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TDMONTHLY HOT TOPIC
Kookeys Aim for Webkinz Jugular
Think plush is cute? What about the hungry creators behind it? Kids may be playing with KinzCash, but Ganz is raking in real millions, and manufacturers want in....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY NEW TOYS
Notable and New Toys by Category
Start your Christmas orders by browsing through the more than 500 toys TDmonthly Magazine uploaded since last month...READ MORE
Last month, we uploaded more than 500 new toys! Since you don't have time to look at them all, we looked at them for you...
TDmonthly Magazine's staff has had a tough couple of weeks, testing everything from one-eyed "gags" to ride-on toys, trying to whittle down our Top Toy award nominees to the finalists' list...
TDMONTHLY 2008 TOY FAIR PREVIEW
Conversations With Keithley
President Carter Keithley of Toy Industry Association recently took time out from his demanding schedule to speak with TDmonthly Magazine about a topic that’s on everyone’s minds this fall — toy safety....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Hot Toys for Christmas 2007
Get the toys that no one else has by shopping in TDmonthly's Holiday Gift Guide...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY MUST READS
This Issue's Highlights
Really don't have time to read? Now you don't have to! TDmonthly Magazine's ToyTV brings you a monthly newscast with quick article summaries....READ MORE
If you're just starting your toy store and don't know what to stock, here's what successful specialty retailers say are musts...
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the companies named below, has announced voluntary recalls of the following products due to high levels of lead...
TDMONTHLY TOY VIDEOS
TDmonthly's Toy Videos
TDmonthly Magazine's Toy Videos give you instant access to toy demos so you can evaluate a product before you buy it...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY TRADE SHOW WRAP-UP
TDmonthly's Top-10 Toys: ABC Kids Expo
Cookie doll clothes, crazy French plush and plaster baby feet? These are just a few of the toys that TDmonthly Magazine captured on tape at the ABC Kids Expo...READ MORE
It's the next best thing to being at a trade show: Manufacturers demonstrate their toys for you on TDmonthly Magazine...
Seventeen experts in youth marketing and 15 specialist businesses came together in Madrid, Spain, last month for a three-day conference organized by IQPC to offer cutting-edge marketing advice to companies ... and TDmonthly Magazine was there...
COLLECTIBLES
Kids Eager to "Adopt" Collectibles
According to a survey of 32 retailers, kids are eagerly building collections....READ MORE
GAMES - CARD
Collect These Cards
The plethora of card games on the market makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other, 32 specialty retailers told TDmonthly Magazine, though classic decks for Old Maid, Rummy, Gin and Go Fish still make the “cut”...READ MORE
SCIENCE & NATURE
Insects Intrigue While Science Kits Fade
In the universe of science and nature toys, bug-related item are consistent sellers, ranging from simple butterfly nets to futuristic magnifying glasses, 32 toy-store owners told TDmonthly Magazine...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY SHOP TALK
My Best Sellers: Red Wagon Toy Company
Owner Kim Smith of Red Wagon Toy Co. in Woodstock, Vt., told TDmonthly Magazine that an important part of her retail success has been “figur[ing] out what I want to be, and what my customer wants me to be.”...READ MORE
After returning to her hometown of Woodstock, Vt., in 2001 after living in Florida for a few years, Kim Smith realized that her surrounding community lacked any kind of children’s shop, she told TDmonthly Magazine....
There’s an old adage among magicians: “The audience may not know how to do a magic trick, but they sure know bad magic when they see it.”...
Dealing with theft is a reality of retail. Although most specialty toy-store owners say theft is minimal, any theft is still a loss...
TDMONTHLY TOY ROUNDTABLES
Homeschoolers: Crafting on a Grid
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Homeschool Roundtable got creative with Magic Mesh, a repositionable, self-adhesive, reusable mesh available in a variety of sizes, colors and weaves....READ MORE
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Infant/Toddler Roundtable participants evaluated a rag doll Dwarf from the SILKE line and a plush bear from the KOSEN line of Koesen USA. Both products received rave reviews....
