British Retailers Report Surge in Demand for Physical Collectibles Among Young People

British retail bosses report a surge in demand for physical collectibles among young people, with squishy dumplings, trading cards, and K-Pop CDs proving particularly popular. Music and entertainment retailer HMV, which operates 114 stores across the UK, has seen a 12 per cent increase in visitor numbers during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2025. The trajectory suggests about 50 million store visits are anticipated over the course of this year. The growth is largely attributed to post-pandemic efforts to revitalise store spaces, including creating dedicated zones for pop culture merchandise.

HMV's managing director Phil Halliday said: For years, it was quiet on a Saturday, and that's when the kids used to come in. The store colleagues will tell you, it's heaving on a Saturday now… and you can see it in the numbers. Kids are coming back in because they want to be around each other and spaces where they can gather to share experiences… not everyone wants to sit at home on the computer. High street chain The Works also said it was getting a boost from children coming into shops with pocket money to spend.