Toy & toy industry research

 

The global toy market is valued at $84.1 billion with the domestic toy market a $22 billion industry (worth more than the music and movie industry combined). In 2014 the US imported a total of $17.57 billion worth of toys, dolls and games, while exporting only $2.78 billion. 3d printing technology could drastically change the flow of imports and exports in the domestic toy industry and ultimately the global toy market.

Despite a slow economy, the US toy industry continues to grow. With less than 4% of the world’s children, America dominates the global toy market, buying over 40% of the world’s toys. Americans spend about $280 per child on toys and a total of $3.3 billion on infant/preschool children toys- more than any other age.

As millennials become the dominant parenting demographic, their influence has changed how toys are manufactured and designed. Millennials are more likely to live in cities and are constantly on the go. Modern parents want sleek designs and compact toys that fit small city apartments and their active lifestyles. Collapsible toys like Hasbro’s pop up purse sized car ramp and Mattel’s foldable jumper set adhere to young parents’ preferences. Fisher-Price toys for the new year will feature sleeker designs, and muted colors. Fisher-price swings will be designed to look more like home décor than toddler’s furniture as well.