Business opportunity during pandemic - The rising of toy industry

We’ve been ‘stuck’ at home since the beginning of 2020, it is already more than a year nowr. Some countries might start letting kids back to school, some countries might still struggle and decide to extend the lockdown. With this article, I would like to share my observation through all this pandemic time. How it affect our baby product business. You will be surprised that actually the toy industry are rising. And what toy category that rising up so much during pandemic.

Content:

| Toy industry's may be thanking to pandemic

| The rising toy category during pandemic

| Building blocks

| Trampolines and playsets

| Smart toys

| Musical and art & drawing toys

Toy industry's may be thanking to pandemic

Parents pointed to loss of income and uncertain economic climate as two factors that would require them to rethink some of their spending even when stores reopen their doors.  Just another factor certain to affect toy sales this year. 

So what steps can toy makers take to head off these challenges?  They must do what they do best: turn to new bells and whistles and think outside the box.

1. Toy brands should turn to new ways to engage moms and kids which allow them to interact with their toys. 

2. Leveraging influencers to host in-home playdates that allow kids to touch and play with the hottest new toy while moms look on is just one way. 

3. It might also include product demonstrations in driveways and cul-de-sacs, or the seamless integration of social media with platforms that really matter to moms.

Now is the time for toy makers to be as innovative with their marketing as they are with their new products.  With a little creativity and strategic thinking, toy makers have the opportunity to navigate the shift in family toy buying that’s headed their way.

The rising toy category during pandemic

Building blocks

In late April, sales of Legos were up 64% year over year on eBay Australia, and rose as high as 92% one Sunday night. Basic Fun, the maker of Lite-Brite, Lincoln Logs, and K’nex—old-school toys that require users to think creatively and put things together with their bare hands—has also seen sales soar. Chief Executive Jay Foreman told the New York Post that the company had its best first quarter ever this year.

Read also: Building blocks for baby

Our recommendation

Plus-Plus: The construction toy with one shape and endless possibility! Build flat or in 3D. Fun for kids from age 1 to 101.

Newmero: Fun to play with numbers

Read also: Unboxing Newmero - A fun way to let your children falling in love with math

Trampolines and playsets

Toys that let kids get their energy out have jumped: The Asians are interested in mini trampolines, while Americans are furnishing backyards with bounce houses, playground sets, and slides. The Chief Executive of MGA Entertainment, which manufactures play houses, basketball hoops, and trampolines, recently reported that sales were up 100% in March compared to 2019.

Our recommendation

Fold & go kids trampoline: Featuring pre-assembled trampoline mat with a padded frame cover, the Fold and Go Trampoline is easy to set up and doesn't use bungee cords.

Smart toys

Demand for smart toys is on the rise due to its user engaging property. Smart Toys are electronic component embedded toys that have their own intelligence and behaves according to the environmental stimuli. It enables to reduce the smartphone industry threat by using artificial intelligence to attract children. Many smart toys like Spin Master's interactive Luvabella baby doll, Hasbro's bluetooth-connected Furreal motorized pet, Barbie's futuristic hologram Barbie, Lego's app-based coding playset and Mattel "smart" baby monitor have been launched.

Read also: Recommended toys to develop child's skills for the future!

Our recommendation

PLUGO: The physical-virtual play is not only a lot of fun, but highly educational for youngsters.

Read more: 5 Recommended STEAM APP for children in 2020

Musical and art & drawing toys

Without formal art classes to attend, children are expressing themselves through drawing, painting, coloring, sculpting, and crafting. Music classes have been canceled along with the rest of school (not to mention live festivals and concerts).

Read also: Playing open-ended toy with Dena toys - My First Rainbow

Art & Drawing Toys, which includes play dough, putty and drawing tablets, went up in Russia (+35%), the UK (+141%), Germany (+159%), France (+261%), the US (+653%), and Brazil (+674%), compared to January. Musical Toys were also up in the Netherlands (+40) and Brazil (+166%).

