OPINION Retro perspective David Smith asks, as the economy recovers, is the retro toy boom about to go bust?
APPARENTLY, THE economy is showing signs of recovery, but while that is obviously good news, it may actually spell trouble for one corner of the toy industry.
It is a long-established
fact that nostalgia is a big seller during a recession. Back in the early years of this downturn, the games industry noted a spike in sales of traditional board games. In 2009, overall board game sales were down, as you might expect with purse strings being tightened around the country, but games like Monopoly and Scrabble were bucking that trend. There are many factors
working here, but let’s consider two of the main ones.
First of all, there is a
familiarity and a comfort factor at play. A warm feeling of nostalgia is evoked by a familiar game or toy, especially when it comes in retro packaging that stirs those childhood memories. With so many people dealing with uncertainty and stress in their lives, comfort is a valuable commodity and this trend can be seen in other areas as well.
In 2009, for instance,
Wagon Wheels were rolled out again in retro wrappers and have been going strong ever since. Secondly, during a
recession people want to make every penny count. This has been seen in the ‘staycation’ and the make-
This often means opting
for tried and trusted products remembered from childhood – you know exactly what you are getting and the risk of disappointment is reduced. Retro toys and games
have been prominent for several years now, and they were identified as one of the top six industry trends at the American International Toy Fair earlier this year, but if the economy really is picking up, and if people start to feel the benefits in another year or so, then this retro revival may start to peter out. We may be in for a very
do-and-mend revival and it applies every bit as much to toys. Whereas in times of plenty we might be more
willing to take a risk on a new board game, we are more likely to look for a sure-fire hit when money is scarce.
David Smith runs the consumer-focused toy news site ToyTalk (
www.toytalk.co.uk) and is the author of the book 100 Classic Toys. Tales of a Nerf-a-holic
Nerf isn’t just for kids you know. Asif Zahoor, author of MyLastDart, explains what it is about the Hasbro property that makes it so addictive
REWIND TO December 2012, I met up with an old friend and a bunch of guys came on over to watch some football on the TV. What started off as
random shots across the room at each other, soon escalated into a massive indoor foam battle. Everyone was diving behind a sofa or a table, door, table mat to catch some cover. After we had expended our ammo, we decided to have a proper battle and head to the local park. It was sadly about that time I had to depart, but since one team was a man down, I had an Elite Retaliator thrown in my hands - the rest is history. I guess now that I’m older and have paid all my bills,
groceries, etc, I have some money left over to indulge myself and be a kid again – a Kidult.
Nerf as a brand has gone
through many fantastic advances and clever new ranges choices for not only
fan first and foremost, catching glimpses of images, leaks or teasers from Nerf are all part of loving Nerf.
The hottest releases this
year are undoubtedly the Nerf Elite Rapidstrike CS-
The Nerf adult scene has come into its own and my love for Nerf is as strong as before.
boys but now girls (with Nerf Rebelle). Every year Nerf out do themselves, keeping things fresh and unexpected year in year out. Just when you think you have seen it all – bam, something completely leftfield jumps on to the scene. As a blogger and a
18 (first ever clear clip full- auto blaster firing three darts a second) and Mega Centurion (longest Nerf blaster that fires up to 100ft). The US and international fans will be super lucky to enjoy the unexpected new Zombie Strike range which has
Asif Zahoor is the author of MyLastDart blog which can be found here
www.MyLastDart.blogspot.co.uk.
www.toynews-online.biz Octoberr 25
retro Christmas this year, but by the end of 2014, if this recovery takes hold, the retro toy craze could enter a downturn of its own.
been influenced by the popular uprising of zombies (sorry for the pun). The Nerf adult scene has come into its own. Fans have created a Human vs. Zombie scene. Pitting human players against a growing infection of zombie players in what is essentially a super fun and suspense-filled game of
tag. Armed with Nerf blasters and stun socks, it is played widely in local parks and universities across the world. My love for Nerf is as
strong as before – if not more now that I have combined my passion of writing. Make every shot count folks...
It’s Nerf or Nothin!
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