Page 22 - Toy & Hobby Retailers Magazine Feb-Apr 2020

TREND UPDATE
Trend Update
Spielwarenmesse’s Trend Committee, National Retail Association CEO Dominique Lamb, buyers from
Big W, Kidstuff and Catch and NPD Australia reveal the latest trends to be on the look out for in 2020.
SPIELWARENMESSE TREND COMMITTEE TOY TRENDS 2020
THE key toy trends for this year were revealed by the Spielwarenmesse Trend Committee in October 2019, with sustainability, digital play and inclusivity emerging as the three crazes to capitalise on this year.
Formulated by investigating current themes, social movements, technological advancements and the trends – Toys for Future, Digital goes Physical and Be You! – were on show in the Trend Gallery in Hall 3A at the fair.
Each of the trends is detailed below by the Trend Committee.
TOYS FOR FUTURE – SUSTAINABILITY IN PLAY
Greta Thunberg’s School Strike for Climate sparked conversations across the world, mobilising millions of people to strike from school and work to implore politicians and governments to take decisive action on climate change.
The toy industry has a tendency to tackle current issues and reflect the world on a smaller scale. Environmental awareness, sustainability and renewable energy can be explained in a child-appropriate manner through play.
Products that fall within this trend have a firm focus on climate protection and sustainability.
They not only promote environmentally friendly behaviour and raise awareness
through play, but they also comprise toys with sustainable aspects such as ecological materials, or articles that have been upcycled or recycled.
DIGITAL GOES PHYSICAL – VIRTUAL FIGURES ‘GET REAL’ Computer games are no longer simply played in living rooms at home but are capable
of filling entire stadiums as professional competitions. The market for eSports keeps growing inexorably.
Digitalisation continues to make inroads in all areas, thereby also bringing inspiration to the world of classic toys.
Characters from well-known computer games and eSports are becoming popular licensing themes. YouTube channels, apps and messaging services, likewise, offer considerable potential.
22 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER FEBRUARY / MARCH / APRIL 2020