Talking Shop

Talking Shop Getting in the mood for Christmas

This month, as retailers pack away the outdoor toys and re-arrange their fixtures to highlight the best sellers of Q4, they share with Toy World readers what’s tickling their customers’ fancy at the moment.

Joseph Yap - QT Toys & Games - Battersea, London

We’ve had a steady summer, but as soon as the schools went back, it was obvious that trade has been picking up again. I’d say it’s business as usual at the moment – not noticeably busier or quieter than it was this time last year.

We’re already thinking about Christmas, of course. Our ordering doesn’t focus on large or high-ticket items at this time of year, as we’ve noticed that most people prefer to order these items online, so we concentrate on more affordable lines for gifts or stocking fillers. During the holiday period, we position all the Christmas product at the front of the shop, and we are exploring other Christmas options like Christmas crackers and advent calendars to supplement our offering.

In stationery, Legami has been selling really well. The influx of Japanese influence in the toy market has extended to other areas and Legami, with its cute characters and novelty, kawaii themes, has become really popular with our young customers, which has been very interesting. We’ve also seen a resurgence in sensory toys like 3D printed toys and slime. I thought the popularity of slime had died down, but it’s come back in new forms. Cloud putty is selling well and even brands like PlayDoh have ventured into that area.

However, some of the biggest things we want, we struggle to bring enough stock in – like Pokémon. We do stock it, but we can’t get anywhere near enough of it to meet demand. Pokémon and Labubu seem to be dominating the market at the moment and are what customers are looking for. Other than that, we pretty much have everything they are asking for.

Most of our ranges have been selling steadily, with no standout best sellers - yet. Some brands like Squishmallows from Jazwares have cooled down a bit; they’re still very popular, just not quite at the levels they were last year. We were also one of the many stores recently struck off the list of a major plush brand, which has been very frustrating, especially with customers still coming in and asking for them. We’ve been exploring new plush lines because of that, looking for the next hot seller.

Despite a sense of caution from a lot of suppliers in terms of new product launches, there has been some interesting new product hitting the market this year, like Canal Toys’ new Photo Creator Mini Cams. The board game and card game market is always trying to innovate, and we work closely with companies like Asmodee and Coiled Spring Games to keep our offering fresh. Even Mattel and Hasbro, which are usually rather traditional, are catching on to the fact that there’s demand for unique spins on old favourites. The way Uno has been expanding, bringing out multiple new versions, can only be good for the market – companies need to be innovating. We like to try new games from smaller brands too, but it can be a challenge to predict which ones will do well within the marketplace and be the titles that people are asking for.

This year seems to be the year of collectibles. Slimes and fidget toys are selling very well, with more and more bigger names stepping into this area; there are even licensedoptions available, like Squishmallows putty slime. Crazy Aaron’s is always a winner; I think it’s a really strong brand and one we are pleased to support. We don’t carry many lines from the blind box category because I don’t personally like the concept of it and think customers like to know what they’re spending their money on. We make an exception for Mash’ems from Character Options and small Squishmallows. Pocket money fidget or sensory lines like little squishy balls and mesh bead balls seem popular, and the market seems to be adjusting to offer even more affordable pick-up lines like that.

We stock products from newborn through to age ten, and then our customer demographic seems to jump to 18+, for example, Sylvanian Families is really popular with the young, 20-year-old, female demographic. In between those ages, children really seem to be only interested in clothes and fashion, but somehow, they’re drawn back again when they’re older.

Our core customer base is repeat customers from the local area, which is nice as we can get to know many of them. I think we have a very strong rapport with the local community. After school drop off, there’s often a congregations of parents in the shop chatting and looking around which creates such a nice atmosphere in store, it’s become almost a social hub which we’re glad we can provide.

Tony Duffy - Duffy’s Toyworld - Dunleer

At the time, we were surrounded by Toymaster stores, Argos and a major chain with eight branches within an hour’s drive. There were plenty of stores selling toys, but we wanted to be a toy shop that sold nothing but toys that spark imagination, creativity and joy. Our inspiration came from the beautiful toy shops we visited across continental Europe. We didn’t want to follow the ‘pile it high’ model filled with TV-branded products. Instead, we focused on curating a selection that was thoughtful, durable and meaningful. Being based in a small country village with fewer than 1,000 people meant we had to be different to survive. Today, we attract discerning shoppers from up to five hours away, and our website continues to grow with great results.

We’re feeling confident heading into Q4. Behind the scenes, we’ve been working hard to future-proof our operations. A brand-new EPOS system is currently being installed, and our updated website is nearly ready to launch, both fully integrated with our stock management system to ensure real-time accuracy and smoother customer experiences.

We’ve also expanded our warehousing capacity to accommodate increased demand and streamlined our packing systems to speed up order fulfilment. On the shop floor, we’ve introduced new displays to showcase our latest arrivals and seasonal favourites. It’s all part of our commitment to making this festive season magical and seamless for every customer.

