Sales for the celebration of Kings grew around 6 percent in quantities compared to last year, and maintained the positive trend of consumption that was registered at Christmas, according to different surveys of entities.
According to the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME), retail sales for Three Kings Day grew 5.4% in quantity this year compared to 2021, with higher demand for sports and recreation items, followed by beach footwear, clothing , and games for water and sand.
The average ticket this year was $ 3,265, 49.1% more compared to the data obtained last year in the same survey, which is due in part to the increase in the sale of vehicles, an area in which high-quality products are offered. more expensive ranges and values.
The data comes from the survey carried out by CAME between January 5 and 6 in 257 businesses in the capital cities of the country, including CABA and Greater Buenos Aires.
Of the nine items surveyed, all registered increases except musical instruments, which fell 12.9% compared to last year due to “shortages of imported items and little merchandise in general,” according to merchants.
The increases were in books for children and adolescents (10.4%); sporting goods (10.2%); footwear 7.4%; computer, electronic and cell phone articles (6.6%); toys and vehicles (6.2%); video games, consoles and accessories (4%); clothing and underwear (3%); and stationery and school accessories (2.9%).
On the other hand, during the study carried out by CAME “many businesses surveyed indicated that this year full sales were noticed in the summer cities, which were overflowed with tourists.”
Meanwhile, from the Argentine Chamber of the Toy Industry (CAIJ) they revealed a 6% rise in sales in units compared to last year, a little less than Christmas, which had increased by 8%.
“The end of the year season was good for the sector, it was essential to have been able to organize the Toy Store Night again, which was suspended for two years due to the pandemic; the offers and bank promotions allowed to advance purchases and an increase of 8% was registered in units for Christmas, “the camera said.
He added that “for Reyes the positive trend continued with a 6% increase”, and that “the average ticket for national toys was $ 1,300, a little below Christmas ($ 1,500)”.
In terms of demand, families mostly searched for items for outdoor games and vacations, such as bucket and paddle beach sets, pool floats and water launchers.
The CAIJ reported that “in recent days we had complications due to the new wave of Covid, however, with vaccinated personnel and the protocols, it was possible to continue serving the public normally.”
In this context, he remarked that “for the year that has just begun we are optimistic, we believe that the reactivation of consumption will be sustained; the Now 12 program is fundamental for our sector, for which we are asking the Secretary of Commerce to renew it” .
Due to Reyes’ demand, the toy stores had to replenish stock after Christmas, and many toy factories that were operating with reduced shifts returned to work 24 hours a day, in three shifts.
“The use of the sector’s installed capacity is 70%, which is beginning to influence investments and the level of employment,” the entity said.
Regarding prices, domestic toys had an increase of 45% while imported toys increased 60%, mainly due to the rise in logistics costs due to the lack of containers in China.
“This has allowed the national industry to regain participation in the domestic market and even generates export opportunities to neighboring countries,” he remarked.
The sales of the toy sector in Argentina are activated on three key dates that concentrate around 95% of the total for the year: Children’s Day (explains approximately 55% of the total sales of the year), Christmas (25%) and Kings (fifteen%).
