Christmas toy sales rise sharply this year

SEOUL, Dec. 25 (Yonhap) -- Christmas toy sales rose sharply this year mainly due
to more year-end bonuses given out by businesses and the steady pace of the
economic recovery, industry sources said Friday.
Lottemart, one of South Korea's top three discount retail outlets, said sales of
toys from its five "Toy R Us" stores rose 20.4 percent on-year in the 23 days of
December so far.
The Emart chain, run by Shinsegae Department Store, said toy sales moved up 10
percent compared to the same period last year.
Online shops such as Auction (www.auction.co.kr) also said sales of children's
toys jumped 35 percent on-year in the same period.
Industry insiders speculated that the steady pace of the economic recovery and
larger special bonuses handed out by companies at the end of the year helped fuel
demand for more toy purchases.
"There was a noticeable increase in parents visiting stores with their children
this year and more expensive products being bought, indicating a thawing of
consumer sentiment," a Toys R Us store manager said.
He added that compared to the past, sales of expensive toys with price tags
reaching 200,000 won were selling well at some outlets.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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