When I was a young boy, around 5-7 years old, most of my toys were bought from the grocery shop under the block of the apartment. Back then I wasn't really aware that actually most of these toys were knockoffs or bootlegs made of poor quality. A toy is still a toy and I had a lot of fun. Looking back, I could tell that my parents couldn't really afford the pricier toys sold in shopping malls. I only received genuine toys during special occasions like my birthdays or Christmas gatherings. Of course, McDonald's Happy Meal toys were also great treats that I could expect quite frequently.
Back then, information about new toys came from two main sources. There were heavy bombardments of toy commercials on the weekend television programs and you can also find the advertisement from Toy''R''Us's delivered to your mail boxes. If you read comics, especially those imported from America, you will also be dazzled by the toy advertisements littered in the pages of your favourite titles. And if your parents brought you out shopping, that's when you will be kept abreast of the new line of toys on the shelves. Children will often boast of new toys that they have seen when they were out shopping. I think those were the days when non-existent toys came into being because of some kids that tried too hard to impress their naive audience.
Today, toys are still being bought and sold under the apartment blocks in Singapore and they usually cater to very young kids who just want to have simple fun with toys. To be fair, most of these toys are very safe and most young kids enjoy the toys for what they are. They couldn't really care if they are original products. But here's the big difference: original toys are no longer sold solely at stores in the shopping malls. You are find them online easily from reputable sellers. They are priced lower than those sold on the shelves of retail stores and you can even get them delivered to your door step as postage costs are also cheaper now. Some of the retail stores are taking a big hit as Toy"R"Us in Singapore has less outlets and some of their existing stores have reduced the size of their stores. If you observe the stock movement of toys sold in Metro, OG and/or BHG, there seem to be many leftover stocks placed at huge discount before the release of new lines of toy. Toy warehouse sales are not unheard of. You can blame it on the increasing rental cost, cost of hiring workers or online competitors. It's not a secret that the retail industry is taking a hit. With all these said, understand that parents/grandparents still buy toys for their children/grandchildren in shopping malls to please them and sometimes it's the physical product that attracts the kids most. Most consumers probably purchase the toys from stores because they may also not know about other alternatives. A familiar physical store that guarantees the authencity and safety quality of toys with good exhange/return policy is often the safest option.
Information about new toys usually appear quickly on the newsfeed of most social media platforms. I find less toy commercials on television and even less on print. The occasional advertisement insert from Toy"R"Us found in The Straits Times newspaper is still something fun to look for but they are considered 'outdated' information on toy releases. The latest news are available quickly online and collectors are kept well-informed. People are not just talking about toys found on their local retail stores. They are also talking about toys sold in other countries. Video reviews often provide very comprehensive coverage of a toy and one can be very judicious in adding a new toy to the collection. One can also easily get hold of a toy before it reaches local retail stores and perhaps, at much lower prices.
If you ask me, it is certainly a great period to be a toy collector. Not only are you kept well-informed on toy releases and can choose from a variety of stores selling toys, one can also easily connect with other collectors to trade, buy and/or sell toys. Second hand toys are gaining popularity because some collectors do take really good care of their toys are they let go of their toys at relatively low and reasonable prices. Unless you are a purist in collecting toys in brand new condition, it is quite common for seasoned collectors to prowl Facebook groups, forums and online shopping apps for used toys in excellent condition.
Looking forward, the online toy stores may take the hit next as new online toy stores are popping up too quickly. While it's true that the cost of an online toy store start-up is cheaper than a physical retail store, it would also mean stronger competition. Your customers are actually very aware of the prices of products and the profit margins for toys sold are not as high as most stores have to keep their prices competitive. Some online stores actually require deposit for preorders now as they have customers who did not honor their orders, thus accumulating stocks that are not easy to get rid of. And like most online stores, the space you have to contain your stock is literally your apartment.
Personally, I seldom buy toys from retail stores because of the difference in prices from that of the online stores. In fact, I have also cut down on my preorders and I only make preorders if I am a big fan of a certain series. Like many others, I am actually looking for used toys as I also enjoy the interaction with other collectors when I trade, buy and sell toys. But, I am conflicted too. When I have to buy a toy for my young daughter, retail store is still my first option.
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