Back to basics: Hong Kong’s Christmas shoppers opting for traditional board games over gadgets at Toys ‘R’ Us
Families increasingly shunning electronic goods in favour of ‘quality time’ together, retailer says
Hong Kong’s Christmas shoppers are increasingly choosing traditional board games over electronic gadgets as families seek more “quality time” together, a major toy retailer has said.
Sales of games including Monopoly, Scrabble and Cluedo have risen significantly at Toys “R” Us stores in the city during the weeks leading up to Christmas, the company reported.
This year the retailer aims to donate HK$500,000 to Operation Santa Claus, a joint annual charity campaign organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK which supports 23 local beneficiaries. It is the third consecutive year Toys “R” Us has contributed.
Regional general manager Jo Hall said she could not yet provide official sales figures to show Hong Kong’s growing appetite for traditional games, but said the trend reflected an increasing desire among parents to interact more with their children.
“These games are a growing part of our token mix,” she said. “It is a lovely throwback to quality family time. It is almost as though families are leaving mobile devices and going back to traditional ideas.”