Yahoo LifestyleXia-Xia the crab set to be children’s Christmas favourite
Parents should expect to see the name Xia-Xia on the top of their children’s Christmas list this year, as industry experts anticipate the tiny plastic crab to be the year’s most wanted gift.
The brightly coloured crabs have just gone on sale in the US and are proving to be a popular choice as one is sold every seven seconds.
The cute crustaceans Xia-Xia (pronounced Shah-Shah) were scheduled to arrive in Britain early next year but their popularity has made parents resort to ordering the toys online, in time for Christmas.
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Some parents have had to shell out double the price for the single £8 toy as many US stores are running out of stock.
Toy manufacture, Cepia describes the hermit crab range as: ‘Little, silly crabs that love to dance and play. Xia-Xia's are available in four different colourful, collectible hermit crabs, each with their own personality.
‘Kids find the hermit crabs appealing for numerous reasons, including their colourful shells, tropical habitats and silly crawl.’
One of the crabs included in the set is Bimini who appears in purple and pink polka dot and stripes. She is joined by three other characters in a variety of bold colours, each with 12 changeable shells with an extra mini-toy inside.
Cepia are hoping for Xia-Xia’s to be a top toy just as Go Go Hamsters were when they were launched them back in 2009. Figures are already showing Xia-Xia toys are selling 20% faster than its furry predecessor.
Since the toys have been flying off the shelves, Toys 'R Us added Xia-Xia to its 2011 Holiday Hot Toy List . Due to its popularity, distributor Character Options has booked an air freight delivery of 150,000 of them into the UK to arrive before Christmas.
Paul Mitchell, spokesperson for Toys 'R Us said: “If the last few days in the US are anything to go by, Xia-Xia is going to be the big hit this Christmas.”
But with only 150,000 going on sale over here in the UK there are fears some kids could be left disappointed on Christmas morning.
Will you be buying a Xia-Xia for Christmas? What was your most wanted Christmas toy?
