How to Demo Your Toy on Video

Talking to the Camera Is Like Talking to a Retailer

By Alison Marek
January 2009

If you've signed up for a TDmonthly Magazine Toy Video demonstration at Toy Fair 2009, there's no need for a script and no need to be nervous. When you talk to the camera, you're talking to retailers — just as you do all day at the show. Pick up your product, and when the cameraperson says "Action," just tell us what the toy is, who makes it and what it does.

See how simple the video demos are by watching a few from last year, below. If you haven't signed up for a Toy Video, but would like to, please contact us. (See all of the 2008 Toy Fair videos.)

Retailers: Be sure to check back in TDmonthly at the end of February and for the March issue, as we begin uploading demos from Toy Fair 2009.

Animaland Ice Portable by ANIMALAND

This incredible machine is able to stuff over 50 animals an hours. We offer a comprehensive six month warranty on all parts and labor. Great as a store within a store as well as traveling for fairs and outdoor events as the Amish make our wagon wheels. ( Watch Video) 8/9/2006

Ballpark Classics™ Baseball Game by BALLPARK CLASSICS, INC.

This arcade-style baseball game of skill and strategy is made in America and designed for all lovers of baseball. Easy to learn and rewarding to master, this table-top baseball game has the real feel of pitching and hitting and features the timeless charm and character of classic ballparks in a detailed 1-inch-to-18-foot scale-model setting. The game can be played alone, head-to-head or on teams. "Ballpark Classics draws people together for a great, authentic experience that's fast and fun and plays like real baseball," Doug Strohm, president of Ballpark Classics Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2007. ( Watch Video) 12/26/2007 (MSRP: $249.00; Age: 13 and Up)

"CAMP" Outdoor Activity Book by EDUCATION OUTDOORS

This 48-page activity book allows kids to color their favorite animal characters from the CAMP game while learning fun facts about the great outdoors. It includes animal camouflage pages, drawing lessons, trivia, CAMP stories and more. “Our CAMP Activity book ‘grows with you’ just like the CAMP board game — beginning with simple coloring pages and increasing in difficulty,” Jesse DenHerder of Education Outdoors told TDmonthly. “The interior pages are printed on a durable 50# offset paper that will adhere to ink, pencil and crayons with ease.”

This product received The Family Review Center/Magazine Gold Medal award. Launch date: September 12, 2007. ( Watch Video) 7/13/2007 (MSRP: $5.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Sweet Cuddles Doll by THE CHILDREN'S FACTORY

Available in four skin tones, these 14” dolls have embroidered faces and are machine washable and dryable. ( Watch Video) 3/20/2008 (MSRP: $21.95)

ZipBin® Wheelie Race Track by NEAT-OH! INTERNATIONAL LLC

ZipBin Softie Wheelie looks like and is shaped like a mag wheel and opens to reveal a side-by-side race track. The set’s play surface includes a garage area, a winner’s circle and a 12-car built-in parking garage. The set also features two, sturdy die-cast sports cars and a wipe-clean surface. Launch date: January 2008. This product was previously catalogued under the name ZipBin® Softie™ Wheelie™ (changed January 2009).
— This is “from Neat-Oh! International LLC, whose innovative line of ZipBin products has won 11 awards for product excellence,” Neat-Oh! International LLC Director of Marketing Gerry Linda told TDmonthly. ( Watch Video) 12/28/2007 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Come with Us! by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

The delightful board book story teaches children the concept of prepositions such as between, under, behind, next to and more. A wooden monkey shape named Jack is playing with his friend Pirate Joe on an island of treasures; the monkey is a magnet that will only stick on the page when placed is the correct position described in the sentence. The cover features an easy pullout quality, allowing for permanent storage of the magnetic monkey so he won’t get lost. Launch date: January 1, 2008. ( Watch Video) 2/19/2008 (MSRP: $12.00; Age: 2 and Up)

Schoenhut® 25-Key Piano Pals™ by SCHOENHUT PIANO COMPANY

This versatile little piano grows with the child. The main unit, decorated with a whimsical animal's head, is perfect for toddlers because it sits safely and squarely on the floor within easy reach of little hands. Later on, the sides with the animal's body can be attached, conveniently raising the piano to a comfortable height for an older child seated at the bench. Included is Schoenhut's® Learning System, with a removable color-coordinated strip that fits behind the keys to guide small fingers from chord to chord. The accompanying songbook contains a collection of familiar tunes. Schoenhut toy pianos are famous for their lovely chime-like tones. The keys are spaced correctly for a full-sized piano, which teaches proper finger placement and affords an easy transition to a large piano.The piano is 19-3/4" H x 16" W x 10-3/4" D and the bench measures 8" H x 8" D x 11" W. This product weighs 17 lbs. Launch date: February 2008. 2/25/2008 (MSRP: $129.99; Age: 3 and Up)

LandSailer™ / ÜberDragster™ Scavenger Kit by UBERSTIX

These new construction/craft kits from ÜberStix take the company's commitment to recycling one step further. When kids open the construction kit, they will discover that it requires more than just building it. The ÜBERSTIX LANDSAILER™ and ÜBERDRAGSTER™ are both working models that require Push Ups® ice cream pops for wheels, coffee stir sticks, straws and more. The LandSailer requires very little wind to move it across the ground. Kids can set up their own unique race courses for their working models — even build a speed ramp. "This is the first build system that rewards kids for recycling," ÜberStix founder Dane Scarborough told TDmonthly. "In doing the Scavenger Kits, we're starting a new category of toys." ( Watch Video) 12/17/2007 (MSRP: $16.99; Age: 7 and Up)

Bambooga® - The Human Puzzle Game by UNCLE SKUNKLE TOYS, INC.

In this human-puzzle game, players use color wristbands to bind their hands and feet to one another, leading to a sticky mess of people. The goal of the game is to crawl, walk, scoot or jump one’s way towards the finish line, all the while maintaining the connections determined by a shake of the Bambooga Shaker. Bambooga is safe and eco-friendly, adhering to "green-" manufacturing practices with second-generation, sustainable bamboo construction. “Bambooga is the result of a social-entrepreneurship project sponsored by Kids Ark Foundation of Thailand,...an organization that hopes to find a solution to the AIDS epidemic in Thailand,” Uncle Skunkle Toys Inc. Marketing and Communications Director Maya Cardoso told TDmonthly. A portion of "the proceeds from the manufacturing of Bambooga [is] recycled back to Kids Ark and [goes] towards projects to raise education and standards of living.” Launch date: April 2008.
Awards: Bambooga is a winner of "Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Picks Children’s Products for 2009" and also won Creative Child Magazine's "Toy of the Year Award" for 2008. Bambooga has also been recognized with a favorable review by The Old Schoolhouse, a magazine for homeschooling families. ( Watch Video) 11/30/2007 (MSRP: $34.99; Age: 8 and Up)

FUNDOMINO, Wild Action Dominoes! by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

In this family-friendly game, players match the color of each tile and anticipate which direction the action tiles will take. Twists in the game include players receiving extra turns, drawing extra tiles, reversing orders and gaining extra points. Launch date: February 2008. ( Watch Video) 4/4/2008 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 6 and Up)