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A vintage Mighty Beanz racetrack with limited edition Racing Beanz

2003 MIGHTY BEANZ RACETRACK SUPER S-BEND BY MOOSE ENTERPRISE/SPIN MASTER

DETAILS:

Unleash the Mighty Thrills, enjoy the Bean spills!

Rev up your racer and get ready for some high-speed thrills with the 2003 Mighty Beanz Racetrack: Super S-Bend by Moose Enterprise/ Spin Master! This vintage gem is a must-have for any Mighty Beanz enthusiast, offering hours of heart-racing action and endless entertainment.

The 2003 Mighty Beanz racetracks come with a special twist. Inside the box, you'll find not one, but two exclusive limited edition Racing Beanz! What sets these Racing Beanz apart is the fact that they do not have a number printed on them, making them and this set even more collectible and rare.

Watch as your Beanz zoom through the impact zone, maneuvering through sharp corners and straightaways with lightning speed. With the various track and accessory pieces, and limited edition Racing Beanz included in the package, you'll have everything you need to create the ultimate racing experience. Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to the world of Mighty Beanz, this racetrack is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and unleash your competitive spirit.

What's Included:
2 Limited Edition Racing Beanz
1 Starter Gate
1 Finish Gate
3 Straight Tracks
6 Corner Tracks
5 Towers
5 Holders
2 Bases
1 Large Sign
1 Start Sign
1 Finish Sign
1 Track Sign
1 Instruction Sheet

CONDITION:

New in sealed box. Box some has some light storage wear. Please see photos.

To ensure safe delivery all items are carefully packaged before shipping out.

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING. QUESTIONS? JUST ASK.

"Mighty Beanz is a collectable children's toy line of plastic beans created by Moose Enterprises in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2] The primary Mighty Beanz game is to race the Beanz down different types of battle stages.[3]
History
Original line

The Mighty Beanz line was originally launched in Australia at the beginning of 2002 and found their way to United States markets that summer. Five series were created:

    “Series 1” included 60 Beanz (1-60) divided into teams of five, along with a red carrying case.
    “Series 2” introduced 70 all new Mighty Beanz (60-130). Again, these were divided into teams of five with some beans able to glow in the dark. Blue carrying case.
    “Series 3” produced only 60 new Mighty Beanz (131-190). Pairs (2 Beanz in one team). This line of Beanz introduced color changing abilities, along with a new green carrying case.
    “Series 4” produced another 60 Mighty Beanz (191-250). This time around, the Beanz were arranged into teams of three and also introduced a new Mega Bean, which was substantially larger than the others. Purple carrying case.
    “Series 5” came with a new name for the Mighty Beanz called Bean Bodz. There were 60 Bean Bodz produced (1-60) bringing the total number of collectibles to 310. This time Beanz weren't divided into some teams, every bean had assigned rubber body. Unfortunately, no carrying case.

Furthermore, Moose Enterprises has portrayed several famous celebrities in the shape of their toy, including Elvis Presley, Hulk Hogan and Steve Irwin.

Besides Mighty Beanz, Moose Enterprises also manufactured three Mighty Beanz racetracks to go along with their toys, Ultimate Jump Park, Collision Chaos, and Super S-Bend.[4] Each track came with two limited edition Beanz that did not have printed numbers on them, making them extremely collectible.

In 2004, a Mighty Beanz video game titled Mighty Beanz Pocket Puzzles was released for the Game Boy Advance.[5]
2010 relaunch

2010 marked the first relaunch of Mighty Beanz. From 2010 through 2012 Moose would launch a total of five more series of Mighty Beanz. Though, series 3 would mark the last series to be released in countries like the United States as series 4 and series 5 could only be found in Australia and a few other countries, making it more difficult for collectors to obtain certain Beanz. Each series of the relaunched Mighty Beanz also had their own limited edition Moose Bean with only 1000 of them made for each series. Five series were created:

    “Series 1” included 100 Beanz (1-116) divided into teams of five, with 16 special edition Beanz that were made available through various other Mighty Beanz series 1 products bringing the total to collect up to 116. The Mega Bean had also made a return from the original line of Mighty Beanz.

