(XINHUA) - BEIJING - There is a
toy market for the elderly with enormous potential to be discovered
.
The trend starts in China, with the example of Sond Delong who states: "One day, the demand of the elderly will be taken into account by the market".
Song Delong, 42, says she runs a shop "that dispels melancholy" for the elderly in the Chinese capital.
His clients come from near and far to play with old toys that were in vogue during their childhood, awakening their inner child.
The toy store on Yangzhuang Street in Beijing's Tongzhou District includes a retail area and an indoor play area for those still feeling young.
More than 400 types of games are arranged on the shelves, from nostalgic ones like spinning tops and diabolo to board games and activity equipment like mini-golf sets and table tennis tools.
On its first day of operation last year, which coincided with the traditional Chinese Double Nine Festival, seen as an opportunity to care for and honor the country's elders, older customers flooded the store for a chance. to
relive the golden days
.
Fang Shuqin, 84, bought a popcorn machine for about 100 yuan (about $ 15.4).
"It's nice to enjoy popcorn when I'm in front of the screen," he says.
She also learned to play table tennis on her own using the shop's equipment.
Fang Hailiang, 64, and his friends meet every day in the shop to play military chess.
The automated chess table helps them judge who is the winner.
"It reminds me of my childhood. After board games, we also play billiards," says Fang Hailiang.
“There are those who make a joke comparing my shop to a seniors' club and those who compare it to a hospital because games help improve the mental health of the elderly,” says Song.
According to the shop owner, it's part of human nature to love games, and
seniors need games to suit them too
.
"Many seniors feel exhausted when babysitting their grandchildren in the big city, while some get bored easily when they retire. Toys help relieve this stress," she says.
However, the need for toys for seniors is conventionally questioned, and toy manufacturers view this market niche as anything but lucrative, especially when considering the thrift of older buyers.
Though Song still has a hard time making ends meet, the original toy store has garnered public attention.
Some health centers come from afar to buy items and local supermarkets have learned from the small shop's set up and layout.
Some even drove 70 kilometers to choose a gift for their parents, who are over 90.
Song says the store is not just a retail outlet, but a public space for seniors to play sports and make new friends.
In November 2020, Song held a sports day for around 70 senior customers visiting the store.
Competitions included touhu, darts and mini-golf.
Song also teaches seniors how to use games, although it sometimes takes longer to master the skills.
"Some people bring me homemade dumplings or souvenirs. I love the human side of the shop," says Song.
