July’s Toy World takes an in depth look at Construction toys, speaking to leaders in the space to find out how they are building on their ranges this year.
The Construction category is arguably one of the most varied. While bricks, blocks and pieces lie at its heart, finished creations range from military air and sea vehicles to mechanical marble runs, and core play patterns span everything from STEM learning to artistic creativity.
With a focus on creative innovation, and made from non-toxic, food grade plastic, Connetix has become known for its internationally safety rated product line.The company tells Toy World that the building process with Connetix magnetic tiles comes naturally and intuitively, allowing children to become leaders of their own play and take it in any direction they choose.
Designed to encourage families with children aged six and over to immerse themselves in the world of models, Airfix is loved by families seeking fun and rewarding construction experiences. The company continues to bolster its expansive product range with new additions.
Fans of military models are also likely to enjoy Cobi’s range of scaled military brick models. This unique line, according to UK & Ireland country manager Lee Crocker, is ideally placed to help retailers bridge the gap between plastic model kit brands and mainstream brick brands.
Mattel’s Mega brand leans heavily into licences. Pokémon continues to enjoy both a loyal kid following and strong interest from collectors, so the company is expanding the Pokémon range with the Pokémon Dragonite. Other builds include the Pokémon Piplup and Sneasel Chill Out set and the Pokémon Windy Town set. Kelly Philp, marketing director, Mattel EMEA, adds: “We’re also really excited to also be launching a new Mega Barbie range, timed to the July launch of the upcoming Barbie movie.”
It’s not all about licensing, of course. EcoWood-Art (EWA) produces high-quality wooden classic and mechanical 3D puzzles for the wholesale market, based on generic evergreen themes such as vehicles, animals and gadgets. EWA models are eco-friendly and don’t require glue for assembly, meaning builders can started on their construction immediately, and most of the models can also be set in motion after assembly thanks to the inclusion of clever little rubber-mounted motors.
The feature also covers new introductions from Construct It, Spin Master, Tomy, Pat Avenue, One for Fun, Character’s Simbrix and Plus-Plus, and we take a look at the support available for retail partners, from these and the many other suppliers in the Construction category.
To read the full feature, which appeared in the July edition of Toy World, click here.
