Toy manufacturer Fisher-Price is celebrating its 90th anniversary in a very 2020 way, with a virtual museum. The museum lives on Instagram, taking viewers through some of the most popular toys of each decade the brand has been around, leaning heavily on nostalgia.
Virtual experiences are having a moment recently, with most in-person activities on hold or significantly altered because of the coronavirus pandemic. Companies have tried to recoup some lost revenue through virtual workshops, tours, and even wine tastings. Nearly 4,000 museums have also made exhibits available online, including The Guggenheim and The Met.
Parent company Mattel launched this museum and gift shop right as many are starting to think about holiday shopping. The coronavirus-induced recession has decreased consumer spending and thrown more than eight million into poverty.
However, e-commerce sales increased by nearly a third in Q2 as the pandemic kept many people inside and online shopping became more convenient than ever. With a year-over-year increase of 44.5%, e-commerce is a $211.5 billion industry, so the virus' impact on holiday shopping remains to be seen.