Place Your Last-Minute Orders Here

Waiting to Finalize Holiday Stock? Check Out These Toys First

By Alison Marek
November 2008

Several specialty toy-store owners have told TDmonthly Magazine that they are ordering later than usual this holiday season, owing to the uncertain economic climate. If you're still waiting to finalize your seasonal product, use these articles to find the types of toys you need to satisfy today's cautious buyer. You'll find the latest toys sorted by category for your convenience.

Show me the latest: General Games, Board Games, Card Games, Dolls, Plush, Puppets, Construction, Arts & Crafts, American-Made, Eco-Friendly, Science & Nature, Books, Collectibles, CDs, DVDs, Diecast, Action Figures, Electronics, RC, Hobby Goods, Furniture, Playsets, Outdoor Fun, Christmas Products and Gifts.

And don't forget to take a peek at these products from smaller companies that may be brand new to your customers:

Hugg-A-Planet - Moon by HUGG-A-PLANET

This environmentally friendly plush ball details the complex lunar landscape and landing sites for NASA and Russian expeditions, as well as the differences between the near and far sides of Earth’s closest star. It is 4” in diameter and includes 100 labels. ”The moon takes [children] beyond the world they know and encourages them to learn about things they can't see. Perfect for any age and any mood, they can sleep with it at night, play catch with it during the day or read over the maps with mom or dad,” Three Girls Media & Marketing, Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2006. 8/9/2007 (MSRP: $9.95; Age: All Ages)

Blunders™ - Make Learning Manners Fun by SUCCESSFUL KIDS INC.

The adorable characters of Becky, Bobby, Brenda and Billy Blunder revolutionize the way manners are taught. The game includes a game board, a story book and 300 fun and interactive charade, multiple-choice, scenario and true/false questions covering social and dining etiquette. “Blunders™ is the only board game on the market today that makes learning manners interactive and fun!” Successful Kids Inc. President Aimee Symington told TDmonthly. This game has received the following awards: Dr. Toy, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, iParenting Media, Creative Child Preferred Choice, Mr. Dad Seal of Approval, eChoice, and The Toy Man Award of Excellence and Seal of Approval. Launch date: February 17, 2008.
— "I've loved the Blunders Game from the moment I was introduced to it. Now you can reinforce manners at one of the places where manners are key. Manner Mats takes the blunders concept and turns it into a set of 38 table mats. The mats include tones of games including word searches, challenges, multiple choice, what is wrong with the picture, complete the sentence and many more. Another innovative way to teach manners without having to point your finger," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

Past videos: Toy Fair 2009 ( Watch Video) 11/27/2007 (MSRP: $24.95; Age: 5 to 10)

Beyond Chess Set by BEYOND CHESS

Beyond Chess Set by BEYOND CHESS Beyond Chess comes with everything you need to play. The board is made of 64 high-quality, solid, plastic squares that measure 1.5"x1.5"x.25" and accommodate most chess pieces, plus two extra squares. This set includes standard Staunton-design chess pieces, a 12-page instruction booklet and a sturdy nylon backpack-style carrying bag. ( Watch Video) 11/21/2007 (MSRP: $34.99)

WheeGO Home/Indoor Quest by WHEEGO INC.

WheeGO Home/Indoor Quest by WHEEGO INC. This find-n-seek game with clues was developed as an educational and exciting alternative to high-tech toys. Every WheeGO adventure draws out the fun of exploration and the thrill of success with hunts designed to develop sequential thinking skills, build confidence and demonstrate the value of self-initiation. The diverse WheeGO characters are fun-loving and value kindness, fair play and a responsibility to each other and the planet. “The game features lovable characters with their own trading cards,” Ellin Blumenthal, vice president of Seeking and Finding at WheeGO, Inc., told TDmonthly. “This back-to-basics toy affords busy caretakers a turnkey opportunity to engage and enthrall kids at a price that will leave the buyer happy .” Launch date: February 2008. 12/14/2007 (MSRP: $9.99; Age: 4 to 7)