Winter Pastimes
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 2/1/2008
Sales at specialty toy stores slowed as expected at the start of the year as shoppers continued to recover from the frenzy of the holiday season, according to retailers who spoke with Playthings. Yet with many kids on vacation or facing weekends of winter weather, indoor activity items (books, games, science kits, crafts) have been slow but steady movers.
Madison, Wis.Capitol Kids
- Thank you notes. Peaceable Kingdom Press, Berkeley, Calif.; Chronicle Books, San Francisco
- Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book. Workman Publishing, New York
- The Encyclopedia of Immaturity. Klutz, Palo Alto, Calif.
- American-made toys. Beka, St. Paul, Minn.; Maple Landmark Woodcraft, Middlebury, Vt.; Whittle Short Line Railroad, Louisiana, Mo.
- Wooden marble runs, baby toys. Haba USA, Skaneateles, N.Y.
- Playsets.Playmobil, Cranbury, N.J.
- Science kits. Thames & Kosmos, Portsmouth, R.I.
- Microscopes. C & A Scientific, Manassas, Va.
- Mittens, other winter accessories. Turtle Fur Company, Morrisville, Vt.
- Word Blur. Word Blur LLC, Edmonds, Wash.
- Bananagrams. Bananagrams, Cranston, R.I.
- Word Teasers. ELM Education Marketing, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
- Bath toys. Alex, Northvale, N.J.
- Activity books. Klutz
- Friendship Wheel bracelet maker. Alex
- Uglydolls. Pretty Ugly, Edison, N.J.
- Knit dolls and rattles. Blabla, Atlanta
- Jumbo Crystal Balls. DCI, Providence, R.I.
- Wind Ups. California Creations, Tustin, Calif.
Although traffic has lessened, games and other activity items are still moving steadily, Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids, tells Playthings. In addition, thank-you notes, prominently displayed at the counter, are selling well “because it's timely,” Scholtes says. American-made toys, books and impulse items have also attracted a lot of interest lately.
SeattleDragon's Toy Box
- Uglydolls. Pretty Ugly
- Rubik's Cubes. Winning Moves, Danvers, Mass.
- Wooden chess sets. Wood Expressions, Gardena, Calif.
- Classic games (backgammon, dominoes, etc.) Wood Expressions
- Magnets, science-related impulse toys.
- Dragonology/Wizardology books, games, action figures. Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Mass.; Sababa Toys, New York
- Smurf figures. Schleich, Ottawa
- Animal figures. Schleich
- Baby dolls. Corolle, Grantsville, Md.
- Craft kits. Alex; Creativity for Kids, Cleveland
Dragon's Toy Box stocks a vast inventory of mostly non-electronic products, so classic games are always a hot item, manager Tristan Hewitt tells Playthings. Also, “All of our 'ology' stuff—that's always selling pretty well,” Hewitt says.
The shop offers the original bestelling hardcover books plus extension titles from Candlewick, as well as the Dragonology board game and collectible dragon action figures from Sababa. “We actually have a display in the front entrance,” Hewitt says, noting that the new Mythology game, due out later this year, will be a welcome addition to the store's offerings.
Jackson, Mich.Toy House & Baby Too
- MainStreet Village preschool playsets. The Step 2 Co., Streetsboro, Ohio
- Deluxe Large Standing Art Easel. Melissa & Doug, Westport, Conn.
- Art supplies. Melissa & Doug
- Calico Critters. International Playthings, Parsippany, N.J.
- Star Wars, Mission to Mars, Mindstorms playsets. Lego, Enfield, Conn.
- Castle playsets. Playmobil
- Hyperdash. Wild Planet, San Francisco
- Apples to Apples. Mattel, El Segundo, Calif.
- Sleds, toboggans, snow sliders. Paris Co./Paricon Sleds, So. Paris, Maine
- Erector sets. Nikko America, Plano, Texas
- Building sets, accessories. Rokenbok, Solana Beach, Calif.
- Transformers, G.I. Joe action figures. Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I.
- Twilight Turtle, Twilight Ladybug. Cloud B, Torrance, Calif.
The newest line at Toy House, MainStreet Village, is also one of the most successful, owner Phil Conley says. Books are also a huge category for the 30,000-square-foot retailer.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.Leaping Toys
- Castle playsets.Playmobil
- Fashion Angels Living Dolls. Fashion Angels Enterprises, Milwaukee, Wis.
- K's Kids “I Am the Boss” dinosaur ball pool for babies. Ohio Art, Bryan, Ohio
- Chemistry sets. Educational Insights; Scientific Explorer, Seattle
- Zingo. ThinkFun; Alexandria, Va.
- Rubik's Revolution. Techno Source; New York
- Large plush animals. Melissa & Doug
- Emma/Lia potty dolls and Lila/Laughing baby pink talking dolls. Corolle
- Horses, dinosaur figures. Schleich
- Craft kits. Alex;Creativity for Kids
Books are a major category at Leaping Toys, Trisha Westberry tells Playthings. The store stocks everything from board books for babies to picture books, educational workbooks and chapter books for older kids, to parenting books for adults.
Additional business for the shop at this time of year comes from present-seekers stocking up for upcoming or even already-past holidays. “We've actually had a lot of people tell us, 'Oh, I still need a Christmas present because so-and-so is coming to town,'” Westberry explains.
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