“Series 2” included 100 Beanz (117-235) divided into teams of five, with 19 special edition Beanz that were made available through various other Mighty Beanz series 2 products, bringing the total up to 235.

“Series 3” included 110 Beanz (236-409) divided into teams of five, with 64 special edition Beanz that were made available through various other Mighty Beanz series 3 products, bringing the total up to 409. Series 3 was the introduction of Square Beanz. Each 6 pack of series 3 Mighty Beanz had the chance to include a Square Bean instead of a Mega Bean. If a Square Bean was found in a 3 pack it would replace the existing bean on top. There are a known total of 15 Square Beanz with ten of those Beanz being five characters that belong to two different teams. The other five Square Beanz are limited edition that all belong to one team, with each one of the five being limited to 500 Beanz each. In addition to the Square Beanz there are Golden Square Beanz which could only be found in Singapore, if someone were to find one of these they could win up to S$10,000 cash.
“Series 4” included 110 Beanz (410-549) divided into teams of five, with 30 special edition Beanz that were made available through various other Mighty Beanz series 4 products, bringing the total up to 549. Series 4 was the introduction of Triangle Beanz and Crystal Beanz. Crystal Beanz are regular Beanz with a colored clear plastic casing making the bean see-through. Each 6 pack of series 4 Mighty Beanz had the chance to include a Triangle Bean instead of a Mega Bean. If a Triangle Bean was found in a 3 pack it would replace the existing bean on top. There are a known total of 15 Triangle Beanz with ten of those Beanz being five characters that belong to two different teams. The other five Triangle Beanz are limited edition that all belong to one team. Although not confirmed, it is believed that each one of the five are limited to 500 Beanz each.

“Series 5” included 110 Beanz (550-703) divided into teams of five, with 44 special edition Beanz that were made available through various other Mighty Beanz series 5 products, bringing the total up to 703. Series 5 was the introduction of Disc Beanz and Mini Beanz. Mini Beanz are a smaller and shorter version of a regular sized bean. In series 5, Mini Beanz were the replacement for Mega Beanz. Each pack of series 5 Mighty Beanz had the chance to include a Disc Bean. In 6 packs, instead of the Disc Bean replacing an existing bean there would be a slot for the Disc Bean whether there was one included or not. With 3 packs the Disc Bean would replace the existing bean on top as usual. During this time Moose also offered a 15 pack of Mighty Beanz that had the chance to include a Disc Bean. There are a known total of 15 Disc Beanz with ten of those Beanz being five characters that belong to two different teams. The other five Disc Beanz are limited edition that all belong to one team. The limited edition Disc Beanz are a bit different in terms of quantity created, as three of them had 500 of each made, one had 250 made and the last one only had 100 made.

2018 relaunch

Moose developed a new line of Mighty Beanz, starting with 140 new Beanz which were released on September 1, 2018. A line of Fortnite-themed Mighty Beanz were produced.[6] An Easter series and Series 2 of the main line were released in early 2019.

“Series 1” included 140 Beanz (1-140) divided into teams of five. This time around every single bean is shaped like a Mega Bean instead of a regular sized bean from past series. Series 1 included special Beanz such as Two Faced Beanz, Golden Beanz and limited edition Golden Hero Beanz. Each of the five Golden Hero Beanz were limited to 10,000 a piece, making it much easier to come by compared to past limited edition Beanz.
“Series 2” included 140 Beanz (141-280) divided into teams of five. Series 2 introduced different finishes that were applied to the Beanz such as Speckled, Frosty, Metallic and Glowin' Beanz. Golden Beanz make a return along with limited edition Golden Royal Beanz. Each of the five Golden Royal Beanz were once again limited to 10,000 a piece." (wikipedia.org)

