Frozen Panic: Christmas Stampede Causes Shortage Of Frozen Gifts

Frozen Panic: Christmas Stampede Causes Shortage Of Frozen Gifts
AP

Frozen mania has caused a shortage of Christmas toys and merchandise from the Disney blockbuster movie.

Parents are so desperate to get their hands on Frozen-themed gifts for their daughters in time for Christmas that they've cleared the shelves of some of the most sought-after items.

Lead character Elsa, especially, is driving a massive surge in sales of Frozen goodies.

According to the Mail, stores are unable to keep up with demand for Frozen Snow Glow Elsa, an interactive doll who sings, speaks and lights up, with an official price of £34.99.

Many chains and websites, such as Tesco, Toys r Us and Argos, list it as being 'unavailable', while any new stock is being snapped up as soon as it arrives on shelves.

So eBay entrepreneurs are cashing in by charging as much as £79.99 – a mark-up of almost 130per cent.

Retail experts at The NPD Group said UK sales of all Frozen merchandise, from dressing up outfits to dolls and jigsaws, are put at £31m up until the week ending November 8.

Frederique Tutt, global toys industry analyst for NPD, said: "New items have been launched, production has been increased to meet demand, and sales are getting stronger.

"We counted three Frozen dolls in the five best-selling toys last week alone.

"If Frozen continues at this level until Christmas, not only will the license keep top spot and get the license of the year accolade but it will also beat the all-time record of Toy Story 3 – in 2010 - in terms of toy sales."

The current top five toy best-selling toys also includes a Frozen Ice Skating Elsa Doll, which is £29.99, and an interactive Frozen Toddler Doll for younger children at £39.99.

Last week, demand for Frozen themed merchandise was so intense that there were reports of punch-ups between women shoppers at the opening of a new Poundland in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

And police were called to a toy store in Dublin to calm shoppers who battling to get hold of a Snow Glow Elsa doll.

Gary Grant, the boss of The Entertainer toy chain, said: "Demand is just unbelievable. The film launched last year, but this is the year that sales of themed products have really caught on.

"We have major stock issues in terms of keeping up with demand. The numbers are just vast.

"We sell more jigsaw puzzles based on Frozen than all others put together. I have never seen anything like it. I suspect even Disney has been surprised.

"Quite frankly, you could sell empty boxes if they had Frozen written on them."

Mr Grant said Frozen has outpaced any previous film in terms of the sales of themed toys.

He added: "Stocks of the dolls are coming in all the time, but if I get 2,000 of the interactive dolls they would be gone by the end of the week. It is bigger than Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear ever was."

CHRISTMAS TOY BEST SELLERS

1. Frozen Snow Glow Elsa £34.99

2. Kidizoom Smartwatch £39.99

3. LeapPad Explorer Tablet £79.99

4. Frozen Ice Skating Doll £29.99

5. Frozen Toddler Doll (15in) £39.99

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