With retails shops only just beginning to open and football leagues cancelled across the globe, you would think that the humble sticker album may be waning in popularity.

But, as Luke Anastasi, Assistant Director of Anastasi Panini, said, demand remains strong as opportunities to be found in the online sphere, as well as due to the increasing need for parents to keep their children occupied.

“Our main clients are children and the current restrictions have stopped a lot of them interacting with each other and trading. That being said, all over Europe, there has been an interest in stickers and cards since they are a good way to keep children happy and away from technology,” he said.

As a result of the pandemic, Anastasi Panini has moved sales online, but has had to postpone the EURO 2020 collection, as the competition itself has been postponed to 2021. But there’s been more call for older stock, “as people are going through their old collections and asking us for help to complete them.”

Currently orders are being made through email, Mr Anastasi said, though the company is also in the process of setting up a delivery service through one of the latest mobile applications. This, together with the retailer’s “strong network of resellers” has meant that “our clients can find our products from their nearest store”, despite the pandemic.

Looking ahead, Mr Anastasi said it was “unclear how things will proceed as it is unknown how the current situation will affect the football competitions in the coming season”. Nevertheless, Anastasi Panini are still “programming the coming year”, though “with the knowledge that things aren’t going to be the same.”