Out With Electronics, In With Classics

In a world of gadgets and technology, many specialty toy-store owners stick to non-electronic products to stock their shelves and please their customers. While a few items, such as Radica's 20Q and remote-controlled vehicles from Kid Galaxy, win space on retailer's shelves, the majority of 47 stores in a June 2009 poll concerning electronics sales told TDmonthly Magazine they try to stay away from batteries and circuits.

Some storeowners said these items simply don't fit with their businesses.

"Electronic toys are widely available elsewhere, so I choose to buy things that are not so widely available and things that I think are, in the long run, better for the child's education and creativity,” explained Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toy Store in Anchorage, Alaska.

“Most people realize I'm not in that business, so they don't ask,” stated Deran Muckjian, owner of Catch a Falling Star in Lexington, Mass.

But whether customers are asking or not, high-tech items are in high demand for kids and teens.

“We don't do electronics, but when someone asks for them we try to show them something else — other toys or games that might be interesting to the child. But if they want video games, we just can't usually compete,” Greg Larson, owner of Larson's Toys and Games in Columbus, Ohio, told TDmonthly.

Here are some suggestions for alternatives to electronics from retailers around the country, aiming to interest customers who are shopping for the bells and whistles.

Family Games. Fifteen of 47 specialty retailers told TDmonthly they usually steer shoppers toward board games as an alternative to popular electronic toys. “They have much better replay value than most video and electronic games at a similar price. They also have the added bonus of being something the entire family can do, which is a rare thing in this day and age,” said Dean Nelson, owner of Wizard Kids Toys in Toledo, Ohio.

Science Kits. Children interested in technology may also get hooked on other kinds of complex, interactive activities. Some science kits even revolve around the technologies they're putting on wish lists. “What we usually recommend is something more dynamic or interactive, rather than a passive electric toy. More like science experiment kits,” said Genevieve Collonge, manager of The Wooden Horse in Los Gatos, Calif.

Brain Teasers. If customers are looking for something that will occupy a child even when there aren't siblings, friends or other family members to play with them, single-player games and brain-teaser puzzles can do the trick. “I recommend single-player games such as Rush Hour [from Think Fun],” said Angel Stahl, owner of Angel's Toy Barn in Greensburg, Pa.

Classics. Sometimes, parents and relatives are glad to be guided to something that doesn't require batteries or tech support. “Often, it's grandparents calling for an electronic gift item that's on a list, and they're usually very happy to go with alternate suggestions that I make,” Charles Bonner, owner of Heights Toy Center in Little Rock, Ark., told TDmonthly.

Most of all, expressed some storeowners, it’s important to get to know your customer and the child in question.

“We go through the same customer service for anyone else: find out the child's age, gender, interests, and then find an appropriate gift,” said Kay Steen, owner of Wingdoodle in Warner, N.H.

For more on making sales through a category you may not stock, see “Turning Electronic Appeals Into Specialty Deals.”

See the items mentioned in the article below, along with some other family games and science kits to check out: