May 2021
Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry
KIDS are CRAZY for
COLOR!
word play A Shot in the Dark by Kevin Fahy
I have a close friend who owns a business that employs about 30 people, both part and fulltime. Because the company is in a healthcare business, those employees were qualified to receive the coronavirus vaccine by New York State back in January. One evening in February, after my friend was fully vaccinated and I had received my first shot, he and I sat down for a couple of socially distant beers. I asked him whether or not all his employees had received the vaccine, and he told me that many of them had opted out. That surprised me, especially in a health-related company, and I asked him what their reasoning was. “Well,” he replied, “it’s not one thing. It’s a lot of different reasons.” Some people don’t trust vaccines, or this particular vaccine, because they don’t know what’s in them, and may even suspect that there is something nefarious intended to harm them, control them, or whatever. Some people think that you can contract the virus from the vaccine. Others are afraid of side effects, or simply don’t like needles. There are people who don’t believe that they will ever contract the virus because they have some sort of natural immunity. There are people, believe it or not, who think that the virus doesn’t exist. If any of you fall into that last group, by the way, I can assure you that the virus is indeed very real. Although I haven’t had the virus myself, a number of people in my family have, including very young children. All of them were very sick. We can also dismiss the group that thinks that there is an ingredient in the vaccines that will allow some shadowy super-villain to take control of their minds. I understand that some people think that Bill Gates is somehow putting a microchip in the vaccine.
He’s not. You just have to trust me on this. People who fear needles are in a different boat, as far as I’m concerned. Although I’m not afraid of needles I do have other phobias, and I understand very well that they are not necessarily rational. It’s not going to help these folks to tell them that there’s nothing to be afraid of, or that it doesn’t hurt or that they are being childish. What might help is to steer them toward the one-dose vaccine, which may make the whole process seem less monumental. It could also help them if they acknowledge their fear to the shot administrators, who are experienced at helping people relax. Then there are those who fear side effects. Their concerns can’t be entirely discounted, because there certainly are common side effects, especially among younger women. They often include fever, chills, nausea, body aches, headaches and fatigue, are usually mild and shortlived. There are rare instances of more serious reactions, which could possibly be life threatening, though no deaths can be directly tied to the vaccine. In any group as large as the vaccinated population there are a lot of deaths, so it may not be possible to ever know for certain. One thing we do know for certain. The risks from contracting the virus are more severe than the risks of side effects from the vaccine, and that should make it an easy decision. That leaves the people who think they can contract the virus from the vaccine. Although that’s not true, their apprehension is understandable. The history of vaccines goes back hundreds of years, and is rooted in the recognition that the body can build up immunity to a toxin or infection if it survives a nonlethal dose of it first. Buddhist monks in the Middle Ages were (continued on page 6) May 2021 — edplay.com 3
May 2021
3
Wordplay
8
So Many Dolls to Love
A Shot in the Dark by Kevin Fahy
Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry
8
Meet husband-and-wife team Peter and Addie Laudin, whose specialty toy e-tail business – Pattycake Doll Company – experiences the same ups and downs as brick-and-mortar stores.
12 The Never-ending Story
The bid to raise the federal minimum wage this year failed, but that doesn’t mean we won’t debate it again. And again..
16
16 Positive Reinforcement
Raveen James developed an ethnically diverse line of fashion dolls. With realistically curvy figures, Beautiful Blessings dolls are inspiring young girls and women from all walks of life.
18 What’s POPular Now?
A top-toy-trend countdown from Sandy Ruben and his posse of retailers and reps from around the country.
30 Endcap
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As the fidget trend resurges with a more varied and colorful selection than ever, we touch base with fidget pioneer Tangles, on the toy’s 40th anniversary.
Industry News For Your Business Information New & True Index of Advertisers
4 May 2021 — edplay.com
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Wordplay
(continued from page 3)
said to have given novices small doses of snake venom in order to protect against snakebite. In 1796, an English doctor named Edward Jenner injected a 13-year-old boy with pus that he got from the hands of a woman who was infected with cowpox. It doesn’t sound like the sort of experiment that the FDA would sanction, but apparently it worked to prevent smallpox. Two years later, Jenner started inoculating people against smallpox with a fluid he derived from cowpox. The virus that causes the two afflictions is called vaccinia, hence the term “vaccination.” Since that time, many great strides have been made in the development of vaccines. Louis Pasteur, for example, produced a vaccine for cholera in 1897, and anthrax in 1904. Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine in the 1950s. According to the Centers for Disease Control, we have nearly eradicated 14 infectious diseases through vaccines. Most of those used an altered form of the infection to induce an immune reaction, such as a live virus partially disabled by formaldehyde. Sometimes those early vaccines were not safe by today’s standards, but the tradeoff was well worth it. Millions of lives were saved. Now we are in the fortunate position of not having to make that call because we are not injecting the coronavirus into anyone, altered or not. None of the three vaccines approved for use in the United States use the virus itself to induce an immune response. Without getting too far into the weeds, the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines all accomplish the same end through slightly different means. Essentially, they train the immune system to recognize the so-called “spike” protein that resides on the surface of the COVID virus. All three are extremely effective. (Editor’s note – after I wrote
this column an issue arose regarding possible side effects of the J&J vaccine. Please consult your doctor if you have questions about which vaccine is right for you.) Nonetheless, millions of people, possibly including some of your own employees, will refuse to be vaccinated for the reasons I listed above or one other. Some people will refuse simply because they feel that the government is trying to force them to be vaccinated. It is not, and most experts agree that the federal government lacks the authority to do so. In most cases, states can mandate that certain employees in certain industries be vaccinated, and employers can require workers to be vaccinated as a condition of employment. I am the oldest employee in our company, and for that reason was the first to be vaccinated. The rest of the staff has been lining up for their shots in the past couple of weeks, which gives me hope that the whole company will be at least partially vaccinated by the time you read this. Our company did not pressure anyone to get a shot, nor would I want it to. We don’t need to have face-to-face contact with customers or suppliers, and we are all spread out and partitioned off. If I owned a different sort of business, say a restaurant (or a toy store), where there was extensive contact between customers and staff members, I might feel differently. It’s already hard enough to attract customers without being a threat to their health. I’m not suggesting that you order your employees to get vaccinated, but I do think that a strong dose of persuasion might be a sensible prescription.
You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com. 6 May 2021 — edplay.com
So Many Dolls to Love
by Tina Manzer
This is just a sample of the many dolls available from Pattycake Doll Company. Clockwise from top right: Cari – HABA; Carlos – Miniland Educational; Green Gardens – Gund; Good Buddy Graham – HABA; Playtime Princess Sunny Citrus – Adora; Cody; Alma – Adora; Dottie Aja.
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Pattycake Doll Company (BestDollsForKids.com) is an online store only, and its owners, Peter and Addie Laudin, are typical independent retailers. Peter gets prickly if you suggest otherwise. “We are an American Specialty Toy Retailer, just like ASTRA’s other members,” he says. Like brick-and-mortar merchants, they love the Santa Claus feeling they get each time they sell a Cari doll by HABA, or Leota by Bonikka. They get annoyed by the occasional customer who returns a Dottie Aja doll that obviously has been played with. Gift-buying parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles are their bread and butter. They scour the shows and the magazines and the blogs for new and unique merchandise to bring in. In the past 19 years, business has been up and it’s been down. They are not in it for the money. “Look, we’re not Amazon,” Peter explains. “Amazon is a marketplace, a collection of stores competing amongst themselves for placement. For that privilege, Amazon takes a 15-percent cut. We’re a store and we don’t sell on Amazon.” But sometimes in our industry, he’s treated like a ruthless e-commerce giant. Brick-and-mortar retailers have a natural antipathy to online etailers, he points out, “when, instead, their question should be, ‘How can we profit from the internet’s strengths?’” 8 May 2021 — edplay.com
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And every once in a while, a vendor is hesitant to sell to him; afraid that his online business will undercut brick-andmortar customers. “It’s because they don’t get that we are, in fact, the same as their usual B&Ms. It doesn’t really hurt my business – it doesn’t matter to my customers if we have 80 Black dolls or 81.”
