Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Subscription
Play
Parents turn to kid-focused subscriptions to ensure ongoing novelty.
4.4
Trend score
Trend
What is the Subscription Play trend?
Subscription Play: Growing wildly in popularity over the past few years, subscription services have expanded to niche industries to provide consumers with more targeted products. Parents are one of these groups responding to the subscription model, and are drawn to the ongoing novelty these companies provide as well as the sometimes very specialized offerings. Providing consumers the ease of e-commerce mixed with customized goods, the popularity of these services come as no surprise.
Trend themes
Themes within the Subscription Play trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Niche Subscription Services
The rise of subscription services has paved the way for niche industries that offer more targeted products.
02
Educational Play
Parents are drawn to subscription services that provide ongoing novelty and specialized offerings that also foster education.
03
Gender Neutral Activities
Subscription services that offer gender neutral activities for both parent and child can be an effective way to promote bonding and learning without extensive activity planning.
Industry implications
What the Subscription Play trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
E-Commerce
The ease of e-commerce mixed with customized goods make subscription services a popular option for busy parents.
For
Educational Toys
Subscription services that provide educational toys are an effective solution for keeping kids engaged with age and skill appropriate toys.
For
Sustainability
Subscription services that promote a focus on natural, non-toxic and fully recyclable materials in their products appeal to parents who are conscious of waste and environmental impact.
Trend signals
Trend signals for Subscription Play
Trend score 4.4 out of 10, from popularity 54%, activity 70%, freshness 8%.
Popularity54%
Activity70%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Subscription Play trend
4 featured examples from Dec 12, 2014 to Mar 13, 2015CategoryEco
Educational Craft Subscriptions
Green Kid Crafts' Activity Boxes Gift Smarts & Sustainability
Online retailers can explore the niche market of educational craft subscription boxes, offering a convenient way for parents to engage their children in creative and educational a…
CategoryLife-Stages
Educational Toy Subscriptions
Spark Box Toys' Rental Service Entertains and Educates
Toy rental services like Spark Box Toys are poised to challenge traditional toy retail, and present new revenue streams.
CategoryLife-Stages
Fatherly Playtime Kits
The Cooper Kit Supplies Monthly Dad and Kid Activities
There is an opportunity for companies to create gender-neutral subscription boxes that promote bonding and learning for fathers and kids.
CategoryLife-Stages
Kiddie Coding Kits
Bitsbox Teaches Kids Coding Through Monthly Subscriptions
The rise of subscription-based coding education platforms like Bitsbox is revolutionizing the way coding skills are taught and learned, providing new opportunities in the edtech i…
