Córdoba: sales for Children's Day grew by 1.5% in 2024 according to FEDECOM

Children's Day sales in Córdoba grew by 1.5% compared to 2023, according to a survey by Fedecom and its Chambers. The increase represents a moderate rebound.

The report showed differences between sectors. Clothing and footwear led the growth with 12.1%, followed by books and bookstores with 7.2% and sporting goods with 4.5%. Electronic items rose by 3.7% and toys barely by 2.9%, in contrast to the decline in vehicles (-13.1%) and computing (-12.4%).

The average ticket reached $42,350. 75% of transactions were made with credit cards, while 25% were in cash, debit, or digital wallets.

Moderate recovery and changes in consumption habits

Fedecom highlighted that, despite the contraction in some sectors, areas such as clothing and bookstores sustained the overall improvement. The vice president of the entity, Maximiliano Dauria, indicated that sales were concentrated in the last three days before the date.

The executive explained that the use of credit cards grew significantly, driven by special promotions. Dauria noted that families prioritize basic and lower-value products, in a context where the recovery remains stable and improving.

Rise of e-commerce

In contrast to Fedecom's survey, the Argentine Chamber of the Toy Industry (Caij) reported that sales of games and toys fell by 5.2% in units compared to 2023. This figure is explained by the low attendance at physical stores and the overstock caused by imports.

E-commerce grew by 30% and reached 24% of transactions. The report highlighted that 81% of consumers abandoned their cart if they did not find a suitable delivery option.

In neighborhood toy stores, the average ticket was $13,000, while in larger chains, with a strong presence of imported products, it climbed to $38,000.

Imports, safety, and creation of an Observatory

Caij warned that between January and July 2024, toy imports grew by 84% in value and 114% in volume, with 565 companies involved. 50% entered with values below USD 3 per kilo, which raises concerns about safety and unfair competition.

The head of the entity, Matías Furió, questioned the relaxation that allows foreign certificates to be validated with sworn statements. The chamber announced the Argentine Toy Observatory (Oaju), which will monitor standards, assess risks with pediatricians, and promote innovation.

The only reality is that the opening of imports benefited the customer, which was reflected in the increase in imports in the sector.