Below is a sampling of products from manufacturers (A - C) who are scheduled to exhibit at the ASTRA trade fair. See even more by accessing the following links: Manufacturers: Find out how a TDmonthly Video attracts buyers.
This Bumble Bee costume includes a lycra leotard and organza tutu. Wings and headpiece are included. The costume is available in sizes XSC, SC and MC. Launch date: May 31, 2009.
Made with layer upon layer of hot pink, super soft tulle and satin. Polka dotted tulle fabric adds a little whimsy to this already adorable skirt. Removable music device plays two songs. Skirt features an adjustable waistband which allows it to fit ages three to eight. Three AAA batteries included.
These gloves include official NASA patches, a textured palm for easy grip and an elastic inner cuff. They are available in small, medium and large sizes. "High-quality fabrics, construction, and attention to detail will set this product apart," Sean Schipper, COO of Aeromax, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.
Suitable for ages 6 months and up, this set of colorful garden squirters for bathtime includes a flower, snail, ladybug, bee and butterfly. The products are phthalate free. — “Most of my bath toys are Alex, and their bath squirters do really well,” Elizabeth Ryan, owner of Tales & Toys in Venice, Calif., told TDmonthly in March 2009, noting that she sells four to six of the squirter sets per month. — Two of 64 retailers noted strong sales of Alex’s squirters in the bath category in spring 2009. — “I can't miss on my bath toys for toddlers … the Alex line,” Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthlyin June 2010, citing sales of 30 a month.
Deglingos Kicks - Ronronos the Cat by GEARED FOR IMAGINATION
These pre-walker baby shoes featuring the Deglingos characters have soft, varied fabrics and Velcro adjustments in the front and back for a snug fit. They are available in four designs (Ronronos the Cat, Lapinos the Bunny, Milkos the Cow and BigBos the Wolf) and three sizes (6-12 months, 12-18 months, and 18-24 months). Each pair of shoes comes with a jute gift bag that says "Original Deglingos." Launch date: 2009.
Created by kids, for kids, Buddy Talk is a fun way to get friends talking. Children can find out a ton about their friends at the bus stop, during recess or at a sleepover. They just draw a card, read one of the 50 cool questions, and let the fun begin. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
ArtiSands Mini Geometric kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand in vivid colors and eight (8) geometric pre-cut Sandesigns (circles, squares, stars, and composites). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x5 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes. Watch Video from Pomona 2009
The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow – New Moon: Expansion #1 by ASMODEE EDITIONS
The tiny town of Millers Hollow is stunned by the discovery of Werewolves, who, under the cover of darkness, kidnap and devour townsfolk. To discover who the fiends are, a meeting is called, bringing together all of the townsfolk that, including such characters as a psychic, two lovers, a nosy little girl and more. This diverse group will lead the inquiry and decide the ultimate fate of the town. Launch date: August 2005.
FeltTales™ Busy Day on the Farm Storyboard by BABALU INC.
“Busy Day on the Farm” lets you spend time with all the fun farm animals. Watch the pigs roll in the mud. Milk the cow. Feed the bunny some carrots. Gather eggs from the hen. You can even drive the tractor through the corn fields.
14 ¾ x 11 ¾ -inch feltboard with a collection of over 20 themed felt pieces.
Complete with capital letter tiles featuring various designs (dots, lines, blank and solid), this game comes packaged in a zip-open, pear-shaped pouch with a hanging rope (stem) at the top. It is designed to help kids work on cognitive skills and memory, as well as the order of the alphabet, vocabulary and rhyming as they practice forming words. Launch date: February 2009.
Not only are MENTOS® great to eat, but these amazing candies are loaded with wonder. Learn how to create an enormous geyser by combining MENTOS® with soda. The eruption is amazing—up to 25 feet high—and so is the science just beneath the surface. The Geyser Tube™ allows you to load the candies and safely disperse them into the soda bottle. — When asked about their best selling novelty toys in a September 2011 survey, Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly: "We sell lots of the Geyser Tubes from Be Amazing! Toys." — In a Fall 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Be Amazing was a best-selling brand of science toy.
Springtime Arietta Beading Kit by BEAD BAZAAR/KID JOURNEYS
This set includes glass and ceramic beads of various shapes and colors, and an instruction and design booklet, all in a wooden, hand-crafted case with a sliding top. The kit makes 8+ accessories. — Jewelry-making kits are popular at The Toy Store in Atlanta, Denis Hofstetter said, because “they are a good price point [and] something that lasts.” — “Jewelry items from Bead Bazaar” are popular buys for girl gifts at Sisters Kids in Springfield, Mass., Co-Owner Diana Gisolfi said. “Girls wear more jewelry in the summer.” — Four of 66 specialty toy retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2008 that beading kits are top-selling gifts for girls.
BearHands Mittens, Scarf and Hat Set by BEARHANDS LTD
The mittens, scarf and hat in this set can also be purchased individually. "Our unique, adorable accessories appeal to kids and adults alike; they are both fun and functional," Julie Dennis, designer at BearHands & Buddies, told TDmonthly. Available in a rainbow of fleece colors with a variety of animals. BearHands received a 2008 Product of the Year award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: July 1, 2008.
Made from sustainable, domestically grown hard maple and manufactured by a company-owned facility in St. Paul, Minn., these shape sorters come in two styles. One has two same-sized posts that slide through a large unit block; the other features the base unit with two sunken wells to fit differently-sized posts for matching. Both are natural wood with no surface finishes or coatings and smooth-sanded edges that are safe and comfortable for baby. Both sets can be integrated into a larger set of Beka unit blocks later for added play value.
