We all like branded products. Whether its clothes, gadgets, or other electronic products, a good popular brand always creates a better impression in our mind.
A branded product comes with the trust factor. We can easily trust a product from a popular brand but we do not get the same feeling for a product that we get from a local store.
Maybe they are of the same kind and have the same specifications but still, we will prefer a branded one over the local one.
A toy is not an exception to that. Especially when people are buying any toy for their own kids, then definitely they will not compromise on that matter.
In this case, they also prefer to buy branded toys, keeping in mind that brands will not compromise with the quality of toys.
And since toys come in contact with children from newborn to teenage kids, it’s very important that any toys with which your children are playing must be of top quality.
Facts show that India has one of the largest populations of the teenage population, specifically below the age of 15 years. So naturally, India has a high demand for toys.
So, for the toy manufacturers be it an Indian brand or an international brand, India is a huge market.
And some of the brands are monetizing this market for a very long time.
A study done by IMARC had reported that the Indian toy market was worth over 1.75 billion US dollars in 2019 and was expected to grow over 3.3 billion US dollars by 2024.
Though the current pandemic situation can affect that prediction.
List of 11 Popular Toy Brands in India
To make your work easier here is a list of some of the best toy brands available in India from which you can shop for your kids.
Barbie
We all know Barbie from our childhood. It is famous especially among the girls for their dolls. It seems every girls’ toy collection is incomplete without at least one Barbie set.
Barbie is a fashion doll that was launched in 1959 by an American toy company, Mattel Inc.
Barbie was created to impart a sense of independence into the mind of little girls. It represented the fact that women can make their own choices.
Over the years, Barbie has expanded its business, and now we have cartoons, animated films, video games, musicals of Barbie.
Their toys and games include doll playsets, doll houses, indoor and outdoor play equipment, role and pretend playsets, card games, etc.
They have dolls specifically made for India. Those dolls have Indian clothes on them.
Apart from its toys Barbie also has a huge range of other products mainly for girls. It is the best toy brand for girls.
Like school stationeries, clothes and footwear, nursery products, bath and skincare products, foldable headphones, and fashion accessories like hair clips, rubber bands, stylish sling bags, or backpacks for girls.
Barbie products are available in most online sites as well as normal stores. The price range of their products varies from Rs. 250 to above Rs. 5000.
LEGO
Another thing with which we all have played in our childhood is the construction sets of Lego.
Lego is a world-famous brand for construction toys. It is a part of The Lego Group. The company first started the manufacturing of these games of interlocking plastic bricks in 1949. The Lego Group is originally a Danish company.
With time they have become very much successful and currently it is one of the leading toy manufacturing companies in the world.
Now they have movies, video games, board games, Lego competitions and they have also established six amusement parks called Legoland in different countries of Asia, North America and Europe.
There are Lego sets available for different age groups. Not only constructing things with these Lego bricks are interesting but they actually help in a child’s brain development.
These toys improve their logical thinking and also enhance their problem-solving skills.
There are sets for building cars, action figures, space shuttle, and also based on other movies like Disney princess, Toy Story, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman, etc.
They have a huge price range for their products. Though the range starts from around Rs. 500 but it can go up to as high as Rs. 40000.
Lego is at the 19th position on the All-Time 100 Greatest Toys of Time Magazine.
Funskool
Here is an Indian toy manufacturing company, Funskool. It was a joint venture of MRF Ltd of India and an American toy manufacturing company Hasbro Inc. It was established in 1987 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Along with its own manufactured toys, it also distributes licensed products of various foreign brands like Disney, Hasbro, Warner Bros, etc. They have also created some of their own brands under Funskool.
The main aim of Funskool is to create products that will help in a child’s development. Their products emphasize on improving various skills like motor skills, educational skills, hand-eye coordination, imaginative power, etc.
Their products mainly include science kits, puzzles, arts and crafts, educational toys for infants and preschoolers, stuff toys, action figures, RC toys and vehicles, construction and building sets, etc.
Funskool has more than 20 stores in different cities of India and their products are also available in online sites like FirstCry.
One of the best made in India toys brands.
Also read: Benefits of Playing with Toys
Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price is another American toy manufacturing company that was founded in 1930. It has its headquarters in New York. Since 1993 it has become a subsidiary of Mattle Inc.
In India, though Fisher-Price does not have any stores, you can get its products from Amazon, Flipkart, and FirstCry.
They mainly produce educational and learning toys for infants, toddlers, and children.
Some of the products that you will get under this brand are – play gyms and playmats, toy cars, trains and other vehicles, building blocks, construction sets, stacking toys, push and pull toys, soft toys, musical toys, musical instruments for kids, role and pretend playsets, baby rattles, track sets, etc.
As it is a foreign brand you may find its products a bit pricey. It surely one of the best toy brands for babies.