Y
CM
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CMY
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A doll to love for every child Black dolls are, in fact, a Pattycake Doll specialty. They have been since day one. “We kind of fell into multicultural dolls when our previous attempt at ecommerce failed,” Peter said. “While trying to recover our investment in inventory, we discovered a need. And when you’ve discovered a need, you’ve discovered a business.” Back in 2002, Peter and Addie ran a graphic design and print shop. They also assembled baskets to sell to families of adopted children. In them were a variety of items – one was a cloth doll named Ling by Russ Berri, and another was an infant T-shirt proclaiming, “I am the newest Asian American!” (or Irish American, Russian American or Black American, depending on the child). “We never sold one basket,” Peter laughs, “but when we deconstructed them and sold the items individually, we found there was a market for multicultural and ethnic dolls.” After that, the Laudins just kept adding categories. Today they sell Boy Dolls and Dolls for Boys, Dolls for Black Children, Multiracial Dolls, Biracial Baby Dolls, Dolls for Asian Children, Baby Dolls, Dolls for Bath and Water Play, Doll Clothes, and The Grinch & Other Holiday
So Many Dolls to Love
CJ from the award-winning book Last Stop on Market Street, and Willow the Flavor of Asia from Manhattan Toy.
Dolls. Bestsellers include the black ballerina musical jewelry box from Jewelkeeper, Miniland Educational’s “Down Syndrome White Girl,” a biracial toddler rag doll by Spinmaster, and the Bluebeary Learn-to-Dress Teddy Bear by Marvel. “While lots of stores, both online and off, sell dolls, none that we know of focus on diversity and ‘storyselling’ product pages like we do.”
BestDollsForKids.com presents a wide selection of products with beautiful, high-quality photographs. “All in all, it’s a well-designed etail platform created with the mobile shopper in mind. It has all the oneclick payment methods available,” explains Peter. I asked him why his business seems uniquely suited to The nuts and bolts online, to which he replied, “That’s really a chicken-or-the Depending on the season, Pattycake Doll Company egg-type question. Once we finally understood the rules of stocks about 300 or so different SKUs in a 1,400-squareetail – and I’m referencing the ‘failed e-commerce attempt’ foot space in Fayetteville, New York. Every item ships mentioned previously – we adapted to take advantage of from there and in terms of staff, it’s just Peter and Addie. those rules: longtail, Google rewards relevance, email “We use lots of apps and software – AWeber, Privy, marketing, pay-per-click, unique selling proposition, Shopify, Quickbooks, Google Shopping Ads, etc. – and keywords and SEO.” they do most of the heavy lifting for us,” says Peter. “Our The Laudins never considered brick and mortar. customers find us through search engines and inbound Peter imagines that it’s a lot of work to operate both an link referrals, plus a tiny bit of social media: Pinterest, and e-commerce site and a store. He guesses that, in light of the Facebook groups chatting amongst themselves.” pandemic shutdown, most independent brick-and-mortar As any specialty toy retailer knows, getting shoppers to toy stores also have an e-commerce component now. “It’s your store is just one part of the equation. Another is getting smart to not have all your eggs in one basket, or as Jim them to make a purchase. To facilitate sales, (continued on page 28)
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10 May 2021 — edplay.com
The Never-ending
$tory by Tina Manzer
The bid to raise the federal minimum wage this year failed, but that doesn’t mean we won’t debate it again. And again. The minimum-wage controversy is now nearly a century old. Ever since the first law was passed during the Great Depression, industries including retail have pushed back on increases as scores of minimum-wage laws were passed at federal, state, and city levels. Along the way, decades’ worth of statistics were generated. You would think that, by now, we could accurately predict the ways an increase affects job loss, productivity, pricing, business closures, and the poverty level, but I think it depends on what economist you talk to. The discussion always reveals a wide range of perspectives. Some two-thirds of Americans would support the proposed increase, according to an oftquoted Pew Research survey from 2019. And some businesses do support some kind of increase, although not necessarily the jump from $7.25 to the proposed $15. And really – there’s nothing magic about the $15 figure, other than it more than doubles the current rate. “But beyond sheer numerical and symbolic weight, researchers have found a $15 minimum could have broad social impact,” writes Ben Uglesbee, senior reporter at Retail Dive. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), for instance, estimates that a $15 minimum would lift nearly 1 million people out of poverty.” That’s the same CBO that also predicts the increase would cut about 1.4 million jobs. But economists and alumni of UC Berkeley, an 12 May 2021 — edplay.com
institution that has emerged as a center of minimumwage research over the past 20 years, describe a range of benefits that a higher minimum wage would bring, including a more robust economy and increased economic development in low-wage areas. Employers would benefit, too, with increased labor from workers, cost savings from reduced turnover, productivity gains, and even an increased demand for goods and services from low-wage workers who have received the raise. Big retailers including Target, Costco and Amazon have already moved to raise their starting wages to $15, according to Retail Dive. Target’s increase occurred last year, and this year, COO John Mulligan told analysts that the larger wage, along with more hours, has led to a drop in turnover and increased customer satisfaction. Also this year, Costco raised its minimum hourly rate to $16. Its employees are already among the best paid in the front line of retail, and their higher wages bring a number of benefits to the business. “We know that paying employees good wages and providing affordable benefits constitutes a significant competitive advantage for us,” CEO Craig Jelinek told Retail Dive. Specifically, he pointed to minimal turnover coupled with high levels of productivity, commitment and loyalty among employees. Big retailers can offset the cost of higher wages with increased efficiencies to scale. Mom and pop toy stores cannot.
