If you have children or perhaps you’re looking to waste a few minutes you might well find yourself wandering around a toy shop. If you do you’ll notice that there is a huge rise in the tiny toy collectables that you can buy. This glut of plastic has to go in something to store it on the shelf and it’s down to the companies like https://www.bridgewooduk.com/production-assembly/vacuum-forming who provide Vacuum Forming . You’ll find lots of these charming little keepsakes in plastic eggs etc. or their own little plastic cartons shaped perfectly around their bodies and this are all part of the vac forming process. What are the most popular ones at the moment? Best to take note, you might be asked for them soon enough.
- Shopkins. Developed in Australia with the tag line “Once you shop you can’t stop” the Shopkins are based on items that you would buy at the supermarket. The twist is they have cute names, arms and faces. They are wildly popular with both girls and boys and are tiny characters at about one inch tall. There are different seasons of Shopkins obliging you to buy them quickly before the run ends. You can swap them with other collectors and there is quite a market for this. They also come in special classification up to the Ultra rare which is starting to be seen as an investment if you have one.
- Moshi Monsters. They started out as an online gaming platform for kids but the characters have been developed into plastic collectables as well. The child picks a monster and customises it by taking tests, quizzes and tasks. The brand is somewhat in decline so there might not be as much take up.
- Lego Figures. The ever popular Lego has changed dramatically and it’s rare to be able to just buy a box of bag of bricks anymore. Lego has focused on themes and has been very busy producing a series of Lego people based around Star wars and Harry Potter to great success.
- Tsum Tsum. Disney enters the fray with this Japanese produced non plastic range of stuffed toys and some hard plastic ones. All the main Disney characters like Mickey, Pluto and Minnie are available in versions of some sort but there have been others as well such as Lilo and Stitch, Star Wars and Cars.
- Polly Pocket. Originally developed in Swindon by Bluebird Toys they were a small firm that were taken over by the giant Mattel Corporation. The tiny Polly and friends live in a variety of compact playsets based on makeup powder compacts.