November 21, 2024

Fall Toy Preview: Vendors Keep Up Despite Challenging Year

Toymakers Display Innovation and Cautious Hope for ‘09

“Typically, specialty doesn’t support as much licensed, but it’s opening up.” — Laurie Conway, Tara Toy

Compared with last year’s attendance, the Toy Industry Association’s Fall Toy Preview, Oct. 14-17 in Dallas, Texas, held steady with 280 exhibitors. Buyers fell slightly, from 775 to 750. Most manufacturers who spoke with TDmonthly Magazine admitted to feeling challenged by the economy and new federal safety regulations. However, those trials didn’t stifle creativity and innovation on the show floor, where “interactivity” and “family-friendly” were buzz words.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY OFFERINGS

“More people are staying home having family game nights,” observed Lenny Breeden of Buffalo Games.

Briarpatch, which showcased 26 new products, has been “chasing inventories on [Fancy Nancy] from day one,” said Marc Shinderman, and “will finish up the year posting a double-digit increase.”

Allied Products, set to debut a Majestic Puzzles line in January, has been growing at a rate of 11 percent a year for six years and is up more than 20 percent this year, Steve Streit, director of product development, told TDmonthly.

Tara Toy, traditionally a vendor for mass-market only, has seen some of its games and licensed kits move into Learning Express stores. “Typically, specialty doesn’t support as much licensed, but it’s opening up,” said Laurie Conway, director of marketing.

FOR THE YOUNGER SET

Along with redesigning its logo to look more international, PlaSmart may change some colors on its popular PlasmaCar next year, now that the product is in both specialty and mass markets, Tracey McIlwaine told TDmonthly.

PlaSmart also has a new line of Rubbabu Action Trucks featuring the brand’s signature soft flocking and movable parts. Rubbablox are coming soon.

Tattoo company Savvi has created Colorups, based on older technology that used velvet art to outline a picture. Colorups feature black outlines plus colorful backgrounds textured with PERMAGLITTER. Neat-Oh! International has made its Racer and Wheelie ZipBins smaller to be more appropriately sized for children, and has a dinosaur-themed ZipBin and other new designs coming in 2009.

ALMOST ALIVE

A variety of new toys are big on interaction. Commonwealth Toy & Novelty has Nintendogs that bark back when spoken to, and plush UbiPetz whose characters come alive in a Nintendo DS game.

Techno-Source has not only made improvements to the Rubik’s Revolution with a Titanium Edition; it also has a more high-tech launch of the Cube in the works for 2009, in addition to a separate project that brings a new concept to the world of online-plush.

Innovation First, which has had a “difficult time keeping up with demand” for the HEXBUG, according to the company’s Joel Carter, is releasing both an Inchworm robot with IR remote control and a Crab that crawls sideways, spins, and has light and sound sensors.

JUDGING A TOY BY ITS COVER

Rachael Norman of Norman & Globus told TDmonthly a redesign of ScienceWiz Magnetism’s cover resulted in a 22-percent increase in the kit’s sales since it began shipping in August and September.

The graphics on SmartLab’s packaging now feature more product and less of the company’s branded dog. Two product kits debuting next spring — Blast Off Rocket Racer and RoboXplorer — will replace the kits’ usual book with a 12-page guide. For 4Q 2009, SmartLab will offer large, $40 kits combining elements from existing sets. Themes include The Human Body and Space Exploration.

Imperial Toy has replaced its PVC bubble-solution containers with PETe recyclable bottles, a move the company is proud of but that comes with a “premium cost [that] has influenced retail price points,” VP of Marketing Tim Thompson told TDmonthly.

TRUE TO TWEENS

From Summit Product’s Beverly Hills Puppy Club to Fashion Angels’ forthcoming BLING By Number, allowing girls to deck out cards or canvas wall art with jewels, there were plenty of glamorous items for tweens.

Pressman Toy’s Hello Kitty card game will appeal to edgier tweens with its non-traditional black and hot-pink palette. Schoenhut is introducing a more classic-pink guitar that features a heart-shaped sound hole.

One-year-old Wooky Entertainment is going for trendy packaging with its 14 craft kits, many of which feature color step-by-step instructions in eight languages.

Tweens “don’t want to be associated with toys, so that’s why we put quality components,” such as wooden spools, glass beads and real metal, President Kevin Richer told TDmonthly, pointing out that many companies don’t choose such materials because of high testing costs. High testing costs are, in fact, one of the big financial challenges manufacturers are facing right now. (Read more.)

