August Holiday Preview: 18 Gift Ideas for Specialty Retailers

Super big, each button is larger than 1/2". 72 buttons per sheet (144 per pack). Kosher and peanut free. Comes in holiday flavors like Candy Cane, Merry Berry, Sugar Cookie, and Hot Chocolate. 30 units per carton.

Thinking Putty is high quality silicone bouncing putty enhanced with knock-your-socks-off colors. It is all Made in the USA, non-toxic, and never dries out. The three new Super Illusions are unbelievably vibrant colors that shift depending on how the light hits them. The dynamic colors shine like no others: when held up to the light and pulled thin, the colors magically disappear and kids can see right through them. Launch date: June 2012.
— Mary Sisson, owner of Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that Thinking Putty is one of her best sellers in the tween category.

Appeteethers are fun, safe, patented teethers that are unlike any others on the market. They come in silly shapes including Chompin' Chicken Wing and a Baby-Q Rib, and are non-toxic, BPA-free, PVC-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free. They are made of silicone and have great texturing to help massage sore gums. Kids love chewing away on these, and parents get a kick out of watching them. Exceeds Consumer Product Safety Compliance Standards. Non-Toxic, BPA-Free, PVC-Free, Lead-Free, Phthalate-Free. Launch date: December 2010.

In the Old West, the sly snake oil salesman had a special talent: he could get the most skeptical customer to buy the most dubious product. Now players can have their turn, inventing their own crazy two-word products and selling them to all types of customers. If the customer buys a product, the player wins. With over 280 wild words and 70 oddball customers, players will never run out of new combinations. Launch date: November 2010.
Awards: 2012 Mensa Select; 2012 Dr. Toy; 2012 Toy Man Seal of Excellence
— In a late Summer 2012 survey, Charles from Miller's Toys in Mamoronec, N.Y., told TDmonthly that Snake Oil is one of their top-2 best selling card games. They sell about 2 dozen copies a month.
— As of 12/6/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Fun for all ages.
— Gary Green, owner of Toy Box of Asheville Inc in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a February 2015 survey that Snake Oil was his store's best-selling game.

The award winning combination of a game, a brainteaser and a puzzle all rolled into one. Based upon concepts of spatial recognition and visual discrimination, the Pajaggle Board Game challenge players to quickly put unique pieces where they belong. Simple, right? Think again! Pick up a board and give it a try.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2011 Tillywig  "Best Family Fun"; 2011 Major Fun: Keeper Award (First puzzle game to ever receive such an award); 2012 Astra  Best Game of the Year; 2012 Creative Child Magazine: Game of Year Award

Players and the rest of the group all share a quirky problem that is interfering with their lives, so they have gathered together and invited a psychiatrist to figure out what’s wrong. Will the psychiatrist be able to diagnose the problem, or will he end up just as crazy as the players? Launch date: July 2012.
— "This is that rare party game that combines zany interactivity with a solid yet simple mechanical structure. As a patient, it’s a lot of fun to learn your secret prompt and know that the psychiatrist player doesn’t know it. As the psychiatrist, it can be challenging and hilarious to watch your friends act crazy." - a review on Wired.com.

This game gives kids the opportunity to think about what makes COMMUNITY. From HOME players build the roads that will connect the special places players will select, creating, when they’re done, a bird’s eye view Of HOME and a whole village they made together. Players will have to think ahead and work together to successfully accomplish this endeavor. Community challenges players to build roads linking Home to other important locations in a community. "Children often rely on electronic games to construct and interact with realities. Now they can satisfy that intellectual drive and learn something along the way, all within a social activity that encourages cooperation and communication," Rosie Pohlmann from eeBoo told TDmonthly.

