The ‘retro’ toys giving the British high street a much-needed boost

Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe popular dumpling squishy toys (Amazon UK)British retailers are reporting a significant surge in demand for physical collectibles among young people, with squishy dumplings, trading cards, and K-Pop CDs being particularly popular. Music and entertainment retailer HMV saw a 12 per cent increase in visitor numbers during the first half of this year compared to 2025, anticipating 50 million store visits, largely due to dedicated pop culture merchandise zones. High street chain The Works is also benefiting from children spending pocket money on items like squishies and Pokémon cards, aligning with a “screen-free” strategy to reduce screen time. HMV's managing director noted young people are returning to physical stores for shared experiences, and physical music formats, including vinyl and CDs, are experiencing a resurgence, partly driven by K-Pop albums. This trend indicates a broader sentiment shift towards physical ownership, even extending to “retro” technology, with eBay reporting a 164 per cent increase in global searches for the iPhone 5C. More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Raccontata daindependent.co.uk