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Sunday, 16 September 2012

Favorite Christmas Toys of the Big Boys

By Keith Tennent


Christmas used to be a time for the children but now toys for bog boys seem to be so possible as well. The top twelve toys this Christmas as noted by the Toy Retailers Association contain a surprising high number of toys directed at bigger kids. This noticeable paradigm shift in the toy market should come as no surprise - a short look around the internet reveals a total market designed for the older toy consumer.

As UK toy stores get ready for the coming Christmas rush, their shelves are placed not only with gifts for kids, but of stock on the wish list of an ever growing adult consumers. A short look at the most wanted list for this Christmas shows toys such as Robosapien V2, Roboraptor and the Doctor Who Remote Control Dalek. It does not take an industry expert to surmise that these toys are goaled at a demographic with full time works and high disposable income rather than a demographic that watches Saturday morning television.

The rise of toys for grown ups has been an increasing trend in recent years and coincides with an increase in retro culture that dominates the film and television industries. Remakes of films and television series that appeal to an older audience mean that subsequent merchandising appeal to a grown up audience who were fans of the series and films first time round - the conspicuous presence of Star Wars toys and Doctor Who toys in UK toy store both online and offline reflect this.

The emergence of a two tier market catering for real kids and "big kids" is apparent and will be particularly evident in the busiest period for the toy market. The market for the older demographic has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years and had led to the specific targeting of the segment particularly through the marketing of technology based toys such as the Robosapien V2 and Roboraptor - toys with a limited appeal to those in short trousers. Increasingly, these toys permeate the marketplace and toy stores looking to capitalise on the big kids market.

It looks that toys for big boys market is set to grow over the coming years, people of a wider cultural shift and impacting likely on the toy market. Whilst the toy market is still domineered by kids toys, it seems that Christmas toys are no longer just for the children.




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