The NPD Group has published the top 10 best-selling toys from the UK as Brits prepared to go into lockdown in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The top ten best-selling toys week ending March 21st 2020 were:

1    Monopoly Classic – Hasbro
2    LOL Surprise! Hairvibes – MGA Entertainment
3    Dobble – Asmodee
4    LOL Surprise! OMG Lights – MGA Entertainment
5    Technic Bugatti Chiron Construction Kit 1:5 – LEGO
6    Scrabble Original – Mattel
7    Technic Land Rover Defender – LEGO
8    Cluedo – Hasbro
9    LOL Surprise! OMG Doll Assortment – MGA Entertainment
10   Uno Original – Mattel

The biggest selling toy category in the first official week of lockdown was Games & Puzzles, winning a 21% share of weekly spend across the entire toy sector, up from 9% in the same week in 2019 and a growth in value of 240%.

Outdoor & Sports took 18% of all sector spend, up from 12% last year. Top sellers included playhouses, slides and Swingball as parents prepared for anticipated good weather.

Elsewhere, sales in the Arts & Crafts category almost doubled (up 97%) with slime, dough and craft kits all making it into shopping baskets, while Building Sets rose 59% year-on-year.

“Our figures clearly show that consumers are preparing for the coming weeks of isolation with a selection of family board games, outdoor and seasonal summer toys, craft kits and building sets,” said Frederique Tutt, Global Toy Market Expert for The NPD Group.

“It’s interesting to see the classic games of Monopoly, Scrabble, Cluedo and Uno on this list. These ‘standards’ have shown us over and again that they can stand the test of time when reinvented and so it looks like they’ll continue entertaining generations of Britons as householders look to release stress and tighten family ties during these challenging times.

“We’ve seen this trend to buy board games during this lockdown period in France too, but where Brits buck the trend is in the sale of some of the toughest building sets available. With their price points at around £233 for the Technic Bugatti Chiron Construction Kit and approximately £153 for the Technic Land Rover Defender kit, these sets clearly aren’t just for the kids. We’re seeing a clear ‘kidult’ and adult trend here. Perhaps some of the buyers are grabbing the opportunity to use their newly found spare time to achieve a long-term dream to build one of these cars in LEGO.”

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The post UK sales of games and puzzles soar during first week of coronavirus lockdown appeared first on Mojo Nation.

WowWee’s Fingerlings and MGA Entertainment’s LOL Surprise were named joint-winners of the Toy of the Year award at this year’s Toy of the Year Awards.

The full list of winners are below:

• Action Figure of the Year: Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Dancing Groot Figure by Hasbro
• Collectible of the Year: Fingerlings by WowWee
• Construction Toy of the Year: LEGO Star Wars BB-8 by LEGO
• Creative Toy of the Year: Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit by LittleBits
• Doll of the Year: Wonder Crew Superhero Will by PlayMonster
• Game of the Year: Soggy Doggy by Spin Master
• Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year: Teddy Ruxpin by Wicked Cool Toys
• Innovative Toy of the Year: Rubie’s Jurassic World T-Rex Inflatable Costume by Rubie’s
• License of the Year: Star Wars by Disney
• Outdoor Toy of the Year: Bunch O Balloons Filler Soaker by Zuru
• Playset Toy of the Year: Hot Wheels Super Ultimate Garage by Mattel
• Plush of the Year: Disney Junior Minnie’s Walk and Play Puppy by Just Play
• Preschool Toy of the Year: PAW Patrol My Size Lookout Tower by Spin Master
• Rookie of the Year: Antsy Pants Build & Play Kits by Beach House Group
• Specialty Toy of the Year: LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon by LEGO
• Tech Toy of the Year: LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox by LEGO
• Vehicle of the Year: PAW Patrol Sea Patroller by Spin Master

“Known as the ‘Oscars’ of the toy industry, the TOTY Awards celebrate the best and brightest people and products … all while raising vital funding for The Toy Foundation’s ongoing mission to bring help and joy to children in need,” says Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association.

“The 2018 collection of extraordinary TOTY finalists and winners have brought endless fun and learning to kids across the globe. The annual TOTY awards process serves as a testament to the toy community’s deep talent, entrepreneurialism, and innovation.”

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