Not necessarily a consensus
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) opposed the most recent efforts to raise the wage. “One-size-fits-all mandates are always bad for
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The Never-ending Story
small businesses, and a nationwide $15-per-hour minimum wage is no exception,” it said in a statement. In March, NFIB released the results of a survey it conducted among its 21,000 Ohio members, where the current minimum wage is $8.80 for non-tipped employees. (That’s about the middle of the pack when you compare it to the minimum wages of the rest of the states). Among its findings were these. • A $15 minimum wage would force 75 percent of small businesses to eliminate jobs (either full-time or part-time), with the greatest impact on part-time employment; • 65 percent of Ohio small businesses are currently paying some of their employees between the current minimum wage and $15; • 58 percent would hire fewer employees or put into place a hiring freeze;
14 May 2021 — edplay.com
• A $15 minimum wage would cause these immediate business impacts in rank order: 1) increase prices (23 percent) 2) eliminate or reduce the hiring of entry-level or teenage labor (17 percent) 3) decrease the work hours of current hourly employees (14 percent) 4) eliminate or slow business expansion plans (13 percent) In South Carolina, Lynn Sikora, owner of a market that sells convenience items and deli/ grocery products, told NPR that the $15 minimum is unrealistic – “‘A’, for the cost of living around here, and ‘B,’ for what the owners could support.” Lynn employs three full-time workers and normally, two part-time workers who she let go during the pandemic, said the March 2021 article. Her employees get about $10 per hour to start. “If the government
“and they will give me the ability to increase pay for my employees.” The patchwork of state and local minimum-wage increases that have occurred over the last several years has frustrated some employers. Businesses that operate multiple locations now have different pay standards for people doing the same job but in different places. That frustration, coupled with the recognition that the minimum wage has not kept up with the rate of inflation, may be changing how some business owners look at the issue, says trends expert Rick Grimaldi, author of FLEX: A Leader’s Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the American Workplace. “At the same time, some interesting trends are impacting the issue,” he says. “One is the rise of artificial intelligence. Workplaces of the future will most likely consist of a combination of people and robotics. In fact, it’s already happening. The arrival of artificial intelligence is pushing skilled workers downward in the job market – (continued on page 23)
WIZARDING WORLD characters, names and related indicia are © & TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: © & TM WBEI. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s21)
dictated a $15 minimum across the entire country, I would have to fire another person and work 12-hour days; close to 90-hour weeks.” She would prefer that each state decide the wage for itself, but South Carolina has never set its own wage, instead defaulting to the federal one. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, Steve Sears, owner of a printing and embroidery shop, told NPR he supports a $15 minimum wage to lift up more American workers. He has three employees who started at $11 an hour, and wishes he had the money to hire two more. “If I could pay $15 an hour right off the bat, I would, and if I have to, I will,” Steve says. To do so, however, he would have to reduce his margins and raise his prices. Ashraf Hijaz, owner of a chain of beauty supply and furniture stores around the south, has 150 employees whom he started at $9 an hour. He would support the $15 minimum because it would affect most of his shoppers. “They will spend more money,” he told NPR,
May 2021 — edplay.com 15
Positive Reinforcement Beautiful Blessings, an ethnically diverse line of 12-inch dolls with curvy, realistic figures, is ready to inspire girls of all ages.
In a camo gown, the Deborah doll represents a strong warrior who reminds young girls that strength is beautiful.
