40% off entire PBT Amazon Catalogue - 1 Day Spectacular

we at Piggy Bank Toys are having a 1 day sale.

starting at midnight tonight and lasting for just 24 hours, we have reduced all stock by 40% (discount applied at checkout - does not include postage)

that's right 40% off everything in stock at Piggy Bank Toys at our Amazon store for 1 day only.

so £9.99 items are now just £6.00 (as Super Hero Squad item below)

and if you spend £100 you will save £40 - its simple - shop with us tomorrow at Amazon all day and save 40%

pop over to our store for hundreds of bargains

star wars, cars, puzzles, games, playmobil, lego and much much more...

15% off and Offers at Ebay

Hey Guys 

Don't forget that when you shop with us on Amazon until 19th November 2012 you get 15% off when you order two or more products - click special offers under each item when ordering for more details.

Amazon calculates the discount for you - its super simple. Order two or more items and save 15% off EVERYTHING at our Amazon store click the link above. 

Including this awesome character building Tardis set, not only priced at £8.99 a 10% saving off the RRP, but buy something else and get it for £7.65!

Over at our Ebay store we have a load of collectables and other other great bits and pieces - so please take a look - we're adding stuff everyday in the build up to Xmas and will be taking offers on most things - so feel free to OFFER on any item with an offer - as we accept 90% of all sensible offers. 

Almost all of the items here are Exclusive to Ebay and not at our PBT site or Amazon, so get looking at ebay - and enjoy the fun of the bargains.... 

Don't forget that we reduced ALL of our Prices at Piggy Bank Toys last month by 20% across the board - so there's many a bargain to be had there too - prices reduced already shown on site - discount not applied at checkout as the prices shown now includes the original discount.

we offer great NEXT DAY delivery on all items so its guaranteed to arrive when you want it.

Piggy Bank Toy's Halloween Amazon 15% Off Offer

To celebrate Hallowe'en we at Piggy Bank Toys are offering 15% off our entire Amazon Inventory, when you buy 2 or More products from our Amazon store for 1 month, starting today at 1900hrs BST.

Thus, if you buy these cool Moshi Monsters Top Trumps Specials at £3.75

  

and add these awesome Doctor Who Character Building figures at £5.99

you will save 15% off the total price of £9.74, saving £1.46 and just paying £8.28 (before postage).

• This offer is valid when you buy 2 or more items from our store at Amazon. It applies to all stock in the store.  
• This offer is valid from 19/10/2012 to 19/11/2012. 
• The Offer does not apply to product sold anywhere else by Piggy Bank Toys. 
• This offer is only valid for products sold by Piggy Bank Toys through Amazon. 
• See Amazon for terms and conditions of this offer. 

so log on today and grab yourselves some extra value to our online bargains NOW.

The Piggy.

Come and Meet Us...

we're at this event next week - please feel free to come along and say hello. loads of big Sci Fi & TV stars...

we'll have loads of C-3PO products to pick up and have signed if you want to meet the man. Anthony Daniels doesn't do too many signings in the UK, so its a rare chance to meet the man behind the golden robot. Also Freema Ageyman - Martha Jones from Doctor Who - 1st EVER signing!

Piggy Bank Toys will be taking a large amount of stock from the website... to sell and showcase at the event.

Friday Blog - Xmas Lists, NOT the most wanted 10.

So, everyone has done one, and they started way back in July. I'm talking about Xmas Top 10's, 12's, 15's, 20's toy lists from every retailer, which have been news stories every week in the past few months in the trade press, as well as in the national press and on TV, with spots on shows like ITV's daybreak highlighting the bigger retailers top toys.

And its occurred to me that the retailers listing Xmas lists this year have done so, not because these items will be most wanted but also because they are the most overstocked items or those most recommended by the manufacturers to major retailers.

Now, that's not to say that the Ride in Dalek won't be popular, nor the Dance Star Mickey, nor Fijit to that matter, but its unlikely that many of these toys will totally sell out, only a few make it to Zhu Zhu pets 2009 status or the infamous Buzz Lightyear year. 

I've got a few of the popular lines in for sure, but competing with the big boys on price and quantity is nigh on impossible, as they've likely to have ordered a fair chunk of these top ten toys in good quantity. The likes of Argos, Tesco's, Asda & Toys R Us have a lot of stock in already and a lot of competing discounts on the main brands and main lines. And in some cases main line retailers are discounting to such a degree that competing is impossible with margins so tight. Either they have no need to make much profit on these toys or that they have done some great deals direct from the suppliers, usually missing out middle distributor men, which us smaller retailers have to deal with.

To this end, I want to let customers know that we independents stock a wide variety of toys, some more exclusive product lines that larger retailers don't bother with, and also to let you know that kids don't always want the main branded products. 

I'm not one to tell you what to buy your kids, but fighting for that one toy, above and beyond any other doesn't always pay off... we're 5 to 6 months down the line from the top ten toy lists being written - and I know from my own experience that my kids have moved on from fads and toys after a month or two. 

