TOYS and games from yesteryear were predicted to make a comeback in 2015, according to a Taunton retailer.

Mike Slocombe, of Watkin’s in East Reach, said product tie-ins to mark big anniversaries would set the theme for toys in the year of 2015.

Mike shared his top ten sellers for 2014 as well, which might make for some interesting reading now in 2023.

The top ten best sellers in 2014 were: 

  1. Lego kits
  2. Lego Minecraft
  3. Dolls and merchandise from Disney’s Frozen film
  4. Sylvanian Families
  5. Jigsaws
  6. Construction kits, like Airfix
  7. Bigjigs wooden railways
  8. Corgi diecast cars and models
  9. Traditional boardgames like snakes and ladders, and Ludo
  10. Playmobil figures and sets

Looking ahead, he said: “Some familiar names will be making a reappearance in 2015, along with some old favourites remaining ever popular.”

Speaking on Friday last week he added: “A lot of people have left it late to buy toys this year and many people are coming in when they realise they can’t get what they want from online retailers. They are also finding that small local shops are often cheaper, too.

“And, to use a phrase first used in this shop in the Second World War years, ‘we can offer as good a choice on Christmas Eve as we can the rest of the year’.”

At the time, we asked Mike to give us his top three predictions for toys and products in 2015.

He said for 2015, the best sellers could be Toy Story products as the film series is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

He also thought Thunderbirds for marking 50 years and Spirograph – the drawing and design toy has its 50th anniversary next year could be big sellers.