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The Toy Association Announces 2027 Dates for LA Spring & Fall Preview Market Weeks

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LA Spring Preview Market Week – May 17-21, 2027
LA Fall Preview Market Weeks – September 13-24, 2027

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Toy Association today confirmed 2027 dates for the LA Spring Preview Week and announced dates for the LA Fall Preview Market Weeks, which will drive business growth for the global toy and play community at The Toy Association’s Toy Building as well as dozens of additional showrooms throughout the LA Toy District.

The LA Spring Preview Market Week will take place May 17 to 21, 2027, followed by the LA Fall Preview Market Weeks from September 13 to 24, 2027. Together, the events will allow buyers and sellers to forge new relationships, advance strategic priorities, identify opportunities for future growth, and discover the latest toys, trends, and innovations.

“The Toy Association, in conjunction with the newly formed International Toy Board, want to build on the incredible momentum of the 2026 LA Fall Preview Market Weeks as we look ahead to an even bigger and more impactful 2027 — a year that will evolve and strengthen the LA preview experience to deliver even more opportunities for companies to succeed,” said Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “The energy and enthusiasm from tenants, retailers, and industry partners at The Toy Building was amazing, with everyone using the event to put meaningful business plans into motion for next year, reinforcing LA’s role as a critical industry gathering place and The Toy Building a key hub for these activities. The tremendous positivity we continue to see in LA and across our other Toy Association events — including Toy Fair New York and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair — is a powerful demonstration of the resilience, creativity, and strong outlook of the toy industry.”

Companies looking for a year-round presence in the heart of LA’s toy hub are invited to establish their ultimate showroom at The Toy Association’s Toy Building, located at 101 Continental Blvd. in El Segundo. Designed by toy people, for toy people, The Toy Building offers state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated on-site support from The Toy Association, and a central location that puts companies at the center of a thriving manufacturer community. Coming out of September, The Toy Building’s original four floors are now almost completely filled with permanent tenants. Due to this high demand, The Toy Association is in the process of adding two additional floors — an additional 50,000 square feet — to the space.

With showroom options for companies of all sizes — from established global brands to emerging toy businesses — The Toy Building provides a year-round platform for buyer meetings, product discovery and relationship building, with particularly strong activity during the spring and fall market periods.

“The September 2026 LA Fall Preview Market Weeks delivered an exceptional experience for the industry, surpassing even our most optimistic expectations,” said Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global experiences at The Toy Association. “The energy, engagement, and business results generated across the marketplace were truly remarkable. Showrooms were active, appointments were productive, and companies of all sizes were forging new partnerships, unveiling innovative product lines, and driving the business of play forward. The level of participation throughout the market reinforced the continued importance of in-person connection as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and commercial success — and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2027!”

From networking and education to showcasing the latest lines, trends, and innovations, the 2027 LA Preview Market Weeks will deliver a dynamic experience as part of The Toy Association’s ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for the global toy and play community to connect, discover, learn and do business throughout the year. Educational programming for 2027 will once again include partnerships with Circana and X Tracks Licensing Summit; additional sessions and special events will be announced in the coming months. The Toy Association also produces the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair, (November 7–8, 2026) and Toy Fair New York (February 20–23, 2027), the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere.

Click here for more information about the 2027 LA Spring and Fall Preview Market Weeks and opportunities at The Toy Building.

About The Toy Association™  toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $155.7 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.     

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities at The Toy Building in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America’s widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association’s philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children’s charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.

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SOURCE The Toy Association

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Media Advisory: Minister Chartrand to celebrate mining milestone

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THOMPSON, MB, Oct. 15, 2026 /CNW/ — The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, will celebrate an important mining project milestone. A media availability will follow.  

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

Time: 1:40 p.m. CT

All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing Seeon.Smith@manitoba.ca. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration.

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Monarch Metal Launches Build Your Custom Z Clip Configurator for Made-to-Order Aluminum Z Clips and Rails

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Monarch Metal’s new online configurator gives contractors, fabricators, installers, and purchasing teams a faster way to order aluminum Z Clips with the exact length and hole pattern their project requires.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Monarch Metal Inc., a leading manufacturer of architectural metal solutions for more than 30 years, announced the launch of Build Your Custom Z Clip, a new online configurator that lets customers create custom aluminum Z Clips and rails directly from the product page. Customers choose the profile, finished length, hole size, and spacing they need, review the configuration and pricing, and add it directly to their cart.

They configure it, see the price, and add it to the cart, and most custom orders ship within two days. – Brandon Bingham, CEO, Monarch Metal Inc.

Not every project fits a standard rail length or hole pattern. An installation might require a specific finished length, a different fastener size, tighter hole spacing, or a rail with no holes at all. Build Your Custom Z Clip puts those choices on the product page so customers can configure the rail they need without submitting a quote request or working through specifications by email.

The configurator is available on six Monarch aluminum Z Clip profiles: the MF625, MF375, and MF250, along with the high load capacity MFSTR-0375, MFSTR-050, and MFSTR-075.

Custom rails can be configured from 1.5 inches to 12 feet in 0.125-inch increments for the length of the rail or clip. Customers select one of the available hole diameters for the profile or choose No Holes, then set hole spacing in 0.5-inch increments, with the maximum spacing adjusting automatically to the rail length. The configurator determines how many holes fit the selected rail and centers the pattern so the lead-in at both ends is equal. A live Configuration Summary shows the finished length, hole size, hole count, spacing, lead-in, price per rail, quantity, and total price before the order is placed.

