With additional reporting from Chris Lundy and Brenda Ruggiero
TDmonthly Magazine interviewed retailers about their bestselling musical toys, to help you get a sense of what products are selling well in specialty.
You can learn more about the bestselling products, like the ELC Sing Along Star Microphone from INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS and Musical Band from PLANTOYS, below.
No manufacturer paid to be included in this article. All products listed were designated by editorial staff without regard to the company's relationship with TOYDIRECTORY.com/TDmonthly Magazine.
ELC Rock Star Guitar by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
Kids can be their own rock star with the cool Rock Star guitar. 8 buttons on the fret board make tunes and sounds, and there's a rhythm button, three songs and a demo, a swing bar to pull, light-up strumming section and lots of fun effects. Comes with cool glasses and hands free mic. — In a December 2012 survey about bestselling musical toys, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that ELC musical toys from International Playthings were there bestsellers.
TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.
ELC Sing Along Star Microphone by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
The Sing Along Star Microphone makes singing fantastic fun. Kids can hear their voice amplified, enjoy backing music and also see cool lights flash as they sing to their heart's content. At the end of the show, the pink Sing Along Star Microphone adds clapping and cheering. Children can use the microphone's extending stand to sing along while playing an instrument with their hands, or making extravagant hand actions. They can also take the Sing Along Star Microphone off the stand to dance while they sing. — In a December 2012 survey about bestselling musical toys, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that microphones were their bestselling musical toys.
Bontempi Showtime Stage/Table Microphone - Red by THE ORIGINAL TOY COMPANY
Adjustable microphone stand with light effects, 10 demo songs, 2 sound effects and volume control. Requires 4 AA batteries, not included. Retail box packed. — In a December 2012 survey about bestselling musical toys, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that microphones were their bestselling musical toys.
The Confetti Ukulele is thoughtfully made of wood with blast-from-the past construction and quality. Fun, tune-able sound and a size that’s just right for a budding musician. — In a December 2012 survey, Katie Rook, owner of Be Beep A Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly that they sold 40 of these ukuleles during the holiday season.
TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.
This complete drum set for preschoolers comes with two drums, a metal cymbal, a guiro and two drumsticks. The drums are made of hardwood topped with durable latex drumheads. The set stands 13" tall and is designed to help children develop an early sense of rhythm and music. — In a December 2012 survey, Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids LTD in Madison, Wisc., told TDmonthly that PlanToys brand instruments were her bestselling musical toys.
This large drum comes with an adjustable lanyard and toddler hand size's drumsticks that are perfect for beating on the big drum. — "We are all occasionally guilty of under rating the value of simpler toys, but you can't do better for gross motor planning, grasping, or cause and effect for your toddler than a drum like the natural wood Big Drum from Plan Toys. The drum sticks are the right size for toddlers and the drum has a really nice woody sort of sound. Another great product from Plan Toys," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010. — Plan Toys is one of Owner Donna Fredericks’ best-selling wooden lines at The Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C. — Gary Green, owner of The Toy Box of Asheville in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey about musical products that they sold 30 of this item each month during the holiday shopping season.
These new and safety-approved capless egg shakers provide kids with quick, delicate and responsive shaker sounds. Constructed of durable wipe-clean plastic and filled with non-toxic steel shot, the Egg Shakers make sweet, reliable and rhythmic sounds for kids and adults alike. "Our egg shaker is unique because of our patented design sealing process. Other egg shakers are seamed in the middle or have a glued end cap. In other words, ours is safer and has a better appearance," said Ray Enhoffer, director of R&D at Latin Percussion. — "Shakers are the type of toy that might be selling in the music section. We get them from LP RythMix," said Tristan Hewitt, manager at Dragon's Toy Box in Seattle. “Everybody needs some egg shakers,” said Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toy Store in Anchorage, Alaska. “They’re perfect for baby hands, and I sell them to lots of grown-ups for all kinds of things.” — Two of 45 retailers told TDmonthly in 2007 that shakers from Latin Percussion are popular with their customers, citing sales of about 30 and 120 units monthly. Six percent of 68 retailers said in July 2008 that egg shakers are their top-selling musical toy. — Egg shakers are “perfect for little ones to hold in their baby hands, and non-toxic,” Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, told TDmonthly of this best seller in her store in January 2009. “It's something simple and not too noisy for a parent; I think that's why they do well,” explained Sherry Peddie, manager of Applause Kids in Bracebridge, Ontario, in January 2010.
ELC Carry Along Keyboard by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
This mighty music maker (with an easy-carry handle) lights up as kids rock. Jam on a 24-note keyboard with a choice of 8 instrument sounds, 4 percussion sounds and 8 different rhythms. It even records and plays back compositions. Approx. 7'L x 15'W x 2'H. Made of plastic. Requires 3 'AA' batteries (included). — Andrea Scartozzi from Hardware Toys in Paoli. Pa., told TDmonthly in a December 2012 survey that they sold 6 of this keyboard during the holiday season.
TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.
With this award-winning product, children can add or subtract instruments with the touch of a button, and lights flash along with the music. With harp, flute, French horn, piano and violin instrument buttons, one orchestra button, and soft, rounded corners, it provides hours of interactive play. The product "gives children the opportunity to learn specific musical sounds of five different orchestral instruments and how they interact together to create a Mozart masterpiece. It inspires creativity by putting the child in the conductor’s seat,” Doug Gillespie, vice president of marketing at Munchkin told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2000. — As of 8.30.10, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 38 reviews on Target.com and was listed in the top 30 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Safe, durable, interactive and engaging. — Kai Rady, owner of Shenanigans Inc in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly in a 2012 survey about infant and toddler products that the Mozart Magic Cube was one of her top sellers. — "This past December [2012] we sold several Mozart Magic Cubes from Munchkin. Even the price tag in the mid forty dollar range did not stop our customers," Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly.
This award-winning set includes a mini rainbow shaker, baby maraca, baby rattle and cage bell. Includes a vinyl carrying case. Awards: 2007 Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Award — As of 01/09/2012 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 24 reviews on Amazon.com. — In a January 2012 survey, Dean Smith, co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that their best selling musical item was, "Baby Band from Hohner — we had them for just a few months, and sold 15/month. It's a popular item."
Writer's Bio: Justina Huddleston graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing in 2009. After graduating she was the on-site director of the Boston Children's Museum gift store for a year, selling educational, developmental, and creative activity toys that tied in with the museum's exhibits. Justina also interned at children's book publisher Candlewick Press before moving from Boston to Los Angeles, where she is now Editorial Director of TDmonthly Magazine. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Justina Huddleston graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing in 2009. After graduating she was the on-site director of the Boston Children's Museum gift store for a year, selling educational, developmental, and creative activity toys that tied in with the museum's exhibits. Justina also interned at children's book publisher Candlewick Press before moving from Boston to Los Angeles, where she is now Editorial Director of TDmonthly Magazine. Read more articles by this author
