Tools:
Blowing up Furniture
| "The hard-candy colors are
what sell our furniture." — Jason Sanchez, One Net
Enterprises |
For kids who change their tastes more quickly than channel surfers hit the remote, inflatable furniture may be the answer. A little girl who thinks of herself as a Disney Princess one year but wants to join the BRATZ pack the next can be indulged with a minimum of expense. The furniture usually comes with battery- or foot-operated pumps for easy inflation and is often protected from deflation by cotton covers that minimize the threat of curious, pin-wielding children. The furniture comes in flat packaging for easy storage or display on shelves near related toys. A couple of colorful chairs placed in your store’s book nook can create a cheap and instant reading room to encourage browsing. Here are a few products that might puff up sales:
“The hard-candy colors are what sell our furniture,” said One Net CEO Jason Sanchez. Available in transparent blue, clear, red, purple, lime and orange, the toddler-size chairs inflate to 26” x 26” x 18”. Manufactured of PVC plastic that’s 0.4 mm thick, the chairs can withstand bouncing and roughhousing, and even a sharpened pencil. The two channels in the chairs can be blown up by mouth or pump. Sets are also available. One Net designs and trademarks all of their inflatable furniture. ToyDirectory Product ID#: 4021 (added 7/25/2005) . TD
Whether it’s a trip to Grandma’s or a sleepover guest, this bed is ready to come to the rescue. Decorated with Belle, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, it features a removable machine-washable cover made of high-fiber polycotton. The 3-in-1 air mattress can also be positioned as either a chair, a lounger, or a sleeping bed. The bed comes with either a foot- or battery-operated pump for easy inflation and a carry bag. A mattress repair kit is also included, though Ashley Elborne, coordinator of public relations for Spin Master told TDmonthly Magazine that the bed is “pretty difficult to pop. There’s a covering on top and the plastic is thick and durable.” ToyDirectory Product ID#: 4017 (added 7/25/2005) . TD
Now kids can camp “out” without the worry of being eaten by bears. The Dream Zone play tents are assembled with poles that are joined by an elastic. The base is inflatable and can be used for play or sleep. Once deflated and disassembled, the tent folds compactly for easy storage and portability. It comes with a foot- or battery-operated pump and a repair kit. This one’s decorated with Batman graphics.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 4018 (added 7/25/2005) . TD
MSRP: $19.99Age Range: 3 and up
Kids can sleep with their toys in their toy, using one of these licensed inflatable dreamland beds. Spidey reaches down from the headboard to keep the bad guys at bay. These fantasy beds can be ported anywhere, thanks to a nylon carrying case and an EZ Inflate Foot pump. Each bed has a 54" x 29" sleeping area. A multiple channel design allows for easier inflating and decreases the chances of the whole thing deflating. Current New licenses include: Batman, Cinderella and Star Wars. ToyDirectory Product ID#: 4019 (added 7/25/2005) . TD
MSRP: $19.99Age Range: 4 and up
Preschoolers can watch all of their favorite Dora the Explorer episodes from their own Dora the Explorer Inflatable Chair. The chair inflates to 31 x 23.5 x 25 inches in size and features graphics of Dora, Boots, Backpack and Map. ToyDirectory Product ID#: 4020 (added 7/25/2005) . TD
MSRP: $24.62Age Range: 5 and up
Covered in a zippered slipcover made with a short furry fabric called Velboa, the chair inflates to 33"L x 20"W x 23"H. It inflates with a pump, which isn’t included, and can hold up to 125 pounds.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 4022 (added 7/25/2005) . TD
 Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... Read more articles by this author
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