Squeezable toys surge as must-have Christmas gift
Social media-driven 'squishies' craze puts sensory toys among top festive season purchases, Hamleys reports.
At a glance
- Squeezable sensory toys are expected to be top Christmas purchases this year
- The trend is driven by social media popularity
- Hamleys predicts thousands of sales in the coming weeks
- Squishies come in multiple food and animal designs
A £10 squeezable banana toy is expected to be among the most popular Christmas gifts this year, according to toy retailer Hamleys. The product taps into a social media-driven trend for "squishies"—sensory toys filled with a flour-based compound that come in various food and animal shapes.
Hamleys anticipates selling thousands of the Big Squij toys in the coming weeks, placing the craze alongside traditional favourites such as Lego and Barbie in the high street toy market.
Why it matters
The squishies craze reflects how social media influences toy purchasing trends and consumer behaviour during peak retail seasons.
Original reporting
- The Guardian — BusinessMerry squishmas: £10 squeezy banana on list of top festive season toys
- The Guardian — WorldMerry squishmas: £10 squeezy banana on list of top festive season toys
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.