What's Selling

If you're a retailer and would like to take part in PLAYTHINGS' monthly survey of what's selling, e-mail the editors at dgerardi@cahners.com. Unless otherwise noted, all prices listed below are retail prices.

On track for holiday sales, one Pasadena retailer put in early orders for the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express, the Christmas Village set and the Amtrak Acela Express, all from Bachmann, and the Christmas Train set from LGB. "They're simply great holiday sellers," the owner tells PLAYTHINGS. A new take on a classic toy, Spin Master's Shrinky Dinks Maker made the holiday ordering list of an East L.A.-area retailer. "It's like a 1960's Easy-Bake Oven," he explained, adding that he is re-ordering Mattel's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots after a spectacularly successful summer promotion of the toys. "We sold out a four month's supply in just 20 days."

Meanwhile a West Los Angeles-area retailer was counting on kids becoming enchanted with Brio and Lego Bob the Builder products and on a SpongeBob SquarePants pillow with arms and legs. But while the Pasadena storeowner held high hopes for a Harry Potter-themed train set, this West L.A.-area owner recalled being burned by Potter licensed toys last fall. Current interest in the film, though, appeared to spur optimism at two game stores in Wizards of the Coast's Harry Potter trading card games. "The trading card games, the deck and the booster set are selling well now," an owner said.

As for current toy movers, the above toy store owner placed Lego's Bionicle series at the top of that list. His other top sellers are Learning Curve's Thomas the Tank Engine, where customers often opt for individual trains, Wild Planet's Scatter Fish pool game and Woodkins by Pamela Drake. Other hits included Binny & Smith's Crayola Model Magic (amazing clay dinosaurs), Crazy Bones from Toy Craze and California Creations' Zcards, credit card-sized objects that boast dinosaur, airplane or motorcycle punch-outs.

Nikko America's and Mattel's RC cars and Bruder trucks made the re-order list of a two-store, Newport Beach retailer. The owner said other current movers were Kettler's tricycles, Schylling's rubber ducks, which appeal to adults as well as kids, Learning Curve's Thomas the Tank ensemble, Madame Alexander dolls and International Playthings' Calico Critters. Educational Insights' Piccolo Touch and Talk Interactive Discovery Center for pre-kindergartners were also highly rated.

Pez Fuzzy Friends topped the bestseller list for the East L.A.-area retailer. The executive said additional entries were Slinky, the 55-year anniversary edition, Spinner Toys' in-motion wire toys and Funko's Wacky Wobblers, based on famous, licensed characters. The store's other top sellers included full-size children's pedal cars such as a fire truck from Gearbox, Magic Plastic's balloon maker and, for the retro-themed store, a reproduction of a 1936 tricycle from Airflow Collectibles. "We sell about three a week," noted the executive for a store where about 51 percent of customers are tourists.

Visitors touring Pasadena's Old Town area may slow down when they glimpse the model train store, where top sellers are LGB's Freight train set, MTH's SP Daylight set and Lionel's Penn Flyer set. In HO-scale, the owner named Athearn's SF freight set and the Leland Stanford BNSF Freight set. From Bachmann, HO, he included the UP Overland. From WK Walthers, he named the Canadian Pacific set, the Union Pacific and the BNSF Freight set. And from E-R Models, HO, he included the Monorail set. For N-scale, he named the Prairie Flyer set and the Centennial set, both from Bachmann. Finally, in the tiny Z-scale, he put Marklin's Steam set at the top of the list.

On the other hand, Graffiti Design's newest action figures from the film, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, a flick with a significant comic book connection, made the November ordering list of a local comic book store. The dealer was optimistic about prospects despite the film's falling box office receipts. In addition, he ordered USAopoly's

I Love Lucy Monopoly game, and for current action figures, he listed Playmates' The Simpsons, Hasbro's newest Star Wars figures, DC Direct's large inventory, and Todd McFarlane's Spawn.

