In This Issue

Closing Summer on a High Note

By Julie L. Jones
August 2008

If it feels like summer is flying by and holiday orders will soon be upon us, well ... that sounds about right! Even if you're too busy to read an entire issue this month, don't miss out on TDmonthly Magazine’s tips for storeowners and lists of new and best-selling toys. See below for what else is “in store” with these brief summaries:

TRACKING AT THE TOP

Maybe you’ve been in on a smash-hit best seller’s success before — and been stocked and prepared! But how long did the hype last? And what sales patterns emerged as time went on? TDmonthly is answering those questions for 12 top sellers with its “Sales Tracking” charts, updated monthly based on input from specialty retailers across the country. Stomp Rockets, anything by Melissa & Doug, Elenco's Snap Circuits and Wow Toys are still holding fast, while PlayFoam by Educational Insights seems to be slipping.

SET SALE!

Can it hurt your store to hold sales too often? Some toy-store owners say "Yes!" though most hold at least two per year. How should you promote a sale? Take a look at “Retailing Tips: Secrets of Discriminating Sales” to find out what 64 specialty toy retailers said about price cuts, promotions and more.

CASHING IN ON CHARACTERS

Is it any surprise that Corolle is heading up TDmonthly’s Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls, or that Webkinz by Ganz are still the best-selling plush? Probably not. But there may be other products on our top-10 lists that you haven’t considered for your store. Check out the fashionable and cuddly, as well as the most popular furniture and playhouses (or lack thereof, in some cases) in specialty stores.

STAFF PICKS

If your hand is sore from “mousing” around on the computer too much, take a break and catch highlights of some of the newest products added to TDmonthly.com, all in one place: Staff Picks. If that’s not enough — or you just want to make sure your store is really on track for the months ahead — see hundreds of newly uploaded products in TDmonthly’s Notable and New Toys. See a sampling below:

Mary Magdalene by NEA MATIA INC.

Mary Magdalene by NEA MATIA INC. This 16" doll has long, wavy auburn hair with a suntanned skin tone and brown eyes that reflect infinite understanding. She wears an authentic first-century costume designed by a well-known New York doll dress artist. She wears eggplant colored laced boots, and her dress is regal and majestic with a matching purple headpiece adorned with delicate beads. She wears a red shawl. Launch date: December 2007.
Display ideas: Retailers should display Mary with a red rose and on a stand or inside a display case. 7/1/2008 (MSRP: $129.00; Age: 9 and Up)

Travel Buddies™: Pig by NOODLE HEAD INC.

Travel Buddies™ neck pillows are designed to comfortably support sleepy heads on planes, trains and automobiles. Besides this Pig theme are numerous other themes including Hippo, Lion, Giraffe, Dog, Bear, Dolphin, and many more. Kids will want to take them everywhere and won't leave them behind! Machine-washable and hypo-allergenic. ( Watch Video) 6/20/2008 (MSRP: $14.00; Age: 2 and Up)