For consumers who have a playful streak, the Micro Blaster X-Bow is the perfect toy. The novelty gift from Hog Wild is a pocket-sized crossbow that uses cotton swabs as bolts.
To use the Micro Blaster X-Bow, consumers pull back on the bow cord (a piece of string) until it rests in the bow's notch. Then they insert a cotton swab, aim, and pull down on the "launch ring" to fire away. Though the toy is small and the swabs are flimsy, it still launches its makeshift bolts 20 feet.
The only caveat of the Micro Blaster X-Bow is that the cotton swabs it uses need to be one-sided. The toy comes with 25 of these special swabs on purchase, but users can also cut one end off of standard Q-Tips to achieve the same effect.
Cotton Swab Crossbows
The 'Micro Blaster X-Bow' Shoots Cotton Swabs Over 20 Feet
Trend Themes
1. Pocket-sized Toys - Opportunity for novelty toys that are small and can be carried around easily
2. Unconventional Toy Ammunition - Opportunity for toys that use unconventional items as ammunition
3. DIY Toy Ammunition - Opportunity for DIY toy ammunition for improved sustainability and cost-effectiveness
Industry Implications
1. Toy Industry - Opportunity for the toy industry to invest in and create pocket-sized novelty items that utilize unconventional and DIY ammunition options
2. Hobby Industry - Opportunity for the hobby industry to capitalize on the trend of unconventional ammunition in pocket-sized toys and create new and engaging hobbies
3. Sustainability Industry - Opportunity for the sustainability industry to improve the cost-effectiveness and environmental impact of toy ammunition through DIY options like repurposed materials