Toy World takes a look at some of the upcoming ranges arriving between Boxing Day and Easter and asks leading suppliers how they’re supporting retail partners during the period.

Arguably not the most glamorous time of the year, Q1 is nonetheless a vital time for toy retailers: a time to reinvigorate their stores and shelves with exciting new product launches and tempt in shoppers with Christmas cash to spend.

Traditionally, the best performing ranges in Q1 sit firmly within the Collectibles category, and as we all know, there’s been no shortage of those recently.

Will Collinson, general manager UK & Ireland at Zuru, says that the team remains mindful of lower discretionary spend during the first half of the year. Epoch Making Toys’ Sylvanian Families brand will be welcoming a new nursery range that, according to MD Phil Hooper, taps into the current trend for all things little. Hunter Price is launching new ranges within its Toys & Activity product pillar and Sales director Richard Belford, tells us he’s most excited about the new FloraBricks and Snuggle Club ranges. Meanwhile, Q1 will see MGA Entertainment introduce additions to existing best-selling ranges. Series 3 of MGA’s Miniverse Make it Mini Food Diner and Café will be joined by a new spring ‘24 small plush assortment for Fluffie Stuffiez.

Away from pocket money toys and collectibles, there’s no shortage of new games for Q1. The Epoch Games portfolio is expanding further with two new licences which will tap in to new and existing film and TV releases. Cartamundi is re-introducing the best-selling Color Addict card game with a new package design, and in time for the 2024 Euros in Germany, Winning Moves will be updating Top Trumps Specials, Top Trumps Match and Monopoly with a football-themed new look.

In licensing, Rubies is launching new costumes based on the world of David Walliams, Spin Master welcomes the new Paw Patrol Jungle Pups toy range, Posh Paws is poised to celebrate the April release of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire with new plush, and Tomy’s Toomies brand is bringing through Bluey bath toys for pre-schoolers. Galt, meanwhile, is releasing the first products under its new licensing collaboration with the Natural History Museum: Let’s Learn Dinosaurs and Let’s Learn Tiny Creatures.

To read more about these companies plus many more Q1 ranges, click here for the full article.

To read product information and retail support regarding Q1 from dozens of suppliers, look through our Q1 listing pages here.