Playmobil Brand Guide: Let's Get Active

Don’t ask me why, but Playmobil kind of reminds me of LEGO. Perhaps it’s those stay-in-place haircuts or the two dotted eyes and a smile.

I think it’s got more to do with the fact I played with them both in my childhood, and while LEGO stayed with me until an older age, I certainly had fun playing with Playmobil.

For younger children who don’t have the fine motor skills to make intricate LEGO pieces, Playmobil is perfect, which is why they’re still making excellent toys today.

Their themed sets also replicate real-life situations, which is appealing to curious kids who see these scenarios playing out in real life.

In this article, we’re going to look at one of the most iconic toy brands of the last 100 years, and show you some of our excellent product range so you know the best Playmobil toys to stock.

Who Is Playmobil?

While Playmobil first appeared in 1974, the company has a history that goes back into the 1800s – and they didn’t start making toys first.

Andreas Brandstätter founded the company in 1876 in Bavaria for the production of ornamental casket fittings and locks – and Playmobil is part of the Brandstätter Group.

It wasn’t until 1921 that the company started to manufacture toys, after moving to Zirndorf, where their headquarters are still located today.

The company continued to produce a range of products, including piggy banks, scales, cash registers and telephones. In the 50s, the company expands its toy range with hula hoops, pedal tractors and water skis.

As the oil crisis hit and companies started to produce lower-cost toys, the business had to change. In 1974, Hans Beck, or The Father of Playmobil as he’s also known, invented the 7.5cm Playmobil figure.

The toys were an instant hit, and the company set up a production plant in Malta to cope with demand and sales offices across the world. 

In 2000, the company open a fun park in Zirndorf, and in 2010 sales exceed half a billion and they become the largest toy manufacturer in Germany.

More than 3 billion figures have found their way into children’s rooms worldwide, and more than 5,700 different figures have been created since 1974. Truly remarkable!

What Does Playmobil Stand For?

Creative Role Play

Playmobil has a focus on real-life play, where children can mimic scenes they’ve seen in their daily lives or experiences that people had years before them, such as knights and castles or police cars and fire engines.

While some of these experiences are ‘real’ they stimulate children’s imaginations and allow them to be creative within their own little universe of play.

In addition, toymakers at Playmobil are always coming up with new ideas, and have delved into the world of fantasy with Back to the Future and DreamWorks Dragons toys.

There are many benefits of role-playing, including:

• Self-expression
• Problem-solving
• Logic
• Enhanced physical coordination
• Cooperation and sharing

Imagination and Storytelling

Playmobil believe that imagination can take children anywhere, and that’s something their toys allow them to do. With hundreds of themes and roles available, and new customisable toys from Playmobil children are free to be as adventurous as they like. Jumping from a space station to a pirate ship doesn’t seem so far-fetched in a world of endless possibilities.

What Playmobil Toys Should You Stock?

Playmobil 1.2.3.

Playmobil 1.2.3 is the junior range, which has chunkier blocks, fewer pieces and is easier for smaller children to play with. If you’re familiar with LEGO, it’s a bit like DUPLO. It’s a larger, safer version of Playmobil.

The figures are a little shorter and chunkier, and their arms don’t move. However, they still bend at the waist and can sit and stand. Also, they aren’t designed to hold anything and their hats or hair stay attached to their heads.

Playmobil 1.2.3 is ideal for kids over 18 months old up to around five, but there’s nothing to suggest that kids that are older than that can’t play with them, too!

These toys are known for their quality and durability, and I’m sure many adults can say they hurt (but don’t break) when you stand on them!

If you want to give your customers a toy that’s stood the test of time (it was first released in 1990), and allows them to play safely then Playmobil 1.2.3. Is the way to go.

Here are out top 5 Playmobil 1.2.3 toys:

1. Playmobil 1.2.3 Astronaut & Rocket
2. Playmobil 1.2.3. Princess & Unicorn
3. Playmobil 1.2.3 Recycling Truck & Sorter
4. Playmobil 1.2.3 Plane & Passenger
5. Playmobil 1.2.3 Airport Shuttle With Sorter

Playmobil Special Plus

Playmobil Special Plus is designed to give kids access to the characters they want, instead of asking parents for money to buy expensive sets!

They’re ideal for spending pocket money on or giving as small gifts, so they’re an ideal toy to stock. The range is extensive as well, and there are plenty of figures for kids to get excited by.

Here are our top five Playmobil Special Plus toys:

1. Playmobil Special Plus, Mother, Baby and Dog
2. Playmobil Special Plus Fisherman
3. Playmobil Special Plus Fairy and Deer
4. Playmobil Special Plus Children with Bike and Skates
5. Playmobil 70059 Special Plus Fairy with Deerdren With Bike & Skates
6. Playmobil Special Plus Ninja Warrior

Playmobil Carry Sets

Getting kids to keep their toys together is tricky, they always seem to mix everything up or lose it, so Playmobil carry cases are ideal for the messier children.

Remove the toys from the carry case to play with them, and when the kids are done you simply pop them back in. The cases are easy to store as well and don’t take up too much room.

Here are our top five Playmobil carry sets:

1. Playmobil Dinosaur Explorer Carry Case
2. Playmobil Magical Mermaid Carry Case
3. Playmobil Small Vet Carry Case
4. Playmobil Policeman Carry Case
5. Playmobil Go-Kart Racer Carry Set

Playmobil Country

Who doesn’t love a trip to the country? You can let your customers bring the country into their home with our fantastic range of Country-themed Playmobil toys.

Ideal for creative role play and creating stories, we love the Country sets and think they inspire a little nature that kids need in their lives.

Here are our favourite Country toys:

1. Playmobil Country Horseback Riding
2. Playmobil Country Farm Dog
3. Playmobil Country Vaulting
4. Playmobil Country Horse Drawn Wagon

Are there any other sets worth buying?

Playmobil is well-known for its variety, so we recommend:

• Playmobil Scooby and Shaggy with Ghost
• Dreamworks Lucky and Spirit with Horse
• Playmobil Assorted Blind Bags

Stocking Up On Toys? Read Our LEGO Brand Guide

If you’re stocking up on toys, we have the perfect blog to help you decide what to buy. It’s called: LEGO Brand Guide: Rebuilding the World Through Play. You’ll find some accompaniments to your Playmobil selection, so it’s well worth a read.

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