Nerf
Today we know Nerf for its toy guns, however, it didn’t start with guns. Parker Brothers started the company with foam balls, with the idea that it would be the first indoor balls for kids.
During the 1970s the Nerf football was a big hit. It became household football. Then during the 1980s came other foam balls from Nerf like Nerf Pool, Nerf Ping Pong, Nerf Table Hockey, etc.
In 1991, the brand was acquired by Hasbro. Then they started with the Nerf Blasters. This is to date the most popular product of Nerf. These are toy plastic guns that shoot foam dart.
Over the years they have launched different series of blasters and over the period of time, the products have improved more and more.
Apart from toy guns and weapons Nerf also has action figures, board games, toy cars, trains, and other vehicles, and also sports balls.
You can get Nerf products from online sites like Amazon, Flipkart, or FirstCry.
Hot Wheels
Where Nerf is a specialist in toy guns and rifles, Hot Wheels specializes in cars. This brand is also a part of Mattel Inc.
The first Hot Wheel model came into the market in 1968. Their main aim at that time was to reflect real-life California’s custom car culture.
Since children like speed so they made speed the main element in their cars. Not only cars they also brought in market racing track sets.
Their main aim was to bring out the competitive, creative, and experimental nature of the kids through these cars and racing tracks so that they can improve their skills and be ready for the future.
Hot Wheels now makes many limited edition models of cars, which not only children or teenage kids but also adults like to collect.
Many automobile manufacturers have given license to Hot Wheels for making models of their cars using the original blueprint for detailed designs.
However, over the years, Hot Wheels have increased their range of products. Now you will also get their clothes and footwear, school stationery, bathroom accessories, etc. on many sites like Amazon or FirstCry.
Must read: Best Online Sites For Buying Toys in India
Marvel
Almost all of us are familiar with Marvel. We as children were addicted to Marvel comics and cartoons and now in our adulthood, we are addicted to Marvel movies.
Marvel Comics is an American media and entertainment company, which is a part of the Disney company.
Marvel superheroes have reached such popularity that now collecting Marvel action figures or other related Marvel props have become a very common habit, especially among the children.
Not only action figures but Marvel has many other products for the kids. Like soft toys, puzzles, indoor and outdoor equipment, musical instruments, toy guns, toy cars, and other vehicles, etc.
Original Marvel products may seem a bit pricey in India and they are generally available in Flipkart, Amazon, or FirstCry.
Disney
Just like Marvel, Disney is another brand with which we relate to our childhood. I think we heard about Disney even before we started with Marvel.
For the girls, Disney princesses are still their favorite characters of childhood.
We have Disney movies, cartoons, video games. And over the years Disney’s merchandise business has become huge.
Now we get Disney products like soft toys, dolls and dollhouses, stationeries, puzzles, musical instruments, indoor and outdoor play equipment, board games, sports equipment, role and pretend playsets, toy cars, art and craft kits, and even educational toys.
Usually, you will find them in Amazon, FirstCry, or Flipkart sites in India.
Melissa & Doug
Melissa & Doug is another American company involved in manufacturing toys for children. The company was established in 1988.
They have a wide variety of wooden products. They also have other products like arts and crafts, plush and educational toys.
They have manufactured more than 5000 products until now.
Melissa & Doug specializes mainly in educational and learning toys, especially puzzles, and most of them are made up of wood. There are also hobby kits, art and craft kits, room decor and furniture, soft toys, sticker books, etc.
Amazon, Flipkart, and FirstCry sell their products in India.
Check this out: Popular Websites for Buying Baby Products
Baby Alive
Baby Alive is a brand for dolls that were introduced by Kenner first in 1973 and it has become a part of Hasbro.
Unlike Barbie dolls, the specialty of this brand is that they manufacture toddler dolls that can speak and can also do some other natural things like eating, drinking, and some other things.
In a way just like the brand name suggests they produce dolls that are like live babies with all their habits.
Various playsets of these dolls with many accessories are available in Amazon, Flipkart, and FirstCry.
Hasbro
Hasbro Inc. is an American – Canadian multinational company whose original name is Hassenfeld Brothers.
It was started in 1923 in Rhode Island.
Many of the above-mentioned brands are a part of Hasbro like Nerf and Baby Alive. Funskool was its joint venture with MRF Ltd. of India.
Some of its other popular products are Power Rangers, Transformers, G. I. Joe, Monopoly, My Little Pony, and many more.
You can easily find their products on Amazon, Flipkart, or FirstCry.
Conclusion
Here is the complete list of different toy brands. Each one has their own unique products.
Like Barbies specialize in fashionable dolls whereas Baby Alive has toddler dolls, Hot Wheels are for model cars, Marvel for action figures, Lego in construction toys, Nerf for toys guns and weapons, etc.
So now you know which brand you should search for based on the kind of toys you want to buy or your kids want.
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