Our team is now in full festive mode. We’ve been working hard behind-the-scenes to ensure everything is ready for the seasonal rush. Stock has arrived early, shelves are brimming and all deliveries have been signed off, freeing up our staff to focus entirely on our customers and creating a magical in-store experience.

As a dedicated toy shop, we’ve made the decision to channel all our Q4 energy into Christmas. It’s the heart of our season, and we’re pulling out all the stops. From enchanting displays to a specially curated advent area, we’re building excitement day by day. Whether it’s a first-time visit or a cherished tradition, we want every customer to feel the wonder of the holidays the moment they walk through our doors.

Farming toys are consistently strong performers for us, which comes as no surprise; we’re rooted in a truly agricultural region, and our customers reflect that heritage. Brands like Universal Hobbies, Siku, Britains and Bruder are perennial favourites, offering realistic, highquality models that resonate with both children and collectors alike.

We also see a lot of love for nostalgia brands. There’s something timeless about toys that evoke cherished memories, and our customers often seek out those classic pieces to share with the next generation.

Another area we’re proud of is our range of real tools designed for small hands. These aren’t just toy replicas; they’re functional tools that empower children to learn by doing. Paired with our growing selection of STEM toys, they help nurture curiosity, creativity and hands-on learning. It’s all part of our mission to offer toys that spark imagination and build lifelong skills.

There’s always something new catching our eye, that’s why we make it a priority to attend the biggest toy fairs in Europe and London each year. These events are a treasure trove of innovation, and we’re constantly on the lookout for toys that spark creativity and truly engage the child.

Interestingly, our customers rarely ask for licensed products anymore. They know we’re a toy shop that values play over branding, durability over trends and imagination over screens. We focus on toys that are built to last, that encourage open-ended play and that align with our commitment to sustainability. We’re currently exploring new ranges that emphasise hands-on learning, creative exploration and real-world engagement. If a toy helps a child build, discover or dream, it’s on our radar.

Feedback has been absolutely fantastic lately. Our customers genuinely enjoy the experience of visiting Duffy’s Toyworld. We’re proud to say we’ve built a strong and loyal customer community over the years. Families return generation after generation, and many of our visitors become part of the Duffy’s story. I firmly believe the best market research happens on the shop floor, and I try to do that, chatting directly with young visitors about what excites them. That connection, that genuine interest in the child’s perspective, is what makes our store feel like home to so many.

At Duffy’s Toyworld, we proudly cater to everyone, from birth to 99 and beyond. Whether it’s sensory and learning toys for the tiniest hands, nostalgic treasures for grown-ups or hobby gifts like jigsaws and model kits, we’ve got something for every stage of life. Our shelves are stocked with games perfect for a child’s birthday party or a friends’ night in. We’re a toy shop where age is only a number and play is timeless. Our inventory reflects that philosophy, offering toys that spark joy, curiosity and connection across generations.

John Testori - Bambola Toymaster - Jersey

AAs the golden quarter approaches, a variety of preparations are underway as we get ready for the busy Christmas period. We are re-merchandising our stores for maximum impact and moving some of the larger FSDUs back to the warehouse temporarily, to create more space on the shop floor for all our stock.

We are gradually filling the warehouse with inventory for the new season; we’ll know when we have enough when the cartons start touching the rafters! We began our main buying push at the Toymaster May Show in Harrogate, and deliveries have been arriving since August; this has carried on throughout September and will do so this month too. We do our best to arrange early deliveries from our top 10 suppliers, to ensure we have plenty of stock of our core lines.

Lego ranges remain popular and, currently, are continuing to perform extremely well. They are always popular with our customer base, and at the moment, the Botanical range and F1 collaboration are both highly sought after and selling well with our clientele.

Following current trends, we've recently explored Japanese brands like Pokémon and One Piece cards, which are totally flying, and elsewhere in TCGs, we've also seen healthy growth from recent additions Gundam and Dragon Ball Z. The TCG market is very fan-driven, and collectors are very passionate about their purchases; in fact, some people are now so precious about their trading cards that we’ve introduced card protection, which makes a nice add-on sale.

It’s mainly kidults buying these products, and over the last 2-3 years, our new kidult store, located next door to our existing shop in Don Street, has definitely stimulated a lot of growth in this category. Across the two stores, we can now cater to all age groups and offer something for everyone; our main store caters mostly to children aged from birth to 10 years old, and our kidult store is aimed at consumers aged from 10 right up to the grave.

We have a fairly comprehensive range across the two stores, but we have missed out on sales of some popular trending products that are in high demand, such as Labubu and Jellycat, both of which seem like they would be a total pain to deal with, and I'm not sure my patience would cope with them even if they agreed trading terms. This has meant we have brought in other similar products instead, many of which have proved very successful - particularly in the case of Baby Three from KandyToys, which has sold exceptionally well and is looking like a big craze.