16 May 2021 — edplay.com
Designed by Raveen James, a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, the dolls accurately reflect the average female body and empower girls to embrace a positive and realistic image of themselves. But their message is more than skin deep. “Beyond the dolls physical traits, I wanted them to have the emotional strength we all need,” explains Raveen from her headquarters in Braintree, Massachusetts. “I think of this quote from Oprah, ‘Be the you that you want to see in the world.’ I marvel at how appropriate it is for today’s children who are experiencing more-than-theusual-amount of doubt about their place in the world. I hope Beautiful Blessings will help them understand their own unique inner beauty and purpose, and strive to do something positive with their lives. “I also hope the dolls help create a sense of unity,” she adds. “Instead of tearing each other down, let’s inspire each other and build each other up.” Raveen’s designs combine her love of fashion (she’s a former model), her Christian faith, and the inspiration she receives from role models who include her mother, Oprah, Michelle Obama, healthcare workers, teachers and women in the military. The three dolls in the current line were inspired by heroines from the Bible, and reflect their characteristics. Deborah arrives dressed in a big red hat and suit trimmed with rhinestones. Mary is distinguished in a black and white suit and fur hat. Virtuous Lady is known for her dignity. She’s elegant in a white suit trimmed
by Tina Manzer
in pearls and rhinestones. Raveen notes that additional clothing and accessories are available. More dolls and clothing are planned post-COVID. “I would like to design dolls of Asian descent, Indian descent, a bald doll or, can you imagine, a doll with big thick glasses? I think they’d be so important to kids who are teased because they don’t fit society’s example of ‘beautiful.’” While Raveen designed the dolls for children to play with, adults – especially current and former members of college sororities – emerged as an unexpected market. “As a teenager and then a college student, I had many friends who were Deltas and AKAs,” she explains. “More recently, they asked me if I’d represent them in dolls, and inquired about creating dolls that represent the Zetas and Sigma Rho sororities, too. Of course I said yes! I would consider anything that promoted sisterhood and positivity!” When she was a child growing up in Philadelphia, “I remember how challenging it was for my mom to find dolls that looked like me. Now as an adult, when I want to purchase a doll for a birthday or holiday gift, I leave the toy store disappointed in the lack of diversity and inspiration. I want to purchase toys that represent our diverse world and that influence positive thinking, education and inclusion. “The toys we played with growing up … there was that sense of ‘becoming’ them, identifying with them,” she says. “Good toys promote children seeing themselves in new and positive ways.” The feedback Raveen receives from purchasers of Beautiful Blessings can bring her to tears. ‘“Thank you for making something that authentically looks like me’ – I get that a lot, especially from younger girls. And it’s really delightful to hear a little one say, ‘Oh, she looks like Mommy!’” In April, Beautiful Blessings was honored by the Braintree Awards Program for the way “it enhances the positive image of small business through service to its customers and our community.” Each year through the program, recognition is given to those companies that “have shown their ability to use best practices to implement programs that generate competitive advantage and long-term value.”
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What’s POPular Now? by Sandy Ruben
This spring, the number of fidget-toy fans just exploded. Everyone seems to love poppers, and more adaptations of them are coming out weekly. Manufacturers leading the way include Top Trenz, The Toy Network, Leading Edge, Watchitude, Santa’s Toys, and Foxmind. Poppers fall into the “sensory fidget” category, which means they don’t require visual attention and the movement is repetitive (squeezing a ball, clicking a switch, pressing a button). Sensory fidgets help kids calm down and give them the ability to focus. Sales were strong for all sensory fidgets including fidget pads, fidget cubes, infinity cubes, and Karmagami, but as more and more kids head back into schools, the popularity of sensory fidgets will likely wane. Sales of another kind, the “skill fidget,” will continue to grow, I think. Skill fidgets are more challenging. They require both visual attention and manual dexterity. Blue Orange has two great items in this category: FinGears and Loopy Looper. To a large extent, Shashibo from Fun in Motion also qualifies as a skill fidget because users can transform the shape shifting box into more than 70 different shapes. Fidgets aren’t the only toy category kids and their parents are buying these days. Coming in second in our survey are “sensory toys” like Ramen Noodlies and Nee Doh from Schylling, Globblies from Crayola, plus squeezy balls and stress balls – all objects that offer an interesting tactile experience. Sensory toys are great companions for fidgets. Number 3 in our popularity poll are dinosaurs. This theme has held very strong during the last few years and is showing no signs of weakening. Stores