Sea Monkeys look best when viewed from above! Amazing Sea Monkey Mini World includes: #1 Water Purifier, #2 Instant Live Eggs, #3 Growth Food, a calibrated feeding spoon, specially designed pipette to help refresh the watery home, a trilingual user guide, a scientifically designed and tested Mini-World tank, and the exclusive multimagnifying lid that allows proper air exchange and optimized viewing. Assorted.
This 23" wooden Gator can swallow a lot of coins in his big belly, keeping them safe for that big spend. Gator and his friends are patented and handcrafted in the Adirondacks. They can be personalized upon request.
The chickens are hanging out on their colorful wooden perch. But if one of them decides to leave, the whole perch will teeter. The goal is to collect as many chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels before the rocking perch topples. The chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels have different weights, meaning different point values. The player with the highest score wins the game. Selecting a heavier piece receives more points but entails more risk of making the perch topple. If a player causes the perch to topple, five points will be deducted from his or her total. "Two trees are planted for every tree used in the creation of this game," Adeline Bertrix, sales manager at Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009. — Chickyboom is a top seller at Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., Owner John MacDougall told TDmonthly in summer 2009. — Three of 44 retailers named this game as an overall best seller in late fall 2009.
This game of laundry madness involves an electronic burping plastic laundry hamper that periodically ejects all of a players' dirty laundry! Oh dear! The two to four players strive to be the first to place all of their dirty clothes in the hamper as they move around the playing board. The game was recently introduced but already is selling at 30 retailers and received an award for 2006. The bright, playful box design was created by a pro at Hasbro to help guarantee the product's success. Launch date: February 2006. — “The game is a fresh, humorous look at laundry that will appeal to boys and girls aged 5 to 9,” Julie and Scott Kuehn of Bluebonnet explained to TDmonthly. “Since the game isn't in the big box retailers, independent retailers can make good margins and offer something unique.”
Bongo Bi-Lingo Buddy, a Caribbean tail! Bongo invites kids on a Bi-lingual Web Adventure by having them help Bongo on a musical island hopping adventure back to his homeland, Banana Isle, where he reunites and celebrates with his familia, the Bongo Cats! Kids play bi-lingual games to help Bongo advance to the next Island, while watching out for grumpy, unsharing, music hating Huracan! Launch date: September 15, 2008.
Kids can create a one-of-a-kind bowl for their one-of-a-kind pet. The size is perfect for dogs, cats, monkeys, parrots or opossums. The specially coated, food-safe ceramic pet dish comes with six non-toxic ceramic markers and holds three cups of dry food. The kit "provides children a creative way to express their love for a favorite pet. It is a fun, easy and functional project that your child will be proud of," Mike Greenwald, co-president of Bowwowmeow, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2009. — "I saw these last year and didn't give them a second thought," said Mary Sisson of Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash., "but I'm realizing how much kids love their pets and how this fills a niche for the animal lovers among our customer base. Especially the artistic ones." The Bowwowmeow pet products were one of her favorite lines at ASTRA Marketplace 2009, she told TDmonthly.
This chic, croco full wallet/wristlet has a front photo window that holds one photo. The interior has 12 accordian compartments for credit cards, and the back wall has an elastic compartment for a check book or bills, a full zipper, and an exterior detachable wristlet. It also features a back gusseted zipper coin purse with a self tab. Launch date: March 2009.
The Saddle Club Traditional™ Horses - Starlight by REEVES INTL. INC.
Girls can saddle up with these authentic models based on the “The Saddle Club” television series, derived from the novels written by Bonnie Bryant. Starlight is one of the horses owned by the three young owners of The Saddle Club — Stevie, Lisa and Carole. Together the three best friends embark on fun adventures and learn all about growing up as teenagers. Launch Date: July 2007.
This licensed vehicle is outfitted with folding mirrors and a cab that tilts up to reveal the engine. The container features a hinged rear and is removable, so that other similar units can be put in its place. — “Their deliveries are good, accurate,” Manager Rosie Morris of Whiz Kid Toys in San Luis Obispo, Calif., told TDmonthly of this preferred vendor. “They’re quick to fix problems, if we have any. And the quality is great.” Nearly 4 percent of 52 retailers named Bruder as a favorite supplier in late fall 2008. — “They sell pretty evenly across the board. It's a strong category for us,” Michelle Deutschmann, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass., told TDmonthly of her die-cast vehicles, 75 percent of which she orders from Bruder, during a July 2009 survey.
The BuckleyBoo menagerie now comes in a 12" version for the baby and toddler on the go. With three unique buckles, these little guys offer challenges to keep children engaged. BuckleyBoos may be taken on an airplane to keep babies and toddlers busy for an extended period of time. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
Likewise! is a thought provoking party game where it pays to think alike. In this game, individuals are presented with a random pairing of a Description and Subject Cards and attempt to match answers with words or doodles. With over 5,000 possible category combinations, this is the laughable, lively, like-minded party game that everyone will enjoy. Launch date: March 1, 2008. Awards: A TDmonthly Classics Award for being an all-time favorite toy. — As of 7/21/2011 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com.
This two-in-one combination microscope has two built in light sources: one shines up through the slide and another shines down on solid objects. The lenses are made of real optical glass, which produces a very clear image. The microscope uses AA batteries, which makes it portable and usable outdoors. Launch date: December 2006.
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
