New survey highlights the creative response to the coronavirus.

 

Colouring and art products are the stand-out category in terms of growth in the current COVID-19 crisis, according to research firm NPD.

 

In a recent survey of US households, NPD found colouring and related art materials experienced weekly sales growth of 86 per cent compared to the pre-coronavirus period.

 

More virtual and drawing activities led to increases in watercolour paper (up 188 per cent), finger paints (up 313 per cent), painting accessories (up 111 per cent) and tempera paint (up 272 per cent).

 

Writing instruments, including window and glass markers) were up 146 per cent while colour markers were up 81 per cent. Chalk sales grew by 56 per cent.

 

Home-schooling and online classrooms boosted the traditional back-to-school supply list categories by 18 per cent.

 

“The strongest growth in the office supplies space is tied to both traditional school supply list products and art and drawing activities,” Leen Nsouli, NPD industry analyst for US office supplies, said.

 

“Trending activities include rainbow scavenger hunts, kindness art and messaging, stained glass sidewalk chalk art, chalk games and car parade celebrations where creative consumers makes signs for one another,” she said.