Over the past seven years, we have witnessed the emergence of the children’s board game market in China, which has grown from virtually nothing and is now slowly being recognized by the wider public. However, the market is still far from being fully developed.
When we first entered this market in 2018, we realized that very few people even knew what “board games” were. We had to start by writing a series of blog articles to explain what board games are, why European families play them, and more.
We explored many approaches to spread awareness and develop the market. While we took some detours, we gained valuable insights that have proven successful to this day.
At the Toy Fair, I will share our experiences with you during a lecture(in German) on Saturday, 01.02.2025, at 11:00 AM in Hall 3A at the Toys Business Forum.
Throughout these years, we have encountered several misconceptions. Some were our own in the beginning, others came from our competitors, and still others often arise among European publishers, game designers, and illustrators.
In this lecture, I will address the 5 key “misconceptions” and present the corresponding “facts”:
- Misconception: China has a large population, so board games will certainly sell more than in Germany.
- Misconception: The Chinese board game market is still too weak, and almost no one knows about it. Therefore, it’s not worth investing.
- Misconception: European market strategies and sales models will work in China as well.
- Misconception: Educational board games are the most popular in China.
- Misconception: The most important part of localization is translation.
By comparing these misconceptions with the facts, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the Chinese children’s and family game market. During the lecture, I will also share the practical and successful strategies we have implemented in China.
I look forward to meeting you at the Toy Fair – whether at my lecture or at our booth in Hall 10.1, B05!