FEATURE
Spin Master
BOYS COLLECTABLES
Ask the retailers What products do you stock in this category and which are your best sellers?
Boys and
Bandai
their toys With toys shops open, hopefully boys will be popping in after school and at the weekends to spend their pocket money on the latest collectable. So what’s looking popular for this summer and beyond? TnP finds out...
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ollecting can prove not only to be a fun hobby, but if you’re patient enough, it can be quite profitable too! One of the most popular collectables according to our indie retailers are Pokémon cards, and one of the rarest from 20-plus years ago could be worth more than £200,00! The 1999 Holographic Shadow-less First Edition Charizard, with a ‘PSA 10 Gem Mint’ rating, recently sold on eBay for $311,800 (£226,761). Even more common cards such as the Charizard Holo cards from the 1999 base set are known to fetch between £3,000 and £7,000, despite the fact that there are more than 10,000 in circulation. This fun fact was revealed in a new study by Money.co.uk, which showed the most popular and valuable collectables around the world. So what about today’s collectables for boys? Spin Master is well known in the category and offers a wide range, with Monster Jam vehicles, action figures from Batman, and Bakugan battling toys. However, it’s skateboarding that’s proving most popular at the moment, as marketing manager Simone Palombi explains: “We’ve found that due to the increased popularity in skateboarding over the past year, there has been a significant drive in sales of Tech Deck Fingerboards.’’ Robots and tech toys are also gaining in popularity, and Thames & Kosmos has just the thing for boys aged six-plus: “For 2021 we are expanding our robotics offering with the introduction of ReBotz, which is due to arrive in the UK in September,’’ says Julia Loeser, science kit sales, marketing & PR manager. “ReBotz is a series of four motorised robot pals that spring into action from a heap of scrapyard parts. Children can
MAY 2021
collect all four models and the different robot parts are all interchangeable, which will keep inquisitive engineering minds engaged.’’ With screens and games such as Fortnite luring boys in particular away from the toy shop, how are suppliers trying to encourage older boys towards the collectables market? “Our collectables core target is children aged five to seven, however, we have seen some items, such as toys from the Tech Deck brand, gain popularity among older children due to the skills needed to use them,’’ explains Simone. “Similarly, Bakugan items are steered towards older children as there is a level of skill and ability required to play with the toys alongside their collectability aspect. Children are indeed spending increasing amounts of time looking at screens or playing video games, but the appeal of physical toys and roleplay still remains strong, as does the challenge and mystery of collecting.’’ Julia adds: “2020 has seen a significant rise in STEM toy sales. We think this is due to the fact that it compromises children’s desire to stay on electronic gadgets but also opens up new ways for parents to introduce young children to STEM.’’ When it comes to collectables, ‘the next big’ can be key, and Simone believes “there will be a continued demand for all things skateboard-related. We predict that anything with ‘the fiddle factor’ will remain successful.’’ Retailer Aamir Yusuf, owner of Totally Awesome shops in Yorkshire, concludes: “Even though we encourage kids and families to get away from phones and tablets, collectables that interact with a virtual world will no doubt be the next big thing.’’
We didn’t stock Pokémon until this year, but the popularity has surprised me. As soon as new ranges hit the shelves they fly. We will be expanding our range of Pokémon this year. Pokémon and Warhammer are our current core brands. For us, Warhammer tends do well from ages 12 to 18. Then there is generally a gap as they discover university and the pub - and then come back into the hobby at 25-30-yearsold. Pushpoppers [from H Grossman under its HGL brand] have been doing well for us. And we are looking forward to getting stock of Loopy Loopers [from Asmodee]. Brendan Will, Will’s Toy Shop, Aberdeen
Our best sellers are Schleich Eldrador creatures. We have always done well with Squishmallows; customers ask for them every day. Lisa Clay, Armadillo Toys, Chapel Allerton, Leeds
We stock Schleich animal figures and sales always ticks along. We don’t see great surges, although I have a lad who collects them. He saves his birthday cash and pocket money, so we have a bit of a peak in the week when he comes in and suddenly splurges on them! Richard Barsley, Barsleys Department Store, Paddock Wood, Kent
We stock a range called Arty Toys by Djeco, which is really popular. Kids always come back to add to their collection and are excited when we bring out new characters we have a huge Arty Toy character in the shop that children love! Simon Russell, Crafts4Kids, The Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle, Nottingham
Our two best sellers are Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards. We find a lot of teenage boys are still keen collectors of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards.We are planning to bring in a wider range of Pushpoppers. Samantha and Laura Clare, Toys Plus, Blackpool and Cleveleys, Lancashire
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