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The Resurgence of the Backyard
D
uring the quarantine when activities were canceled and families stayed home, the backyard became one of the most popular spots. It isn’t a surprise then that sales of backyard play items experienced tremendous growth in the spring and summer of 2020, and all indications appear that families will continue to invest in backyard play in 2021. “Growth in the outdoor and sports toys super category was driven by a number of categories that experienced strong dollar gains during April,” noted Washington D.C.-based research group NPD in April of this year. “(That growth) included Playground Equipment (+81%), Skate/Skateboards/Scooters (+107%), Ride-Ons (+78%), Water/Sand Toys & Accessories (+47%), Pools (+161%), and Sports Activities & Games (+25%).” Maria Bailey, CEO of Florida-based BSM Media, a marketing-to-moms agency that specializes in connecting brands with mom consumers, said the quarantine offered a time for discovery and learning. “Many families took up new hobbies and tried to learn new skills. Many of them
by Tami Murphy, Grand Prix International
astratoy.org • July 2021
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