It is a perfect storm of supply problems: COVID-19, Brexit and a lack of lorry drivers has some retailers warning of product stock problems unless action is taken. But Christmas isn't cancelled at UK toy retailer Hamleys, because they have been building up stock since March.

"We're in a very, very strong position," said head of buying, Victoria Kay. 

"I can just say we've built a very strong basis for the trade for the peak period," she said.

"At any one time, we carry around 10,000 to 13,000 toys in the range. And we basically always know when Christmas is coming, so we start building for Christmas from about March onwards," she said.

Hamleys' predicted top 10 Christmas toys include a Barbie Dream house for $428, an interactive globe for $69 and huggable stuffed animals from $28 - and even an updated version of the classic board game snakes and ladders makes it on to the list as families reconnect and play together.

"So we've got things like the Magic Mitzi's, which is just a fantastic cauldron pot, which the all the toys come out of it. It's really fun. But then we've also got the traditional Lego sets and Playmobil," said Kay.

"We've gone back to role-play toys, we've gone back to cute and cuddly, and there has been less influence by films in the background," she said.

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The store's resident Father Christmas was delighted to report that the shelves in Hamleys outlets around the globe, as well as their Regents Street flagship, were well stocked.

While Santa might have dodged it, sector-wide, inventory is lean as suppliers navigate severe air, sea and land snags.

Toymaker Funko say 70 percent of its Pop! figurines are produced in Vietnam, where there have been port issues as result of lockdowns. Yet shipping is only one piece of the puzzle. Inflation is another.

The cost of materials is rising fast, from plastics to packaging, metal, wood and electronic components. So it might not just be hard getting hold of that best-seller - the price might go up too.

Sending a single container from Asia to Europe costs ten times more than it did a year ago, which will eventually get passed on to consumers. Research from S&P Global Platts says U.S. Toymakers expect retail price increases of around 25 percent.

Bosses say everything from food to decorations will go up. UK furniture maker DFS expects the price of furniture and soft furnishings to rise three to four percent next year.

As the festive season at the end of the year draws nearer and demand swells, toy stores are hoping they will still have something for everybody under the tree.

"That's what we all want, isn't it? We all want a magical Christmas," said Kay.