Recession Gives Way to Retro Resurgence

Kids today can enjoy this classic metal toy as much as their parents did when they were children. Awards: TDmonthly Classic 2008.
— Original Slinkys are one of the top-10 best sellers at the Lollipop Shop in Jonesborough, Tenn., and Kiawah Island, S.C., Co-owner Jeff Gurley told TDmonthly in spring 2008.
— “Slinkys are still doing very well,” Ray Goodhart of Ages & Stages Toy Box in Golden, Colo., told TDmonthly in May 2008, noting that they sell “probably 15 to 20” per month.
— “Slinky — nostalgia does very well,” Linda Hill, owner of Emerald Isle Toys in Emerald Isle, N.C., told TDmonthly in May 2008. “[We sell] 50 per year … [to] kids — not parents — looking for older toys.”
— In May 2008, three of 55 retailers named the Slinky as one of their best-selling novelty items. Original Slinkys are a top-10 best seller at the Lollipop Shop in Jonesborough, Tenn., and Kiawah Island, S.C., Co-owner Jeff Gurley told TDmonthly in spring 2008.

Where to Buy: Rocking Horse Toy Store; Berkira

Wind the crank and a plush Curious George pops out of the 5” tin box. The song “Pop Goes the Weasel” plays as the crank is activated. This item is intended for children over the age of 18 months. Launch date: December 2000.
— “I sell quite a bit of [Schylling’s] Jack-in-the-boxes,” Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children's Store Inc. in Boise, Idaho, told TDmonthly, when asked to name her store’s best-selling novelties.
— Three retailers singled out Schylling products as best sellers in the novelty category.
— Over a dozen other jack-in-the-box varieties are available in the Schylling line.

Last spring, popular Lincoln Logs were introduced in clear bags with handles, offering the familiar wood logs and plastic roofs in portable form.
--Lincoln Logs are a top seller on Amazon.com.
--“Lincoln Logs have been around since 1916, yet nearly 90 years later, they still remain our top sellers,” said Mark Carson, co-owner of Fat Brain Toys.
--These toys are among the Top 10 product lines of 2004 at YoungBuilder.com.

Schoenhut® Piano Company has taken the concept of pianos for the very young a step further with this new three-octave Elite Baby Grand. With a keyboard almost half the size of an adult piano, this new model is designed with the three-to-nine-year-old in mind. "Not just a toy," it is a fine musical instrument and beautiful piece of furniture as well.

RISK gets a new look and feel in 2008 with an updated map, new rules and faster action. Planning and executing strategic military campaigns has never been more intense as modernized rules streamline playing time to a fast and furious 90-minute average. New universal-themed playing pieces eliminate the Napoleonic-era timestamp of RISK, permitting players to engage in campaigns of conquest limited only by their imagination. In addition, rule updates increase the rewards of taking risks during each turn. “Relevant figures help update the game to today’s audience while objectives help add strategy and cut down playing time,” Rebecca Woelfel of Hunter PR told TDmonthly. Launch date: Fall 2008.

The Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kids™ bring back the magic of the original 1983 Kids by replicating their vintage fashions, hairstyles and facial expressions. In beautiful keepsake packaging, each of the new Kids has a special “25th anniversary” Xavier Roberts signature and comes with a silver anniversary baby spoon, a commemorative silver-stamped 25th anniversary birth certificate and adoption papers. Launch date: September 2008.

This limited edition silver bear celebrates the silver anniversary of the Care Bears. The bear features Swarovski crystal eyes, sterling silver accents and more. Additionally, each 25th Anniversary Bear will come with a special DVD containing “The Land Without Feelings,” the very first Care Bears episode. This episode originally aired in 1982 and was never re-released. Launch date: September 25, 2007.

Nylon strings, spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Chrome plated machine heads, pearl dot side position markers, Rosewood finger board, Nickel-silver frets, single black binding. Guitar length is 34".

Castle playset expands to two feet tall and three floors high to become home to all of your child’s favorite My Little Pony figures. 

This brightly colored balance board maze provides kids with a challenging, yet fun exercise. Kids stand on the maze with the ball positioned in the holding position on the maze. By strategically and timely shifting their weight on the maze, kids will be able to maneuver the ball through the maze. The round maze is over 21" wide and accommodates up to 175 pounds. Launch date: 2006.

Manufactured by Mattel, this 1:18 scale red die-cast collectible model features metal construction and is individually packed in a window box. Launch date: June 18, 2007.

Little architects will find creative inspiration in a jar! The new clear storage format contains a versatile mix of roof tiles, doors, windows and bricks which are complemented by the reintroduction of LEGO trees and flowers to create houses — from small cottages to big mansions. The jar with lid makes clean up fun and easy and helps keep all of the 233 pieces in one place.
— “Any LEGO product, I can't keep them on the shelf,” said Warren Brown, owner of French’s Toy Shop in Concord, N.H.  “It has a wide age-range and has universal appeal,” pointed out Joseph Baiocco, manager of Big Top of Scarsdale, in N.Y.
— LEGO products can be "low cost items that can easily add to other LEGO creations or be used alone," Angel Stahl, owner of Angel’s Toy Barn in Greensburg,  Pa., told TDmonthly. 
— TDmonthly recently spoke with with Michael McNally, the Director of LEGO Brand Relations, who said, "The entire LEGO Creator Classic Building Line got a new twist this year with several sets designed to offer unique collections of LEGO bricks and elements to help young builders create the cars, homes, and buildings they see throughout their every day."

Pogo Roo Jr. Pogo Stick is a one-piece injection-molded frame with a uniformly coiled high-tension steel safety spring and exclusive, patented Duraguard spring cover for added safety.  The heavy-duty jumping pole is made of welded tubular steel and comes with a urethane cushion tip that will not damage floors.  This toy is perfect for young jumpers and can support 40 to 80 lbs.  Launch date: January 2007.

From the company's traditional collection of wooden blocks made in the USA, this set features 68 blocks in 12 shapes: 10 units, 10 half units, 10 half pillars, eight pillars, six columns, 4 double pillars, four Roman arches, four half circles, four small triangles, four double flats, two roof boards and two double units.
— “They don’t require minimums,” said Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids in Madison, Wis., when naming BEKA as a preferred vendor in fall 2008. Two other retailers, out of 52, also listed the company as a favorite.

This set includes 16 hard maple blocks that measure 1.75" and can collectively be used to spell more than 350 words. Each unfinished block features a letter, and its background has a detailed, laser-designed image of an object that begins with that letter — S for snowflake, for example. Launch date: 2008.

The Tot Master is a Fantastic Trampoline with its thick safety pads to safeguard potential injuries. A free Spring Tool is also included. Composed of a galvanized steel frame, the 14" tall Tot Master has a diameter of 78" and can support up to 100 lbs.