One-stop shopping

Last month, PLAYTHINGS investigated a growing phenomenon: toys in all categories having found a home in non-traditional retail outlets. Arts and crafts kits are appearing in specialty crafts shops, diecast cars are complementing auto parts merchandise, and plush and soft dolls are stocked next to greetings cards in gift and card stores. As toy manufacturers forge these retail partnerships and broaden their scope, their decision is validated by a larger customer base.

In this issue, PLAYTHINGS focuses on two additional retail profit centers: pharmacies and supermarkets. Because these venues are some of the more frequented types of stores, shoppers often wind up purchasing more than they originally intended (think of all those folks who only set out to pick up a quart of milk). Impulse items positioned up at the register are ideal for quick purchases, while outdoor and holiday toys are a natural fit alongside seasonal goods. Toys, then, have muscled their way into an even greater domain.

Drug Fair

N. Arlington, N.J.

• Rainbow Art from Q Direct (QVC) ($9.99)
• Story Reader (Disney titles) from Publications International Ltd. ($24.99 reg. /$17.99 sale)
• Loving Family Bride & Groom from Fisher-Price ($7.99 reg./$5.99 sale)
• Barbie Riding Horse from Mattel ($9.99)
• RC Dodge Ram 6x6 T-Rex with Dirt Rider from EZTEC/Scientific Toys ($79.99 reg./$55.99 sale)
• Pumpmaster 460 Soaker from Lanard Toys ($7.99)
• Bob the Builder Action Welder from Hasbro/Playskool ($9.99)
• Crayola Crayon Maker from Binney & Smith ($24.99)

Walgreens

Belleville, N.J.

• Learning Lilly from LeapFrog ($9.99)
• Hot Wheels Crash Course from Mattel ($7.49)
• Power Rangers Ninja Storm from Bandai America ($7.49)
• Flavas dolls from Mattel ($17.99)
• Crayola Trace 'n Draw Projector from Binney & Smith ($19.99)

CVS

Charles Town, W. Va.

• Baby's First Winnie the Pooh from Fisher-Price ($9.99)
• Great Date Barbie from Mattel ($6.99)
• Trend Benders Keep N' Track from Imperial Toy Corp. ($5.99)
• Batman Technocast Catwoman from Hasbro ($6.99)
• Rescue Heroes Billy Blazes from Fisher-Price ($7.99)

Walgreens

Springfield, Ill.

• Yahtzee from Hasbro/Milton Bradley ($8.99)
• Monopoly from Hasbro/Milton Bradley ($15.99)
• Candyland Bingo from Hasbro/Milton Bradley ($5.99)
• Hot Hoops from MGA Entertainment ($14.99)
• Magna Doodle from Fisher-Price ($14.99)
• Dance-n-Flex Barbie from Mattel ($17.99)
• Flavas dolls from Mattel ($17.99)
• n Bratz dolls from MGA Entertainment ($15.99)
• Diecast cars from Maisto ($14.00)
• Dub City diecast cars from Jada Toys ($9.99)

Osco Drug Store

Springfield, Ill.

• Care Bears from Play Along ($5.99)
• Thing 1 & Thing 2 Cuddle Pillows from Interior Consumer Products LLC ($19.99)
• Patrick & Sponge Bob Cuddle Pillows from Interior Consumer Products LLC ($19.99)
• Limbo Elmo from Fisher-Price ($19.99)
• Hokey Pokey Elmo from Fisher-Price ($17.99)
• Bratz dolls from MGA Entertainment ($9.99)
• Flavas dolls from Mattel ($7.99)
• Memory Game, Operation, Twister, Connect Four, Life, Monopoly Board Games from Hasbro/Milton Bradley ($7.99-$16.99)

CVS

Merrick, N.Y.

• Button Blast Barbie from Mattel ($9.99)
• Tiny Dreams Mini Dollhouse from Blue Box Toys ($7.99)
• Silly Putty from Binney & Smith ($1.99)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures from Playmates Toys ($4.99)
• Mr. Potato Head from Hasbro/Playskool ($6.99)
• Game Boy Advance Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure from Universal Interactive ($14.99)

Walgreens

North Bellmore, N.Y.

• Friends Trivia Game from Cardinal Industries ($9.99)
• Candy Land Bingo from Hasbro/Milton Bradley ($5.99)
• Crayola Trace N Draw Projector from Binney & Smith ($19.99)
• Little People Vehicle/People Set from Fisher-Price ($5.99)

Walgreens

Metro New York

• Monopoly from Hasbro ($16.99)
• Chevrolet Corvette (diecast) from Maisto ($17.99)
• 2-Go Racer X-40 from Mega Bloks ($4.99)
• Mobile Gundam Fighter Gundam Zebra from Bandai America ($7.99)
• Dana from Bratz Style It! Fashion Collection from MGA Entertainment ($16.99)

CVS Pharmacy

Wayne, N.J.

