In the past, toys were only meant for children. Your parents probably bought you toys that you played with very harshly and very quickly, so that they quickly ended up ruined. This was okay because that was exactly what the toys were designed for–to be played with and enjoyed. However, a decade or two after those toys were produced, some of them became very valuable. Entire markets developed around the idea of selling valuable toys. People who played with them as children wanted to buy quality versions of the toys that reminded them of their childhood. Oftentimes, these toys were parts of collections, and investors would attempt to buy all the toys needed to complete a collection. When you were a child, there was no way to know for sure which toys would be valuable. In fact, you probably never even thought about the possibility of them becoming valuable in the future.
Planning for the Future
Now that you’re an adult, you should keep these lessons of the past in mind and plan for the future when it comes to buying toys for your children. That is not to say you shouldn’t allow your children to play with toys, but just be mindful of their potential value in the future. Consider buying two of each toy so you can keep one safe. Not everything is going to become valuable in the future, though, so you also wouldn’t want to waste your time and money keeping toys that will never be collectible. How do you know which ones will become valuable?
Betting on Value
When you buy toys with the hopes that they become valuable in the future, you’re investing in stocks that may or may not rise. The best way to invest wisely is to analyse those toys that have already become valuable. When you look at the characteristics of collectible toys, Pop toys fit most of the criteria.
These toys are based on popular film and television franchises. They cover superheroes, princesses, and many other genres that are popular with both children and adults. Because they are based on such popular properties, they will likely create nostalgia in the minds of adults a few decades from now. Furthermore, they come in collections. They are available in different lines and sets. Collectors love to have complete sets of toys, and they will often pay more to complete a set.
You should not purchase toys for your kids simply in the hopes that they will be valuable in the future. However, if you are buying toys anyway, it does not hurt to plan ahead. If you identify a few factors that many collectible toys have in common, you will likely be able to anticipate one or two valuable properties. Those properties could serve as an investment in your child’s future. Also, you might find that you enjoy being a collector yourself.
The lines of toys designed for display create great collectors’ items. The more unique the toy is, the more collectible and valuable it will become. If a toy is made in a distinct style, it will stand out from the rest of the items based on the same characters and properties.
