From retro video games to rocking horses Mark Borgman of Catawiki highlights the growing trend towards traditional and alternative toys in 2018
Rocking horses are due a comeback
Catawiki, the online auction house for special objects, has seen a growing trend for traditional toys - here their expert has pulled together, in time for Christmas, the top reasons traditional and alternative toys will be more popular than ever in 2018.
Royal events boost the sales of collectible toys
2018 is due to be a bumper year for the royals. Wills and Kate are expecting the third addition to their family in April. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan Markle have hit the headlines with the announcement of their engagement - with the wedding to take place in May. Both events are likely to boost the UK’s sales of traditional toys, collectibles and baby goods. One estimate suggests that the last royal baby boosted sales of commemorative china and other collectables, toys, books, DVDs by over £150m.
2017 showed what an amazing investment art could be
This year, a Leonardo da Vinci painting sold for over $450 million at auction! With online auctions there is a whole world of new and emerging artists available to people all over the world. Buying a new painting for a kids room in 2018 might not just be a colourful and creative part of their room, it could be life changing investment.
Tin toys never go out of fashion and last longer
Some toys never go out of fashion. Tin toys - whether model cars, trains or figures - are seeing something of a resurgence. The high quality offerings from companies such as Marklin, Schuco, Bing and TippCog - who were making toys over 50 years ago - are particularly sought after.
Retro video-games are making headlines
Forget PlayStation and Xbox and start thinking Sega and Atari. Many parents may find video games on their Christmas lists this year but why not take a different approach and search out a vintage classic. Atari may have been in business trouble in the 1980s but today their consoles are collectors’ items in their own right. Catawiki has a dedicated section to help hunters track down the best vintage consoles and games.
Rocking horses are due a comeback
Not only do rocking horses make for a wonderful traditional toy, well made ones can be passed down through the generations. Originally, they were first created in mediaeval times, however it was not until the 1800s, when the process was industrialised, that they soared in popularity as a children’s toy.
Superheroes dominate the box-office but they’re older than we think
In 2017, superheroes dominated the box office. It was the single biggest year for superhero movies with hits like Wonder Woman and The Guardians of the Galaxy Two helping superheroes achieve over $4bn in ticket sales. Expect this continued enthusiasm to make its way through to comic book collectibles - rare originals make for a more unique gift for young super hero fans.
The ongoing decline of the high street
The UK’s high street has seen a sharp decline in the footfall of shoppers this year. However, the options available online are more varied than ever. As people turn away from the usual high street brands, more unique items found online will grow in popularity.
Barbie may not make a comeback, but it continues to draw collectable attention
You can still buy many new Barbies in store today, but the sales have been on something of a rollercoaster. However, the vintage ones manufactured by Mattel (before the company was sold) between 1959 and 1973, make for special collector’s items that will never go out of fashion.
Board games are more popular than ever
As we head towards Christmas, people around the country are expected to be blowing the dust off their Monopoly set. Sales of table-top games have reportedly been on the rise year on year. The trend will continue past Christmas as board games continue to capture the imagination of the public in 2018.
The UK is the leading toy market in Europe
Finally, the British simply love toys! The UK has the largest toy market in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Part of this growth is driven by collectibles - these toys have grown in popularity by a massive 44% and make up more than a quarter of toys sold and there is no expectation of it slowing down in 2018.