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Top 2010 Christmas Toy Predictions
It’s only July and already the consumer market is gearing up for Christmas 2010 and what it expects to be the most wanted Christmas Presents of 2010.
There’s no doubting it that hi-tech toys are set to make a huge reappearance this Christmas as Britain claws its way back out of recession, led by a dancing rubbish truck of all things!
A children’s video camera, wristband that unleashes alien sounds, and a new range of Scalextric are also expected to be popular according to toy retailer Hamleys.
Influences from the big screen are once again expected to have a big impact on whats hot over Christmas 2010, with the Jetpack Buzz Lightyear toy being tipped to be on many wish lists.
Among other novelties, watch out for the new meerkat members of Sylvanian families, and an updated circular Monopoly board incorporating today’s property prices …
Christmas Day Sales
Unable to wait 12 hours for the start of in-store sales on the High Street, deal hunters will browse the internet on Christmas Day.
Many stores will start their sales online on 25 December to attract the keen shoppers who numbered an estimated 3.8 million last year.
Book and Movie comparison websites such as BuyCheapFilms.co.uk expect to see huge surges in sales on Christmas Day sometime after 7pm.
Cycle store Halfords said it expected Christmas Day to be the 3rd busiest online shopping day of the year.
“As a nation we can’t resist a good deal,” said Richard Stables, chief executive at Kelkoo.
“Last year, 3.8 million people ordered goods online on Christmas Day, a craze which was started by several e-retailers starting their online sales early on 25 December.”
The bad weather turned many United kingdom shoppers away from the High Street on the weekend prior to Christmas, according to figures from Experian which said that the number of shoppers was 6.9% down on the same two days last year.
Nevertheless, the height of post-Christmas shopping could come early on with the VAT rate set to increase to 17.5% from 15% on 1 January. To see the latest Christmas sales, the minute they’re available, visit Discount Codes.
Lego Grabs Top Spot
Back in August, we reported that Lego was going to be a big hit this Christmas, but we never predicted it would be this big!
High Street Stores and online shops have been unable to meet the huge demand for the famous building blocks, leading to prices being two to three times more expensive via the usual internet channels. A quick search for Lego on Amazon or Lego on eBay will show the frightening results!
Lego has enjoyed a major revival with its sales already showing an increase of up to 25% when compared to last year, as parents continue to search for the the traditional toys this Christmas.
Leading store such as Tesco and Asda have sold out of the most popular ranges of the toy including Star Wars, Power Miners and Indiana Jones sets in the lead up to christmas. Other, smaller independent retailers, selling Lego on Amazon or promoting Lego on eBay, are charging between two to three times the official listing prices of Lego.
A Lego Star Wars Clone Walker Battle Pack has an official price of £9.79 but on Lego on eBay can fetch as much as £29.95 plus £5 for delivery .
The official listing price for the Lego Indiana Jones Temple of Doom is £73.39 – the cheapest deal for Lego on Amazon is double that, and consumers are willing to pay it to ensure their child gets the must have toys.
Some people are calling the online retailers exploitative, yet it’s an all too familiar story that is mirrored by travel companies during school holidays.
On Her Majestys Service
The Micro Spy Cam is the smallest DV camera in the world, measuring only 5.5cm tall. It has fantastic video recording quality, especially considering it is coming from something so small. The micro Clip Spy Cam has a variable frame rate of up to 30 frames per second, and displays at 640 x 480.
Its tiny size means it can be concealed just about anywhere and its metallic casing makes it extremely robust. It even comes with various accessories including attachments to make it wall mountable and a clip in case you want to attach it to your clothing.
The Spy Cam even has a sound activated mode, which will only start recording when a loud enough noise is made. If after a while no further noise can be heard it will deactivate ready to be triggered again.
If you fancy yourself as the next 007 this is a gadget straight off of Q’s production line. You don’t have to be on a secret mission to get the most out of the Micro Spy Cam. It could be the fact that someone keeps nicking your custard creams or ‘borrowing’ your Lionel Richie CD.
You might have some suspicions about people being in your room or simply want to catch someone’s natural reaction to a surprise. You could even attach one to a remote control car or helicopter and show them just how close you came to crashing into the wall! AND, if all that wasn’t enough, the Micro Spy Cam can be used as a webcam too
Poppy the Microwavable Penguin
Is it the snow we’ve been seeing lately or is Poppy the Microwavable Penguin going to become of the unexpected top Christmas sellers?
GettingPersonal are reporting a huge surge in sales as everyone rushes to get last minute stocking fillers and personalised presents such as mugs and calendars, but the surprise gift of all is Poppy the Microwavable Penguin.
Sometimes we all like to snuggle up on the sofa with something warm and cuddly, which is why Poppy the Penguin is the ultimate accessory for the cold wnter nights we’re seeing lately.