Custom does not always mean a custom part is needed. If a configuration exactly matches a Monarch stock rail that is currently available, the configurator displays a stock option notice with a direct way to select it instead. The comparison checks rail length, hole size, and hole spacing, so a configuration is only identified as stock when the specifications actually match.

“Every installation is different, and a standard rail length or hole pattern does not always fit the job,” said Brandon Bingham, CEO of Monarch Metal Inc. “Build Your Custom Z Clip gives our customers the exact rail their project calls for without the back and forth of a quote request. They configure it, see the price, and add it to the cart, and most custom orders ship within two days. With locations in New York, Texas, and Nevada, we are positioned to get custom rails to job sites across the country quickly.”

Build Your Custom Z Clip is designed for projects that call for something outside the standard options, including panel installations that require rails cut to exact layout dimensions, millwork and cabinetry where custom lengths reduce cutting in the shop or field, architectural applications with specific fastening requirements, and fabrication work where rails are ordered without holes for in-house drilling or machining. Regular stock options remain available on the same product pages.

The configurator is built for both desktop and mobile. On phones and tablets, the layout stacks into a single column and replaces sliders with large plus and minus controls for easier adjustment on a touchscreen. Custom and stock products can be added to the same cart, and the specifications for each custom rail stay with the item through checkout, order confirmation, and order emails.

For more information or to build a custom Z Clip, visit https://www.monarchmetal.com/products/monarch-z-clips/.

About Monarch Metal Inc.

For over 30 years, Monarch Metal Inc. has been a trusted manufacturer of high-quality architectural metal products, custom aluminum extrusions, and panel hanging systems, specializing in aluminum Z Clips, panel mounting systems, and interior wall and ceiling panel solutions. The company is known for precision-engineered components that support efficient installation, long-term durability, and clean, concealed finishes across commercial and architectural applications. Through continuous product innovation and a commitment to quality, Monarch Metal Inc. remains a leading resource for architects, designers, and contractors seeking reliable panel mounting and metal fabrication solutions.

Media Contact

Brian Oakes, Monarch Metal Inc., 1 6317503000, boakes@monarchmetal.com, https://www.monarchmetal.com

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SOURCE Monarch Metal Inc.

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Movin’ on Up: Olympus Announces Sale of MEI

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STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Olympus Partners is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to sell MEI Industrial Solutions (“MEI”) to 26North Partners LP. MEI is a scaled national provider of equipment execution services including rigging, machinery moving, industrial storage, millwrighting, custom crating and integrated logistics. The company serves blue-chip customers across data centers, semiconductors and other industrial end markets, with nearly 2,500 employees across the U.S.

Under Olympus’ ownership, MEI underwent a transformative expansion, growing its footprint from 16 to 30 operating locations and entering key new markets including Chicago, Miami, Providence and Richmond, while quadrupling its indoor storage capacity to over 10 million square feet and executing seven strategic acquisitions. To drive this growth, Olympus partnered with CEO Doug Dayton, who was hired during Olympus’ ownership period, to strengthen the commercial organization, establish a regional leadership structure backed by robust corporate infrastructure and maintain a rigorous commitment to an industry-leading safety program.

“Our investment in MEI was anchored in a strong business model and an exceptionally talented team,” said Sam Greenberg, Partner at Olympus. “By making targeted investments in both leadership and technology, the Company has integrated its geographic footprint into a unified national platform, delivering a level of service quality and consistency unprecedented in the industry. We are incredibly proud of what Doug and the team have built and look forward to following MEI’s next chapter of growth.”

“The MEI team executed exceptionally well, capturing substantial market share in high-growth end markets while rapidly launching new services to meet evolving customer needs,” added Dave Cardenas, Managing Partner at Olympus. “Crucially, they achieved this expansion while maintaining an industry-leading safety record. We couldn’t be prouder of our partnership with Doug and the entire company.”

“The growth MEI has experienced over the past three years is a testament to the extraordinary people across our organization and our strong partnership with Olympus,” said Doug Dayton, CEO of MEI. “They’ve supported us in making the investments necessary to become a true industry leader while staying grounded in the values that have always made MEI successful: safety, accountability, and delivering for our customers. I’m grateful for their confidence in our team and excited to build on this momentum with 26North as we enter our next chapter of growth.”

The Olympus team included Dave Cardenas, Sam Greenberg, George Swenson, Marty Durkin, and Tanaya Bhakat. Lazard served as financial advisor to MEI and Olympus, led by George Fisher and Bob Frost. Baird also served as a financial advisor.

ABOUT OLYMPUS PARTNERS

Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for growing companies. Olympus manages in excess of $12 billion mainly on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, food services, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing.

ABOUT MEI INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS

MEI Industrial Solutions moves, stores and installs critical equipment for customers in the data center, semiconductor, EV and battery, aerospace and defense, life sciences and pharmaceutical, and industrial manufacturing markets. Its services include rigging, machinery moving and setting, storage and staging, crating and export packaging, and specialized logistics. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, MEI operates 30 locations across the United States. For more information, visit www.meiindustrialsolutions.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/movin-on-up-olympus-announces-sale-of-mei-302910400.html

SOURCE Olympus Partners

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