"Moose Toys (or Moose Enterprises or Moose Creative Management Pty Ltd or The Moose Group) is an Australian-owned toy design, development and distribution company founded in 1985. Moose is headquartered in Australia, has over 600 staff and distributes to over 50 countries.[1]
History

This section is in list format but may read better as prose. You can help by converting this section, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (December 2021)

In 1985, Moose Toys was founded by Brian Hamersfeld.[2] Later in 2001, Moose was acquired by Chief Executives Manny Stul, Jacqui Tobias and Paul Solomon. The company is based in Cheltenham, Melbourne, Australia[3]

From the 2000s to 2015, revenue for the company grew from $10 million to more than $900 million.[4]

'In 2011, Paul Solomon led a move to distribute Moose Toys products directly into US retail (which ends its distributor license with Canadian toy company Spin Master), starting with a collectible brand called "The Trash Pack".[5]

In 2014, Moose Toys launched the Shopkins toy line which later grew into a franchise in later years with spin-offs and other merchandise and relocated its main office to Cheltenham, in Melbourne, Australia. The brand in late 2014 also changed its logo design.

In 2015, at the 15th annual Toy Industry Association's Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards ceremony held in New York City, Moose Toys' Shopkins Small Mart was awarded the '2015 Girl Toy of the Year'[6]

In 2016, Moose was recognised as Toy Vendor of the year in the US by Toys R Us. Target and Walmart[7] CEO Manny Stul also won the EY World Entrepreneur Year Award, and is the first Australian to do so.[8]

In 2016, Shopkins won girl toy of the year for the second time running for the Shopkins Scoops Ice Cream Truck at the 16th annual Toy Industry Association's Toy of the Year Awards. [9]

In 2017, Manny Stul was inducted into the Australian Toy Industry Hall of Fame. [10]

In 2018, Moose Toys acquired Worlds Apart as part of a European expansion. [11]

In 2019, The Moose portfolio continued to diversify as the business entered the preschool category with Kindi Kids, a Shopkins spin-off which features the popular Shoppies line of dolls as preschoolers.[12]

In 2021, Moose Toys was awarded with five wins at the Australian Toy Awards. Moose also expanded into the Canadian market with the launch of a hybrid direct distribution model for a strategic selection of new brands, including Akedo and Bluey. [13]

In 2022, Moose Toys was awarded a TOTY for Creative Toy of the Year - Magic Mixies.

In 2023, Moose Toys took home four awards at the Australian Toy Awards....

Other Product Lines

Moose Toys creates, manufactures, and markets toy brands across a number of categories, including action figure, plush, dolls, and so on. Most have a collectible component and include a sheet of other products within the toy line.

    Akedo [17]
    Beados [18]
    Blingle Bands [19]
    Dream Seekers [20]
    Goo Jit Zu [21]
    Knuckleheads[22]
    Little Live Pets [23]
    Little Live "Gotta Go" Pets (sub-brand)
    Magic Mixies [24]
    Mighty Beanz [25]
    Mutant Mania
    Pikmi Pops [26]
    Really Rad Robots [27]
    Scruff A Luvs [28]
    Scrunch Miez [29]
    Smell'ems[30]
    Squeakee [31]
    The Grossery Gang [32]
    The Trash Pack [33]
    Treasure X...Content
Animation

In 2014, Moose partnered with Pixel Zoo to create Shopkins animated content, including the webisodes.[57] For the launch of Shopkins, a series of animated Webisodes were created for the ShopkinsWorld YouTube channel (now MooseTube Squad). There have been 85 released, along with 6 original music video clips, and has gained millions of views. WildBrain distributes Shopkins content on their channels (including the WildBrain - Cutie Cartoons channel) and, in 2016, has also been placed on Netflix[58] amongst many other territorial stations globally. Moose also partnered with Universal to create 3 direct-to-video movies for global distribution.[59] In 2019, Moose also released a spin-off line of Shopkins intended for preschoolers, Kindi Kids, which was supported by a CGI animated series. In 2021, to promote the toys for Season 5, the brand was supported by a new-look 2D animated series for the series' 4th season.[60]

