Toy sector - what happened
Discussion
Looking to buy my kids stuff for their upcoming birthdays, and realised there are no toy shops anymore. The ones that remain, like Hamleys, sell cheap plastic rubbish or everything is movie merch.
I remember as a kid in the 80s how fun it was to visit a toy store, and you planned birthdays and christmas based on ideas from what was in the window and on the shelves.
Kids now have none of that inspiration. They have movies, whatever junk is on supermarket shelves, or what their mates have - which is usually the same crap from Tesco.
And where a Hornby train or Matchbox car cost a few quid back then, the equivalent are ten or twenty times the price now and only online - like they are aimed at adults, not for kids.
What happened to this sector?
I remember as a kid in the 80s how fun it was to visit a toy store, and you planned birthdays and christmas based on ideas from what was in the window and on the shelves.
Kids now have none of that inspiration. They have movies, whatever junk is on supermarket shelves, or what their mates have - which is usually the same crap from Tesco.
And where a Hornby train or Matchbox car cost a few quid back then, the equivalent are ten or twenty times the price now and only online - like they are aimed at adults, not for kids.
What happened to this sector?
Was thinking something similar the other day walking past a horse chestnut tree with a load of conkers on the ground.
Do kids still play conkers at school?
I was explaining the joy of going conker hunting on a Sunday, putting holes in them and going to school with pockets stuffed with them and bits of string/laces.
Jumpers for goalposts, oh yes
Do kids still play conkers at school?
I was explaining the joy of going conker hunting on a Sunday, putting holes in them and going to school with pockets stuffed with them and bits of string/laces.
Jumpers for goalposts, oh yes
Independent toy shops have been going the same way as independents in other sectors for pretty much the same reasons; competition from the big boys, death of the high street, Amazon, economic downturn, increase in costs, etc
Kids are growing out of ‘traditional’ toys earlier because of alternates like consoles, tablets and phones. Grim as it is you’ll probably find ‘on screen’ is a kids favourite way of playing these days.
Licensing is where the money is, so that’s where the product is.
Kids are growing out of ‘traditional’ toys earlier because of alternates like consoles, tablets and phones. Grim as it is you’ll probably find ‘on screen’ is a kids favourite way of playing these days.
Licensing is where the money is, so that’s where the product is.
vixen1700 said:
Was thinking something similar the other day walking past a horse chestnut tree with a load of conkers on the ground.
Do kids still play conkers at school?
I was explaining the joy of going conker hunting on a Sunday, putting holes in them and going to school with pockets stuffed with them and bits of string/laces.
Jumpers for goalposts, oh yes
My kids still collect conkers. Do kids still play conkers at school?
I was explaining the joy of going conker hunting on a Sunday, putting holes in them and going to school with pockets stuffed with them and bits of string/laces.
Jumpers for goalposts, oh yes
A lot of the toys they like are things that I played with as a child in the 80s like Lego and Playmobil.
tracer.smart said:
Looking to buy my kids stuff for their upcoming birthdays, and realised there are no toy shops anymore. The ones that remain, like Hamleys, sell cheap plastic rubbish or everything is movie merch.
I remember as a kid in the 80s how fun it was to visit a toy store, and you planned birthdays and christmas based on ideas from what was in the window and on the shelves.
Kids now have none of that inspiration. They have movies, whatever junk is on supermarket shelves, or what their mates have - which is usually the same crap from Tesco.
And where a Hornby train or Matchbox car cost a few quid back then, the equivalent are ten or twenty times the price now and only online - like they are aimed at adults, not for kids.
What happened to this sector?
Hornby were never cheap for working class kids. I had one, second hand, engine, could never afford a secondI remember as a kid in the 80s how fun it was to visit a toy store, and you planned birthdays and christmas based on ideas from what was in the window and on the shelves.
Kids now have none of that inspiration. They have movies, whatever junk is on supermarket shelves, or what their mates have - which is usually the same crap from Tesco.
And where a Hornby train or Matchbox car cost a few quid back then, the equivalent are ten or twenty times the price now and only online - like they are aimed at adults, not for kids.
What happened to this sector?
Just go to Smyth's they have most toys you can think of from Matchbox cars to wooden trainsets to PlayStations/Xbox and everything in between old school and new.
Growing up in the 80's Toys R Us and Toymaster were the big shops around me.
Most of the stuff in there back then was radio controlled or movie/cartoon tie in's, not much has changed in my experience apart from newer tech.
Growing up in the 80's Toys R Us and Toymaster were the big shops around me.
Most of the stuff in there back then was radio controlled or movie/cartoon tie in's, not much has changed in my experience apart from newer tech.
vixen1700 said:
Was thinking something similar the other day walking past a horse chestnut tree with a load of conkers on the ground.
Do kids still play conkers at school?
I was explaining the joy of going conker hunting on a Sunday, putting holes in them and going to school with pockets stuffed with them and bits of string/laces.
Jumpers for goalposts, oh yes
I think I'm right in saying that 'elf n safety' put paid to conkering?Do kids still play conkers at school?
I was explaining the joy of going conker hunting on a Sunday, putting holes in them and going to school with pockets stuffed with them and bits of string/laces.
Jumpers for goalposts, oh yes
More goalpost jumpers, memory triggered by OP:
Hamleys was where we (sister & me) went to spend our "Christmas money". Given as postal orders often. Topped up with savings from my Huckleberry Hound moneybox.
From suburban Orpington, train to town, underground, and if we had a lot of/big stuff then that's the only time I can remember Mum/Dad taking a taxi. Late '60s.
Hamleys was where we (sister & me) went to spend our "Christmas money". Given as postal orders often. Topped up with savings from my Huckleberry Hound moneybox.
From suburban Orpington, train to town, underground, and if we had a lot of/big stuff then that's the only time I can remember Mum/Dad taking a taxi. Late '60s.
k all in. 
bigandclever said:
Yeah… no.
It did in my school. They brought it back after a few years, but children have short memories and the skills/enthusiasm for the game was lost as the new kids like me never learned it and moved on to stuff like 40-40 it and British Bulldog (another banned game that was brought back in tag form but went full contact whenever the lunch ladies weren't looking 
).Edited by BritishBlitz87 on Saturday 2nd October 14:55
Antony Moxey said:
If you’re talking prices, don’t look at the big Lego Technic sets unless you’re sitting down.
£250 for a lego car. Bargain https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/lego-and-...
I have to admit, after watching the video I now want one
Edited by Donbot on Saturday 2nd October 14:54
video games are much cheaper now than when we were kids as are toys really. An app might be free with some adds an a PS game is what £50, 25 years ago they were £30 etc.
Plus why build lego with liited blocks when with mine craft you can build a whole city and then blow it up. Why push cars around the carpet when you can race any one you want Forza, need for speed etc.
Shame but that is technology
Plus why build lego with liited blocks when with mine craft you can build a whole city and then blow it up. Why push cars around the carpet when you can race any one you want Forza, need for speed etc.
Shame but that is technology
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