Do you remember 1983? If you do, there is one toy that was all the rage that year. It was in the news, it was on the top of thousands of Christmas gift wish lists, and it was the most successful new toy in the history of toy launches. It was that adorable, rosy cheeked Cabbage Patch Doll.
We’ve come a long way since 1983 and the Cabbage Patch craze, but every year there is a toy, appliance, or gadget that tops the charts for Christmas gift shopping. Today, let’s have a little fun and stroll down memory lane. How many of these items do you own?
-
The Instant Pot: 2017
The undisputed winner of 2017 was the Instant Pot. The handy kitchen gadget that delivers home-cooked meals in minutes seems too good to be true, but it really works! Easy to use, quick to clean, and with the ability to make everything from roasts to cakes, households couldn’t get enough of the appliance that made their lives easier. Instant Pot continues to be a success and has more than 1.5 million followers in its Facebook community.
-
NES Classic: 2016
Talk about nostalgia! While tech companies are pushing forward on AI and VR, two years ago Nintendo causally relaunched it’s 1983 gaming system and controller. Fans went wild – so wild, in fact, that Nintendo couldn’t keep up with the demand. Although the NES Classic has now been discontinued, hardcore nostalgic gamers can still find these gems on eBay.
-
FitBit: 2015
A small wearable device that tells you if your heart rate is okay, you have achieved a healthy number of steps, and logs your exercise? Yes please! In 2015, thousands of people got of the couch and laced up their walking shoes thanks to FitBit. The device continues to be wildly popular, with more than 15 million units selling worldwide in 2017.
-
Elsa: 2014
Let it Go! Let it Go! Remember how everyone was singing the hit song from Disney’s Frozen in 2014? The chilly animated romp grossed more than $1 billion at the box office, and that meant an explosion of Frozen-themed merch hitting the shelves. The Elsa doll, with her large eyes, flowing blond hair, and icy blue dress, had children clamoring for the toy in 2014, and parents desperately trying to get the catchy song out of their heads.
-
Hug Me Elmo: 2013
Not to be confused with Tickle Me Elmo (the adorable fuzzy giggling toy that incited violence and in-store stampedes as parents trampled each other and spent more than triple it’s worth to get one from private sellers) Hug Me Elmo was the toy-of-the-moment in 2013. Toy crazes come and go, but Elmo (for some reason) knows how to make a comeback.
What’s Your Top Christmas Gift?
These are fun and practical gifts from the past five years, but the best Christmas gifts are the ones that mean something to you. It could be a visit from a family member that lives far away, a beautiful piece of jewellery, a kitten – the list is endless. No matter how, where, and why you celebrate Christmas, all of us here at AF Accounting wish you the best of the holiday season.
Are you a small business looking for office party ideas? Read this next.