Moose also created Trash Pack cartoons which ended shortly near the end of the toy franchise in 2014.[61]

In 2016, to promote The Trash Pack's sequel, The Grossery Gang, Moose has done Grossery Gang cartoons which continue to amass views on YouTube. This content includes 3 mini movies and more than 35 webisodes. The first Grossery Gang animated mini movie was released on 28 July 2017 on YouTube to promote Series 3 of the toy franchise.[62]

In 2018, Moose released a digital-first series to support the launch of Treasure X. This 2D content spanned 3 years and continues on MooseTube Mania and the Treasure X Official YouTube pages.[63]

Further work cemented Moose in the boys' space in 2019 with Goo Jit Zu animated content. First releasing in 2019 and gathering over 120 million views on the 5 mini movies that have followed as of November 2021. Further to this, the content has also been placed on Netflix in English, French and German amongst other distribution platforms.[64]

In 2021, Moose announced their partnership with WildBrain on the brand Akedo. This digital-first series launched in June 2021 and is part of a larger partnership between Moose, Wildbrain and CPLG (Consumer Products). This series was brought to YouTube and Amazon Prime initially in both English and French, with wider distribution to come on additional platforms and in Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Russian in 2022.[65]
Other

In October 2015, the first official Shopkins app was released to much success.[66]
Licensed Partnerships
Merchandise

Moose has licensed Shopkins for additional products through Bulldog Licensing in the UK,[67] The Licensing Shop[68] in the US, and Merchantwise in Australia.[69]

As of January 2016, 51 Shopkins licencees had been signed in North America, including apparel, construction, candy, games, and bedding.[70] In that same month, Shopkins partnered with McDonald's to release special edition Happy Meal toys." (wikipedia.org)

"Spin Master Corp. is a Canadian multinational children's toy and entertainment company. Spin Master employs over 1,600 people globally with offices in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.[9]

Since 2002, Spin Master has received 92 "Toy of The Year" (TOTY) nominations with 28 wins across a variety of product categories, including 13 TOTY nominations for "Innovative Toy of the Year", more than any other toy company. In 2022, Spin Master won The Golden Screen Award for Feature Film, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, for PAW Patrol: The Movie.[10] As of 2021, Chase the police pup and Marshall the firefighting pup, two characters from PAW Patrol, are the company's mascots.
History

Three university friends from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario - Ronnen Harary, Anton Rabie and Ben Varadi - founded Spin Master with $10,000 in Toronto in 1994.[11] The company's first product, Earth Buddies, were small heads made out of Kmart pantyhose and grass seeds, which grew "hair" when watered.[12] The Earth Buddy went on to sell over 26,000 units.

Spin Master's first major success came in 1998 with the launch of the Air Hogs brand and its first item, the Sky Shark. Developed from the prototype provided by inventors John Dixon and Peter Manning, the Sky Shark was a foam plane that used compressed air to enable outdoor flight. Product development took over two years and more than $500,000,[13] but ended up generating $103 million in revenue over the next few years. The Sky Shark put Spin Master on the map, becoming one of the most popular toys in the world and earning them a slot on daytime television Regis and Kathie Lee alongside other international press.[14]

The company, which had grown to 28 employees by 1999, told the LA Times they were already “assessing 1,000 inventions a year.” They’d moved their manufacturing supply chain to Hong Kong in 1998 and were ready to rise as a new name in the toy industry.

The company scored another success in 1999, with Flix Trix Finger Bikes, a string of 1/2 inch replicas of BMX bikes. In 2003, the company made its first corporate acquisition buying Bounce ‘Round, a company that created scaled down versions of the inflatable bouncy castles. Over the next handful of years, Spin Master opened offices in the United States, Japan and Western Europe.