18 May 2021 — edplay.com
are selling dino gliders, games, playground balls, figurines, craft sets, fantasy play sets, books … you name it. If it features a dinosaur, it’s selling. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to create a strong dinosaur section in your store. It is with a certain amount of joy that I announce the theme at #4 – unicorns. I have conducted this survey for at least three years and in that time, the popularity of unicorns reached mythical proportions. After a while, the creature’s constant lock on the top spot lost its magic for me, but not for kids. They kept on believing until just recently, I guess. So while it may seem counterintuitive to celebrate a product’s (slight) fall from favor, I expect unicorns will be out of the top 10 by the end of this year. Yeah! I love surprises and there were many in the survey results this time. The first was the popularity of construction vehicles; dump trucks in particular. Retailers reported strong sales across the spectrum of brands and manufacturers, including Bruder, John Deere/Tomy, Tonka/ Schylling and Green Toys. They came in at #5. Pokemon came in sixth. The Pokemon booster packs, theme decks and gift sets from ACD Distribution were recommended by Cindy O’Hara of Learning Express Alpharetta. Allison Habshush of Toy Mania in North Carolina noted, “Pokemon plush characters and cards seem to be doing the best. We can’t keep Pokemon cards in stock.” Rick Derr of Learning Express Lake Zurich, Illinois, agrees. “It’s all about cards, sets, tins and decks. We usually sell out in one day.” Another surprise was the popularity of tie dye. As a craft activity, tie dye kits and supplies from Horizon, Fashion Angels, and Jacquard received high marks from retailers. As a motif,
tie dye is popular in a variety of toy categories, says Rick. He has done great with Trend Tech Brand’s Tie Dye Mini Boombox and Tie Dye Ear Buds. He also recommends Tie Dye Bomb from DaBomb. Melissa Skelton of Olde Tyme Commissary in Mississippi is also doing well with the ’60’s-style throwback. “We sell tie dye DIY kits, bath wraps, headbands, pillows, purses, sleeping bags, overnight bags, pop fidgets, and even Tie Dye Canteens from Swiglife!” Rounding out our top 10 were “Bath/Body” in eighth place, “kindness” in ninth, and “space” tied for 10th with mermaids. Mermaids in the spring (that
sounds like a nice title for a song) usually do great, so I was surprised to see that this longstanding star had fallen. The rather poor showing of both sharks and rainbows was also unexpected. Favorite categories remain strong Our survey also considered toy categories. According to our findings, the Plush/Soft Toys category had an incredible first quarter. In particular, Jellycat and Squishmallows were in high demand. While much of that was fueled by Easter, it will be interesting to see where it goes in the remainder of 2021. We determined that the number-one category
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(drum roll please) was actually a brand – LEGO. For those of you who carry LEGO, that’s probably no surprise. Popular themes include Super Mario Kits, City, Dots, and Friends, reports Cindy at LEX Alpharetta. The Outdoor Toys & Active Play category has remained strong throughout the pandemic. Parents and grandparents gladly present kids with challenging and fun toys that they can engage with independently, and that will keep them moving. Crafts, as a category, have also remained strong. While more than 90 percent of it
seems geared for girls, we are seeing more and more products in the marketplace that are either gender neutral or geared specifically toward boys. Looking ahead, I predict that parents will be shopping for toy themes and categories that promote independent play. They’re saying, “I need something for my kids that will keep them engaged for two hours.” Good recommendations include products that don’t make a mess; take longer than 15 minutes to use; and are enriching either physically, academically, or socially.
Sandy Ruben is the owner of Sandy Ruben & Associates, a rep group in the Southeast. If you or someone you know would like to participate in his survey, please email sandyrubeninfo@gmail.com, or call 843-696-4464. In the meantime, he’d like to thank these retailers for their valuable feedback in the last survey: Melissa Skelton of Olde Tyme Commissary, Cindy O’Hara of Learning Express in Alpharetta, Georgia; Geri Gaynor of Toy Isle in South Carolina; Amy Saldanha of Kiddywampus Toys in Minnesota; Rick Derr of Learning Express in Lake Zurich, Illinois; Christine Osborne of Wonder Works in South Carolina; Brice Elvington of Toy Shop Florence in South Carolina; Gwen Ottenberg of Imagine That Toys in Kansas; Shanta Ray of Happy Up in Illinois; Amanda Stevens of Shenanigan’s in Virginia; Irene Kesselman of Ali Cat Toys in North Carolina; and Allison Habshush of Toy Mania in North Carolina.
