Woolworths’ Ooshies craze causes Coles sales slump with parents shopping at rival supermarket to collect toys

Coles has experienced a short-term sales slump, with its full-year results showing a decline over a four-week period that coincided with a highly successful collectables campaign by rival Woolworths. Despite Coles gaining market share over the past 12 months, the competitor's promotion featuring Disney "Ooshies" toys proved a significant draw for shoppers.

The "Ooshies" craze, featuring rubber figurines of popular Disney characters, has captivated Australian children and their parents. The promotion was so popular that Woolworths prematurely ran out of the collectables a week before the campaign was scheduled to end, indicating overwhelming customer interest.

This surge in demand for Woolworths' collectables highlights the effectiveness of such in-store promotions in driving customer traffic and spending. The success of the "Ooshies" campaign demonstrates how collectable toys can significantly influence shopping behavior, even leading to a noticeable impact on the sales figures of competing supermarkets.