The global shipping crisis has led to predictions that UK shops will be bereft of toys from Asia this Christmas if they aren't already on the water.
Their potential absence would be felt keenly — so the revelation on Friday of Hamleys' predicted top 10 toys for the 2021 festive period is aptly timed (gallery above).
Over £2.2 billion ($3bn) worth of toys and games were imported into the UK from Asia in 2019, according to data analysts Statista. This figure dwarfed imports from other regions, with the EU the next biggest source at £769 million.
Unless Father Christmas really picks up the slack and obviates the need to go by water, Asian imports look certain to be somewhat diminished this year.
The average door-to-door transit time for ocean cargo to the UK from Asia has risen to more than 70 days, from about 55 a year ago, according to Hong Kong-based Freightos, an online shipping marketplace.
The Entertainer not entertained by delays
Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of UK toy shop The Entertainer, said he currently has 30 containers stuck at Felixstowe which are incurring storage costs.
“One container alone has already cost me 1,300 pounds ($1,777) in storage costs,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying.
It has been designed to foster role play and includes racing cars, traditional family board games, Playmobil and Lego and the LOL! Movie Magic Dolls, which allow children to play with friends and create their own storylines.
“Our 2021 top picks for the most wanted toys this Christmas include accessible toys that will really allow children to harness their creativity and imagination,” said Victoria Kay, head of buying at Hamleys.
“From the innovative and creative to the digital and classic toys on offer, we can see imagination really playing its part this year, bringing in-person 'together-play' back for the festive season.
“Creating Christmas magic feels more important this year than ever, and we think the top 10 toys will have families playing and creating memories together for Christmas and beyond.”
Hamleys' predicted top 10 toys
1. Playmobil City Action Police Special Operations Police Robot
2. Shifu Orboot (Earth): The Educational AR Globe
3. Magic Mixies Cauldron
4. Mattel — Barbie Dream House
5. LOL Surprise Movie Magic Doll
6. Ralleyz Warrior 3 in 1 RC
7. Lego Super Mario Adventures Luigi Starter Course
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees (oats with chicken) is one of them
Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.
Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results
During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks
Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy
Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