In 2003, Spin Master began marketing and distributing Pilot's Aquadoodle drawing toy for children with disappearing hydrochromic ink, which later won the American Toy of the Year award.[15][16]

In 2008, Spin Master launched the Bakugan Battle Brawlers franchise, a card game developed in conjunction with Sega Toys, featured plastic balls which burst open to reveal anime-style characters. Bakugan reached almost $1 billion in yearly sales.[17]

Under Harary's leadership, Spin Master Entertainment launched with Bakugan Battle Brawlers the animated action adventure television series under the direction of Mitsuo Hashimoto. To date, Spin Master Entertainment has developed six television series with over 400 cumulative episodes.[18] In 2019, Abby Hatcher, an animated preschool series debuted on Nickelodeon on January 1, 2019, in the U.S.[19] The show centers on Abby and her new friends the Fuzzlies, who are amazing and quirky creatures that live in her family's hotel. Together with her best Fuzzly friend Bozzly, Abby goes on wild adventures to fix Fuzzly mishaps and help them in any way she can.[19] In 2020, Spin Master launched its first direct to Netflix series, Mighty Express. The show follows a team of trains and their kid best-buddies as they keep things moving and get the delivery through no matter what the trouble -one thrilling adventure after another.

In August 2013, Spin Master acquired the Erector Set by Meccano construction set line.[20] In June 2015, Spin Master entered into an agreement to acquire Cardinal Industries, a 60-year-old game and puzzles company. The purchase made Spin Master the second largest games company in the United States. A month after announcing it was buying Cardinal, Spin Master made its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.[14]

In January 2016 Spin Master purchased the library of board games owned by Editrice Giochi SRL, one of the oldest privately held toy game companies in Italy. In February 2016, Spin Master bought the Etch A Sketch and Doodle Sketch brands from The Ohio Art Company for an undisclosed price. In April 2016, Spin Master purchased digital toy makers Toca Boca and Sago Mini from the Bonnier Group of Sweden. In August 2016 Spin Master diversified into the water and outdoor sports category through the acquisition of Swimways corporation.[14]

In 2017, Spin Master acquired Marbles, a firm known for creating games, gifts and gadgets and the maker of Otrio; Aerobie, a leading producer of outdoor flying disks and sports toys; and Perplexus, a 3D ball-in-a-maze Spin Master had been distributing since 2013.[14]

In March 2018, Spin Master acquired the 120 year old stuffed toy brand Gund.[21] In December of that year, Spin Master was announced as the new toy licensee of the DC Entertainment starting in spring 2020, having acquired the license from Mattel.[22] Spin Master is now a $1.5 billion (sales) company, which employs over 1,600 people in 16 countries.[23] At the end of 2019, Spin Master completed the acquisition of the award-winning Orbeez brand from Maya Toys, complementing its growing Activities segment.[24] Also in 2019 Spin Master started a ten-year toy licensing contract with Monster Jam ending a previous toy licensing deal between Monster Jam and Mattel who marketed it Monster Jam toys under the Hot Wheels line.[25]

In February 2020, Spin Master announced the theatrical release of the PAW Patrol movie, a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies and distributed by Paramount Pictures.[26] PAW Patrol: The Movie released in theatres on August 20, 2021, grossing $142 million worldwide.[27] Following the success of its first theatrical film for the franchise, Spin Master announced that production had begun on a sequel, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie slated to release on September 29, 2023.[28] On 27 October 2020, Spin Master said it will pay $50 million for Rubik's Cube, the iconic game invented nearly 50 years ago.[29] The acquisition was completed on 5 January 2021.[30] At the end of 2020, Spin Master announced executive leadership changes appointing Max Rangel as Global President effective January 2021, assuming the position of Global President and CEO in April 2021.[31] In February 2022, Spin Master announced it renewed its licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to continue manufacturing DC Universe toys through 2026.[32]

In 2021, Spin Master launched the Future of Play Scholarship committing to invest $100,000 in financial aid annually to the education and mentorship of underrepresented individuals.[33] On October 19, 2021, Spin Master established Spin Master Ventures, a $100 million venture fund to back up games, toys and entertainment startups with investments made in Nordlight, a game development company in Stockholm and Hoot Reading, an online tutoring service that provides reading lessons to children.[34] By the end of 2021, Spin Master had grown to a global children's entertainment company, employing over 2,000 people in 28 offices around the world.[35]

On October 11, 2023, Spin Master announced an agreement to acquire toy company Melissa & Doug from AEA Investors for $950 million in cash. The acquisition was expected to close in the first quarter of 2024.[36] The acquisition would be completed on January 2, 2024.

