During the pandemic, the cash registers rang loudly for game manufacturers. Board games and puzzles were booming. Now the accounts look different.
Ravensburg (dpa/lsw) - After the boom in the pandemic, the demand for puzzles and games from manufacturers in Baden-Württemberg has fallen significantly. Sales at Ravensburger fell by six percent to 598 million euros in 2022, as the company announced on Tuesday. Economic uncertainties and inflation curbed the desire to buy. In addition, there are increased production costs.
If you compare the numbers with the pre-Corona values, Ravensburger remained on course for growth with an increase of 14 percent, said CEO Clemens Maier. The company did not want to make a forecast for 2023. But we hope that sales will increase again. Ravensburger expects growth opportunities above all from the business in Asia.
Demand has also fallen among model railway fans, explained market leader Märklin. Nevertheless, the traditional manufacturer from Göppingen expects sales of 128 million euros in the financial year running until the end of April - which, according to the company, is still well above the pre-Corona level. Due to rising production costs, Ravensburger and Märklin want to increase their prices slightly.
The Stuttgart-based game publisher Kosmos, on the other hand, made more sales than in the pandemic year 2020. The company did not give any specific figures. In the case of puzzles, sales have increased by double digits compared to 2020, it said in a statement. The publisher is known for classics like "Settlers of Catan".
The play figures from the Schleich company also found more buyers. In 2022, the Schwäbisch Gmünd-based company was able to increase its sales for the eighth time in a row. Schleich posted growth of eight percent to 275 million euros. In 2021 and 2020, however, growth was still in the double-digit range, said CEO Dirk Engehausen.
He is cautiously optimistic for this year. Schleich also felt the general reluctance to buy. "I expect the first half of the year to be quite bumpy in Germany because there are still a lot of uncertainties." For the second half of the year, on the other hand, he expects a relaxation and more willingness to spend.
The company, founded in 1935 by Friedrich Schleich, sells its figures and playsets made of plastic in more than 60 countries and now generates more than half of its sales outside of Germany.
