impetus
09-24-2003, 12:39 PM
Ninja turtles and Barbie top Xmas toy list
By Paul Majendie
LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Nostalgia reigns supreme in the British toy market with old favourites like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Barbie set to be the "must have" toys this Christmas.
Industry experts unveiled their hottest lines on Wednesday, and the good news for parents is that none of the Top 10 costs more than 30 pounds ($50).
"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles date from 1987," said Val Stedham, head of the British Association of Toy Retailers. "But they were tried and tested 20 years ago and Daddy enjoyed playing with them then."
The four weapon-toting turtles first appeared in comics in 1984 and made their big break into TV cartoons three years later. Now a new generation of children is set to puzzle over why they have names like Donatello and Raphael.
The three months before Christmas account for 40 percent of the toy industry's turnover and Stedham told Reuters she expects sales in that time to be around five percent up on last year.
Despite the 2003 hot toys being relatively cheap, many of them come with a host of accessories that could quickly bump up the price.
"I think kids today are quite spoilt -- thank goodness," Stedham said as fairgoers munched mince pies and listened to carol singers at a toy fair.
Another perennial favourite, Action Man, is also showing no signs of his age as he pursues the Titanic struggle with Dr X. This time he comes equipped with guns, mobile phone, megaphone and a voice that shouts "Don't Mess With Me."
"He even burps," said Hasbro spokesman Chris Dunne. "But Action Man is not about weaponry. It's more about combat, outwitting your opponent," he added.
And no Christmas would be complete without Barbie.
Feminists may rage at her but the kids are still keen.
Presenting the new pink-clad Barbie Swan Lake doll, Mattel spokeswoman Leana Rochman told Reuters: "Little girls love ballet and Barbie mixed with ballet and a bit of pink thrown in is a winning combination."
"Barbie will be 45 years old next year. But she is still going strong," she added.
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/pf/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20030924%2F075902882.htm
:D
(For clarification, the TMNT date back to 1984, not 1987.)
By Paul Majendie
LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Nostalgia reigns supreme in the British toy market with old favourites like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Barbie set to be the "must have" toys this Christmas.
Industry experts unveiled their hottest lines on Wednesday, and the good news for parents is that none of the Top 10 costs more than 30 pounds ($50).
"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles date from 1987," said Val Stedham, head of the British Association of Toy Retailers. "But they were tried and tested 20 years ago and Daddy enjoyed playing with them then."
The four weapon-toting turtles first appeared in comics in 1984 and made their big break into TV cartoons three years later. Now a new generation of children is set to puzzle over why they have names like Donatello and Raphael.
The three months before Christmas account for 40 percent of the toy industry's turnover and Stedham told Reuters she expects sales in that time to be around five percent up on last year.
Despite the 2003 hot toys being relatively cheap, many of them come with a host of accessories that could quickly bump up the price.
"I think kids today are quite spoilt -- thank goodness," Stedham said as fairgoers munched mince pies and listened to carol singers at a toy fair.
Another perennial favourite, Action Man, is also showing no signs of his age as he pursues the Titanic struggle with Dr X. This time he comes equipped with guns, mobile phone, megaphone and a voice that shouts "Don't Mess With Me."
"He even burps," said Hasbro spokesman Chris Dunne. "But Action Man is not about weaponry. It's more about combat, outwitting your opponent," he added.
And no Christmas would be complete without Barbie.
Feminists may rage at her but the kids are still keen.
Presenting the new pink-clad Barbie Swan Lake doll, Mattel spokeswoman Leana Rochman told Reuters: "Little girls love ballet and Barbie mixed with ballet and a bit of pink thrown in is a winning combination."
"Barbie will be 45 years old next year. But she is still going strong," she added.
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/pf/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20030924%2F075902882.htm
:D
(For clarification, the TMNT date back to 1984, not 1987.)