Our recommendation

Hay Dough

Welcoming you to be part of BabyLux family, planning to start own business by being baby products distributors but not sure where to start, drop us a message!

Are you ready for a new normal? See how COVID-19 create a new normal

We already been living together with COVID-19 for almost three months. Are you ready for a new normal? Following are the predictions from many sources regarding changes in new normal during and after COVID-19 passes.

Content:

| What will new normal might look like

| The new normal behavior might look like this…

| How we can adapt our business

| Conclusion

Experts had a few suggestions on what the new normal might look like

Wearing a mask everywhere

While a growing number of countries mandate mask-wearing, and dozens of other academics are urging all governments to require their citizens wear cloth masks in all public places.

School safety

Increasing the frequency of cleaning, reducing the used of shared items. Reducing the size of classes and keeping children in small groups without mixing with others.

Bowing or waving hand instead of shaking hands and hugging

Traditions that have lasted for centuries will be extinct by the existence of COVID-19. With the social distancing and contact-free lifestyle that emerged because of COVID-19, we no longer shake hands to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.

Air pollution sharply fell

The busiest city of New York, for example, with a traffic pandemic reduced by 35%, carbon monoxide pollution fell sharply by 50%, and CO2 pollution fell by 10%, as well as methane pollution. In China, only in the span of 2 weeks after the lockdown of energy use and emissions fell by 25%, thus cutting 1% of the total cumulative carbon emissions in China.

Predictions in the new normal behavior

The fall of mobility, the rise of stay at home

COVID-19 practically stop mobility and force people to stay at home. COVID-19 crisis brought humans back to ancient times where they lived only in caves, which means home for us. Welcome to stay at home economy.

Online-shopping widening and deepening: from wants to needs

Online shopping began to shift from products that are desires or wants to products that are the needs. Online shopping customers will widening from buying non-essential goods online to buy daily need. And will deepening where the volume of purchases is getting bigger.

The comeback of home cooking

Having enough free time at home during a pandemic provides an opportunity for you to hone a new skill that is cooking. People said that millennial “kills” home cooking because millennial moms lose their cooking ability. But apparently COVID-19 "turned it on" again. Yes, it is time for me to learn how to cook with my child.

Read also: KiddiKutter kid-safe knife, cuts food not fingers!

Online + home-schooling

COVID-19 triggers two trends at once in the learning process. First online learning or online-schooling using a digital platform. Secondly the role of parents is increasingly large in the child's learning process (home-schooling). I call these two trends: "online + home-schooling". Online + home-schooling is fundamentally changing the face of the world of education going forward, you will need more and more educational toy, while you working at home, your child will also have their time to learn by playing.

Read also: 5 Recommended STEAM APP for children in 2020

DIY & self-care at home

When consumers are accustomed to stay at home, they start trying out new and exciting things. One of them doing self-care or self-rejuvenation such as facials, meni-pedi, spa. Then this do it yourself (DIY) trend can become a new and normalcy purchases of self-care products automatically increase.

Read also: Meni-pedi at home with your kids? SUYON nail polish 100% safe for kids

How we can adapt the new normal to our business

Get online, if you haven’t already

If you had been contemplating about bringing your business online, now is the best time to do so. As people are locked up in their homes, they tend to spend more time online rather than watch television. Get yourself started by creating a website (with content that holds weight).

Picture taken from Google

Use the best collaboration tools

Organizations are using all kinds of collaboration tools such as Teams, Slack, Skype, etc. for daily virtual meetings. This helps in increasing team intimacy and keeping everyone in good spirits.

Reach out to others in the industry

Leverage your virtual tools to reach out to others in your domain or industry. For example, a few high-end luxury brands are making vital medical wear (like scrubs and gowns), and others are following suit.

Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Chanel put their fashion muscle behind face masks

Hold on to clients

Understanding your customers and how they’re changing, here, communicating proactively is the key. Like with everything else in life, remote working also comes with its own gaps, which should be bridged regularly by maintaining a connect with your customers. Inform them of the situation at your end, whether you need to close shop, or the delayed shipments. Provide your services and solutions remotely. Use social media to the fullest. Live stream a prototype, a product launch, and invite questions just the way you would anyway do.

Conclusion

Eventually we will overcome the coronavirus crisis. But the changes left in its wake will be permanent. It is imperative to take steps now to prepare for the new normal because this is the time when customers are forming their habits for years to come.

Welcoming you to be part of BabyLux family, planning to start own business by being baby products distributors but not sure where to start, drop us a message!

Indoor play ideas and daily schedule for your kids during COVID-19

COVID-19 virus has now spread throughout the world. With a fast spreading process, our efforts are needed to reduce the spread of viruses by stay at home. Schools are closed and children studying at home with an online course system. Stay at home, stay indoor and avoid the crowd make children easily get bored. Here is we give you some indoor play ideas and daily schedule.

Content:

| Indoor play ideas for babies 0-9 months

| Indoor play ideas for toddlers 1-2 years

| Indoor play ideas for pre-school children 3-4 years

| Indoor play ideas for young children 5-8 years

| Daily schedule

Indoor play ideas for babies 0-9 months

Peek-a-boo!

All you need to play this game is your hands and a sweet voice. And you must know the rest, it is a very simple game. Your little one will be very happy at watching you disappear and reappear. As your baby gets older, she will start playing back with you.

Name the body parts

Name your baby’s body parts and point to them to help teach her their names. “Where your nose? There it is!” You can point to your own as well to help your baby make the connection between the two: “Where is mommy’s nose? Here it is!”

Read more: Reminders of our ability to stand together during COVID-19

Indoor play ideas for toddlers 1-2 years

Kitchen drummer

Let your toddlers play with kitchen stuffs. Turn over bowls, pots and pans to make a set of drums straight from your kitchen. For drumsticks, grab some wooden spoons. Your little rock star will keep himself entertained exploring all the different sounds they can make. This game is also great for helping them develop their fine-motor skills.

Drawing

Give your baby some crayons and paper and let him draw away! This will allow them to unleash his creativity and enjoy independent, creative play. When they’re done, talk to them about the different colors they used.

Pass the ball

Grab a soft ball and roll it back and forth with your toddler. This back-and-forth play is great for confidence building and teaches them that you will respond to their actions. To make it even more fun, try adding in another ball and talk to them about the one they chooses.

Read more: Multi sensory at-home activities with below 3 years old during COVID-19 outbreak

Indoor play ideas for pre-school children 3-4 years

Dress up

Grab some different fabrics and clothing and encourage your little one to make a pretend costume out of what you have. Then, play a game together based on what they chooses. Who knows what adventures you’ll have!

Chasing around

Play the “I’m going to catch you!” game around the house by playfully chasing your child around your living space. If she has a lot of energy, this will help her to get it all out. You may need to join her for a nap yourself when you’re done.

Name that animal noise

Make different animal noises and have him guess which animal you’re pretending to be. Encourage taking turns and let him make some noises too while you guess. This is a great opportunity to teach him more about the animals you each choose, too.

Indoor play ideas for young children 5-8 years

Wash away!

Grab some toys that can safely go in the water, fill up a bucket and let the fun begin. Encourage them to “wash” their toys by dunking them and playing with them in the water and then cleaning them off with a soft cloth.

Playing make believe

Have them take the lead and encourage them to come up with a make-believe scenario. Follow along with their instructions and ask them questions about the world they have created.

Make a very colorful snack

Have your child help you prepare a snack for the family and challenge them to use as many colors as they can. Grab some healthy options and have them lay them out on a plate in a design she likes. They’ll be proud of their delicious creation.

Read more: 10 Awesome experience gift to give after COVID-19 passed

References: UNICEF Website

Daily schedule

Jessica McHale, a photographer and also a mother who lives in the United States, share a daily schedule on her Instagram account in the midst of isolation to keep herself and her family healthy.