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants reviewed Tonner Doll Company's Pollyanna, a 14” fashion doll that is similar to Tonner’s Betsy McCall doll....
Inspiring and easy-to-carry Felt Tales playsets by Babalu won parents’ praises and kept the attention of most of the children participating in this month’s Preschool Roundtable, earning a favorable score overall....
TDMONTHLY TOY REVIEWS
TDmonthly's Book Expert
This month, Amy Downing helped a little girl sleep soundly in a “big kid” bed, learned about sharing alongside Little Rabbit, opened up to artistic expression with dinosaur drawings, and much more....READ MORE
This month's trio of DVDs feature playful dolphins, puppet pals and horses .. lots of them. But, zoology aside, they're all spot-on with their aim. These animals are for kids!...
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Psychologist Mom goes head to “headz” at a loud baseball game, parties in the swamp with Shrek and much more, rating each product with 1 to 5 TD stars (for TDmonthly!); 5 is the top mark....
TDMONTHLY BRASS RING
Uglydolls Sit Pretty in 3,000 Stores
Uglydoll plush toys are so ugly they’re cute. The first Uglydoll was handmade by Sun-Min Kim as a present for David Horvath in 2001...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY TOY BUZZ
Paradoxy Products' Simple Puzzles Conceal Challenges
Paradoxy Products Founder Daniel Young always harbored a passion for designing and inventing, but as an international trade lawyer for more than 30 years, was far removed from the toy business...READ MORE
For Mounir Ferchiou, North American manager of Foxmind Games, the company name says it all...
President and Owner Qi Liu of Magnolia Trading Company revealed to TDmonthly Magazine that she did not have a background in toys before starting the business and importing Chinese toys....
TDMONTHLY COOL COMPANY
ToyOps Excels With Toys That Teach
Dr. Eugene Hull turned raising funds for medical research into educational child’s play...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY POPULAR STORIES
Hollywood ToyBoy – China Out? Time Out!
Everyone in La-La Land has jumped on the get-the-lead-out bandwagon. Even the most SUV-loving, oil-guzzling, strip-mining movie moguls have seen the anti-lead-in-toys light. “Think of the children!”...READ MORE
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of Children's Toy Decorating Sets sold at Toys "R" Us stores...
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of "Pirates of the Caribbean" medallion squeeze lights...
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks...
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of wooden blocks sold at KB Toys...
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of Disney™ Deluxe Winnie-the-Pooh 23-Piece Play Sets...
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced a voluntary recall of Tabletop Puppet Theaters by Guidecraft Inc....
TDMONTHLY TOP-10 MOST-WANTED LISTS
TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Collectible Toys
Not surprisingly, Webkinz leads the pack in yet another toy category....READ MORE
Set by Set Enterprises dominates the card games category, according to 32 specialty retailers who recently spoke with TDmonthly Magazine...
Elenco still snaps up the top prize for best sellers with its Snap Circuits, but Insect Lore and Little Kids Inc. are hovering close by with their butterfly and bug projector offerings, respectively...
TDMONTHLY MANUFACTURER'S CORNER
How to Create a Licensed Character
It’s tough to create a character that connects with fans and successfully draws them to theaters, bookstores and Sunday comics....READ MORE
With thousands of available properties, from cartoons to comic books to big-screen icons, finding the right licensing match for your company and your target consumer requires research and patience....
TDMONTHLY UPCOMING ISSUES
Innovations of 2007
Play isn't just about play anymore, according to manufacturers who've spoken to TDmonthly Magazine. Even fashion dolls are educational....READ MORE
By special invitation from companies attending TIA’s Fall Toy Preview in its new location — Dallas, Texas! — TDmonthly Magazine will be shooting the latest toys...
What do you do when a mass-market customer walks into your specialty toy store...
It never hurts to have a savvy window display, and there’s no better time than the holiday season to attract customers from the outside in...