industry news The next Spielwarenmesse will
take place February 2 through 6 in 2022. A summer edition of the world-renowned toy fair in Germany was scheduled for this July, but because of the “unrelenting uncertainty” surrounding the pandemic, it has been cancelled. Initially, the summer event seemed like a great idea, reports Ernst Kick, CEO of Spielwarenmesse eG, who said he had received excellent feedback from both exhibitors and buyers. But when improvement in the COVID situation proved “disappointingly slow,” it became difficult for the organizers to make definite plans, and for manufacturers and buyers to schedule and book their flights. “From now on, all energy will be channeled into the regular Spielwarenmesse next year,” he says. The 2022 event will take place in conjunction with Spielwarenmesse Digital. “For the first time ever, we will be linking the indispensable experience of the live exhibition in Nuremberg with the virtual world, enhancing the
20 May 2021 — edplay.com
participation of both suppliers and buyers, and, at the same time, providing them with the best possible service,” Ernst concluded.
The latest research from The Toy Association shows that families in
the U.S. are seeking more eco-friendly toys and toy packaging to help teach kids about sustainability. “Parents are making more environmentally mindful purchases, and they want to instill eco-friendly practices in their children beginning at a very young age,” says Adrienne Appel, the association’s senior vice president of marketing communications. “Toys with real and substantiated environmental benefits are buzzing right now, a trend that will continue to grow as today’s kids get older and make their own purchasing decisions.” According to data from market intelligence firm The Insights Family, “the environment” ranks in the top 10 most-concerning issues with kids across
all age groups in the U.S. Kids ages 3 to 9 who report concern about their impact on the environment has grown by 158 percent between the beginning of 2020 and the start of 2021. This highlights the importance of brands being transparent with sustainability strategies to address the concerns of kids. Kids Insights data also suggests that the age at which kids begin to show concern for important global issues is getting younger. Data from November 2019 to January 2020 shows that 16to 18-year-olds were the most likely age group to be concerned about the environment. But research collected one year later showed that the mostconcerned kids were between the ages of 6 and 9. “Our research shows that brands need to anticipate that their target audience is becoming a group of younger conscious consumers, and must act accordingly to maintain their support and advocacy,” noted Jonathan Watson, chief product officer at The Insights Family.
BEAUTIFUL BLESSINGS STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD CreateOn, the creation studio that that transforms Magna-Tiles into new applications using licenses and personalization, has partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the children’s entertainment company that represents the legacy of the iconic author. As a result, four new Magna-Tiles sets based on Dr. Seuss stories will be released this year. A “Green Eggs and Ham” set and “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” set will be released in the second quarter, and a “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” set will be available in time for the holiday season. For more information, visit createon.com. MasterPieces Inc. has entered
into a licensing agreement with The Lumistella Company to deliver a line of puzzles and games featuring The Elf on the Shelf. The initial products in the line include a 60-piece puzzle, a 100-piece puzzle, and a matching game. For more information, visit masterpiecesinc.com.
A new game, the SAWA African Trivia Card Game, celebrates and educates people about African culture in a fun way. Created by artistic innovators Thato and Kioko Mwosa, the game features a stack of 300 cards categorized into six major categories: History & Politics, Geography, Arts and Culture, Cinema, Sports, and Business & Technology. According to the “People of Play” newsletter, Thato from Botswana and Kioko from Kenya enjoy hosting game nights at their home in Boston. When they noticed a scarcity of African-themed games, “it gave us a chance to further our mission to educate and celebrate African culture instead of complaining about what was missing,” says Thato. SAWA Trivia stems from the Swahili word “sawa” meaning, “It’s all good.” After its release in December, the game caught the attention of educators, including the African Studies Center K-16 Outreach Program of Boston University and graduate students in the African Studies program at Syracuse University. For more information, visit sawatrivia.com.
