Discover how vintage toy collectors have transformed their passion into a lucrative investment opportunity.

• Vintage toys are considered a unique, fun, and potentially profitable asset class by some people, although traditional investments such as stocks and real estate are more common.
• For many, investing in toys is initially a leisure activity and a source of enjoyment.

Singapore-based Lau Teck Kheng has transformed his passion for toys into a successful enterprise.

In 2005, while working as a full-time technician, Lau and his friends began selling vintage figurines on Sundays.

We, born in the 1970s, did not have much money to buy many toys then, but now, at around 40, we have some cash and try to reclaim our memories by purchasing them.

As customers began to show interest in purchasing, I considered giving it a go and making it my full-time job.

Over the past 15 years, since opening his brick-and-mortar shop in downtown Singapore, revenue has gradually increased.

Collectibles from popular franchises such as Ultraman, Macross, Robotech, M.A.S.K, and Power Rangers are available at Past Time Collectable, with prices ranging from $4 to $3,800.

Vintage toys are considered a unique, fun, and potentially profitable asset class by some people, although traditional investments such as stocks and real estate are more common.

The rules of trade

For many, investing in toys is initially a leisure activity and a source of enjoyment.

Over the past two decades, Dennis Pek, a figurine collector, has amassed over 2,000 toys in his collection.

He searched flea markets, websites, and international stores for his favorite show's collectibles.

He told CNBC he only resells to reorganize and update his collection.

He revealed to CNBC that he has invested approximately $80,000 in his collection, but his main motivation is his passion for it.

Perhaps, the combined worth of these items is significant, making them a valuable asset for the future.

The value of second-hand toys, according to him, lies in the preservation of figurines, the uniqueness of the pieces, particularly sets that were originally manufactured in limited quantities.

Some collectors derive pleasure from owning the original packaging of items they seek.

According to Lau, some individuals purchase toys but do not open them, instead feeling content with simply possessing the box and its contents.

Trends

Chang Yang Fa, the founder and CEO of MINT Museum of Toys, owns over 50,000 collectibles, with approximately 10% of them displayed at his museum in central Singapore.

CNBC reported on the generational shifts in collecting preferences observed by Chang, who stated that while different eras collect different items, character toys are generally popular across generations.

Vintage toy collecting gained popularity at the start of the 20th century, and devoted fans still search for toys from major franchises like Marvel and Naruto, as well as lesser-known films and shows.

The reseller market experiences demand due to individuals' desire to purchase back memories, similar to Star Wars or Barbie, according to Chang.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to more people working from home, and I believe many wanted to make their working spaces more conducive. As a result, there was a trend of kidults buying more toys for themselves, including figurines.

New toys' sales growth is primarily driven by adults, commonly referred to as "kidults."

The percentage of U.S. toy sales accounted for by individuals aged 18 and above increased by 19% from September 2021 to September 2022, according to data from Circana, formerly NPD.

James Zahn, editor-in-chief of "The Toy Book" and senior editor of "The Toy Insider," stated that there is a synergy between vintage toys and modern re-launches such as GI Joe, Masters of the Universe, Strawberry Shortcake and so on.

In the 1980s, the Masters of the Universe Eternia Playset sold for approximately $100 new. Now, the original box version of the product is worth an average of $5,000. Due to its popularity, Mattel launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2023 to produce a new version of the playset that will be shipped in 2024.

This tale has been revised with the accurate spelling of Lau Teck Kheng's name.