Czechs spend almost CZK 5bn on toys in 2011

Prague, Sept 2 (CTK) - Sales of children's toys in the Czech Republic rose by 1.5 percent to Kc4.9bn last year and three quarters of the sales came from imports, in particular from Asia, Association for Toy and Play deputy chairman Jiri Stastny told CTK.

People have lately been buying rather cheaper toys so the number of the sold units grew faster than the sales last year.

"A fall in interest in traditional toys and higher interest in electronic toys, smart phones, play consoles, computers and electronics is a clear trend," Stastny said.

Children are influenced a lot by television commercials and serials, said Katerina Richterova, marketing manager of Sparkys shops. "Children, of course, wish to have the real toy from the TV commercial, not a copy," she added for CTK.

Ogo set is the top-selling toy in Spakys shops at the moment. "Of course - popular brands like Lego, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Play-Doh, Smoby, Chicco, Woody and Nici are popular as well," Richterova noted.

Sports, inflatable and floating toys, trampolines and fun games rank among the top selling articles in the summer but the best time for toy sellers is the pre-Christmas period.

Domestic producers contribute some one quarter to toy sales in the Czech Republic. The assortment of Czech toys is not changing much. They are mainly wooden, textile and plush toys and puppets.

Czech producers are also successful in miniature cars, games, puzzles, wheeled toys and playground equipment as well as modelling kits and tools. Over 70 percent of this production is exported.