FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
James Cavicchia, right, with his son Joseph, 12, checks out Christmas gifts he bought at Toys et Cetera store in Hyde Park in Chicago on Nov. 18, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune
/TNS)
Parents feeling guilty about Covid-19 ignites boom in toy sales
Celebrating the holidays might be pretty ho-hum, but one area that’s booming is toys.
After a terrible year of remote school, canceled birthday parties and little vacationing, parents and grandparents ridden with so-called “Covid guilt” are spending a lot more on puzzles, crafts and games. And this is setting up the U.S. industry for its best Christmas in years and maybe ever.
Celebrating the holidays might be pretty ho-hum, but one area that’s booming is toys.
After a terrible year of remote school, canceled birthday parties and little vacationing, parents and grandparents ridden with so-called “Covid guilt” are spending a lot more on puzzles, crafts and games. And this is setting up the U.S. industry for its best Christmas in years and maybe ever.
“I’ve been in the toy industry for 30 years, and sales are just about as good as I’ve ever seen them,” said Jay Foreman, chief executive officer of closely held toymaker Basic Fun. Retail purchases of his company’s toys, including Tonka trucks, have been up more than 30% since August and show no signs of slowing down, he said. “Toys are a way for parents to treat their kids when they are so worried about what’s going on in the world.”
COVID Guilt Has Toy Industry Primed for Best Christmas in Years 1490wosh.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 1490wosh.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
‘COVID guilt’ is setting up toy industry for its best Christmas in years
As families cancel plans to get together, toys are a safe way to make kids feel better.
A toy display at Nebraska Furniture Mart on Dec. 4 in The Colony.(Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer)
Celebrating the holidays might be pretty ho-hum, but one area that’s booming is toys.
After a terrible year of remote school, canceled birthday parties and little vacationing, parents and grandparents ridden with so-called “COVID guilt” are spending a lot more on puzzles, crafts and games. And this is setting up the U.S. industry for its best Christmas in years and maybe ever.
2020 COVID guilt has parents piling toys under the tree chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.