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Playthings EXTRA for November 4, 2009

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Add some toy biz to your social networking: Follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Playthings-Magazine/142358712825) for daily news and blog updates!

Tips For The Trade: Turning Hot Toy Lists Into Sales
In a year when all toy retailers need to deploy all the traffic-generating, revenue-enhancing strategies they have available, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association president Kathleen McHugh advises adding the appropriate “best toys” lists to your store’s “best tools” list for the upcoming holiday season. Click to continue

Walmart Cuts Prices On More Holiday Toys
Walmart on Monday announced price cuts on 100 additional toys as it continues efforts to attract cash-strapped holiday shoppers earlier in the Christmas selling season. Click to continue

Bachmann's 'Thomas' Trains Go Global
Bachmann’s Thomas & Friends line is going international for the first time, the model train maker said last week. Click to continue

TOY OF THE WEEK
Street Surfing this fall added an innovative twist to the kick scooter with its new Whiplash, a design that combines a caster board flexing deck with a scooter-style handlebar in a patent-pending merger that allows riders to perform all new tricks. Click to continue

Fiesta Boosts Paul Frank Plush Assortment
Fiesta has created a new line of plush toys based on Paul Frank Industries’ Julius characters as part of an increased licensing push for the property. Click to continue

Cookie Jar Unveils On-demand Kids TV Site
Cookie Jar Entertainment this week launched Jaroo.com, a Hulu-style website offering on-demand children’s television programming, primarily from its large library of existing series. Click to continue

Handmade Toy Alliance Keeps Pushing on CPSIA
The Handmade Toy Alliance is calling for an open hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee to address the consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act on small manufacturers. Click to continue

Ty's Toy Box Adds 'Olivia' Shop
With Ian Falconer’s children’s book heroine Olivia going big time with a new TV series and amped up licensing efforts, licensor Chorion has signed a deal with TysToxBox.com for an online shop focused on the property. Click to continue

Out of the Toy Box Blog: Reuben Klamer Gets His Day
Richard Gottlieb writes: I have written in the past about the enormous impact that toy inventors have on society. Toy inventions have a steady and prolonged impact on children and they can therefore help shape the future of the world. Adults choose careers and even clothing styles based upon the toys they favored as children. (If you doubt this, take a minute to talk with an architect and ask them what they played with as children. I bet an Erector Set, Lego or some other construction toy will immediately and passionately be mentioned).

Click to continue

PLAYTHINGS.com POLL

Does your store offer reusable bags?

Yes, for purchase
Yes, for free
Not currently, but we plan to soon
No, but we offer a discount to shoppers who bring their own
No, and we have no plans to do so

To vote on this week’s poll, or to see the results of previous poll questions, visit www.Playthings.com.

For daily news updates visit the "Breaking News" section of www.Playthings.com

Have a profitable week,

Cliff Annicelli, Editor