Page 6 - Craftcil Feb 2024

n ews highlights

Sustainability to Anime Mania - 5 Toy Trends taking over in 2024

The Toy Association of America, during its 2024 Toy Trends Eerie Enchantment: Interest in all things spooky is now officially
Briefing, unveiled the trends to watch this year, ranging from on the radar for toy makers. With the popularity of "Wednesday,"
sustainability to anime mania. Families are continuing to be a supernatural comedy Netflix series that set viewing records, toy
mindful about toy spending in 2024 as inflation continues to makers are capitalizing on everything in the spooky, horror and
weigh on budgets for consumers everywhere. In response, several mystery genres. Toys that focus on new technology, hidden
toy makers are launching or expecting to launch new products in features, secret codes and other elements made popular through
popular lines that offer more flexibility in price points, such as the genres will be on the rise. "Wednesday" is also the 2024
creating travel-sized games. License to Watch, according to the Toy Association.

Toy makers are also emphasising product accessibility across all Holistic Play: Dubbed "Vitamin P(lay)," this trend focuses on
ages abilities. For example, Rubik's Cube - which is celebrating toys that offer skill-building during playtime as 51 percent of
50 years of business this year - plans to release a new Rubik's parents consider whether a toy promotes wellness during play,
Sensory Cube designed with visually-impaired consumers in mind. according to the Toy Association. In addition, parents are looking
Each coloured side will have a distinguishable raised pattern, for toys that offer something extra to the imagination - 67 percent
allowing a new group of kids and adults to participate in the of parents look for STEAM elements in a toy, 59 percent look for
game. toys that help with life skills such as cooking or maintenance, and
Here's a glance at the top five trends to watch: 49 percent look for toys that help emphasize social skills.

Sustainability: It's a trend that has been sweeping over just All About Anime: Once a very niche form of entertainment,
about every product category, and now its firmly made its way anime has stepped into the mainstream in recent years. More
into the toy world. Parents more than ever are paying attention than one in four parents are likely to purchase a toy based on an
to the materials used in the toys they purchase. According to the anime or gaming franchise and it is for that reason that toy makers
Toy Association, 45 percent of parents under the age of 40 are looking to take on more anime licenses. Entry-level anime
consider the environmental impact of a toy when making buying franchises, such as "Naruto" or "One Piece," offer easier to follow
decisions. Wooden toys like those from Melissa & Doug or Bababoo storylines that appeal to a wide range of consumers.
and Friends will be highly sought after this year. Social Media and Edutainment: Social media and gaming
platforms, such as Roblox,
are continuing to inspire
toy and games across the
board. Brands that focus
on edutainment -
combining education
and entertainment - will
also see more growth as
digital creator names like
Ms. Rachel and
Cocomelon remain fan
favorites for parents.

Source : Gifts & Decorative
Accessories

6 CRAFTCIL • February 2024