Dropshipping for "grown-up children": games and toys
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Technologies similar to Cookies
Similar technologies are technics or tools, using certain characteristics to identify devices so that visits to a website can be analyzed. It includes, for example, HTML5 local storage, local Shared objects, fingerprinting techniques, tracking pixels and plugins.
For ease of reference, cookies and similar technologies are referred as "Cookies".
Usage of Cookies
Cookies enable us to provide users with certain features and supply us with information about website visits.
We also make use of cookies to make our site more user-friendly, to better understand our existing and prospective customers, including associating a user with different devices and browsers that they may use for online targeting and advertising purposes.
The year is 2025. ‘Grown-up children’ are nostalgic for their childhood — a boom in blockbuster films, video games and the rise of fandoms. Among the best-selling items are NBA sports cards, LEGO for adults, and Pokémon trading cards. There are also Transformers, Barbie dolls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and other characters from the 1990s and 2000s.
Nostalgia for toys has always existed, and there have always been people who collected them, but the situation has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The market is responding to demand. Buyers of games and toys over the age of 18 have overtaken children. This is the largest demographic group in this niche, according to marketers at Fincraft Capital Czech Republic.
Nostalgia for toys has always existed, and there have always been people who collected them, but the situation has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The market is responding to demand. Buyers of games and toys over the age of 18 have overtaken children. This is the largest demographic group in this niche, according to marketers at Fincraft Capital Czech Republic.
The “kidults” phenomenon: nostalgia and profit
Every generation has its own set of cultural references. For Generation X and millennials, these might be the 80s and 90s — cartoons, toys, VHS tapes, Walkmans, Mortal Kombat, plastic figurines and the first game consoles.
Generation Z converges on the pop culture of the 2000s, reality shows, the Sims, Harry Potter merchandise, and anime such as Naruto and One Piece. Baby boomers are creating tons of MP3 files by recording their favourite childhood vinyl records.
Kidults (from kid + adults) is no longer a fad, but a stable trend: adults consciously buy toys for themselves. People are looking for emotions, joy and familiar images; nostalgia allows them to temporarily distract themselves from constant stress and uncertainty.
Generation Z converges on the pop culture of the 2000s, reality shows, the Sims, Harry Potter merchandise, and anime such as Naruto and One Piece. Baby boomers are creating tons of MP3 files by recording their favourite childhood vinyl records.
Kidults (from kid + adults) is no longer a fad, but a stable trend: adults consciously buy toys for themselves. People are looking for emotions, joy and familiar images; nostalgia allows them to temporarily distract themselves from constant stress and uncertainty.
Dropshipping in the childhood nostalgia niche
The market for nostalgia-driven goods is growing every year. Children's toys remind us of childhood, a time when everything was simple and straightforward. This need has become more acute since the pandemic, especially for those who continue to work remotely.
There are many niche fandoms (communities) in this area — thousands, and sometimes millions, of people around the world collect items, participate in discussions, and exchange finds. All of this fits perfectly into the dropshipping business model: a loyal audience, high margins, and ready-made traffic channels. Reddit, Discord, TikTok, fan forums — all of these can be used for promotion. It is not necessary to launch a large store; sometimes a landing page with carefully selected products, a small online store, or a trading website is enough.
There are many niche fandoms (communities) in this area — thousands, and sometimes millions, of people around the world collect items, participate in discussions, and exchange finds. All of this fits perfectly into the dropshipping business model: a loyal audience, high margins, and ready-made traffic channels. Reddit, Discord, TikTok, fan forums — all of these can be used for promotion. It is not necessary to launch a large store; sometimes a landing page with carefully selected products, a small online store, or a trading website is enough.
1. Trading cards
Tip: storytelling — the story behind the card can sell better than the price
- What to sell: Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, NBA, NFL
- Where to sell: your own website or landing page, Shopify, eBay, Etsy
- Margin: up to 100%, especially for rare cards
- Advertising budget: from £0.
- Promotion: video reviews, unboxing, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Discord, Reddit
- Suppliers: distributors, eBay, forums, resellers, wholesalers
Tip: storytelling — the story behind the card can sell better than the price
5 categories that sell well
- What to sell: architecture, Star Wars, Technic, Harry Potter, Marvel worlds
- Where to sell: your own website, Shopify, Etsy
- Suppliers: dropshipping is only possible through partners, B2B stores, official LEGO partners
- Promotion: YouTube, Instagram Reels, ‘relax content’ and slow-content niches (assemblies, ASMR)
- Margin: 20–40%
Tip: target hobbyists and geeks
2. LEGO 18+
Everything that came out in the 80s and 90s. Many brands release limited reissues.
Tip: Limited editions, seasonal releases, and reissues of old designs (‘backs’) are popular.
- What to sell: Barbie, He-Man, Transformers, TMNT, He-Man, Dragon Ball
- Where to sell: your website, Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, eBay
- Suppliers: AliExpress, wholesale platforms such as Faire, CJdropshipping
- Promotion: TikTok, fan communities, Pinterest
- Margin: 50–100%
Tip: Limited editions, seasonal releases, and reissues of old designs (‘backs’) are popular.
3. Collectible and action figures
- What to sell: NES, Sega, GameBoy reissues, mini consoles, clones, accessories
- Where to sell: your website, Shopify, eBay, Amazon
- Suppliers: AliExpress, dropshipping catalogues, wholesalers.
- Promotion: reviews, comparisons, nostalgic videos
- Margin: 30–50%.
Tip: offer bundles (console + joystick). Compare originals and remakes. Viral TikTok videos in the format ‘did you play this in 1997?’
4. Game consoles and retro gaming
- What to sell: clothing from franchises (Star Wars, Marvel, LOTR, Fallout)
- Where to sell: your own website, Printful + Shopify, Printify, Etsy
- Suppliers: print-on-demand services, licensed suppliers
- Promotion: TikTok, fan groups, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts
- Margin: 100–200% (on clothing and accessories)
Tip: create themed lines for TV series and film releases.
Today, some ‘children's’ brands are changing their marketing strategies and are already ‘working’ with audiences over the age of 18. Lego sells construction sets for adults and sets with cars, and Funko Pop sells collectible figures featuring characters from pop series.
Fincraft Capital dropshipping recommends that dropshippers check the demand for a specific fandom before launching, using Google Trends or directly on the Fincraft Capital platform. Here you will also find reliable suppliers and partners working not only in this niche.