I know from bitter experience that getting something special or really wanted doesn't really reap any greater rewards than other toys at Christmas. Last year my son wanted an Armouron outfit, Santa got him one, they were not too hard to track down, I understand, and after I spent Xmas Day putting it all together for him , he didn't wear it until the 29th Dec, and hasn't worn it since. It was unsurprisingly other toys, not even ones requested that sparked his imagination, including a build your own robot and a model plane.

Christmas and Toys are all about play and imagination, but that shouldn't just be the Children's imagination, but the parents and adults imagination in buying that something special, not what retailers say is special. Do kids want to go back to school in January and say I got a NERF gun or a Fijit, and all their friends say, yeah so did I. There's nothing wrong with being the kid with the 'different' toy, and being happy. I'm sure they'll have more fun and longevity playing with a surprise toy than with a bog standard branded product.

That said, I am stocking all of the key lines, but look beyond the top ten's and twenties, and try and be a bit more imaginative, alternatives to Lego for example exist in Mega Bloks (and others) and their range is pretty impressive this year, and there are often good quality, cheaper and in some cases better looking alternatives, I know there are competitors to the Harumika range. 

I know kids are demanding, I have three now, but they don't always have to have the IN thing, after all they could get a toy and make it IN themselves.

One plus point against all of this is that if the top 10 sell out everywhere, there is always the next best thing - which is simply everything else. Kids should be grateful for all their presents, but make sure they get, not only what they want, this year, but also something different too, you never know it might be the best present they get. 

Don't always be swayed by what you are told is popular, often its not, its just overstocked, and a good deal is not always a good deal. £50 off a £100 toy you don't want is not a bargain, its £50 more than you spent on something you don't want! Be intelligent and imaginative this Christmas... there is still plenty of time to be a hero for your kids.

Another Christmas chart... Argos

retail price guide, and high street catalogue store and major high street toy retailer, Argos, has at last revealed its top 15 for Christmas. personally I think that there's nothing that new or exciting in the list (in terms of what we haven't already seen in every other list), but nonetheless it will prove to be that most of these toys won't be available in Argos come December, so go out and buy these in advance - or if you're a retailer like me get some of these items in to cash in on those people who prefer not to shop at the high street catalogue retailer, or customers who missed out!

The Argos Fab Fifteen Toys for Christmas 2011:

Pre-school toys
Dance Star Mickey - Mattel
LeapPad Explorer Tablet  - LeapFrog
Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo - Hasbro
Octonauts Octopod Playset  - Mattel
Kiddizoom Twist Camera – VTech

Boys' toys

Nerf Vortex Proton  - Hasbro
Dr Who Dalek Ride-In - Kids@Play (currently limited stock, full stock available from October 10th)
Bop It XT  - Hasbro
Disney Pixar Cars 2 Secret Spy Attack Finn McMissile - Mattel
LEGO Star Wars Sith Nightspeeder  - Lego

Girl’s toys

Fijit  - Mattel
Moshi Monsters Mosh’n’Chat - Vivid
Barbie Puppy Water Park  - Mattel
Chad Valley Designa Friend - Argos
Baby Annabell (age three+) - MGA/Zapf

Whats Up With Action Figures?

It seems that Toy industry figures* are indicating that even though overall toy sales remain positive year on year, sales of action figures have declined, and significantly enough to warrant concern.. With some major franchises returning to the action figure arena this year, i wanted to know why the decline might be happening and whether the return of 'boys' movies might change this, and whether its worth keeping faith in Action Figures in 2011? I have no answers specifically, and can only point to a number of factors why i believe the decline has happened:

Firstly, action figures have become expensive. Growing up, I was a consumer of Star Wars toys, and today remain a collector. We all know that in 1978 they retailed at pocket money value of £1.59. Today new Star Wars action figures are £7.99-£8.99 a piece. I know that these prices are comparative to other boys toys in the market, Bakugan, etc, but its probably a reason why these types of boys toys are not selling as well (Spaceships to house these figures cost over £50 in some cases).

I'm also not content with the price or supply of these toys in the European Markets, and won't be the first to be unhappy that the price points here don't match the US. In the US, a £7.99 Star Wars action figure is priced at $7.99 - at the current exchange rate that is just £4.89. Surely its not costing more to get these toys to the UK, certainly not £3.10 more. (Those of you in Europe are even worse off with action figure prices nearing €11.99). And overall supply is poor in the UK, we get waves 1,2 & 3 of a series, then nothing, US stores still get the full compliment of waves, vehicles, everything. UK buyers are hard done by, in this regard. (check my store when it launches as we intend to stock the harder to get figures and ranges as well as the usual bog standard 'high street' ranges). I'm still seeing left over 'female' Star Wars figures from lines released 3 years ago on the shelves of Toys R Us, such as the 2008-2009 legacy collection Breha Organa & the super unpopular Yarna Dal Gargan.

