It's That Time of Year Again

To pay the insurance bill :( Hey though - Unfortunately it's been worth every penny in our five years of existence so far, so I can't complain too loudly.

Positive Play

Around three years ago, I fell out with a local headteacher, when she chose to ban Gogos Crazy Bones from the playground. There'd been fights and thefts apparently. I wrote her a lengthy (perhaps too lengthy) letter explaining my point of view.

Children's collectibles play a hugely important role in Positive Play, teaching children sharing, fair play and organisational skills to name just three. I pointed out the opportunities that bringing collectibles like these into the classroom could offer to engage children in their lessons and directed her to a number of media stories where more enlightened educators had done just that with high levels of success. I finally pointed out that if there were fights and thefts, the problem was with discipline, not with Crazy Bones. But no. According to her reply, she was an expert in Positive Play and her playground was a paradise for children. To paraphrase, Crazy Bones were a blight on this nirvana.

Fast forward three years and my daughter is now a pupil at the school. Each morning I stand and watch before the bell rings, and I've seen hundreds of examples of very un-positive play taking place in the playground - enough to make my hair stand on end at times. This morning though, I saw two girls, sat quietly in a corner, negotiating their swaps of Moshi Monsters cards. It was the most positive piece of play I've seen happen at the school. I'll expect my daughter to come home with a letter telling us they are banned too in the near future. Just sayin'.

It's Not Just the Finances That Hurt in a Tough Economy

Once upon a time, it feels like a million years ago, I was (in most parents eyes) the kindly man that provided their children with enjoyable things to play with. They trusted that I knew what I was talking about and that I only sold toys I genuinely thought were good.

Now (in some parents eyes), I'm a rogue, vagabond and thief, desperate to pick the pockets of their darling offspring. I'm cunningly luring the kids into asking mum or dad for a pound for a pocket money toy that's bound to be rubbish.

Amazing how the economy can change people's perspectives. Kinda hurts.

MGA Beats Mattel or Something Like That

Apparently something happened today in the "most tedious courtroom drama" winner each year for the last, what feels like, decade. As the MGA vs Mattel lawsuit continues to head towards Jarndyce vs Jarndyce proportions, it seems there was some sort of result which will be no doubt be overturned in due course.

In case you don't follow toy industry litigation particularly closely, the whole thing is about the date on which a toy I really don't like was designed. Will there be retrials, mistrials, recriminations, counter-recriminations, more lawsuits and lawsuits about the lawsuits? Of course. Will any of it interest me? Nope.

High Street Sales Fall

Nestled into a quiet corner of today's Toy News email was the particularly unsurprising news that High Street sales have plummeted in March. Hmm. I'm no Economics Professor but with inflation outstripping wage rises, it's a natural consequence. Retail needs people with money in their pockets and quickly. We've seen big and small name casualties and there'll be many more. Of course all this reduces tax revenue and the words 'downward spiral' spring to mind.

As I said, I'm no Economics Professor but someone who is, recently told his 3rd Year Economics class, only half in jest, that the quickest way to kick start the economy would be to treble the student grant - the one group of people that would immediately take the money and pump it straight back into circulation. Someone needs a good idea fast and its the best I've heard so far ;)

The Sad Loss of Corinthian

Sad news in the toy industry today, with the announcement that Corinthian has gone into administration. They've blamed a number of things - particularly the bad weather in the run up to Christmas. Maybe another day, I'll have a rant about some of the other reasons I think toy distributors are struggling, but today all I'll say is that I'm sorry to see them go.

Zoobles and The Craze Track Record

We haven't been able to get them for a while. We have people asking for them every day. Demand is out-stripping supply everywhere. Even Amazon don't seem to have them in stock themsleves - all the ones on offer are being sold by third-parties.

I could either be talking about Zoobles right now, or Silly Bandz six months ago. Silly Bandz have meanwhile dropped off the tween radar completely. Very quickly. Two-and-a-half years ago, a product called Gogos Crazy Bones arrived. And they started to sell. And then they sold loads. And kept going and kept going and kept going. OK, so nowadays we only keep a couple of boxes tucked away in a corner, but it would still be a pretty rare day if none sold.

So why did Crazy Bones achieve longevity when Bandz (and quite a few other 'definitely gonna be long term crazes' of last year) failed? Economy? That pretty certainly has something to do with it. Parents are noticeably reticent to allow their children to start a new 'collection' or at best will allow them to buy one or two, but wont allow it to become a bedroom full. The overtly negative comments made by parents about collectibles are rapidly on the rise.

There's also the price point to consider. Back to Zoobles - 150 to collect and £7 a pop. Maybe two years ago, parents didn't do the maths on things like that, but they do now. Zoobles are fantastic. I love them. My kids love them. Will they be still in huge demand this time next year? Not sure.

Crazy Bones at a pound? Yep - that works, and things only went wrong when they lost that price point. For that very reason, if I could take a bet for this year, it'd be on Iwako. If they ever arrive - a whole other story :)