Whilst historic economic factors have ensured that most of the toys adorning toy shop shelves have themselves been adorned with a "made in China" sticker, the emergence of China's economy in recent years has changed the purchasing environment completely.
Whist no-one can baulk at the improvements in pay and working conditions that have been experienced in parts of the developing world over the last few decades, this has ultimately meant that toy companies have been increasingly forced to set their sights on alternative countries to get their wares produced.
Even if India, Thailand or any other nation can provide a short-term fix to the issue of rising production costs, it is inevitable that the days of "cheap" toys are numbered. The toy industry's favourite price - £19.99 - may soon have to be revised upwards.
Will this mean a stampede back to the UK? Unlikely; but whilst companies like Dyson have famously fled the UK for cheaper climes, some companies (such as Trunki) have gone against the grain and started pulling production back to the UK.
Whether this is purely for economic or practical reasons rather than philanthropy doesn't really matter. With a movement towards more self-sufficiency in our food choices and a growing movement to save our High Streets, "local" is very much back on the agenda.
We think British production is something to be championed - and that's why we're pleased to showcase below some toy companies that have either started moving back to the UK, or never even left it.
This company has been hand cutting jigsaws since 1973 and all puzzles are made at their factory located in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
These adorable bears are all handmade by Kelsey Cunningham and her team in the UK. Each bear has a crystal in their paw as a sign of authenticity.
Orchard Toys has a reputation for design and manufacturing excellence - and is rightly proud of its use of UK manufacturing facilities since the company was formed in 1971. Originally based in Nottingham, products are now produced in Wymondham, Norfolk.
These little Card People that allow children to colour in and play with for hours are made in the UK using premium materials made to last.
Based in Peebles, Border Toys manufactures a great range of high quality wooden toys with materals sourced from sustainable UK forests. The company is a proud member of the British Toymakers Guild.
Founded in 2012 and based in Yorkshire, this company's manufacturing method is both quirky and brilliant. Rather than a central facility, they use a network of skilled artisans from as far afield as Wales and Scotland to produce their fully CE-compliant soft toys.
Based in Wales this company has been handcrafting the woolly alternative to the rocking horse since 1992.
10 years after Hornby moved their Humbrol brand to the Far East, rising costs and long-running supply problems saw it return to the UK in late 2012. Hornby boss Frank Martin cited the trebling of labour costs in just a 7 year period as the key reason for the move.
Based in Oxford, Brendan's Bears has been designing and crafting hand-made bears since 2006. The company is a member of The Guild of Master Bearcrafters.
This craft kit supplier began life in 2005, run from a kitchen worktop like so many fledgling businesses are. Consistent growth since then has meant that the company now manufactures its products in a dedicated facility based at the heart of London’s old textile district in the East End.
This award-winning, family-run business has been manufacturing impeccable-quality activity centres for nearly 20 years.
Green Lighthouse Ltd creates an exciting range of children’s lunch boxes which come with a special educational twist. All products are produced in Exeter.
This family-run business is one of the country's last remaining jigsaw puzzle makers that handmakes their products here in the UK.
Founded in 1930, Merrythought has been hand making teddy bears from a base in Ironbridge, Shropshire for over 80 years.
