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.

Summer toys ordered earlier in the spring are expected to hit the shelves full force this month. Among them, retailers told PLAYTHINGS, are soaring rockets from the William Mark Corp., Spin Master's E-Charger Submarine, Wham-O's Slip 'N Slide and hula hoops.

"We do a huge business in hoops, some selling up to a thousand pieces," confirmed one of these retailers, a four-store owner.

Construction kits by K'NEX were also on order for the summer months, while another store that specializes in retro products was stocking up on Mattel's Rock Em-Sock Em Robots. The robots, which will be featured in a summer promotion, are expected to sell at a price point of $29.99.

As orders were placed for the summer, retailers summed up their top spring sellers. The retailer with four stores named Learning Curve's Thomas the Tank Engine ($7.99 to $500), LEGO's Mars Landing system ($3.98 to $89), Corolle dolls and Tiger's Hit Clips music player ($9.99 to $11.99) as good movers. He added that Ohio Art's Betty Spaghetty dolls, Bandai's Gundam action figures ($12 to $80), Ty's Beanie Babies and Buddies and Color Workshop's BloPens ($5.99 to $29.99) were also among the top sellers.

"Crafts are important," added the owner. "Creativity for Kids, ALEX and Curiosity Kits—all are strong."

The LEGO Mars ensemble ($3.99 to $89) and Betty Spaghetty ($14.99 to $24.99) made the April honor rolls for a second specialty store owner. In addition, the owner said, Toy Craze's Crazy Bones, Manhattan Toy's Groovy Girls ($15), Lights, Camera Interaction! Puzzle World train layouts were honorees as well. Ditto for Humongous Software's Backyard Soccer computer game ($24).

Top sellers for a comic book retailer included Moore Action Collectible's Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 2 action figures ($14.95) and DC Direct's Golden Age Wonder Woman ($17.95), as well as an assortment of 15 retro, 30ish-looking figurines ($49.95) from Dark Horse's Classic Comic line.

For an Orange County book/ toy store, the notables were Learning Curve's FeltKids ($20 for the board alone), its Lamaze infant toys and its Thomas the Tank Engine ensemble. Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh were active as well, the owner said.

"However, Harry Potter toys have been a disappointment," she asserted, "though the books still sell."

Meanwhile, the retro store reported good spring sales of Pez's interactive candy dispensers ($2.50), Funko's Betty Boop, Mr. T plastic characters (99 cents) and Gearbox's metal pedal cars.

Also included among the top sellers: Hasbro's TinkerToys, K'NEX's Lincoln Logs collector's edition ($100), Basic Fun's key chains ($4.99) and Radio Flyer's 1950-styled tricycles and bicycles ($65 to $70) for youngster aged 3 to 7.

Separately, another retailer told PLAYTHINGS its movers included kits by Creativity for Kids ($12 to $18), Madame Alexander dolls, both babies and little girls, ($65 to $135), Milton Bradley games, Bruder's garbage trucks ($40 to $60) and the Playmobil line.

Following an especially long and gloomy winter in the Northeast, the region's toy retailers were banking on sunny weather in placing their summer orders and they will soon be stocking their shelves with items to help beat the heat.

Anticipated sales for the summer season, toy retailers told PLAYTHINGS , include the latest versions of Larami's Super Soakers; the Nerf: Action line, including Wild Fire ($30) and Lock 'N Load ($15); Ohio Art's Water T-Ball ($20); Kid Power's Giggle Wiggle sprinkler ($12) and Fisher-Price's Blues Clues Spin and Splash Blue ($20).

Inviting displays of bubble toys, sidewalk chalk and jump ropes are already disappearing, with a mix of old classics and new introductions taking advantage of the spreading spring fever.

As the long-awaited spring finally did erupt, Oddzon's Jump Rope Rock ($9.99 to $12.99) proved to be a hit at both mass merchants and specialty stores. Retailers said the electronic hip-hop toy (complete with seven cool sound effects) was hard to keep in stock. In fact, there was a waiting list for it at one suburban outlet of a national toy chain. One city shop found another good choice with Small World Toys' Digital Jump Rope at $13.99.

Tiger Electronics' popular Skip-It saw continued success with a new model, Kick and Spin Skip-It ($12.99 but sold-out at a large specialty chain). Specialty chains and a two-store suburban chain found takers for D & L's newest Stomp Rocket versions: Super Stomp Rocket ($12.99), Parachute Stomp Rocket ($14.99) and Spincopter ($14.99). Spin Master's Air Hogs Sky Shark Plane (approx. $30) was also getting attention.

