TIA Spots Top Trends for Holiday 2009
For more information
on dozens of “hot holiday toys” in 11 key toy segments, view
the 2010 Toy of the Year nominees online at www.ToyAwards.org. |
Toy Industry Association “elves” have been busy supplying
consumer and business media with product and trend information to report
during the 2009 holiday shopping season.
Based on months of effort cataloging product data and monitoring the
marketplace, Reyne Rice, TIA’s toy trend specialist, has organized
the season’s top trends carry through the five
“E’s” introduced earlier in 2009:
ECONOMY
Parents and gift-givers are looking to stretch their dollar
and still provide the magic that finding that perfect gift can have for
both the giver and recipient. In addition to offering great pricing and
promotional/sale opportunities, manufacturers have extended price value
with toys and games that grow with a child, and with products that
appeal to many members of the family. Some great value-priced
propositions include games and puzzles, activity toys and construction
toys that can be played with and by children of multiple ages.
EXERCISE
Toys that get kids up and moving, promote healthy activity
and exercise, and that are also fun are top choices for parents and
grandparents.
ENTERTAINMENT
Pop-culture, blockbuster movie hits, celebrities and TV-based
entertainment properties continue to drive sales in the toy and game
aisles. Dolls and action figures are popular categories; self-expression
through electronics, digital photography and arts and crafts continues
to be strong; and construction toys tied to popular brands have been
hitting double-digit growth in the past twelve months.
eConnected
Internet-linked toys continue to drive kids’ favorites this
holiday season. Many toy products include the price-value component of a
physical toy and access to secret codes for added internet play in
online virtual worlds. Other popular digital and tech toys include
hand-held electronic games, products that include digital cameras and
software to create and edit photos, movies and other online
activities.
EDUCATION
Toy products that can be fun and engaging and also provide
an educational benefit are popular gifts with kids, parents,
grandparents and caregivers. Educational toys can focus on a wide
variety of learning options including literacy, science and discovery,
math and problem solving, music and language skills, and
more.
“Holiday 2009 toy and game products may overlap into multiple
gift categories since the popular brands interweave with books and TV,
the internet and mobile media devices,” added
Rice.
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