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Toy shopping in 2020
How to shop for kids’ gifts now that big-box toy stores are extinct
Toys ‘R Us has packed up and left town. KB Toys is kaput. FAO Schwarz is DOA. How do adults shop for popular children’s gifts now that the big box toy store is defunct?
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Don’t panic, say the experts. Virtually every toy made today is available via online merchants. Some brick-and-mortar chains carry a decent selection of goodies for youngsters. And, contrary to popular belief, smaller independent toy retailers are still in business — although their presence is limited to certain markets and you may not know they exist because of the costs and challenges to compete in a cutthroat retailing environment.
“Big-box toy stores like Toys ‘R Us disappeared mainly because of the cheap prices and good toy selections offered by competitors like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay,” says Hassan Alnassir, founder/owner of Premium Joy, a Walnut, California-based toy company. “Not having physical toy stores around doesn’t necessarily make it tricky for people to purchase kids’ gifts and toys, however. You can easily find a variety of toys through the Internet nowadays without leaving your home. And some brickand-mortar chains offer a great selection of toys, including Target and Walmart.”
Dan Marshall, co-owner of Mischief Toy Store, a brick-and-mortar retailer in St. Paul, Minnesota, is proud to still be in business after 21 years.
“Many locally owned independent stores like ours are still going strong. Curated and thoughtful local shops are appreciated by consumers because they offer advice, service, and the joy of discovery that websites can’t match,” says Marshall.
Kristin Morency Goldman, a spokesperson for The Toy Association in New York City, a trade association for the U.S. toy industry, agrees.
“The benefit of visiting a store versus shopping online is that you can speak in
person with a trained associate and oftentimes touch and feel the product to assess its quality and design,” she says.
The problem is that stores like Mischief Toy Store are few and far between, forcing many grownups to purchase toys online. And with the pandemic persisting, it makes more sense than ever today to avoid shopping in a physical store.
But whether you choose to buy your toys with a real shopping cart or a digital one, it’s important to pick and purchase toys carefully.
“When shopping in-store or online, make sure you check for the age grading of the toy. Specifically, toys labeled ‘3+’ may have small parts that are choking hazards to children younger than age three or those who still put toys in their mouth,” suggests Goldman. “Also, when shopping online, make sure the product you buy is a legitimate toy sold by a legitimate seller. Counterfeit products are often unsafe, unlike authentic toys, and are unfortunately still making their way onto marketplaces.”
To avoid toy giver and receiver regret, learn more about the child’s interests ahead of time.
“Purchasing a suitable gift for children other than your own may be a bit challenging, but you can sidestep getting a toy they won’t like by simply asking their parents for guidance beforehand,” Alnassir notes.
Get a head start on the shopping season if possible, too. “This season, especially due to COVID19, we highly recommend shopping early, as many stores will be limiting their capacity of shoppers during the peak holiday season, and online retailers may run low on stock of certain toys and other items,” Marshall cautions.
When it comes to blind buys, do a little research before completing the transaction. Skim through magazines, hunt around online, read reviews, and check out The Toy Association’s ToyAwards.org for toy gift ideas.
“You can almost guarantee the toy is totally worth getting if it has won a respectable award where rigorous testing was involved. Examples of award programs to trust while shopping for toys are those administered by Good Housekeeping, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, and Mom’s Choice,” recommends Alnassir.
If you’re still in doubt, fall back on a failsafe: a gift card that the child can use to pick out their preferred toys or other gifts.
“Most kids through their teenage years will be super excited to get a gift card, as long as they understand the purpose of it,” says Laurice Wardini, a holiday gift expert and founder of GiftMighty.com in Los Angeles. “Just be sure to include a gift receipt with whatever present you end up buying.”
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