List of manufactured toys

    Abby Hatcher (2019–2022)
    Air Hogs
    Angry Birds
    Bakugan Battle Brawlers
    Bella Dancerella (2005-2007)
    Bunchems
    Cars 2
    DC Universe (2020-present; current contract expires in 2026)[22][32]
    Etch A Sketch (2016–present)
    Gabby's Dollhouse
    Harry Potter (2021-present)[38]
    Hatchimals
    How to Train Your Dragon
    Kinetic Sand
    Little Charmers (2015-2017)
    Masha and the Bear
    Meccano
    Minecraft
    Monster Jam (2019-present; current contract expires in 2029)[39]
    Monsuno (2012-2015)
    NASCAR (2011-2015)
    Orbeez
    PAW Patrol (2013–present)
    Peppa Pig (2010-2013, moved to Fisher Price until they moved to Hasbro)
    PJ Masks (2015-2018, moved to Hasbro)
    Pirates of the Caribbean
    Rusty Rivets (2016–2018)
    Sick Bricks
    Star Wars
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    The Powerpuff Girls
    The Wiggles (2003-2004, 2005-2006)
    Tron: Legacy
    Twisty Petz
    ZhuZhu Pets" (wikipedia.org)

"The terms special edition, limited edition, and variants such as deluxe edition, or collector's edition, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints, recorded music and films, and video games, but now including clothing, cars, fine wine, and whisky, among other products. A limited edition is restricted in the number of copies produced, although in fact the number may be very low or very high. Suzuki (2008) defines limited edition products as those “sold in a state that makes them difficult to obtain because of companies limiting their availability to a certain period, quantity, region, or channel".[1] A special edition implies there is extra material of some kind included. The term is frequently used on DVD film releases, often when the so-called "special" edition is actually the only version released.
Collector's edition
Collector's edition may just be another term for special edition and limited edition products that include additional features or items that regular versions do not have. When referring to books, collector's edition products may refer to books in special limited and numbered editions, sometimes hand-bound, and signed by the artist and containing one or more original works or prints produced directly from their work and printed under their supervision. Whatever these extra features or items are, they must represent additional value to collectors of these products." (wikipedia.org)

"A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also used in the study of animal locomotion.

A racetrack is a permanent facility or building. Racecourse is an alternate term for a horse racing track, found in countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. Race tracks built for bicycles are known as velodromes. Circuit is a common alternate term for race track, given the circuit configuration of most race tracks, allowing races to occur over several laps. Some race tracks may also be known as speedways, or raceways.

A race course, as opposed to a racecourse, is a nonpermanent track for sports, particularly road running, water sports, road racing, or rallying. Many sports usually held on race tracks also can occur on temporary tracks, such as the Monaco and Singapore Grands Prix in Formula One." (wikipedia.org)

"A toy or plaything is an object that is used primarily to provide entertainment. Simple examples include toy blocks, board games, and dolls. Toys are often designed for use by children, although many are designed specifically for adults and pets. Toys can provide utilitarian benefits, including physical exercise, cultural awareness, or academic education. Additionally, utilitarian objects, especially those which are no longer needed for their original purpose, can be used as toys. Examples include children building a fort with empty cereal boxes and tissue paper spools, or a toddler playing with a broken TV remote control. The term "toy" can also be used to refer to utilitarian objects purchased for enjoyment rather than need, or for expensive necessities for which a large fraction of the cost represents its ability to provide enjoyment to the owner, such as luxury cars, high-end motorcycles, gaming computers, and flagship smartphones.