Easily warmed up in the microwave, and delicately fragranced with lavender to aid relaxation, Poppy the Penguin is guaranteed to keep the winter blues at bay! Poppy the Penguin can be reheated a countless number of times, and is suitable for children and adults of all ages.
Sometimes you can’t beat a hug from a steaming-hot penguin!
A Healthy Addiction
In a world with hi-tech gadgetry, flashing LEDs and on screen displays being the norm, it’s easy to forget that it doesn’t need to be flashy to be great. It’s often the most simple that can give the most enjoyment and the addict-a-ball is the perfect example.
Addict-a-ball combines the skill needed in a marble puzzle and the fun of completing a maze, all in one. Addict-a-ball even looks so good you’d be crazy not have a go, so you are guaranteed to have a queue of people waiting for you to fail!
To play you ‘simply’ need to navigate the ball round the track, following the numbers, which becomes progressively more and more difficult. Some areas require a quick flick of the wrist while others will only be possible with a slower and more measured approach!
The Addict-a-ball is ideal for all ages and with 138 stages guarantees that no one will finish it in one go!
This fantastic game will frustrate, irritate and delight in equal measures; and will have you craving just one more go!
To see Addict-a-ball in action check out the video on RED5’s website.
Introducing Electronic Ink
Electronic Ink sounds like something you might read in a science fiction novel but it’s very much today’s technology and is utilised beautifully by Phosphor Watches. This revolutionary display produces a high contrast, black and white clock face with an almost paper-like style, creating a watch that sets itself apart from any other.
The display has the ability to switch between white on black to black on white at the press of a button. It can also change between a standard numeric digital display in one mode, and a graphical hour clock display in another.
Electronic Ink is a fusion of chemistry, physics and electronics creating a new revolutionary material. Made up of tiny microcapsules containing black and white charged particles, they can be brought to the surface with the use of electrodes.
The result is a sharp, easy to read display that is sure to get noticed. This technology also means there is ultra low power consumption.
The watches have a futuristic minimal appeal and come with either a leather strap or PU (polyurethane) strap.
Keep Look Out For Sharks
This year one of the most popular presents at RED5 is the incredible 3 channel Alloy Shark. Before we talk about the Alloy Shark its worth mentioning the helicopter it replaced, which was the Bladez 3D. This helicopters success was largely due to its stability and handling, and it was competing in a market that was more focused on making the smallest helicopter possible.
The trouble with that is the smaller you make it, the harder it becomes to control. Measuring in at a whopping 38cm the Bladez 3D dared to be different and in doing so was able to offer precision movements like the smaller ones could only dream of.
The Alloy Shark takes that success one step further by replacing plastic parts with metal ones and giving it kudos in the looks department. Not only does it look great in the air, it now looks just as good when stationary!
The controls are what you would expect from the a 3 channel helicopter (forwards, backwards, left, right, up and down), and once mastered, give you the ability to put the helicopter just about anywhere you want!
More details can be found on RED5’s website, but just to put things in perspective on how good this offer really is, here is a price comparison on both the Alloy Shark and the Bladez 3D.
Christmas Sales Have Begun
Earlier than ever before, the Christmas sales have already started with retailers trying to tempt help you, by spreading the cost of Christmas over the 5 weeks leading up to Christmas day. Some of the best pre-christmas sales events seen online have been:
- 25% off Debenhams
- 25% off Fashion Union
- 20% off Oasis
- 20% off Buton Menswear
- 20% off BHS
Last year Marks and Spencer started the online pre-Christmas sales with a number of 20% off days, taking all other retailers by surprise, however that was in December!
Many more retailers are expected to follow and promote cheaper prices before VAT reverts to 17.5% on 1 January, having been cut to 15% in November 2008.
In a recent Which? survey christmas presents including books, perfumes, CDs and toys, were on average 17 per cent cheaper from internet retailers than from high street shops. The researchers ccompared 28 of the most popular gifts online and compared the standard high street prices of both national chains and independent retailers.
Two Dates For Your Diary
The busiest day for online Christmas shopping is expected to be Monday 7 December.
The busiest day for highstreet Christmas shopping is expected to be Saturday 19 December.
Credit Crunch Christmas Gadgets
Gizoo, one of the most popular gadget websites in the UK, have recently started their 30 Day Christmas Crunch Sale. For 30 days, a different gift will be discounted by up to 63% and it’s already proving to be a huge success!
Gadgets already “cunched” include;
- 33% Off Top Gear RC Power-Sliding GTR
- 40% Off Hot Beddy Bear
- 38% Off Veho Muvi
- 34% Off Graffitea Mug (a sell out in 2008)
Gizoo predict this years top gadgets that are likely to run out of stock, in the run up to Christmas include;
To help cut the cost of Christmas even more, Gizoo are offering free delivery on all orders over £30 and have even released some Gizoo Voucher Codes.