Secondly, there might just be too many action figure lines out there, just off the top of my head, there is Ben 10, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Iron Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor, Harry Potter, as well as almost every action movie series releasing a range. Boys find it hard to pick a series / franchise / line to follow and collect, and they just keep coming too.

Thirdly, classification of toys and similar alternatives. What boys determine as 'action figures' may have changed, but the measure of action figure sales might not. Lego Mini figures don't fall under action figures at all, neither do toys like Playmobile, Pixar Cars vehicles, Bakugan, Pokemon. Boys are still out buying all of these products instead of action figures and playing 'action' games with them. How does the Toy industry classify Transformers, for example, are they Vehicles or Action Figures? Hasbro has been pushing its NERF range for a while and sales of these types of action toys where by 'you take over' the action might even be replacing action figures themselves. Sales of 'safe' weapons and water toys have rocketed in the past year, and its no coincidence that these sales increases have mirrored the decline in action toys.

Lego has, I believe, hugely impacted the Action Figure Market. Their mini figure ranges have impacted significantly on the 'action figure' model. With low price points but the same playability and collectorbility factor, Lego is cornering a market it doesn't even generally trade it. With Character Building coming along with its HM & Doctor Who ranges too, the future is looking bleaker for the traditional 'action figure'. With Lego licensing more and more products, like the Pirates of the Caribbean range, and continuing its now long standing range with Star Wars, its only going to help the brand and impact on the Action Figure Market.

Cars, by Disney are also capturing what i believe is a part of the Action figure market. With a massive range of toy cars, which are undoubtedly NOT action figures, but fall under the vehicles market, have been selling to boys consistently well since the original film was released in 2006. Helped by the Cars Toon series and innovative updating of the pre-existing range. Cars 2 vehicles just released are also going to start flying off the shelves, and I fear at the expense of Action Figures. Again these figures retail at a much more competitive price point where two vehicles can be bought for the same price as one Action figure. You can race two cars against each other, a single action figure is pointless without a friend! Cars, you may argue are selling to the general boys market who buy toy cars anyway, but I think the Cars range is different, because each car is a character. Unlike hot wheels where the car is unique, but still is based upon a real car, the Pixar Cars have faces and can become playable characters, with an 'action' ability. Certainly the younger boys are buying and collecting Cars characters, probably in place of collecting a range like Star Wars.

The bright points on the horizon are the number of new action movies due to hit in 2011. Despite my claim that the action figure market is perhaps overloaded, even more action based toys might revitalize the market. Coming in 2011/12 are the following films which will all be 'action figure' and boy toy friendly: the Star Wars Clone wars - series continues, Star Wars Episode I -3D, Scheduled for release in 2012, Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, X-Men First Class, Thor, Real Steal, Transformers, Captain America, The Avengers, Green Lantern, MI:IV, The Adventures of Tintin, Batman 4, Spider Man, and possible movies, like Cowboys and Aliens, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Men in Black III, Star Trek II & The Hobbit.

It is a tough market, but as retailers we have to cater for everyone in it, and we must remember that Action figures are NOT just for collectors.

Personally I believe prices have to become more consumer friendly, but in these economic times, it is perhaps difficult for manufacturers to cater for this. Boys still love action figures. As I believe what boys deem to be classed as 'action toys' has changed, this might be affecting the plight of the traditional multi articulate blister packed figure.

The solution as ever is down to retailers and manufacturers to work together to sell and stock the right ranges at the right prices. It seems in recent months the major stores have made some odd decisions on stock and availability of lines, Doctor Who and Star Wars are two I can think of where 'shelf warmers' are common, and popular figures are in shorter supply than normal. Maybe the new and upcoming film licensed ranges will change these perceptions and bring the action figure toys back to life. I'm particularly looking forward to the Real Steel range, and think this could be the jump start the action figure market needs.

* Full year 2009 vs 2010 growth figures:

Action Figures     -17%
Total Toy Market  +7%
Building Sets (including lego) +48% 

Toy News, March 2011

Let me have your comments.

Upping the Ante

PBT's will be upping the blogging ante from now onwards, with some sneak peaks at some new toys, whats going down with current toys and a lot more... things that appear to be resonating with my two kids are series 4 of Lego Mini Figures - which seem to becoming a revolution in pocketmoney purchases. Simple fun and totally collectable... we can't wait to see what series 5 has in store (i'm hoping for a DJ and an Office Worker) (do we have enough characters to create the Village People yet, now we have the Indian Chief and a Cowboy??). Zoobles still cute and Bakugan like for girls! And talking of Bakugan - they have taken these to the next step....

Plus the new Moshi Monsters Magazine. The whole experience of collecting and playing with toys has gone online and off and the kids are loving it...Check out the cute MOSHI plushes too...

As the new Series of Doctor Who launches on TV expect some new action figures and other bits and pieces. Particularly the Character Building secret packs (similar to Lego) which also come in an HM Armed Forces range. These will be flying off the shelves.