Strategic or collectible cards, outdoor equipment: the toys that were the most sold during the first semester of 2021 bear witness to both the reopening of schools and the desire of the French to enjoy their garden, according to the NPD research firm. Group Tuesday.
Read also: Could children take off the mask at school now?
NPD Group, which is a benchmark in the toy market, assures Tuesday that the "
French equip (...) their garden and set up play areas for their children
" with products such as swings or slides in the top sales. This was particularly the case before the reconfinement of part of the French economy: when the stores were announced on April 3, sales had experienced a record increase of 77% compared to 2019. Over the half-year as a whole, sales are 20% higher than in this year of pre-Covid-19 activity.
The toys and games at the top of the sales show a certain caution in the face of the pandemic.
The “
Playgrounds
” category (swings, trampolines, garden houses) has been one of the most dynamic since the start of the year, but sales of mobile equipment such as tricycles are down 2% and those of skateboards down 12%.
"
We have rarely seen a differentiation as great as this
," said Frederique Tutt, global expert in the sector for the NPD Group, to AFP.
“
In the minds of some parents, the pandemic can weigh heavily.
We really want to keep the children in the garden
”.
Top-selling Pokémon cards
Another flagship category: strategy cards and collectible cards, stars of playgrounds, are at the top of the best-selling products in the first half of 2021. Pokémon, which turns 25 this year, is the best-selling brand on the French market since the start of the year, “
most of the sales
” are made via “
playground cards
”, says Frédérique Tutt.
Read also: Wearing a mask: at school, relief but blurred perspectives
Panini football trading cards also benefited from Euro 2021 with sales peaking in France in the week of June 14 to 20, according to the expert.
Among the other categories that have progressed the most this year, the NPD Group also cites strategic board games, adult games, construction, fashion dolls, educational games, science and finally soft toys.
SEE ALSO
- The Pandemic Is Exploding The Price Of Pokémon Cards Online.
