Today ebay.com.au, Australia’s number one shopping site, has released its list of top toy trends and predictions for Christmas 2018. Featuring the hottest items on every kid’s wish list, as well as for the first time, a round-up of retro-remakes for big kids, the list is based on the platform’s trending toy data and selected by eBay’s team of toy experts.
eBay Australia and New Zealand Chief Marketing Officer Julie Nestor said, “Every month over 11 million Australians visit ebay.com.au for inspiration and of course, to shop. We’ve used this unparalleled pool of buying and selling data – as well as industry trends – to predict the hottest toys for 2018”.
“This year, we’ve seen a shift away from screens with kids being encouraged to play in new ways, often involving the rest of the family, and parents couldn’t be happier. What we really love seeing is the resurgence of some retro favourites – from Polly Pocket and Tamagotchi to Betty Spaghetty – allowing big kids to revisit their childhood.”
From 8-11 November, eBay will offer 20 percent off select toys in its Christmas Frenzy sale. Shoppers can access the deal here or simply visit eBay’s Toy Hub here for more inspiration.
eBay’s top trends for Christmas 2018
Interactive and furry friends: Interactive toys hit the big time in 2017 with the popularity of Fingerlings and the trend hasn’t slowed down since. This year, kids can nurture a new pet or collect a whole litter with Pomsies, Fingerlings Unicorn, Poopsie Slime Unicorn and FurReal Ricky as eBay’s top picks. Sales of Pomsies soared 600% over the past three months as Australian shoppers seek to snap up all 50 of these personality-packed pets.
Unwrapping the fun: The element of surprise makes any gift great and toys that surprise are no different. From the LOL Surprise! Bigger Surprise! range which has seen 48% growth year-on-year, to Hatchimals Hatchibabies – the real fun is finding out what’s inside.
Never bored: In 2018, it’s back to basics with board games the whole family can get involved with. In fact, eBay data reveals Aussies are moving away from screens, with sales of board and traditional games up 147% compared to 2015. Our top picks are Monopoly Cheaters Edition and Chow Crown Game.
Comeback kids: From Polly Pockets, to Tamagotchi and Betty Spaghetty, nostalgic retro toys are coming back for a new generation of kids to enjoy with their parents. First launched in the 1980s, Polly Pocket has been rebooted this year, while the Super NES Classic feels just like the original 90s console with Super Mario and Donkey Kong.
From the big screen to the Christmas tree: If it’s big at the movies, it’s big under the Christmas tree. This year Aussies are gearing up for the latest Transformers movie, Bumblebee and Harry Potter spinoff, Fantastic Beasts. In fact, Fantastic Beasts items jumped 1300% during the month of August when filming began.
Unplugged fun: Toys that encourage imagination, creativity or to simply get outdoors round out the list of trends. Inspire hours of imaginative play with a littleBits Avengers inventor kit or the latest from the Lego range. Get the kids their first set of wheels with a Ride on Four Wheel Drive or the new-take on the classic scooter with the Razor Scooter Spark.