Welcoming you to be part of BabyLux family, planning to start own business by being baby products distributors but not sure where to start, drop us a message!

“This too shall pass.”

10 Awesome experience gift to give after COVID-19 passed

Who decided to give the kids special gift after COVID-19 passed? Yes, it's me! But who says that “giving" always has to mean toys? My husband and I decided to give experiences, such as museum memberships to sporting passes, can give your kids more than just another object for their playroom and the most important thing is we will get out from our house by that time. Not only can create memories, also can help build skills and provide fun for the entire family, it’s a win-win!

10 Awesome experience gift to give after COVID-19 passed

1. Gift card to restaurant for the family

If you already have children, whatever will be done surely the first thought is the comfort of the child. Including when choosing where to eat. Moment of eating out with family will be more exciting after COVID-19 has passed.

2. Trampoline jump passes

We all know trampolining is fun. But did you know there are also some serious health benefits you can gain from regular trampoline-based activities? As your kids bounce, more oxygen is carried around their bodies in the blood stream. This instantly increases their energy and oxygen levels and makes them feel more alert and happy!

3. Zoo membership

Memberships come with unlimited and express entry to zoo.

4. Trip to the bookstore to pick out new books

Reading with your child promotes brain development and imagination, teaches your child about language and emotions, and strengthens your relationship. You don’t always need to read books. Try looking at picture books, singing rhymes and songs, or telling stories from your culture.

Read more: How to choose cloth books for my little book lovers at home?

5. Local + national state park passes for a year

National parks have clear economic benefits for national and local economies, yet they also have important benefits for the environment within and outside of their borders. If you thought national parks were just a common place to visit for recreational activities, you might want to think again as parks are incredibly beneficial to the environment.

6. Plane ticket to visit someone special (grandma, aunt, etc.) for a family trip

One of the biggest benefit of family trip with kids is that you travel slower. You spend more time enjoying the beautiful scenery. With kids you can do all the crazy things.

7. Pass to an art museum

Most museums offer a feast for the senses and will encourage kids to compare and contrast the sights and sounds around them. Visiting a museum represents the perfect opportunity for children to ask questions about new subjects and to satisfy their innately curious minds. Museums offer historical lessons not taught in schools, museums also encourage creativity.

8. Cooking class for kids

Did you know that cooking with your kids boosts their development? As you cook, you are labeling ingredients which increases a child’s vocabulary. Mixing the ingredients, rolling the dough and using cookie cutters are all great ways to enhance a child’s fine motor strength and control. Cooking is a skill that is needed to be an independent adult, kids can learn early.

Read more: What can you play with Dena toys? You'll never think about it!

9. Season pass to attraction (Disneyland, Island of Adventure, etc.)

I think I don’t need to write too much about it. Who doesn’t want to have season pass to the happiest place on earth??

10. Swim lessons

Experts suggest that, compared to adults, children have a much easier time of learning to swim. Learning a swim stroke can help with gross motor skills and basic coordination. Swimming can help a child build all-around muscle strength in arms and legs. Most swim lessons take place in groups, and as they learn to swim, children are also learning social skills.

Welcoming you to be part of BabyLux family, planning to start own business by being baby products distributors but not sure where to start, drop us a message!

Reminders of our ability to stand together during COVID-19

With the overwhelming news on COVID-19, what we need most right now are reminders of our ability to stand together, as partners, so that each of us can rise to this challenge.

Reminders of our ability to stand together during COVID-19

Here’s what we can do together.

Plans may change, but we commit to being brave. We understand that many of us are facing fear and physical isolation, in this time, it is essential that we find ways to connect with others digitally and check in with our family, friends and colleagues with kindness and encouragement.

News also causes anxiety which in turn may lead to sleep disturbance. In combination with isolation that comes from social distancing, we may experience poor mental health and other negative outcomes. Moreover, this resulting sleep disturbance may end up hampering their immune response that is so vital to fight diseases. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories.

Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships and build a strong support system. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.

Read more: 5 Family bonding activity to play at home and 'hide' from Coronavirus

Sleep well to keep the virus away.

Let us together monitoring the progression of the COVID-19 but please remain calm and don’t spread hoax. Be aware that there may be rumors during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities.

Ensure your safety and put all the necessary preventive measures in accordance with the recommendation of local and global health authorities, such as:

• Sanitize office and warehouse

• Enforcing good personal hygiene to our staffs and us

• Have your team member to wear face masks while working

• Make sure our team member and us always wash hands when handling the products

A good toy can let your little one falling in love with shower time.

And if you have toddler at home, go check this article for at-home activity ideas.

We truly hope this pandemic will end soon and hope all of you are safe and healthy!

We are so thankful to have such supportive partners during this hard time.

With love,

BabyLux

Multi sensory at-home activities with below 3 years old during COVID-19 outbreak

COVID-19 outbreak makes many families choose to stay at home to prevent it from widespread. How about our children? If you stay at apartment, there is no enough indoor space to let your children play and run around. How do we keep them busy? One activities per day could keep the stress away, trust me!

Exciting and fun! That’s what will be felt by our children when they were doing at-home multi sensory activities during COVID-19 outbreak. Do you know that although it looks like just playing in general, but the stimulation of two senses at the same time from multi sensory activity will make children’s brain work more optimally in absorbing and storing new information? Yes, that is why children's education experts agree that multi sensory activities are a more productive and useful alternative to learning, rather than let them play with gadget.

Read more: 5 Family bonding activity to play at home and 'hide' from Coronavirus

The most wonderful part is all of the following inspirations of multi sensory activities can be done with equipment and simple materials available at home. You will not frustrate because looking for a place that provides the materials, just stay at home and be safe, please.

Multi sensory at-home activities with below 3 years old during COVID-19 outbreak

Finger painting

As the earliest activity that can be done by every child, finger painting can also be an inspiration for multi sensory activities to introduce textures, colors, and aromas to children under 3 years old. However, I encourage parent with below 3 years old children to DIY an edible paint or a paint that is safe when eaten. Because you know that younger children loves to put everything inside their mouth. To make it yourself, simply mix cornstarch, water, food coloring, andvoila.

Read more: Home made edible paint

Digging dinosaurs

Inspiration of this multi sensory activity is just right for introducing letters and various types of dinosaurs, especially if your children love dinosaurs! Fill the bucket or storage container with sand, then hide some dinosaur toys, some of which have been sticked with a capital letter D and some sticked with a small letter D. Ask your little one to dig up the sand, then group the dinosaurs that have the same typeface, parents can also teach various other words that begin with the letter D.

Read more: Creative sand art activity

Water balloon bath

Make bathing time more fun with multi sensory activities for children. With the help of several colored balloons filled with water, parents can introduce colors and enrich the child's vocabulary with various descriptive words related to the senses, such as slippery, sticky, soft, heavy, light, and so on.

Playing with rice

Apart from food, rice can also be an alternative to sand or soil to conduct multi sensory activities for toddlers. Rice can be colored and added some aroma from flavorings and food coloring.

Rice that has been colored and given a scent, parents can use it to do multi sensory activities such as:

• Dig for treasure.

• Put in clear plastic to teach color and texture.

• Put in a small can and make a simple musical instrument.

Read more: 50 fun way to play with rice

Jello dig

Well, inspiring the next multi sensory activity can Moms try to make toddler snacking time more exciting and productive. Just make jelly as usual, put large pieces of fruit, star-shaped candy, or other objects that are safe to eat. This multi sensory activity is not only effective for stimulating all the senses, but also makes your baby's stomach full.

Apparently it is not difficult to do multi sensory activities for children below 3 years old at home. Although it will be a bit messy, but it is worth with the amount of benefits that will brought to our little one.