Toy sales are experiencing a radical shift as summer turns to fall, an August 2010 TDmonthly Magazine survey of 43 specialty retailers revealed. Indoor classics like Playmobil and LEGO are seeing rapidly growing sales, while outdoor toys are quickly losing steam, with the exception of D & L Company’s irrepressible Stomp Rocket. Meanwhile, games from Blue Orange and Mayfair Games are stirring interest as play moves from backyards to living rooms. See the Top-10 Most-Wanted Toys and Games below:
This Halloween-themed Silly Bandz 24-pack includes Jack-O-Lanterns, Bats, Frankensteins, Spiders, Witches and Ghosts. These bands can be collected, worn or traded with friends. — In late summer 2010, 10 of 43 retailers surveyed named rubber band bracelets an overall top seller. — Casey Sartain, buyer for Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, told TDmonthly in August 2010 that the store sells about 100 packs of Silly Bandz each month.
Playmobil Eggs open to reveal surprise play sets. This 13” egg contains a zookeeper figure, two panda figures, a basket and food for the pandas. — In August 2010, 14 percent of 43 specialty toy retailers named Playmobil products an overall best seller. — Clyde Walton, owner of The Toy Shoppe of London in London, Ont., Canada, told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that when it comes to Playmobil, “The only two responses (he receives) are “’I've never heard of it' and 'That's my child's favorite toy.’ If they like Playmobil they like it all.”
Calico Critters Sandy and Zach Trike Ride by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
It's a beautiful day in Cloverleaf Corners, so Zach and Sandy decide to go for a bike ride. This play set includes Babblebrook Beavers Zach and Sandy, two colorful trikes, two tennis rackets and tennis balls. — Dave Campbell of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., sells about 30 Calico Critters per month. — Five of 43 specialty retailers cited Calico Critters as a top-selling toy in a late summer 2010 TDmonthly survey.
This minifigure features a magic wand, a book of spells on a tilting pedestal, a desk, two beakers to hold magic potions and a little green dragon mascot. — In late summer 2010, four of 43 specialty retailers surveyed toldTDmonthly that LEGO products are an overall top seller. — Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that LEGO minifigures are a best-seller: "LEGO minifigures have been one of our top sellers this month. We've sold about 2 a day, or about 65 in a month." Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., agreed, saying that they sell "about 8 a day" at her store.
Spot It is a party game for two to eight players. It's played by laying a random assortment of cards on the table and all players racing to find one image that matches between two cards. This fast-paced game is designed to never be the same twice, and though it has very few rules to remember it requires a sharp eye to master. The set of 55 round cards transports in its own carry tin. Watch Spot It: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010 — Spot It has been been a top seller for retailers surveyed by TDmonthly since early Spring 2010. — In a March 2012 survey, 3 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Spot It was their overall best selling product, and had been for more than a year. — Dean Smith, Co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells 50-60 copies of Spot It each month. Awards: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010
This black Uglybot features "robotic" hands and green teeth. — Seven percent of 43 retailers named Uglydolls an overall best seller in a late summer 2010 TDmonthly survey. — In August 2010 David Plenn of The Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena, Calif., told TDmonthly his store sells about 30 Uglydolls each month.
When kids stomp on the launch pad, a blast of air propels the Stomp Rocket over 100 feet into the air. This kit comes with four glow-in-the-dark foam rockets. — As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 291 reviews on Amazon.com. PROS: Simple to use, no assembly, rockets fly high, and foam construction of rockets doesn't damage people or property. CONS: Could use a sturdier base and wingnut/screw connection. — In an August 2010 TDmonthlysurvey of 43 retailers, three cited Stomp Rockets as an overall top seller. — Stephanie Dupuy of Playville in Covington, La., told TDmonthly in a November 2011 survey that their best selling flying toy is Stomp Rocket. They sell between 12 and 18 each month, depending on the weather.
This 48-piece set includes solid colored pieces, along with pieces with holes, curved pieces, a magnetic door and a wheeled piece. Magna-Tiles DX contains 12 small squares, four large squares, six isosceles triangles, 10 right triangles, 11 equilateral triangles, a wheeled piece, and arch and three special shapes. An idea guide is included. — In late summer 2010, five percent of 43 specialty retailers toldTDmonthly Magna-Tiles are an overall best-selling product. — In late Spring 2011, 25% of retailers mentioned Magna-Tiles as a best-selling construction toy. — As of 05/12/2011, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 23 reviews on Amazon.com. — In a Summer 2012 survey, Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Col., told TDmonthly that Magnatiles were their overall best-selling toy.
The Settlers of Catan® (4th Edition) by MAYFAIR GAMES INC.
In this game designed by Klaus Teber, three to four players who are immigrants to Catan must develop their colony on the island by establishing roads, villages and settlements and making strategic trades of bricks and lumber, livestock or other commodities to obtain necessary resources. Play takes about 60 to 90 minutes. The first player to 10 points wins. "The new edition was released three years ago and has sold more copies in those three years than the first, second or third editions combined," Bob Carty, Sales & Marketing Director, Mayfair Games, told TDmonthly in early 2010. — In August 2010, five percent of 43 retailers surveyed named The Settlers of Catan an overall top seller. The same month, Steven Levy, owner of Toy City in Keene, New Hampshire, told TDmonthly his store sells approximately three Settlers of Catan games per week. — “It's real easy to teach, and then you just develop strategies from there," Mike Snyder, owner and manager of Cville's Hobbies, Games and Toys in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly in a February 2012 survey about best selling games. Cville's sells 16-20 copies of the game each month. — As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 632 reviews on Amazon.com.
Writer's Bio: Ashley Heaton has written articles for magazines and websites including 944 Magazine and Pricegrabber.com. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she spent five years providing editorial and administrative support in the luxury accessories industry. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Ashley Heaton has written articles for magazines and websites including 944 Magazine and Pricegrabber.com. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she spent five years providing editorial and administrative support in the luxury accessories industry. Read more articles by this author
