- Title: UK: EXHIBITION OF LATEST CHRISTMAS TOYS OPENS IN LONDON.
- Date: 6th October 2004
- Summary: (L!2) LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 6, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) WIDE OF EXHIBITION HALL WITH TOYS WIDE OF A BOOTH WITH CHILDREN LOOKING AT TOYS BOYS WATCHING CARS ON A SLIDE, AND EXPRESSING SURPRISE WHEN CAR GETS STUCK ON SLIDE CLOSE UP ON THE BOY'S FACE YOUNG GIRL HOLDING TOY CLOSE UP ON TOY - A COLOURFUL BOX CALLED 'SHORTIES' CLOSE UP ON GIRL'S FACE
- Embargoed: 21st October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Business,Industry,Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA2Q6IQ3EKQ17TQHSP4VSGXO6JA
- Story Text: A streetwise upstart doll and an all-dancing, karate-kicking robot, are set to become the toys of choice this Christmas in Britain.
Bye bye Barbie, welcome Bratz! At the ripe old age of 45, Barbie has been knocked off her perch in Britain by streetwise upstart Bratz in the Christmas battle of the dolls.
The shock news was revealed by the UK's Toy Retailers Association, as it announced its prediction for the top ten toys of Christmas 2004 and showcased those toys and many others at a preview of what will be on offer this Christmas season in Britain.
In their yearly prediction of the must-have toys, the UK Toy Retailers Association said the trendy, multi-ethnic and slightly trashy doll Bratz comes on top of their Top Ten Toys list. It is the first year that Barbie is out of the top 10.
Just down the aisle from Barbie at the association's pre-Christmas media preview, Bratz was pouting in triumph and flicking her thigh-length hair in a Seventies disco outfit.
The busty and blonde Barbie has ruled supreme ever since her launch by U.S. toymaker Mattel Inc MAT.N>. But her 3.6 USD billion dollar global turnover may be under threat.
Barbie faces her toughest competition yet from multi-ethnic Bratz, brainchild of Isaac Larian who founded U.S.-based MGA Entertainment, now billed as the world's biggest privately owned toy company.
Bratz has only been two years on the market, and its novelty appeal to children.
Georgina explained why she is snubbing Barbie for Bratz.
"They have got lots of different looks. They are all really good. They have got lots of different people, Bratz.
Barbie is just one person, and.. she has got lots of family member whereas Bratz just have boys and girls, and have pets, and have some different outfits and accessories..."
Georgina said.
But at least Barbie is still in with a fighting chance for Christmas back home in the United States.
On Tuesday in New York, she and Bratz were both picked for the "Hot Dozen" holiday list released by Toy Wishes magazine.
So what's in store for boys ? Parents of boys will have to dig deep into their wallets, with Robosapien, an all-dancing, karate-kicking robot already proving a popular choice at 80 pounds in Britain.
Young Christopher had his eyes on the trikke -- a two legged scooter -- and the Robosapien.
"... I enjoyed the trikke which is like a scooter but they have two, two sides for your feet. And I also like the robots, I think they are really cool, and hopefully I get one for Christmas," Christopher said.
The robot boasts 67 different functions and was created by a robotic expert from NASA.
As well as the new toys, the UK Toy Retailers Association is tipping long-running classic games like Monopoly, Cluedo, Twister or Buckaroo to do very well this year.
Nostalgia will also play a big part with toys like the perennial yoyos, and baby dolls.
"There are lots of innovations, Bratz and things like this. The Bratz dolls, with lots more fashion sense, the CDs and then the flashback fever that is in there. We have things like trampolines, for all family entertainment, really appealing to the broadest range of children from three of four year-old to probably eighteen, nineteen and even adults after a good barbecue perhaps !," Ben Green, the Chairman of the Toy Retailers Association described.
The crucial Christmas sales account for 50% of the 2 billion pound UK Toy industry. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None