Playing with toys can be an enjoyable way of training young children for life experiences. Different materials like wood, clay, paper, and plastic are used to make toys. Newer forms of toys include interactive digital entertainment and smart toys. Some toys are produced primarily as collectors' items and are intended for display only.

The origin of toys is prehistoric; dolls representing infants, animals, and soldiers, as well as representations of tools used by adults, are readily found at archaeological sites. The origin of the word "toy" is unknown, but it is believed that it was first used in the 14th century. Toys are mainly made for children.[1] The oldest known doll toy is thought to be 4,000 years old.[2]

Playing with toys is an important part of aging. Younger children use toys to discover their identity, help with cognition, learn cause and effect, explore relationships, become stronger physically, and practice skills needed in adulthood. Adults on occasion use toys to form and strengthen social bonds, teach, help in therapy, and to remember and reinforce lessons from their youth....Culture

The act of children's play with toys embodies the values set forth by the adults of their specific community, but through the lens of the child's perspective. Within cultural societies, toys are a medium to enhance a child's cognitive, social, and linguistic learning.[24]

In some cultures, toys are used as a way to enhance a child's skillset within the traditional boundaries of their future roles in the community. In Saharan and North African cultures, play is facilitated by children through the use of toys to enact scenes recognizable in their community such as hunting and herding. The value is placed in a realistic version of development in preparing a child for the future they are likely to grow up into. This allows the child to imagine and create a personal interpretation of how they view the adult world.[25]

However, in other cultures, toys are used to expand the development of a child's cognition in an idealistic fashion. In these communities, adults place the value of play with toys to be on the aspirations they set forth for their child. In the Western culture, the Barbie and Action-Man represent lifelike figures but in an imaginative state out of reach from the society of these children and adults. These toys give way to a unique world in which children's play is isolated and independent of the social constraints placed on society leaving the children free to delve into the imaginary and idealized version of what their development in life could be.[25]

In addition, children from differing communities may treat their toys in different ways based on their cultural practices. Children in more affluent communities may tend to be possessive of their toys, while children from poorer communities may be more willing to share and interact more with other children. The importance the child places on possession is dictated by the values in place within the community that the children observe on a daily basis....Economics

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Making toys, Digby, Nova Scotia. 2008

With toys comprising such a large and important part of human existence, the toy industry has a substantial economic impact. Sales of toys often increase around holidays where gift-giving is a tradition. Some of these holidays include Christmas, Easter, Saint Nicholas Day, and Three Kings Day.

In 2005, toy sales in the United States totaled about $22.9 billion.[28] Money spent on children between the ages of 8 and twelve alone totals approximately $221 million annually in the U.S.[51] It was estimated that in 2011, 88% of toy sales was in the age group 0–11 years.[52]
Toys "R" Us operated over 1,500 stores in 30 countries and had an annual revenue of US$13.6 billion

Toy companies change and adapt their toys to meet the changing demands of children thereby gaining a larger share of the substantial market. In recent years many toys have become more complicated with flashing lights and sounds in an effort to appeal to children raised around television and the internet. According to Mattel's president, Neil Friedman, "Innovation is key in the toy industry and to succeed one must create a 'wow' moment for kids by designing toys that have fun, innovative features and include new technologies and engaging content."

In an effort to reduce costs, many mass-producers of toys locate their factories in areas where wages are lower. China manufactures about 70 percent of the world's toys and is home to more than 8,000 toy firms, most of which are located in the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong Province.[53] 75% of all toys sold in the U.S., for example, are manufactured in China.[28] Issues and events such as power outages, supply of raw materials, supply of labor, and raising wages that impact areas where factories are located often have an enormous impact on the toy industry in importing countries.

