How Gamification is Reshaping Loyalty Programmes in the Middle East
Mehrnoush Shafiei
Gamification is set to significantly influence loyalty programmes in the Middle East, primarily due to the evolving demographics and spending habits of Generation Z (Gen Z), who favour experiences over material possessions.
Playing on the Big Screen: The Convergence of Toys, Games and Cinema
Isam Arshad
In the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment, a notable trend has emerged: the convergence of toys and video games with the cinematic world. This blog post unpacks the journey of toys and games from their traditional platforms to the celluloid world, exploring the financial boons, emotional connections, and the challenges faced. As we stand at the cusp of this entertainment renaissance, "From Playrooms to Silver Screens" offers a comprehensive look into the future of this intriguing intersection.
Key Trends in Toys and Games: Focus on Asia Pacific and Western Europe
Jeremy Roberts
In Western Europe, high inflation is having a negative impact on sales of toys and games, with a similar situation prevailing in Asia Pacific, notably Japan, as rising prices in many areas of the economy are putting pressure on consumers’ disposable incomes. Despite this negative influence, Western Europe saw sales growth increase in 2022. In contrast, sales declined in Asia Pacific, due to losses in the region's highest value markets, China and Japan.
Three Growth Opportunities for Traditional Toys in Post-Pandemic China
Alex Li
Despite a weak economic outlook for China over the forecast period, growth of traditional toys and games is poised to remain robust, driven by emerging consumer trends, policy initiatives, product innovations and channel restructuring.
Kidults in Southeast Asia Are Driving Sales of Toys and Games
Jason Tjiptadi
The pandemic has impacted the traditional toys industry unfavourably in Southeast Asia, except for Singapore. This is a striking difference from other regions where a prolonged stay at home period and travel restrictions have is due mainly to economic strain which stopped consumers from purchasing non-essential goods, and the exponential rise of free-to-play video games. Despite the challenging environment, the toy industry in the region remains afloat and can look forward to the future, because of ‘kidults’.
Paperworld Middle East
Isam Arshad
Paperworld Middle East brings together world-renowned brands and regional players for an exciting three-day showcase, providing the ideal space to network, share ideas, source new products and discover new solutions that are sustainable, promote efficiency & productivity, and are cost effective.
Sony’s Future is More than Game Consoles: The Metaverse Could Prove to be its Golden Goose
Isam Arshad
Overall retail sales of video games increased by 14% in 2021, while sales of games published by Sony Corporation increased by 43%. One of the drivers behind Sony's plan to further expand its gaming empire is the increased demand for video games, brought about by COVID-19 and the launch of the PlayStation 5 console in late 2020.
Five Factors Shaping the Future of Sustainable Toys
Isam Arshad
There is growing environmental concern amongst consumers, with rising expectations that companies should do more to mitigate the effects their products have on the environment. Toy manufacturers are looking for opportunities to offer their products in ways that ease eco-anxiety and address the realities of a changing world.
Strong Demand for Toys and Games to Continue in the New Normal
Loo Wee Teck
Sales of toys and games enjoyed a strong revival in 2020 and 2021, as most of the world was embroiled in COVID-19 lockdowns. As consumers were mainly home-bound, with nowhere to go, there was stronger demand for both video games and traditional toys and games.