Good Co./Bad Co.: Who’s Fair to Specialty?

Retailers Tell Who They Did and Didn’t Like in 2008

By Julie L. Jones
January 2009

In late 2008, TDmonthly Magazine asked 52 specialty retailers to share their preferences for vendors. Which companies can they not live without? And which ones incite groans from the stockroom? Melissa & Doug walked away with the gold for being named a favorite by nearly half of the retailers surveyed. Toysmith and International Playthings were next in line in terms of favorable suppliers, while LEGO and Ganz headlined for disappointment. Take a look at the chart below to see how many retailers said they consider the following manufacturers their favorite or least favorite. Vendors had to have at least two favorable or two unfavorable mentions to be included. See also “Good Co./Bad Co.: Feel the Love” and “Good Co./Bad Co.: Vendors That Bring You Down."

(No manufacturer paid to be included in this article. All products listed were chosen by editorial staff without regard to the company's relationship with ToyDirectory.com/TDmonthly Magazine.)