| PRODUCT |
RETAILER COMMENTS
|
Kookeys by 10VOX Entertainment
 |
“I got stuck with those Kookeys, which were the alternative to Webkinz, and they just tanked.” — Meredith Zellweger, Toy Jungle, Manhattan Beach, CA
“We're selling some, but they're not flying off the shelf.” — Fred Meyer, Meyer’s Toy World, Battle Creek, Mich. (also referencing Webkinz) |
| Dolls by ALEXANDER DOLL CO. |
“Each year, they keep decreasing. They're still selling, but not like they used to. … There's not that generation of collectors anymore.” — Mike DiAndrea, Hardware Center Inc., Paoli, Pa. |
| Swan and Dino Ride-ons by APPLEPIE TOY DISTRIBUTION |
“[We] had them on display, [but there was a] lack of interest from customers because of the price point being too high.” — Jeanette Lauture, Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats, Montclair, N.J. |
| Boomwhackers by BOOMWHACKERS |
“I way overestimated.” — Janet Codispoti Village Toy Shop, Hilo, Hawaii |
| Horses by BREYER |
“The Breyer Horses sales keep going down.” — Dalene Lockhart, Toy Town, Casper, Wyo. |
Plush by GANZ |
“When you order Webkinz, they want you to order other things, too, so I ordered some plush, and I've been disappointed. … Some are not up to snuff as far as how cute they are. I won't order them again.” — Gwen Bowden, Doodlehopper for Kids, Springfield, Va. |
| Bamboo Games by HAPE INTERNATIONAL |
“[The company] has a whole line that is eco-friendly toys, and they haven't done quite as well as I thought they would.” — Kara Fichtner, Out of the Blue, Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Quadrilla by HAPE INTERNATIONAL |
"It might have been the price point. It's fairly expensive. … People like it, but they don't like the idea of all the pieces.” — Candace Gooch, At Once All Agog, Limerick, Maine
“They're in our sidewalk sale.” — Cathy Albrow, Creative Learning Toys, Grand Rapids, Mich. |
| Papo by HOTALING IMPORTS |
“Papo is dying. It's been great, but I think it's everywhere now.” — Terri Bracken, Earth Explorers Toys, Zionsville, Ind. |
Thomas the Train by LEARNING CURVE |
“Thomas the Train has been a really big disappointment this year, and last year, and the year before. Little bit of price [and] the market is saturated with generic stuff.” — Ron & Sue Banducci, Games Unlimited, Danville, Calif.
“They've really died. It may be because of the Fisher-Price Geo Tracks. They don't like to sell to us little guys. But it's a good product and has been advertised the living heck out of, and parents may be buying those instead.” — David Campbell, Amazing Toys, Great Falls, Mont. |
| High School Musical by MATTEL |
“They're just not going as fast as we thought they would.” — Kathy Yuri, Hammond Toys, Orem, Utah
“The craze is kind of over, at least until a new movie comes out.” — Billy Finley, Toy Castle, LLC, Jonesboro, Ark. (also referencing Hannah Montana) |
| Costume Club Kids by PADDYWHACK LANE |
"They had a ton of press. We had them in two different locations in the store and it's just not happening." — Tina Benoit, Kidstown, South Burlington, Vt. |
| Lemon Meringue Push/Pull Toys by PAMELA DRAKE |
“The wheels consistently have problems. [We] have a lot of returns on that item; we will not order again.” — Julie Frost, Giggles for Kids, Suwanee, Ga. |
| Wheely Bug by PRINCE LIONHEART |
“They're in Target now.” — Shirley Reilly, Let’s Play, Hillsboro, Ore. |
| Shining Stars by RUSS BERRIE |
"The prediction was that these would be as popular as Webkinz (by Ganz), but it didn't even come close." — Diana Gisolfi, Sisters Kids, Springfield, Mass. |
| Tolo Plush by TOLO TOYS |
“[It] has not moved well for me. Don't know why.” — Amy Barrett, Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys, Helena, Mont. |
WonderGames by WONDERCHESS LLC |
“We invested in … WonderCheckers and WonderChess, by WonderChess, LLC. I don’t know if parents just don't get it or my employees don't get it, but they've been going nowhere.” — Linda Angel, Kidoodles Toys, Norman, Okla. |
| Foam Craft Workshop with hot wire by FABER-CASTELL |
"The staff, everybody, thought that it was a great item. But boy, it did not sell. … I don't think any kid would get hurt with this, but it's all perception." — Anonymous |
What’s hot one year may not be the next, and even some of the market’s most popular items — Learning Curve’s Thomas & Friends and HaPe’s Quadrilla — can end up destined for a last-chance markdown in some stores, TDmonthly Magazine learned. Although Ganz’ Webkinz are still a top seller in many stores, they and others in the online-plush category are seeing hard times elsewhere. 
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. 
