My Best Sellers: Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats

Kooky Klickers are collectible character push-pens with rubber hair and a keychain.
— “Kooky Klicker pens are unique from other pens in the past because every other month we come out with new ‘Krews’ of characters for people to collect. … It is the only pen that is used for its purpose of writing and, at the same time, is a collectible toy!” Anthony Davis, sales manager at Courage Trading Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2004.
— Kooky Klickers are a best seller at Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., according to Owner Jeanette Lauture. “The price point is reasonable for a collectible item, and the pen can use a refill … so kids can continue to use it. I’ve been selling these since last year,” she told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

This sports-related crafts kit contains a genuine all-weather, hand-sewn, regulation, size 5 soccer ball. Children can decorate or personalize their ball however they imagine, and then kick it outdoors at game time. All kits contain everything needed to complete the project including the ball, pump, paint, brushes and instructions. Soccer Ball Kit has been named "Fun Stuff" by Parent´s Choice Foundation and 100 Best Toys & Top 10 Best Active Toys by Dr. Toy. - Aire Norell
— Owner Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., reported in summer 2008 that these kits are best-sellers at her store. “We can offer it to kids from 5 to 10 years of age,” she said. “They can paint their own team colors and play with it afterward. I’ve been selling this for about eight months.”

These brightly colored remote-controlled vehicles have lots of moving parts, flashing headlights and sound. They can go forward, backward and even turn, offering lots of hands-on fun. The set includes a helicopter, train and car.
— “These remote vehicles are awesome for 2- to 4-year-old children,” Owner Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J. said in summer 2008 about this best-seller in her store. “It’s challenging at times to offer something for a 2-year-old. I’ve been selling this item since we opened [in spring 2007].”

Kids can Simul-Blast™ two missiles into space and see who can blast their missile higher and get more hang time.  Kids can choose between Foamies™ or, for unbelievable height, Metalix™ missiles.  Marky Sparky's patented Blast Pad® launch system keeps all the missiles on your side of the fence by only allowing nine degrees of vertical. The Dueling Blast Pad® folds up into itself for convenient storage. It comes with six Foamies and six Metalix missiles, equally split between red and blue colors.
— Lori Lind, owner of Brainwaves Toy Shop in Narragansett, R.I., told TDmonthly that Marky Sparky Blast Pads make for popular gift items for boys with her customers.
— “Both girls and boys love to play with this item, and you can offer it to [children] 5 to 10 years of age,” said Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J. The product has “great durability” and made Jeanette’s top-10 list of best sellers in summer 2008.

This sport utility vehicle is built for high-quality performance on rugged terrain. The wooden replica features durable body accessories permanently fixed to the simple wooden body blocks. Launch date: February 2008.
— Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., told TDmonthly in summer 2008 that Automoblox are top sellers in her store. “This product has mass appeal for girls and boys,” she said. “Children love to pull things apart and build them up again, and the variety and interchangeability of these cars offer many hours of play.”
— Automoblox are top sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., Owner Patricia Fiedler said in spring 2009. “They’re fun, well-made, and offer endless mix-and-match possibilities.”

This self-propelling, three-wheeled ride-on toy cruises smoothly and silently along the ground, similar to the movement of a snake. The rider simply sits in the seat, feet-first, and propels with an easy back-and-forth leg movement, demonstrating a special combination of physics properties that fascinates most first-time observers. There are no chains, no motor and no batteries. The product comes packaged with extendable axis rods (S, M, L), so it can grow with the child. “Awe-inspiring physics” and “the strong, long-lasting steel tube frame and overall quality construction” really set this product apart, according to EzyRoller President Denis Allais. Launch date: May 2007.
— Anyone can sit back and get a workout with this sleek and sporty, three-wheeled ride-on toy that moves fluidly with back-and-forth leg motion. Its long, low-set and adjustable design differentiates it from other ride-ons, as do the properties of physics that bring it to life. Such stats have garnered the Ezyroller a TDmonthly Innovations 2007 award.
— Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., told TDmonthly in summer 2008 that the Ezyroller is a hot seller in her store. “This New Zealand outdoor ride-on toy is very innovative and has longevity for kids 3 to 14 years of age,” she said. “I’ve been selling it since October of ‘07.”

Where to buy:
SOUTH

The Dream Garden comes with a magic fountain, a prince, a princess, a swan, a peacock, a unicorn, butterflies, a tree, flowers and more. The fountain features a waterspout that works with a hand pump. All pieces come stored inside an easy-to-carry box with a handle. Launch date: January 2008.
— Playmobil is a best-selling line at Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., Owner Jeanette Lauture said in summer 2008. “I find this ‘gold standard’ to be awesome for girls and boys for a wide age range (1-1/2 to 12 years old),” she told TDmonthly. “I’ve been selling this item since I opened [in spring 2007].”
— Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly in July 2008 that he sells 60 units of Playmobil per month.  “We go through them like there’s no tomorrow,” noted Bill Sartain, co-owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah.
— Seven of 66 retailers named Playmobil as their overall best seller in summer 2008.

The skirt plays the music of the can-can, a style originated in mid-1800s Paris. The music is activated by a hidden button, and continues as long as the skirt remains in motion. The skirt features an adjustable Velcro waistband. Launch date: May 2008.
— “These musical skirts are great for imaginative play for girls from 2 to 6,” said Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J. “I like the on and off switch for parent sanity.” The skirts dance out the door as best-sellers at her shop, she told TDmonthly in early summer 2008.

Numbered templates, sticky foam and jewel tiles allow kids to easily create beautiful mosaics. Five different design templates are included, each with a short story on the reverse side geared at inspiring young artists to imagine his or her own mosaic fairy tale. Picture hangers are also included for easy artwork display.
— “The Orb Factory has a great variety of themed mosaic tile arts and craft choices,” Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., told TDmonthly in early summer 2008 about this best-selling line in her store. “This has hours of play time. I had a dinner party and children from 2 to 12 years of age were entertained.”
― “Sticky Mosaics are terrific,” said Deran Muckjian, owner of Catch A Falling Star in Lexington, Mass., during an April 2010 survey of top-selling activity kits.
― “They're popular for both boys and girls, and they're fun and easy to play with,” Sandy Challinor, owner of Owl's Nest Toy Store in Southlake, Texas, told TDmonthly about Sticky Mosaics in spring 2010.
― Out of 43 retailers interviewed in April 2010, 10 named Sticky Mosaics as their best-selling activity kit.