Most people who know about Shopkins and their success in the U.S. market probably aren't aware that the toy was first created in 2013. Shopkins also won the 2015 Girl Toy of the Year Awards, beating out popular toys like Disney Princess, Barbie, and Lego.
As a toy retailer, that information should turn your head, and it certainly turns ours here at License 2 Play. Shopkins somehow managed to enter the toy niche and skyrocket to the top of it in 2 years, and with Shopkins as part of our wholesale toy range, we've been along for the ride.
Let's take a look at why they are so popular, and why you might want to add Shopkins to your retail store.
What Are Shopkins Toys?
Buying wholesale Shopkins toys means buying into the brand, and you should know a little bit about what Shopkins are, so you can market them properly. The toys include collectible miniaturized products designed around different shopping scenarios such as Bakery, Grocery, etc. Each toy is created as a character with a face and its own name and is complemented by a range of literature, accessories, and YouTube videos. However, the characters allow plenty of room for roleplay and imagination.
The big draw for Shopkins is that they are very collectible, with shopping lists for keeping track of collections, limited edition Shopkins of which only a few hundred or thousand are made ever, and a swap page set up on the Shopkins website. This creates a demand similar to the Pokemon and Beanie Baby trends of years past, but in a much more accessible format, as packs of Shopkins only sell for a few dollars each.
Shopkins are small enough to bring to school, which creates a viral sharing like effect, meaning that the more kids that see them, the more kids who buy them. Many kids bring them to school, which immediately creates a large demand.
For retailers, this means that you can invest in wholesale Shopkins, sell to kids who earn money and to parents looking for a small gift or toy, and then keep selling to the same people as they come back to add on to their collection. Plus, one Shopkins customer will keep coming back year after year, as new seasons of toys are released.
More than Just a Fad
If you're planning to invest in wholesale Shopkins, you can do so with confidence. Shopkins are among the top-selling toys on the planet and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the brand sold more than 65 million characters in its first year and has continued to grow since. That's impressive for any toy.
Sourcing Wholesale Shopkins
License 2 Play offers a wide selection of wholesale Shopkins toys including Shopkins packs, sets, and assortments. If you have not already registered with License 2 Play as retail, please visit our online registration form. License-2-Play has specialized in wholesale toys since 2004, and our current product lines include top brands such as Shopkins, Disney, Angry Birds, Poppins, Warcraft, and many more.