British retailers see sales surge driven by collectibles craze

British retailers are reporting a significant surge in sales driven by a demand for physical collectibles among children and young adults. Popular items include squishy toys—specifically "mini dumplings"—trading cards like Pokemon, and K-pop CDs.

HMV, which operates 114 stores in the UK, reported a 12% increase in visitor numbers during the first half of the year compared to the previous year. Managing director Phil Halliday noted that stores are seeing much higher footfall on Saturdays as young people seek social spaces to gather and share experiences.

The retailer The Works, which has over 500 locations across the UK and Ireland, is also seeing growth through a "screen-free" strategy. Chief executive Gavin Peck noted increased demand from parents seeking activities to reduce children's screen time, as well as adults using arts, crafts, and coloring books for stress relief. This trend coincides with government discussions regarding potential social media bans for those under 16.