Owner of J and P Hobby Supplies, Jack Turner poses for a photo in his store, Friday afternoon. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Games Galore

Prince Albert sees large increase of board game sales during pandemic

Dec 4, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Families across Saskatchewan are spending more time together than ever before due to the current pandemic.

A big question for many of those families is, what do we do? The answer to that question for many families has been, board games.

Sales for board games, puzzles, and other hobby style collectibles and antiques have increased across Canada this year, and that is no different here in Prince Albert.

Jack Turner, owner of J and P Hobby Supplies in Prince Albert said his store has seen an increase in sales all year long.

“The store sales in all those items has increased drastically,” Turner said. “I have lots of sales on those items you can use at home.”

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J and P Hobby Supplies is ready for Christmas shopping. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Turner added quite regularly customers are asking him about good products to purchase for quality family time.

He also explained hobby items have been in particular demand this year.

“They’re looking at plastic models, RC cars, train sets, puzzles, pretty much everything I carry,” Turner said.

He added a new demographic he is seeing in his store is a lot of older people looking at plastic models.

J and P Hobby Supplies has seen as increase in sales in RC cars, plastic models, and model trains in 2020. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Meanwhile Prince Albert Canadian Tire owner, Malcolm Jenkins, said sales of board games, puzzles and table games at his store are up 30 to 40 per cent over an average year.

“Probably the pandemic is keeping folks at home and they’re finding ways to amuse themselves other than watching Netflix 27 hours a day,” Jenkins said.

Chris Doucette, store manager at Walmart in Prince Albert, said he’d seen a similar trend.

“When the first wave hit it was almost impossible to find a puzzle or a board game,” Doucette said. “They sold out fast, but we’re back in stock for Christmas.”

Doucette added collectible cards such as hockey cards, or Pokémon cards have been very popular as well. He explained many parents have been purchasing collectible cards for their kids.

“We’re reliving our youth through our kids, for sure,” Doucette said. “Getting our kids back into stuff we used to be into.”

One Prince Albert gamer said increased time in lockdown and a new interest in hobby style games has allowed him to connect with friends across the country by playing online. Christopher Lawson said he and his friends spend a lot of time playing table-top games.

“With the pandemic your best bet is to stay at home, and board games are the perfect outlet,” Lawson said. “Table-top games like Dungeons and Dragons are fantastic because you can connect online.

“I have been playing table-top games with friends across Canada for a few years. It’s something I was already used to, so it worked out well when the pandemic started, and we were all stuck at home.”

When gathering together over the holidays to spend time with family and play some games, stick to your social bubble, and follow the Saskatchewan Health Authority guidelines of five people in private gatherings.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8