Industry gathering in St. Louis,
MO showcases new and continuing trends within the play
industry
CHICAGO, June 17,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American Specialty Toy
Retailing Association (Astra), composed of independent retailers,
manufacturers, Certified Play Experts, and toy industry
professionals, came together last week at Astra Marketplace &
Academy in St. Louis, MO. With
over 300 companies exhibiting and hundreds of thousands of new
products on display, the team was able to pull together some of the
latest trends going into the holiday season.
"Marketplace and Academy brings together the entire industry,
from manufacturers to small retail owners," said Sue Warfield, President of Astra. "As they
walked the show floor, along with our team, they pointed out trends
and innovations that we think are going to drive the wishlists this
holiday season."
This year's holiday trends include:
1. Getting Creative at Bathtime is the new big thing. Bathtime
crayons and craft materials combine water play, art and good
hygiene, making a previous chore a now coveted playtime.
2. Social Emotional Mental Learning and Inclusivity continues to
evolve with toys that help individuals recognize emotions,
role-play scenarios, and get in touch with their feelings. These
toys are very focused on inclusion in multiple ways, from ethnicity
to learning level. From blocks to dolls to games, there are
multiple ways to approach the topic and help kids feel heard. New
educational and sensory toys add to the already expansive options
for kids and parents.
3. For the younger audience, teethers are being combined with
other play patterns. From blocks that have a dual purpose to
animals with different silicone parts, these new teethers are
perfect for both playtime and teething.
4. Virtual Reality is not just for video games anymore. We're
seeing it used for educational purposes, including bringing kids
back to historic settings and time periods.
5. Foil art is the new "in" material for arts and crafts.
Stickers across multiple themes are the first of many that we
expect to see with this shiny finish.
6. Squishy is in. From plush in all sizes (thumb-sized to giant,
to food toys) it's about the squish. While squishy plush was
previously all about the animals, we're seeing it expand into food,
as well as Kawaii characters.
7. Impulse Toys continue to dominate, with toys like fidget
toys, slime, and blind/surprise bags growing in popularity.
Miniaturized options of everything from food to books to
differently-shaped popping toys to slimes of all textures, colors,
and smells are flying off shelves.
8. Toys have taken to the sky with an influx of Flying Toys.
Light-up drone-like toys, helicopters, and planes soar overhead,
adding to the traditional RC cars and trucks that we're used to
seeing.
9. Mini Activity Boards are all the rage for travel and taking
fun on the go. From pop-it boards to silicone piece puzzles to IQ
games, smaller is better so that they can travel with you.
10. Kawaii, a Japanese pop cultural word for cute, continues to
expand across multiple categories from plush to activities to
impulse to art. Hello Kitty and Sanrio, celebrating their 50th
anniversary, are especially popular right now, with new properties
popping up to support the trend.
Astra will continue to follow trends and will issue another
report in Q4 of this year. For additional information visit
astratoy.org
About the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
(Astra)
Founded in 1992, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
(Astra) is an international not-for-profit trade organization that
develops and supports a membership of independent retailers,
manufacturers, and sales representatives in the toy industry. As
the guiding star of the specialty play community, Astra's dedicated
professionals are committed to providing children with healthy,
quality play materials that have a high play value and are designed
with a focus on what the child can do, rather than what the toy can
do. Through certification programs, educational resources, and
networking opportunities, Astra engages, elevates, and promotes
members to make a positive impact on the economy and culture of the
communities they serve. For more information, visit
http://www.astratoy.org.
Media Contact
Julie Stern, Astra, 8608054988,
astra@brilliantprm.com , http://www.astratoy.org/
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