The bearded gentleman driving is still the same, but the presents in the sleigh change every year. And since, at least up to a certain age, finding clothes under the tree is a source of great disappointment, all that remains is one question to answer: which toys to give for Christmas 2015?
“This year there is the phenomenon among girls Masha and Bear, which he somewhat supplanted Peppa Pig – Paolo Taverna, general manager of the Italian association of toy manufacturers, explains to FIRSTonline -, but products related to Minions. Among boys, we expect the boom to come from branded toys Star Wars, in the wake of the upcoming new film.”
Even if "The Force Awakens", the seventh installment of the George Lucas saga, will land in theaters only on December 16, Star Wars fever is now widespread throughout the planet. In France, according to the ranking drawn up by the “La Grande Récré” chain of stores, lightsabers by Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader are already at the top of children's wishes.
As for the USA, sales began as usual the weekend after Thanksgiving (the last one in November), but the trend had already been clear for weeks: the list of "hot toys 2015" signed by the Associated Press not only includes swords that light up and make noise (at $200 each), but also the remote-controlled models of the spaceship Millennium Falcon (yes, it really flies) and by BB-8, a spherical and rolling robot that you drive with your smartphone.
Among those who prefer to stay on Earth, "traditional toys are still very successful - continues Taverna -, especially constructions". The bricks of the Lego occupy the first position in the top-10 of the British postal company Royal Mail, which has published a ranking of the most requested gifts by children based on a direct source: letters to Santa Claus. The silver medal in this particular ranking, surprisingly, goes to bicycles, while modeling clay closes the podium Play doh.
Usually with the great classics it's hard to go wrong, but sometimes even the icons lose their polish. In Italy, for example, "Barbie he is no longer in excellent health – explains Antonio Possenti, director and purchasing manager of the La Giraffa chain -. She's slightly improved compared to the last two years, where she's been really bad, but at the moment she keeps losing the challenge against Elsa the Snow Queen. She's still a long way from the Barbie she's always been and I'm sure she'll be again."
At the antipodes of traditionalism we find the most innovative games. Digital technology, for example, is entering the world of toys not as a replacement but as a supplement. In addition to tablets for the little ones and usual video games, in fact, there are platforms that interact with the old-fashioned action figures: just place the statuettes on a special platform and they come to life on the screen, as happens in the series Disney Infinity e Skylanders.
Still in the technological field, “other games that are going crazy among men are i remote controlled mini drones, with or without a camera – continues Possenti -. Females, on the other hand, still really like i interactive soft toys, for example the series Emotion Pets”, including the brown bear, which has different facial expressions, and the sugar seal, which moves around by moving its fins and tail.
In short, going into a toy store and choosing the right gift isn't for everyone if you don't have the right information. This is why the famous letter is vital: if your client is lazy, encourage him to write it, perhaps under dictation. We say this for the sake of all Santas.
