Hamleys' expert buyers have identified a £10 'slow‑rise, squeezable, sensory' banana toy as one of the must‑have items for the forthcoming Christmas season, saying the cartoonish fruit is "really difficult to put down." The shop says the product taps into a wider craze for 'squishies' that has been amplified by social media attention.
Retailers have put the squishies phenomenon alongside established holiday favourites, with Hamleys listing the squeezable toys alongside evergreen sellers such as Lego and Barbie. The retailer says demand for these tactile, novelty items has contributed to a wider upswing in toy sales on the high street.
The toys, marketed under names such as Big Squij, are produced in a variety of food and animal shapes and are filled with a flour‑based compound that gives them a slow‑rising, squidgy feel when squeezed. Hamleys describes them as sensory products that appeal through texture and a novelty look as much as through traditional play value.
Hamleys said it expects to sell thousands of the Big Squij pieces in the coming weeks. The retailer attributes the surge in interest to social media trends that have driven quick spikes in popularity for tactile, collectible items, helping to drive footfall and transactions during the crucial pre‑holiday trading period.
Industry watchers say seasonal demand often amplifies short‑lived toy crazes into best‑seller lists, and Hamleys' selection highlights how novelty items can sit alongside long‑running franchises in retailers' Christmas assortments. For shoppers, the retailer’s picks provide a snapshot of what is likely to be both popular and widely available this festive season.