Back to Basics
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 10/1/2007
The recalls this summer of lead-tainted toys have sent many parents and grandparents into specialty stores to seek out more of the classics, including Playmobil, Papo figures, Corolle dolls, Calico Critters and Apples to Apples. Newer offerings, like the Zoobie Pets and Bananagrams, and European-produced toys have also moved steadily in recent weeks.
Sherwood, Ore.MudPuddles Toys & Books
- Zoobie Pets. Zoobies, Provo, Utah
- Play Foam. Educational Insights, Rancho Dominguez, Calif.
- Infant shoes. Robeez Footwear, Burnaby, British Columbia
- Wedgits building sets. ImagAbility, Diamond Springs, Calif.
- Webkinz. Ganz, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
- Calin/Lia dolls. Corolle, Grantsville, Md.
- The Touch Game. Anthony
- Innovations, Tracy, Calif.
- Do-A-Dot activity books, markers. Do-A-Dot Art, Westlake Village, Calif.
- Rush Hour. ThinkFun, Alexandria, Va.
- Brainteaser/strategy games. ThinkFun
- Great Pretenders pirate dress-up clothes. Creative Education of Canada, Ontario
- Assorted trucks. Bruder, Gardena, Calif.
- Calico Critters. International Playthings, Parsippany, N.J.
- Bath & Body and Hair & Fashion craft kits. Creativity for Kids, Cleveland
- Activity books. Klutz, Palo Alto, Calif.
- Uglydolls. Pretty Ugly, Kenilworth, N.J.
Beyond specialty staples, hot categories at MudPuddles include dress-up clothing year-round, manager Rebecca Olsen tells Playthings. And for shoppers seeking U.S.-made toys, over 130 items (from Maple Landmark, Beka, BluTrack and many more companies) are available.
Great Barrington, Mass.Tom's Toys
- Webkinz. Ganz
- Romans, farm playsets. Playmobil,Cranbury, N.J.
- Assorted trucks. Bruder
- Apples to Apples. Out of the Box, Richland Center, Wis.
- Blokus. Educational Insights
- Set. Set Enterprises, Fountain Hills, Ariz.
- Knights, pirates. Papo (Hotaling Imports), Sherrill, N.Y.
- Animal figures. Schleich, Ottawa
- Toobs animal figure sets. Safari Ltd., Miami Gardens, Fla.
- Sea-Monkeys. Educational Insights
- Calin/Tidoo dolls. Corolle
- Uglydolls. Pretty Ugly
- Moofia vinyls. StrangeCo, San Francisco
- Puzzles. Ravensburger, Newton, N.H.
Science and nature toys are a steady category at Tom's Toys due in part to its rural location, owner Tom Levin tells Playthings. At the same time, toys made in Europe—like the German-produced Playmobil playsets and Bruder trucks—make up a large portion of business, especially since the recalls, and Levin tries to keep a full line of both in stock to meet demand. Levin also offers some unqiue items to attract adult toy buyers, like Uglydolls and Moofia vinyls, a collection of milk-carton shaped characters.
Fairhope, Ala.Fantasy Island Toys
- Teaching cash register. Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, Ill.
- Wheely Bug ride-on. Prince Lionheart, Santa Maria, Calif.
- Twilight Turtle. Cloud B, Torrance, Calif.
- Monster Under My Bed game. Fundex Games, Indianapolis
- WOW Flip 'n' Tip Fred. Ravensburger
- My Name Mugs collection. John Hinde, Oxnard, Calif.
- Knights. Papo
- BebePod Plus. Prince Lionheart
- Zoobie Pets. Zoobies
- Calico Critters. Int'l Playthings
- Bananagrams. Bananagrams, Cranston, R.I.
- Which Came First? Chicken or Egg? game. International Playthings
- Apples to Apples. Out of the Box
- Ruckus. Funstreet, Northfield, Ill.
- Winkel rattle/teether combo. Manhattan Toy, Minneapolis
- Playsets. Playmobil
Web sales are important to Fantasy Island Toys, and the store puts a lot of effort into its site, co-owner Ginger Milligan tells Playthings, although she notes that business at its bricks-and-mortar store has also been strong recently. “We just came off one of our biggest months,” she says. “We had a great summer.” The store prides itself on its hand-picked selection of toys, and regularly moves higher-priced items like the Teaching Cash Register, Wheely Bug and other Prince Lionheart products, Milligan says. “We find a good steady seller and just continue on with it. We don't get into fads.”
Los Gatos, Calif.The Wooden Horse
- MiYim plush. HosungNY, New York
- Bananagrams. Bananagrams
- Duck Duck Bruce. Gamewright, Newton, Mass.
- Quadrilla Twist and Twist & Rail. HaPe, Sherwood Park, Alberta
- Wee Enchanted Garden. Creativity for Kids
- Roll 'n' Multiply. Emines, Santa Clara, Calif.
- ZipBins. Neat-Oh! Int'l, Northfield, Ill.
- Pirates, knights and dragons. Papo
- Toobs animal figure sets. Safari Ltd.
- WOW Flip 'n' Tip Fred. Ravensburger
- Miracle Pounding toy. Plan Toys, Palo Alto, Calif.
- Animal House. Play Smart, Lakewood, N.J.
- Calin dolls. Corolle
- Only Hearts Club dolls. Only Hearts Club, Camarillo, Calif.
- Calico Critters. Int'l Playthings
The Wooden Horse specializes in a wide variety of toy categories, from baby to tween to family games, many of which are available on its website, manager Genevieve Collonge tells Playthings. Fast movers recently include traditional specialty favorites, like collectible figures from Papo, Safari and International Playthings—and new ZipBins to store them in. Organic plush, dolls and classic wooden toys (especially those from European manufacturers) have also been hot lately, as customers seek alternatives to Chinese-made products.
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