Many traditional toy makers have been losing sales to video game makers for years. Because of this, some traditional toy makers have entered the field of electronic games and have even been turning audio games into toys, and are enhancing the brands that they have by introducing interactive extensions or internet connectivity to their current toys.[54]

In addition, the rise of distributed manufacturing enables consumers to make their own toys from open source designs with a 3-D printer.[55] As of 2017 consumers were already offsetting millions of dollars per year by 3D printing their own toys from MyMiniFactory, a single repository." (wikipedia.org)

"A collectable (collectible or collector's item) is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector.[1] Collectable items are not necessarily monetarily valuable or uncommon.[2] There are numerous types of collectables and terms to denote those types. An antique is a collectable that is old. A curio is something deemed unique, uncommon, or weird, such as a decorative item.[3] A manufactured collectable is an item made specifically for people to collect.[4]
The business of collectables
Created to be collected

A "manufactured" collectable (often referred to as a contemporary collectable) is an item made specifically for people to collect. Examples of items commonly sold as collectables include plates, figurines, bells, graphics, steins, and dolls. Some companies that produce manufactured collectables are members of The Gift and Collectibles Guild.[4]

Special editions, limited editions and variants on these terms fall under the category of manufactured collectables and are used as a marketing incentive for various types of products. They were originally[5] applied to products related to the arts—such as books, prints or recorded music and films—but are now used for cars, fine wine and many other collectables. A special edition typically includes extra material of some kind. A limited edition is restricted in the number of copies produced, although the number may be arbitrarily high.

Collectables in commerce
Manufacturers and retailers have used collectables in a number of ways to increase sales. One use is in the form of licensed collectables based on intellectual properties, such as images, characters and logos from literature, music, movies, radio, television, and video games. A large subsection of licensing includes advertising, brand name, and character collectibles. Another use of collectables in retail is in the form of prizes (items of nominal value packaged with or included in the price of a retail product at no additional cost) and premiums (items that can be "purchased" by redeeming coupons, boxtops, or proofs of purchase from the product along with a small fee to cover shipping and handling). Also, collectables have played an important role in tourism, in the form of souvenirs.[6] Another important field of collecting that is also big business is memorabilia, which includes collectables related to a person, organization, event or media, including T-shirts, posters, and numerous other collectables marketed to fans; but also includes ephemera from historical, media, or entertainment events, items that were meant to be thrown away but were saved by fans and accumulated by collectors....Collectables as investments

Collectables can be items of limited supply that are sought for a variety of reasons, including a possible increase in value. In a financial sense, collectables can be viewed as a hedge against inflation. Over time, their value can also increase as they become rarer due to loss, damage or destruction. One drawback to investing in collectables is the potential lack of liquidity, particularly for very obscure items. There is also a risk for fraud.[9]

The 1960s through the early 1990s were major years for the manufacturing of contemporary collectables. While some individuals purchased contemporary collectables to enjoy and use, many purchased them as investments. Speculative markets developed for many of these pieces. Because so many people bought for investment purposes, duplicates are common. And although many collectables were labeled as "limited editions", the actual number of items produced was very large. Consequently, there is very little demand for many (but not all) items produced during this time period, and their market values are often low....History

The urge to collect unusual and fascinating objects is primeval and not limited to humans (bowerbird, pack rat).

The Renaissance Cabinet of Curiosities was an antecedent both of modern museums and modern collecting.

The earliest manufactured collectables were included as incentives with other products, such as cigarette cards in packs of cigarettes. Popular items developed a secondary market and sometimes became the subject of "collectable crazes". Eventually many collectable items came to be sold separately, instead of being used as marketing tools to increase the appeal of other products.

To encourage collecting, manufacturers often create an entire series of a given collectable, with each item differentiated in some fashion. Examples include sports cards depicting individual players, or different designs of Beanie Babies. Enthusiasts will often try to assemble a complete set of the available variations.

Collector editions are another way of supporting collectables. They typically are produced in limited amount and contain additional content that can be valuable for a collector. This practice is mostly popular in video games.

Early versions of a product, manufactured in smaller quantities before its popularity as a collectable developed, sometimes command exorbitant premiums on the secondary market. Dolls and other toys made during an adult collector's childhood can command such premiums. Unless extremely rare or made as a one-of-a-kind in a mature market, collectables rarely prove to be a spectacular investment." (wikipedia.org)