Boys Get Moody With Booty

Pirates and Rings Shiver Their Timbers

By Alison Marek
November 2006

“The trend for right now seems to be the 7 Deadly Sins wristbands from Accoutrements.” — Clifford Jackson, The Wizard's Chest

With additional reporting by regional correspondents Krista Lebednik, Bonnie Priever and Donna Sacks

What’s New

Crack open the treasure chest and pull out … mood rings? Boys are pirate-crazy, everyone knows, but mood rings have also caught on with guys who adorn, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine.

“Young children like the Schylling (ToyDirectory) Mood Rings,” stated Powell Phillips, owner of the 60-year-old Phillips Toy Mart.

Mood rings are big with boys, agreed Michelle Deutschmann, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass. She also noted that “some like the acrylic rings.” One other retailer of the 24 surveyed said aye-aye, but more than half didn’t carry jewelry-type items for boys at all.

What’s Selling

Those that do stock boy-gems report that pirate-type booty, such as eye patches, bandanas and bandages, are still raging.

“The pirate stuff is always popular around Halloween,” noted Jerome Crawford, owner for four years of Crawdaddy's Toys in Lafayette, Colo.

“Anything pirate or skulls,” sells well, seconded Jackson. “And wristbands from Dillon Importing.”

“Rubber bracelets,” agreed Deutschmann, “as long as they’re camo prints. They’re not into ones with sayings.”

What’s Coming

“The trend for right now seems to be the 7 Deadly Sins Wristbands from Accoutrements,” commented Jackson.

What to Make of It

All in all, though, retailers agreed that boys were not big on pretty, shiny things.

Summed up Andy Cannon, 10-year toy vet and owner of Discovery Depot in Cookeville, Tenn.: “Boys like the pirate stuff, like eye patches and bandanas, but they still prefer toys over jewelry and accessory items.”

Here's what the boys buy:

Mood Rings by SCHYLLING

Mood Rings by SCHYLLING When kids slip on one of these classic, adjustable mood rings, the high-quality stones shift colors, depending on the wearer’s state of mind. The metal rings are U.S.-made. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $1.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Mood Rings by LOFTUS INTERNATIONAL

Mood Rings by LOFTUS INTERNATIONAL The stones in these rings change colors depending on the mood of the wearer. Mood rings appeal to buyers of all ages and both sexes, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine. Forty-eight pieces are contained in the display; the product is sold by the display only and each ring is packaged on a blister card. 8/21/2006

Seven Deadly Sins Wristband - Gluttony by ACCOUTREMENTS

It started with yellow wristbands before it moved on to every color of the rainbow and every cause under the sun. That’s great for positive, constructive people, but what about the cynics and smart alecks? Where are their wristbands? Each of these Seven Deadly Sins Wristbands celebrates a human weakness. Whether the wearer is a glutton, greedy or plain old lusty, one of these rubber wristbands will show off his or her favorite fatal flaw. Launch date: 2005. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $1.95; Age: 3 and Up)

Seven Deadly Sins Wristband - Greed by ACCOUTREMENTS

Kids with an eye for greenbacks can wear one of these rubber bands on their wrists to broadcast their desire for cash. Or just to look cool. The other six Deadly Sins are also available. Launch date: 2005. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $1.95; Age: 3 and Up)

Skull & Bones Bracelet by DILLON IMPORTING CO.

Skull & Bones Bracelet by DILLON IMPORTING CO. This Jolly Roger is ready to adorn a wrist of almost any size, thanks to the adjustable clasp. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $2.00)

5-mm Chubby Black O-Ring Bracelets by DILLON IMPORTING CO.

Black is the most popular color for these unisex armbands. They’re twice as thick as the original. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $2.00)

Skull & Crossbones Tattoo by DILLON IMPORTING CO.

Skull & Crossbones Tattoo by DILLON IMPORTING CO. Boys and girls can make their marks as pirates with these removable tattoos. Each comes in a poly bag. A display box holds one gross. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $2.00)

Pirate Bandana Hat by DILLON IMPORTING CO.

Pirate Bandana Hat by DILLON IMPORTING CO. This one-size-fits-most-skulls skullcap bandana comes in red or black. An EVA foam liner floats or holds water. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $4.00)

Pirate Eye Patch by DILLON IMPORTING CO.

Pirate Eye Patch by DILLON IMPORTING CO. Arrr, matey! This 3” patch is attached to an elastic band to fit most pirates’ heads. Each comes in a poly bag, with 12 dozen to a display box. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $1.00)

Pirate Adhesive Bandages by ACCOUTREMENTS

Pirate Adhesive Bandages by ACCOUTREMENTS Ouch! That smarts! Kids can treat their minor cuts, scrapes and scratches with the incredible healing power of a designer bandage. And if a fancy bandage isn’t enough to dry up the tears, how about a free toy? Each 3-3/4" (9.5 cm) -tall metal pocket tin contains 25 3" x 3/4" (7.6 cm x 1.9 cm) adhesive bandages and a small plastic trinket to help make even the ouchiest owies feel all-better in no time. Launch date: 2004. 8/21/2006 (MSRP: $5.95; Age: 3 and Up)

Pewter Key Ring - Pirates of the Caribbean 2 – Pirates Skull and Crossed Swords by MONOGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC.

This highly detailed sculpt of the Pirates Skull with Crossed Swords in Pewter features an embossed image of a skull with bandana and beads and hoop earrings. The Pirates of the Caribbean logo festoons the backside. The ring can be used to hold keys or hook on a backpack, computer bag or wallet chain. 10/4/2006 (MSRP: $4.99; Age: 5 and Up)

Pewter Key Ring - Pirates of the Caribbean 2 – Key by MONOGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC.

This is a highly detailed sculpt of the Pirates Key – the same one Captain Jack Sparrow uses to open the chest containing the still-beating heart of Davey Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean. This “antique” key is embossed with the Pirates of the Caribbean Logo on the front. It can be used to hold more humdrum keys, or can be hooked on a backpack, computer bag or chain wallet to show the world you own the “Pirate’s Key.” Launch date: July 9, 2006. 10/4/2006 (MSRP: $4.99; Age: 5 and Up)