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Toy and Game Retailing in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Claudia Burgio-Ficca Claudia Burgio-Ficca Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: September 2024 ANZSIC G4243

Revenue

$1.2bn

2024-25

$1.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

6,406

Businesses

1,755

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Toy and Game Retailing in Australia industry analysis

The Toy and Game Retailing industry has experienced significant shifts in recent years. The pandemic created an enormous surge in sales for building sets, games, puzzles, and arts and crafts during 2020-21, as parents searched for ways to keep children entertained. This period also saw a rapid rise in online shopping, benefiting retailers with robust ecommerce platforms, though it led to extended delivery times as logistics networks became overwhelmed. Toy and game sales have suffered in the post-pandemic environment, with strong inflation and climbing interest rates culminating in a cost-of-living crisis for consumers and weaker sales for toy and game retailers. Despite this, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 2.3% over the five years through 2024-25 thanks to the 2020-21 surge, to $1.2 billion. This includes an anticipated hike of 1.9% in the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • Toy and game retailing sales have been volatile. While sales surged at the height of the pandemic, cost-of-living pressures have all but eroded earlier gains.
  • Toy and game retailers sell traditional toys and games, electronic toys and games and hobby equipment and supplies. Advances in technology and the evolution of smart toys have led to a shift in toy sales.
  • Population distribution is the key driver influencing where toy and game retailers choose to locate. That’s why New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland account for the lion’s share of locations.
  • Toy and game retailers largely compete on price. Consumers are price-conscious and happy to shop around to get the best bargain.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Pandemic restrictions led to an early sales spike

  • Stuck indoors because of pandemic restrictions, sales of building sets, games, puzzles, electronics and art and crafts surged over the two years through 2020-21 as parents looked for ways to entertain housebound children.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Toy and Game Retailing in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Trading conditions are set to improve

  • Consumers are forecast to have more money to spend on toy and game products thanks to improving economic conditions, an upswing in population and a hike in average weekly wages. These conditions are likely to make consumers feel more confident about future spending, with a recovery in consumer sentiment fuelling a hike in demand and revenue.

Biggest companies in the Toy and Game Retailing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Associated Retailers
233.0
Cen
64.0
Kidstuff Pty Ltd
31.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Toy and Game Retailing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Traditional toys and games, Electronic toys and games and Hobby equipment and supplies. Traditional toys and games is the largest segment of the Toy and Game Retailing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

The tech-toy revolution has hindered traditional toy and game sales

  • Traditional toy and game products like dolls, trucks, puzzles and board games have long been the dominant product category for industry retailers.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Toy and game retailers sell a range of products like dolls, hobby equipment and board games. Retailers operate as stand-alone stores, franchised businesses or as part of a chain store network. Products are purchased from domestic and international manufacturers and wholesalers before being sold to downstream markets.

What's included in this industry?

Traditional toys and gamesElectronic toys and gamesHobby equipment and supplies

Companies

Associated RetailersCenKidstuff Pty Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TWEENSINTERACTIVE TOYSSTEM TOYS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 4243 - Toy and Game Retailing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Toy and game retailing sales have been volatile. While sales surged at the height of the pandemic, cost-of-living pressures have all but eroded earlier gains.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Toy and game retailers sell traditional toys and games, electronic toys and games and hobby equipment and supplies. Advances in technology and the evolution of smart toys hav...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Population distribution is the key driver influencing where toy and game retailers choose to locate. That’s why New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland account for the lion’...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Toy and game retailers largely compete on price. Consumers are price-conscious and happy to shop around to get the best bargain.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Toyworld is the largest toy and game retailer. The company is a considered a specialty retailer, with over 120 stores across Australia.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Associated Retailers's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Cen's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Kidstuff Pty Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Associated Retailers, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Cen, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Kidstuff Pty Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Toy and game retailers must stay up to date with changes in the General Retail industry Award to ensure compliance with current regulations. The award outlines minimum condit...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profitability has managed a modest rise in a challenging environment. While profit margins soared in response to strong demand at the height of the pandemic, cost-of-living p...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia is $1.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Toy and Game Retailing in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 1,755 businesses in the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Toy and Game Retailing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Toy and Game Retailing market in Australia are Associated Retailers, Cen and Kidstuff Pty Ltd

What does the Toy and Game Retailing in Australia include?

Traditional toys and games and Electronic toys and games are part of the Toy and Game Retailing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Toy and Game Retailing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Associated Retailers.

How competitive is the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Toy and Game Retailing industry in Australia.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.