EXIM Games is introducing the world's first and only board game with integrated game play through the use of an Apple iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, patent pending. Only EXIM Games can give kids the ability to use the unique xPirate board game with multiple Apps and mobile platforms. Welcome to xPirate. Players have been recruited as Captains of their own xPirate ship. In this strategic pirate quest for hidden treasure, victory is awarded to the xPirate ship that finds all its hidden treasures and returns home first. Launch date: November 2011.
Awards: 2012 - 2012 Creative Child Awards Program, 2012  Game of the Year Award

The Maui Jr Sky Ball Golf ball can travel up to 300 feet. It’s the farthest hitting Sports Training Golf Set in the world. The Maui Toys Sky Ball Jr Golf Set  is the best Junior Sports Training golf set that money can buy. It develops hand eye confidence for junior athletes by simulating the experience of long drives, just like a pro. And because it’s made for junior athletes, Sky Ball Jr Golf sets come in bright Orange, Red, and  Blue. Launch date: January 2012.

Sky Ball Soccer puts hyper charged into soccer. It makes a kid feel like a pro. They can kick Sky Ball®Soccer 100 meters (or about 100 yards), the length of a soccer field. This means kids can kick Sky Ball Soccer from goal to goal with one strike. In addition, when they bounce Sky Ball Soccer it can bounce up to 75 feet. The hyper action alone brings a new twist to the game. The combination of the highly guarded secret Sky Ball material, as well as the air and helium pressurization make Sky Ball Soccer perform like no other junior ball. Sky Ball Soccer can be used in all weather conditions. It won't ever get water logged or affected by ice cold weather. Launch date: January 2012.

Healthy riding colors the world beautiful. Creativity for sidewalks, parking lots, and streets. Hook Chalktrail® to a bike, then get riding. Draw figure eights, wavy meandering paths, perfect circles, fascinating designs by retracing the same route again and again in succession. It’s freshly invigorating, beautiful play. Works with all bike sizes and training wheels. Includes highly durable Chalktrail® connector  Easy on, easy off - no tools or parents required. Comes with one piece non-toxic, washable chalk. Launch date: August 2012.

Santa Boo Boo Bear is the newest and cutest Holiday hit this season at Cuddle Barn. This adorable Teddy Bear plays peek a boo with his big floppy Christmas hat while singing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”. Using only the best quality materials for our products; all our Cuddle Barn friends a have crisp, clear sound and are made with soft to the touch plush fabric that makes all children want to cuddle up with our Cuddle Barn pals. Launch date: June 2012.

Kids can bring Mario Kart Wii to life as they race Mario and Bowser through a series of ice-themed obstacles. The set includes the parts to build Mario and Bowser, 2 Standard Karts with super-fast battery-powered motors, 2 moving obstacles: Penguins & Shy-Guy Snowboarders PLUS 2 collectible items from the game: a golden mushroom and a spiked blue shell. Also includes 16 pieces of buildable, interconnectable track that creates a closed loop - combine this set with other sets from the Mario Kart Wii Series to build even bigger tracks. Building set includes 182 parts. Launch date: May 2012.

A take anywhere cross body cutie featuring a long adjustable strap and stylish key chain charm. Available in 2 colors: Soft Silver and Neon Pink. Each Stella holds up to 5 charms for super stylin' customization (Charms sold separately). Size:  6.5" x 5.5". Launch date: September 2012.

Create 3 pretty Princess collages. Peel, stick and reveal beautiful pictures perfect to hang and display. Young children create their designs by matching colors and textures in three simple steps. Launch date: March 2012.

Learn all about dinosaurs while creating 3 colorful collages. Peel, stick and reveal beautiful pictures perfect to hang and display. Young children create their designs by matching colors and textures in three simple steps. Launch date: March 2012.

Rock "dolly" to sleep in this sturdy cradle. Rock-a-bye Cradle is from the Happy Doll Furniture range of the Hape Collection.  Measuring 18.90”L x 12.20“W x 10.04”H, Rock-a-bye Cradle is age graded for children 4 Years +. The toy is beautifully crafted of FSC certified wood from sustainable forests and colored with safe water based paint. Launch date: July 2012.