"I began as a comic book retailer three years ago, but as those sales faded, I turned toward card and computer games," recounted a Lancaster storeowner. His leading card game, Wizards of the Coast's Magic the Gathering, is one for which he regularly hosts tournaments. Nor does he regard Wizard's Harry Potter trading card game as less than promising.

Remember those little, blue, elf-like creatures so popular a few decades ago? Smurfs? Well, they're alive and well, enjoying popularity on the shelves of toy stores in this great Italian city. And by the looks of brisk sales at one location, part of a specialty chain, they are in the homes, as well, of children in Milan.

Living in a metropolis renowned as one of the world's most fashion-forward, Milan's Smurfs are no couture slackers and come dressed as teachers, aerobics enthusiasts, musicians, medical professionals and scuba divers. Made by Schleich, a German company, Smurf play sets were also on display. A Puffocasa Grande was featured, as was a Puffocasa de campagne; in other words, a Smurf Big House and a Smurf Country Home—priced at the U.S. equivalent of $28 and $56 respectively, based on exchange rates in late October. Both play sets were well outfitted with all the appropriate amenities. Schleich also manufactures miniature animals, a diverse menagerie of which was in a large display.

The store itself was fun-filled and engaging for kids and parents alike with two doors for entry and exit, one no higher than about 3 ½ feet. No adults allowed through that one! Kids' drawings decorated the walls and there were lots of opportunities for hands-on play including working Rokenbok and Brio displays and an inviting 'go ahead and touch' display of kaleidoscopes.

The store also had an interesting selection of Fuercetti Intelligent Toys, construction sets that operate with pull-power and gravity gears. Based in Torino, Italy, the following disclaimer by Fuercetti appears on all boxes: "We fight child labor. Child labor has not been employed to manufacture this toy."

Sets included Magnetic Gears, Nature Gears, Jungle Gears, Gear Mobile, Maxi-Pixel Mosaic Machine and Build a Movie Machine. The Gear sets were priced at the U.S. equivalent of about $18.

Products by Plan Toys—a manufacturer with an environmentally correct message—were prominently displayed and apparently popular with kids and parents both, evidenced by the purchases made. Based in Thailand, Plan Toys (www.plantoys.com) are manufactured from rubberwood trees over the age of 25 years, which is past the plant's latex-producing prime. The company's miniature Ethnic Families seemed to be among the favorites.

The store also featured a display of baby and play dolls, with a large assortment from Berchet.

Meanwhile, an independent specialty store on a busy Milan street featured a wide variety of traditional offerings. boasting a wealth of diverse products on two separate floors.

A large display of dolls on the street level included offerings from Corolle and Gotz, as well as Krabbel Babies—complete with their own basket beds—and die kleinen dolls in ethnic garb, both by Heidi Ott.

A stunning display of miniature soldiers of all cultures and eras were safely encased in a glass display and included offerings from Alymer, Antonini, Tradition and Front Line. Figures from the Napoleanic and American Civil War periods seemed to be the popular favorites.

Horses were another favorite judging by the amount on display, which included a variety of horses by Breyer, a replica Victorian rocking horse by Ian-Armstrong and rocking horses by GyGy.

Other 'traditional' favorites in the store included plush by Steiff and trains by LGB. The store was stocked as well with music boxes, doll houses, miniature appliances and Legos.

Downstairs, the store offered a wide selection of ride-ons including bicycles and wagons.

And speaking of ride-ons, we found an unusual sort at Macef, which brought PLAYTHINGS to Milan in the first place. Held at Fiera Milano International, the Macef exhibition featured playthings and lifestyle products as well as items for the home. Among these items were Monkey Bikes and Foldable Bikes, both distributed by Edwards BV, the Netherlands.

While it is easy to understand the benefits of a lightweight, collapsible bicycle, well, the Monkey Bike might be a tough idea to peddle. It's a very small bicycle, reminiscent of the type carnival clowns ride, but which is supposed to be really 'hot' in Europe, especially in Germany and Holland. According to Edwards, orders had been written during the expo for 100,000 Monkey Bikes, many of which are headed for the United States where the distributor hopes consumers will go ape for them.