• Barbie Great Date from Mattel ($5.99)
• Super Draw from Rose Art Industries ($4.99)
• Mr. Potato Head from Hasbro/Playskool ($6.99)
• Petite Miss Deluxe Makeup Set from Imperial Toy Corp. ($5.99)
• No-Spill Bubble Tumbler from Little Kids ($5.99)
• Mini Backpack Activity Pack from Lisa Frank ($9.99)
• Tarrytown Airport Collectible Play Pals, Jay Jay 4-pack Vehicles from Toy Island ($7.99)

Times Supermarket Waimalu

Aiea, Hawaii

• Real Wheels metal Rescue Force from Ja-Ru ($2.75)
• Sound Tech cell phone from Ja-Ru ($3.89)
• Hot Wheels (Jet Threat 3.0) from Mattel ($6.49)

Stop & Shop Supermarket

Clifton, N.J.

• Super Soaker Helix from Hasbro ($4.99)
• Make a Sand Monster from Little Kids ($6.99)
• 7-pc. Sand Fish Set from American Plastic Toy ($5.99)
• Duncan Yo-Yo from Duncan Toy Co. ($2.99)
• Play-n-Pro Husky Hitter from Timmee Toy Co. ($8.99)
• The Original Bubble Tumbler from Little Kids ($5.99)
• Dora the Explorer My Friend Dora from Fisher Price ($11.99)

Martin's

Charles Town, W.Va.

• Playful Plush from Crisha Creations ($4.99 or $3.99 with club card)
• Valentine Sheep Dog from Gemmy ($16.99 or $14.99 with loyalty card)
• Super Wheels Track Machine Pull Back from Kidmagic ($1.79)
• Splash Water Bomb from Kidmagic ($2.79)
• Cowboy and Indian Figures from Kidmagic ($1.99)

Food Lion

Charles Town, W.Va.

• Toy Soldier Set from Bradshaw ($1.99)
• Jumbo Crayons from Bradshaw ($1.59)
• Wishpets (plush bear with wings) from Wishpets Co. Ltd. ($6.99)
• Construction Paper from Carolina Pad ($1.19)
• SpongeBob SquarePants I Ripped My Pants! coloring book with stickers from Golden Books ($3.99)

King Soopers

Denver

• Dora the Explorer Backpack from Jakks Pacific/Flying Color Toys ($5.99)
• My First Princess Snow White from Fisher-Price ($4.99)
• Bob the Builder Scoop from Hasbro/Playskool ($3.99)
• Fashion Polly — Super Slide with Lila from Mattel (9.99)
• Active Pad from Publications International Ltd. ($19.99)

A&P Supermarket

Oak Ridge, N.J.

• Chatter Telephone from Fisher-Price ($8.99)
• Discover Sounds Hammer from Little Tikes ($5.99)
• Play Doh Fun Factory from Hasbro ($7.99)
• The Cat in the Hat, The MovieInteractive Play-a-Sound from Publications International Ltd. ($15.98)
• Wooden Things 65 Piece Building Blocks from Wooden Things ($9.99)

Costco Membership Warehouse

Clifton, N.J.

• Bounce 'Round House 12x10 from Spin Master ($399.99)
• X Concepts 74-inch Parrot Kite from X Concepts ($10.49)
• Disney Princess Girl's 16-inch Bicycle from Huffy Bicycle Co. ($45.99)
• Crayola Centennial Crayon Tin Collection from Binney & Smith ($9.99)
• Make Your Own Window Stickers collection from Sandy Lion ($9.97)

BJ's Wholesale Club

Freeport, N.Y.

• LeapPad Interactive Books & Cartridges from LeapFrog ($29.99)
• Trivial Pursuit: The Lord of the Rings from Hasbro Games, a division of Hasbro ($26.79)
• Rugged Riggz Fire Truck from The Little Tikes Company ($9.99)
• The Wiggles Speak N Sing Murray from Spin Master ($11.99)
• Bratz Formal Funk Runway from MGA Entertainment ($52.00)
• Top Corner Pro Rod Hockey Game from Sportcraft ($49.99)
• Racing Champions, The Fast & the Furious Flip & Fire Car Launcher Multi-Pack from RC2 Corp. ($12.99)

Odd-Job

Freeport, N.Y.

• Fisher-Price ABC Schoolhouse from KID Designs ($12.99)
• Barbie Living in Style Living Room Playset from Mattel ($8.99)
• The Incredible Shrinky Dinks Game from Briarpatch ($4.99)
• Bob the Builder Mega Stamp Set from Rose Art Industries ($2.99)
• Caillou Bath N' Play from Irwin Toy Ltd. ($3.99)
• Electronic Yu-Gi-Oh! Multi-Master hand held game from Mattel ($12.99)
• Bubble 'spolsion from Little Kids ($1.99)
• Auto Pitch Batting Trainer from The Little Tikes Company ($10.99)

Ideal Stationers

San Rafael, Calif.

• Papo Medieval figurines/castles from Hotaling Imports ($4-$50)
• TAG Along stuffed toys from pbc International ($20)
• Kitty Passion stuffed toys from Bestever ($5.50)
• Harley Davidson stuffed toys from Little Kids Preferred, LLC ($6-$10)
• Beanie Babies/Beanie Buddies/Teenie Beanie Boppers/Fluffies/Punkets from Ty ($5-$10)
• Corvette Road Racing Set from Mark Feldstein & Associates ($20)

IHOP

Novato, Calif.

• Purr-Fection plush toys from MJC International ($3.99)
• Beanie Babies from Ty ($3.99)

Pini Hardware

Novato, Calif.

• Radio Flyer No. 5 Wagon/No. 557 Scooter/Model #4 Little Red Wheelbarrow from Radio Flyer ($12.99)