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TDmonthly's Toy Fair 2009 Highlights
Whether you went to Toy Fair 2009 or not, TDmonthly Magazine has coverage you don't want to miss! Coverage includes Products of the Day and Toy Fair Photo Reports, as well as What Buyers are Saying and Exhibitor Tips.
Day 3 - Tuesday, February 17th
Products of the Day 
Flitter Fairies by WILLIAM MARK
These small, sparkling fairies can be guided around via a magic wand and seem to magically flutter and float in the air. There are three characters: Daria, Eva and Alexa. A demo DVD is also available. Launch date: February 2009.
SEE
THE FULL LIST
Toy Fair Booth Specials
We've collected Toy Fair booth specials, and will be adding more each day.
GO
TO LIST OF TOY FAIR BOOTH SPECIALS
Toy Fair Photo Reports
Some snapshots of the ongoings of Toy Fair:
 |  | | Marshall Chrein, president of Mindlogic, explains the game Consensus
for Rick McKnight of Kiddie Shoppe in Columbus, Ga., and other
toy-store owners during TDmonthly's Toy Fair Tour. | Mark Forti of William Mark Corp. demonstrates the magical Flitter
Fairies at booth #5803. |
Toys in the News
U.S. Commerce Dept. Reports Specialty Store January Sales Up. February
17, 2009 — A February 12th report from the U.S. Department of Commerce
revealed month-over-month sales by all retailers and food service providers were
up 1% in January to $344.6 billion, contrary to expectations that the numbers
would continue to slide. Specialty stores reported a month-over-month sales increase
of 1.6% percent, while department store sales fell 0.3%, according to Earnshaw's.
Hasbro To Launch Marvel Universe Action Figures in Spring 2009. February
17, 2009 — Hasbro, Inc. will launch the first-ever line of Marvel
Universe 3-3/4 inch action figures this Spring. The detailed, highly articulated
action figures will feature a wide variety of Super Heroes from Marvel’s
comic books, including favorites like Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Daredevil,
and Captain America. Hasbro will also offer a selection of new assortments in
its existing Marvel toy lines in 2009. A dozen new Marvel Transformers Crossovers
will be introduced, as well as a wide variety of new toys and characters to the
popular Spider-Man, Marvel Mighty Muggs And Super Hero Squad lines, according
to Superhero
Times.
Bandai America Introduces Exciting Fall Lineup. February 17, 2009
— Bandai
America unveiled its new Fall 2009 lineup at Toy Fair, introducing products
designed to inspire creativity and encourage social development through interactive
experiences. Bandai America is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some
of the most popular brands in children's toys and entertainment today, including
Power Rangers™, Ben 10™, DragonBall Z® and Tamagotchi®.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE TOYS IN THE NEWS
 Find Julie!
Retailers: Spot TDmonthly Magazine's Toy Fair Correspondent, Julie Jones, on the trade show floor and win FREE ACCESS to our nine-chapter eBook, "In the BLACK: TDmonthly's Essential Toy Retailing Tips" — a $79 value!
Just give Julie your business card and your thoughts on Toy Fair '09, and we'll send you a login link to the eBook via email.
 What Buyers are Saying
"You guys should do this every year. I think it's fabulous."
— Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats, Montclair, N.J., on TDmonthly's Toy Fair Tour to select exhibitor booths
"There's lots of misinformation and rumors out there. For instance, we were
told all of the Bead Shop's rhinestone letters were garbage now and that's just
not true. Most vendors seem to just be discontinuing noncompliant product ...
and most that we've found have been extremely compliant." — Sandy
Haynes, owner of Lollipop Toy Store, Dawsonville, Georgia, on the CPSIA
"A lot of my staff goes to Pomona because it's comfortable and closer
... but what I find every year is that there are a lot of vendors [in New York]
that aren't at the other shows. I find that there's still a reason to come to
Toy Fair ... it's not obsolete." — Alan Rickert, Top Ten Toys,
Seattle, Washington
"I'm finding that about 25 percent of manufacturers are playing catch-up,
which I'm sympathetic to because there have been so many changes. ... Retailers
need to have empathy for manufacturers who are having to go through this nightmare.
Really, 99 percent of them like kids and want to do the right thing" —
Alan Rickert, on the CPSIA and new safety regulations
"What we have seen [at the show] are classics that people are doing a
new take on ... that twist on a familiar thing is what is going to sell"
— Amy Tarr, Internet Manager, Kites Tails and Toys, Selbyville, Delaware,
citing themed ant farms from Animal House
Click
here to add your own comments.
 Exhibitor Tip of the Day
"Most exhibits in the same product/service category all
say the same thing. Instead of using common phrases — think 'highest quality'
and 'best service' — use dynamic benefit statements such as 'New ... proven
methodology' or 'Children now learn manners ... the fun way!'" — Charles
Allen, C.W. Allen Group
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