NPD Provides Insight for 2017 Holiday Season

NPDGroupToy manufacturers will need a fresh strategy as the toy industry gears up for the upcoming holiday season, according to the NPD Group.

From January through November 2016, U.S toy sales grew a healthy 5.5 percent, positioning December for potentially high single-digit growth. But, December toy sales were less than expected, growing only 3 percent and actually bringing annual 2016 growth down to about 5 percent. 

There were several factors contributing to the toy industry’s slowdown in December. However, the most significant area of concern was the week before Christmas and Hanukkah, which had a growth of 28 percent.

With the week before Christmas offering two additional shopping days, one being a Saturday, consumers waited until the last minute to shop. As a result, week 51 was the largest sales-generating week of the year by half a billion dollars over the previous top week and grew to represent 10 percent of all toy sales for the entire year. This happened in lieu of consumers spreading their shopping visits over several weeks. When there are fewer shopping visits, there is less cumulative spending.

The situation is even more critical this year, as Christmas falls on a Monday. Warm weather aside, to be in the best shape possible in 2017, NPD says that toy retailers and manufacturers will need to figure out how to create more excitement and generate additional shopping visits throughout the holiday season—not just the weekend before Christmas.

About the author

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik was the Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book from 2020-2022. She was also a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider.

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