See new products from select exhibitors at Fall Toy Preview below:

Rubbabu Action Trucks: Cleanupper Dump Truck / Fireman Rubba Engine / Bully Bulldozer by RUBBABU

This set of three different trucks includes a dump truck, fire engine and bulldozer. All have the same, popular, velvet-like flocking as the other Rubbabu vehicles, but have movable parts to encourage active play. Launch date: March 2009. (Product was formerly dist. by Plasmart)
Awards: 2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal. 10/27/2008 (MSRP: $24.99; Age: 2 and Up)

Six-String Student Guitar - Pink by SCHOENHUT PIANO COMPANY

Kids can celebrate the magic of music with this handcrafted guitar that can be used for guitar classes, private lessons and study, or for play in a child's first “amateur band.”  A quality instrument is always beneficial when beginning the study of music, especially when the student is young. "This guitar is easy to play, tunable, and will help to keep a child pursuing one of the most rewarding pastimes in history: making music," Manager Kristy Schaffer of Schoenhut told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008. 10/31/2008 (MSRP: $39.95; Age: 7 to 10)

ScienceWiz Magnetism by SCIENCE WIZ / NORMAN & GLOBUS INC.

This kit includes high-quality ceramic magnets and 26 activities designed to develop a solid foundation for more advanced topics in electricity and magnetism, teaching children the fundamental principles of magnetism while they play. It includes how to build an electromagnet, how to flip the poles of an electromagnet, and how an electric motor works, and allows kids to go iron detecting, visualize the lines of force, craft a compass, and levitate and bounce ring magnets. "ScienceWiz Magnetism is the only product of its kind that teaches the concepts of magnetism through hands-on learning and play. Magnets are more fun when you know how they work!" Rachael Norman, sales manager for Norman & Globus Inc., told TDmonthly. This product has received a Creative Child Magazine Award. Launch date: July 1, 2008. 10/31/2008 (MSRP: $19.95; Age: 5 to 10)

Rubbabu Rubbablox by RUBBABU

These building blocks have soft connectors so children can easily build with them. They are tactile and great for early spatial learning.
Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: March 2009. (Product was formerly dist. by PlaSmart) 10/27/2008 (Age: 2 and Up)

Nintendogs Bark Back Playful Pups by COMMONWEALTH TOY & NOVELTY CO

When kids talk to a playfully interactive Nintendogs Bark Back puppy, he takes action, barking, shaking his head and wagging his tail. There are four lovable breeds to choose from. "Nintendogs Bark Back Playful Pups are realistic puppies that simulate life-like movements which are based the best-selling, popular Nintendogs Nintendo DS video game," Phillip-Michael Lee, product manager for Commonwealth Toy & Novelty Co., told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009. 10/29/2008 (MSRP: $14.99; Age: 3 and Up)

HEXBUG Inchworm by INNOVATION FIRST LABS, INC.

The HEXBUG Inchworm is the first Micro Robotic Creature in the HEXBUG line to feature a full-function IR remote control. Users drive the Inchworm forward, back, left and right. A and B control bands allow users to control two Inchworms at once or multiple Inchworms on the same band. The product features a unique crawling and pirouette motion around its center pod foot. "This unique HEXBUG Micro Robotic impulse item is offered in a five-pack impulse counter display with five-color variety assortment," Joel Carter, VP of marketing for Innovation First, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 15, 2008.
— The Inchworm has been a top seller at Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va., for at least a year, according to co-owner Susan Blanton in fall 2009.
— The Hexbug Inchworm is a popular item at the Toy Shop of Concord in Concord, Mass., Owner David Hesel told TDmonthly in late 2009. ( Watch Video) 10/2/2008 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 8 and Up)

Beverly Hills Puppy Club by SUMMIT PRODUCTS

The Beverly Hills Puppy Club© plush line of products is ready to be spoiled by little girls. The “toy” toy dogs are a realistic–looking group of four popular pampered pups — Pug, Shih-tzu, Yorkie and Chihuahua — that are designed for ultimate cuddling, coddling and unconditionally limitless imaginative play. Fashion outfits and accessories are sold separately. Launch date: September 2008. 10/27/2008 (MSRP: $15.00; Age: 3 to 17)

Reflections of Yesteryear: Jodie's Antiques Barn by BUFFALO GAMES INC.

This 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle is one in a collection of four prints from the canvases of landscapes and home portraits created by folk artist Art Poulin. Launch date: January 2009. 9/9/2008 (MSRP: $7.50; Age: 12 and Up)

UbiPetz Catz by COMMONWEALTH TOY & NOVELTY CO

UbiPetz Catz are the only plush toys that can come to life on a favorite Nintendo DS Petz video game. These adorably soft characters come with a secret code that allows them to come alive right on a DS game screen. Kids can collect multiple characters and have them all interact on the Petz Catz Clan game. They can also name their exclusive characters on the Petz Website, print out their personal profile and download free stuff. Launch date: October 15, 2008. 10/29/2008 (MSRP: $14.99; Age: All Ages)

Colorups by SAVVI

Available in a variety of themes and sizes, Colorups pictures have raised lines that make it easy for children to stay in the lines while coloring, and the images are enhanced with colorful backgrounds featuring PERMAGLITTER, which provides a texture to the artwork and won't rub off. 10/31/2008

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