Toys & Games Industry & Logistics: Challenges, Solutions and Strategies

Toys and games are undoubtedly an industry worth exploring, especially in the international context. It might not have a stunning, rapid growth, but unlike many other industries, this one is stable. With a predicted US$132.86bn revenue in 2025 and an estimated 2.42% CAGR in years 2025-2029, it catches the attention of many e-tailers. Nevertheless, while it’s stable and has large potential, there’s one crucial aspect that you need to polish before selling your toys and games internationally: logistics.

According to SourceReady, China is an unmatched leader in toy exports, with the US, Germany, Czechia and the Netherlands staying far behind. The UK also has a strong position, being the world’s 8th exporter in 2023, but it will be really difficult to succeed in this industry without sourcing the products from abroad. This adds an extra layer to the traditional logistics challenges. What else do you need to know? Find out the answers in this article!

Toys & Games Industry: A Stable Sector for E-Commerce Owners

Let’s begin with an overview of the toys & games industry as a whole. As we mentioned, it is a stable sector. But it offers much more. 

The Toys & Games – Worldwide report presented by Statista shows that this industry is also highly resistant to disruptions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry grew steadily, despite a drop in revenue that occurred in 2019.

All of this proves that the Toys & Games sector is a safe haven for e-commerce owners—an industry that provides a steady stream of revenue despite the market challenges.

The Toys & Games Industry Supply Chain and Logistics

We’ve introduced the sector, but now let’s get into details: What does the toys & games industry look like in terms of logistics and cross-border trade? Here’s an overview of the most common challenges.

Legal Regulations

Firstly, you have to consider the legal regulations in your target market. The toys & games industry is especially challenging in this case, as there are several types of laws that you must abide by, which may be different depending on the country.

• E-commerce packaging regulations—firstly, you have to consider the packaging laws. The EU has set unified standards that are further customized by each Member State, while other countries might have completely different regulations. Many such laws require you to register in a specific legal entity and pay additional fees, so you have to study such regulations thoroughly and include the potential costs in your sales strategy.
• Batteries—many toys contain batteries. These also generate challenges, as items with batteries might be subject to a separate set of regulations in the target country, especially during the transit. In this case, it’s helpful to work with a trusted shipping partner, such as Landmark Global, as then you don’t have to worry about the regulations.

Sales Peaks

The toys & games industry is also prone to sales peaks. A brief glimpse at Statista already gives out the reason behind this:

“60 percent of U.S. consumers said they gave their children gifts during 2023’s holiday season and planned to give them gifts in 2024.”

Bear in mind that the above applies to all consumers, not just parents. This shows how popular such gifts are, even for more distant relatives and the children of closest friends. Therefore, if you plan to expand your e-commerce operations to Toys & Games, you have to prepare for children-related sales peaks:

• Children’s Day—this holiday takes place on a different date depending on the country you ship your products to. In the UK, it’s the second Sunday of May; in Poland, it’s June 1; in the US, it’s the second Sunday of June; in Japan, it’s November 20. The celebrations also differ, but this should be one of the first dates you check in your target market when preparing for sales peaks.
• Christmas—the Christmas season, combined with the end-of-the-year sales peak is also a time when you should experience higher demand, as many presents are then given to children.
• July, August and September—toys & games are also common birthday presents for younger children. July, August and September, on the other hand, are the most common birth months worldwide. This means more birthdays and more gifts—the demand might be higher.
• Other holidays—Lunar New Year in Asia, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Muslim countries, Three Kings’ Day in Spain and Latin America—there are multiple other holidays associated with gift-giving, so you have to prepare for those relevant to the market you ship your products to.

How to Overcome the Challenges in the Toys & Games Industry?

While the above might increase the difficulty in the Toys & Games industry, they are not challenges impossible to overcome. On the contrary, with the right strategy, you will seamlessly navigate them and achieve success, no matter the market. What tactics do you need to adopt?

Experienced Partnership

Firstly, you can partner with an experienced logistics provider. What is important in this case is that you are not looking purely for a carrier company. Instead, focus on businesses like Landmark Global, which provide a full range of services, including:

• international parcel delivery,
• returns management services,
• customs clearance services.

With our experience, you will rest assured that your goods will be delivered without any delays. Our customs brokers will manage all the legal formalities on entry, while our carriers will ensure your supply chain is intact—even if you source products from China or the US, or if the demand is skyrocketing due to certain holidays.

Local Expertise

You also need to embrace the local market fully. To overcome the challenges, you need to partner with experts who know the local environment inside and outside, including the most common holidays and gifting traditions. This can be a:

• marketing partner, who’ll help you adjust your strategy and inform you about potential sales peaks,
• e-commerce manager from the local market, who is aware of the sales peaks and additional, non-customs-related regulations,
• a logistics partner like Landmark Global, with experience in the target market that enables accurate sales peak prediction.

In the Toys & Games Industry and Shipping Internationally? Choose Landmark Global

At Landmark Global, we specialize in international logistics. Our expertise, infrastructure and carrier-neutral approach enable us to deliver your parcels to almost any destination in the world. At the same time, we can assure you that your products will arrive safely and on time, every time. Choose us if you value expertise, innovation and effective delivery services. Contact us today.

References:

1. Statista. (2025). Toys & Games – Worldwide. https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/toys-hobby/toys-games/worldwide
2. Chen, J. (2024, December 26). Top countries to source toys and games. SourceReady. https://www.sourceready.com/blog/top-countries-to-source-toys-and-games#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20toys%2C%20games%2C,%2C%20Czechia%2C%20and%20the%20Netherlands.
3. Statista. (n.d.). Popular gifts and gifting behavior in the U.S. https://www.statista.com/topics/11796/popular-gifts-and-gifting-behavior-in-the-us/#topicOverview