Scooters were still moving, too, albeit at a much slower pace. Most outlets slashed prices with the best-selling Razor models down to $59 from the original $99. Looking ahead, some ambitious retailers (including a major toy supermarket) were offering pricey motorized versions, tagged at $400 on up.

Sales of bicycles picked up in all the stores that carried them. The sellers included a mix of licensed character bikes to the more expensive BMX-styled dirt bikes and rugged mountain bikes from such companies as Pacific and Mongoose. Also on a roll for many mass merchants were a wide variety of skateboards from manufacturers such as Variflex and Mongoose, especially those with bright, neon-colored decorations. In-line skates sold at the majors (which had the needed space and capacity to stock all the sizes), while specialty shops kept up the pace with adjustable models (e.g., Fisher-Price's My 1st Skates) for younger kids. Accordingly, helmets, pads and other necessary safety equipment often accompanied these purchases, retailers told PLAYTHINGS .

Pogo sticks bounced onto the scene, with a number of retailers predicting an emerging fad. Most wanted was the updated Electronic Pogo Jumper by Sport Fun ($24.99) that adds to the fun with electronic "boing" sounds and an LED counter that records up to 99 jumps. Various outlets in suburbia reported sales of Franklin's Maverick Pogo Stick ($20-$25) and SBI's Neon Master Pogo Stick, at about the same price points. Kid Starts' Pogo-Roo was tops at a major specialty chain.

Spring also signaled the beginning of baseball season, with Little League and opening days for both the Yankees and Mets fueling sales of sports equipment. Noticeably strong were sales of kid-friendly pitching machines. Specialty stores did well with Pitch 'N Hit Baseball Machine and Rawling's Power Ponytail Softball Pitching Machine (marketed to girls), both by Sport Fun and priced at approximately $40. Also in the running at the discount chain was Nerf's Smash-It Pitching Machine ($20) from Hasbro. Basketball hoops were set up outside, with points scored by new electronic-sound models from Little Tikes and Today's Kids.

In addition to sports, the warmer weather also inspired renewed interest in nature, sparking sales of Insect Lore's Butterfly Garden ($19.99) and the more elaborate Butterfly Pavilion ($29.99). Wild Planet's Garden Gear sold at a sale price in the 'burbs and the "spy line" was popular all over. One small East Side retailer credited the recently released movie Spy Kids for the demand for this funky line of "junior James Bond" gadgets, but the manager of a national specialty chain had seen impressive sales from as far back as November. On most-wanted lists were Spy Vision Goggles with Night Vision (about $15), Supersonic Ear II (about $20) and a variety of spy cameras, binoculars and tool kits.

Activity kits were looking sweet, with a growing trend in candy-related kits from Pastime Industries, including Colorful Candy Craze ($19.99) and Bubblegum Fun Shoppe ($14.99). The company's Candy Dot Maker sold out in a day after it was advertised at a special sale price at one specialty chain. Also finding takers was Curiosity Kits' Crazy Candy Jewelry Kit at $12.99.

Creativity for Kids' numbers were snatched up for birthday presents (often in bulk when they go on sale at specialty toy stores). Flying off shelves were the Smackers line, including Cosmic Hair Wear, Make Your Own Lip Gloss and Make Your Own Cosmetic Bag, all priced at about $14.99.

Despite the pursuit of outdoor activities, the power of video games continues to increase. One large specialty chain altered its previous "no video game" policy and now carries a selection of "non-violent, kid-friendly" games and an eclectic mix of accessories. Nyko's Advanced Worm Light ($15) was a must-have for Game Boy addicts and Interact's Create-A-Face Plate activity kit for Game Boy Color ($13) offered a creative outlet.

Tops on the charts were Sponge Bob Squarepants: The Legend of the Lost Spatula for Game Boy ($29.99 and sold out all over); Dr. Mario 64 and Paper Mario for Nintendo 64 ($49.99 each) and Bandai's Digi-mon World 2 for PlayStation ($39.99). Pre-orders were rolling in for Nintendo 64's Mario Party 3 ($49.99), Super Mario Advance for Game Boy Advance ($29.99) and the wildly popular Crazy Taxi ($49.99) for PlayStation 2.

One national specialty toy chain is touting Itz Toys' Flip Itz as the newest sensation. These collectible "thingamabobs" ($2.49 each) were invented by a pair of 8-year-olds and were inspired by those plastic pizza box "propper-uppers" (the ones that keep the cheese from sticking to the box). Hey, you never know.