

There are some points to help you choose Chenghai or Yiwu

• Buy complicated and cheaper high-tech toy, like remote control car, choose Chenghai. Because there are no manufacturers chain of complicated high-tech in Yiwu.
• Buy simple and cheaper other toy, choose Yiwu. Yiwu always can offer lowest prices. However the quality is not as good as Chenghai. Take a plastic toy as an example; the materials, glossiness, and color of the plastic toys produced in Chenghai are much better than those of Yiwu.

In general, If you want focus on professional high technology plastic or electronic toys, visiting to Chenghai would be a good chose. If you want to buy variety of small and simple toy, Yiwu could be a better chose.

On the whole, you need to make a balance between the price and quality according to your real demands.And regardless of the price, Yiwu gathers the most complete toy categories, you can easily find all kinds of toys such as plush toys, simple electronic toys there.

3. Plush and Stuffed Toys – Yangzhou and Qingdao

You might can find these toy suppliers/manufacturers in Chenghai and Yiwu, however the scale is relatively small, so the chain is not complete. And due to high cost reason (labor, rent,material), these toys manufacturers have gradually moved to Jiangxi in recent years.

If you have an objective quantity, we suggest you ask your agent or trade company and take some days to visit factory directly. They will help you find suitable supplier based on your products characteristic.

4. China’s Capital of Educational and Playground Toys  – Yongjia, Zhejiang Province

Qiaoxia, a small town located in Yongjia, Wenzhou City (Pls note, it’s not from Yongkang), is the main place where educational and playground toys are produced in China. The main products are naughty castle, playground equipment, educational toys and other educational toys and the accessories products of educational toys. So far, Wenzhou City has more than 400 teaching toys production enterprises, more than 300 in the town of Qiaoxia. Qiaoxia Town has formed a regional production base for teaching toys with 700 varieties teaching toys required by various schools, communities and leisure places, such as teaching instruments, amusement facilities, sports equipment, educational supplies, intellectual toys and campus decoration supplies, etc.

5. Wooden toy – Yunhe, Lishui – City of Wooden Toys

Yunhe – led to the wooden toy industry is a small city and specified in wooden toys, which with the most complete wooden toy industrial chain. 30,000 people in a city of 110,000 work with wooden toys. There are over 745 wooden toy manufacturers. Over 98% manufacturers get orders from trading company or agent because the English level of the locals is not that good. And they have strong execution, but poor design and R&D skills.

So how can you find the professional trade company who have design and R&D skills?

Remember that – choose the company who have own wooden toy brand. Most of them are in Ningbo City. In general, they use same factories. So the main elements you may consider are communication efficiency, like reversion rate, design speed, develop seed, the integrity to take responsibility and so on. There are 2 trade company for your reference.   

. Hape International (ningbo) LTD. – The lead of wooden toy with high quality, high MOQ and a bit high prices. with Click to know more. https://www.hape.com

. Ningbo Tooky Toy Co., LTD. – 18 years wooden toy company with low custom MOQ, competitive price and various designs. Click to know more. www.tookystudio.com 

Attend Toy Trade Shows

The world’s most important toy shows are the Hong Kong Toy Fair, the New York Toy Fair and the Nuremberg Toy Fair. The Toy Fair was cancelled several times to the COVID-19 pandemic. However we will be there again.

Nuremberg Toy Fair

Address: Nuremberg Exhibition Center

The Nuremberg International Toy Fair (German: Spielwarenmesse), held annually since 1949, is the largest international trade fair for toys and games. Only trade visitors associated with the toy business, journalists and invited guests are admitted. Each year during the course of the event which is held for six days, about 2,800 exhibitors from about 60 countries present their products. In 2017, 73,000 trade visitors and purchasers from 123 countries came for the fair. The fair is organized by Spielwarenmesse eG, a marketing and trade fair service provider, based in Nuremberg, Germany.

Hong Kong Toy & Games Fair

Address: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

The HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair is the largest toy industry event in Asia and the second largest in the world. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), it is held annually in January in Hong Kong, China, featuring over 2,000 international exhibitors and catering to the needs of buyers from around the world. Exhibits include educational toys & games, hobby goods, magic items, outdoor & sporting items, paper products & toy packaging, video games, along with Brand Name Gallery for branded toys.

New York Toy Fair

Address: New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

NY Toy fair is an annual toy industry trade show. The event is open to the toy trade only – toy industry professionals, retailers, and press representatives. It is produced by The Toy Association. Toy Fair New York’s promoters describe it as the largest toy trade show in the Western hemisphere.

There are also many toy fairs, large and small, in the interior of China, you may find fewer foreign exhibitors, however You still have a chance to find the right supplier. So if you are in China, or if you have your own office in China, you can ask your colleagues to attend and discover some new elements. They are

• 1. Toy & Edu China (深圳国际玩具及教育产品展览会)

Address: Pazhou Poly World Trade Expo Center, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

• 2. Beijing International Kindergarten Supplies Fair (北京国际玩具及幼教用品展览会)

Address: China International Exhibition Center, 6 N 3rd Ring Rd E, Chaoyang, Beijing, China

• 3. Chenghai International Toys & Gift Fair (澄海国际玩具礼品博览会)

Address: Chenghai Exhibition Center, 324 Guo Dao, Chenghai District, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China.

• 4. Yiwu Expo (义乌博览会)

Address: Yiwu International Expo Center, Jiangdong E Rd, Yiwu, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China

Final Words

Thank you for you read my post. Please feel free to share it with others if you found this guide to finding a Chinese toy maker helpful. Please leave a comment below with any questions or comments you may have about this article.

The End about Tooky

Tooky is a leading 18 years wooden toy supplier based in China. Below is our main 7 values. If you are interested in importing wooden toys, feel free to CONTACT us.

1) Products-Over 500 fine selected products + over 40 quarterly new launches. 

2) Free customized designs-9 experienced product managers, they will convert toy into with your brand characteristics

3) Customized package-4 packaging experts offer not only safe package, but legal labeling for market access

4) Test report-Not sure of testing standards? You can leave test with us till we get a final “pass” report as market requires

5) Lifestyle pictures-Never feel helpless about marketing! Will offer you lifestyle pictures if you need

6) Short videos-Check with our sales for “Short Video Paid-Service & Discount Program”

7) Exclusivity program-After spending a tremendous amount of resources on marketing and advertising, we may see competitors sharing our fruits of labor by carrying very similar products. How to obtain some kind of protections? An “exclusivity program” needed to be put in place, check with our sales.

Any comments, pls contact with me sales05@tookytoy.com