All these toys were in the top 10 list of favourites at Josephs in Sunderland 30 years ago
‘Dads always buy what they want themselves when they are buying for Christmas’
Traditional toys were making a comeback on the shelves of a popular Sunderland store in the run-up to Christmas 30 years ago.
Josephs was the place to go to for many a mam and dad as they searched for that perfect present.
But it was not the latest gadget which was top of their shopping list. It was those tried and tested favourites such as Action Man, Barbie, and train sets.
Our reporter in 1996 said: “Excited Wearside children will be pulling the wrapping from time honoured presents this Christmas - making mum and dad happy too.
“Old favourites Action Man and Barbie are proving to be the big-sellers in Sunderland’s toy stores this year, in the absence of “blockbuster toys such as Power Rangers or the Thunderbirds Tracey Island.”
Paul Bryant was the manager of Joseph's in Holmeside at the time and said fathers who were shopping for their kids tended to think about their own cherished Christmases of the past.
"Dads always buy what they want themselves when they are buying for Christmas. They remember what they had as a child. You can see it when we are selling to them. They like the toys they had especially Scalextric, where they get to race against their sons.”
Other toys which were popular with children 30 years ago were Playmobil, Star Wars and Star Trek figures.
Computer games were still popular with Vitech computer systems selling from £18.99 to £87.99 for children as young as four.
And modern creations such as Street Sharks. a rubber-faced monster hand puppet, was selling at £8.99 and were almost sold out.
Mr Bryant said customers at Josephs were willing to spend between £150 to £200 on toys in 1996.
Our reporter also visited Woolworths, in Fawcett Street where manager Sheila Skellen said: “They are spending like nothing on the earth and I think tradition is coming back.
“Action Man is traditional and Barbie -that's what the girls want.”
The Action Man car and tank were most popular with the boys, while the Barbie stable and castle were a hit with the girls, with prices ranging from £30 to £60.
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