Elusive Exclusive: Giving-Up on Own Brand

I'll avoid stating the obvious that buying quickly will help avoid disappointment on this year's most wanted Christmas gifts. However, whilst we always expect toy shortages due to popular demand of particular brands and characters, this year there will be some considerable shortages on "own brand" toys.

Own brand is the term used to describe products with a shop's name on it, or a name that the retail company has made-up, or that is in some other way is "exclusive" to one chain of shops.

Earlier this year there was some major flooding in parts of China where many toy manufacturers are based. Also, some retailers are still ordering toys cautiously; failing to fill their stores and warehouses with toys during the high-summer in preparation for Christmas.

The Toy Detective Agency is, as always, here to help in anyway it can; and in the case of hard to find own brand products, we will be recommending alternatives by other firms rather than scouring the country for elusive imports.

"Why?", I hear you ask, because if looks like own brand goods are not going to be pushed out of the factory gates on-time, then retailers are simply going to cancel orders; leaving the merchandise to go to the discount stores of other countries where the brand name is unknown.