Argos consumer news
Top toys
29 July 2008
Lego is the nation’s all-time favourite toy but Scalextric is the one most people wanted but never got
It might only be July, but it’s that time of year when retailers reveal which toys children up and down the country will be putting on their Christmas lists. This year, as the UK’s number one toy retailer, Argos announces the top ten toys for 2008, a poll has shown that Lego is the nation’s favourite but Scalextric was the toy most Britons always hoped to see under the Christmas tree.
The poll, conducted by Argos to celebrate the 35th birthday of the iconic catalogue, looked at the top toys over the last 35 years, from Tracy Island and Castle Grayskull to Barbie and Sylvanian Families. A resounding 56% of people rated Lego as their childhood favourite with the famous bricks topping the list for all ages and genders.
But when asked which toy they always wanted, it was Scalextric that was on the wish list but never got to be unwrapped. A quarter of all men polled said they had wanted the thrill of racing cars round the famous Scalextric track, but never got to possess one of their own.
Ian Chaplin, Toys Trading Manager for Argos says: “Over the last 35 years millions of children have had the experience of flicking through the Argos catalogue picking out their Christmas lists. Looking back at the toy pages of past catalogues really evokes nostalgic memories of Christmas Past.”
As well as being an all-time favourite, Lego, which is 50 years old this year, also appears in Argos’ top ten toys for 2008, along with a host of more high-tech choices. A waterproof digital camera, a light and sound gadget watch, digital makeover system and electronic touch-and-talk reading device, are all expected to be high on the modern kid’s Christmas list.
Ian continues: “A key toy trend for winter 2008 is high-tech, with the strong emergence of electronic and gaming toys. But, there is also a revitalisation of classics like Lego and Rubik’s Cube, and with kids growing up fast these traditional classics will always be important in offering parents a balance of traditional and modern toys for their children.”
A couple of classics remain popular with Lego and the Rubik’s Cube featuring in both this year’s top ten and in the top toys over the last 35 years. Toys from well-known films and TV shows such as High School Musical, In the Night Garden, Star Wars and Ben 10 are also featured in this year’s favourites.
The top ten toys for 2008, all featured in the brand new Argos catalogue and online at www.argos.co.uk are:
- Leapfrog Tag Reading System
- In the Night Garden Upsy Daisy and Her Chase ‘n’ Play Bed
- Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera
- High School Musical Figurine 6 Pack
- Girl Tech Stylin’ Studio
- Baby Born with Magic Potty
- Bop It Extreme
- Lego Star Wars V19
- Rubik’s Cube
- Ben 10 Omnitrix
- ends -
