The toy business has changed dramatically since the pandemic started. Now parents’ toy purchases are influenced by results of the pandemic.
For the coming summer, the focus will be on backyard and in-home toys as out-of-home events continue to be canceled. Ride-on toys will have strong growth and products focused on sustainability, like garbage and recycling trucks, including ones with accessories to teach children about reusability, will be very popular. Water blasters and super soakers with new features will also be popular.
In 2020, the NPD Group reported a 29% increase in the outdoor and sports toys category, with sales totaling $5.35B. The outdoor fun will continue in 2021, with families turning to their backyards and outdoor spaces once again as the pandemic continues to limit summer camp and travel options.
The key to taking market share is innovation. Of course that means lots of new toys will take market share but it also means that long-established brands that can adapt and change can also gain share.
The broadest trends are:
- STEM toys - promoting science and math skills
- Green toys - products that encourage sustainability
- Toys that promote family fun and playing at home
- Social Emotional Learning - toys that help kids stay calm and teach them how to manage their feelings
- Digital influences - YouTube is a huge source of information for children about toys they want
Families can still keep the fun going at home and spend that summer vacation money on toys that turn their backyards into playgrounds for kids to enjoy all season long. The toys you’ll find in our guide are jam-packed with play value and will get the little ones off their screens and outside. Plus, they may even sneak in a little summer learning!
If you've been thinking of selling your old toys, consider selling them on FiddlePiddle.com - a toy marketplace which doesn't charge any fees to list or join. Its absolutely free! It's really easy to join (all you need is an email and password) and you get paid instantly! We developed this platform because of the frustrations many people have when trying to list their toys on Amazon or eBay. Go on and give it a try - it's really easy!