“Own your power, Own the beauty within”
Contact: Raveen James info@iamabeautifulblessing.com
iamabeautifulblessing.com May 2021 — edplay.com 21
for your business information Today’s Card Collectors are Serious Players The value of Pokemon collectors’ cards skyrocketed in 2020. Over the course of a year, the price of one first edition card of the fire-fighting character Charizard, for instance, increased 800 percent with auction prices this February of close to $300,000, reports Reuters. Who’s bidding? Amateur investors, says the global news agency, often armed with lockdown-era savings. Apps like Robinhood are letting them dabble in collectibles with as little as $20. “They’re seeking high returns beyond conventional markets where rocketing prices are prompting warnings of bubbles,” says Reuters. “In turn, they have driven prices on some alternative assets – ranging from vintage handbags to shares in fine art – up several-hundred-percent higher.” Zack Browning, a Pokemon fan from Chicago, purchased four cards in 2016 for less than $5,000 each. Today, he estimates that his overall Pokemon collection is worth between $3 and $5 million, he told Reuters. Zack began his Pokemon investing career after studying finance in college. He says he felt that parts of the Pokemon market were more predictable than stock markets. The market for limited-edition sports trading cards is also
22 May 2021 — edplay.com
soaring, reports The New York Times. Its article pointed to an ultra-rare LeBron James rookie card purchased for $312,000 at auction five years ago that’s reportedly worth more than $5 million today, according to the auction house that sold it. “This is the art of the future for sport enthusiasts who have money and don’t want to buy art,” the card owner, investment manager Aaron Davis, told The Times.
U.S. Demand Fuels Globalization of Shows and Movies Content from abroad constitutes a heaping helping of the American entertainment diet, according to data provided to Axios from demand measurement firm Parrot Analytic. In 2020, demand in the U.S. for non-U.S. content was higher each quarter in 2020 than in the two previous years. The trend started in mid-2019, predating COVID, but the pandemic, streaming and the creator economy fueled its growth. By the fourth quarter of 2020, non-U.S. shows accounted for nearly 30 percent of demand in the U.S. as audiences were introduced to shows and movies from countries that included India, Spain and Turkey. Netflix has been the main catalyst for bringing content across borders, says Brad Grossman, founder and CEO of
The Never-ending Story
(continued from page 15) ZEITGUIDE, the annual cultural almanac. “Before Netflix’s streaming dominance, studios often bought up the rights to a foreign film or series so they could recreate it in an Americanized version.” But the pandemic put more pressure on streamers to feed audiences in lockdown, especially those who wanted to travel. With production limited or halted in some cases, TV networks and streamers looked to foreign content. “Netflix has had to look abroad for growth as the U.S. becomes more saturated,” Grossman adds. “Its investments in international content have influenced the entire industry.” Netflix’s Spanish series “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”) was one of the most in-demand series globally last year, including in the U.S. Other shows, like French TV dramas “Call my Agent!” and “Lupin” on Netflix, and “The Bureau” on Amazon Prime Video became American sensations. “CanCon,” or Canadian content, caught Netflix’s attention after its successful licensing of “Schitt’s Creek,” which took home nine Emmys last year. “In the past, movies and celebrity culture have always been American cultural exports to the rest of the world,” Grossman concludes. “If content succeeded here in the U.S. it had a better chance of succeeding internationally. But it appears as though successful entertainment no longer has to come from the U.S.” (continued on page 29)
another trend – where they are forced to take lowerpaying jobs.” He has his own ideas about the minimum wage, like tying it to the Consumer Price Index. “It shows what it costs for people to live,” Steve says. And whatever happens should happen gradually, to reduce the shock and give small businesses time to prepare. “Three to five years is a realistic timeline for an increase,” he believes. “Companies could use that time to allocate resources, evaluate expenses and revise their budgets. Over time, they could cut costs strategically and reconsider their prices.” Steve adds: “In many cases, your employees are the face of your business. Customer service remains important, especially as consumers continue to demand more from the stores they choose to support. Well trained, well-paid talent is an investment worth making. “The past year has shown us how tough it can be for low-wage workers to survive. Everyone willing to do an honest day’s work deserves a wage that allows them to meet their basic expenses and live with dignity. Finding the right balance for those employees while not crippling businesses is a critical issue we’ll have to address as the workplace evolves.”
May 2021 — edplay.com 23
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1. Cathy’s Flower House, a DIY Miniature House Kit from Hands Craft, includes all the materials needed to build a tiny and intricate garden/greenhouse. Create the furniture and accessories by arranging the high-quality sustainable basswood pieces where you want them and then pushing them together. Minis are all the rage, and addicting, too! handscraft.com 24 May 2021 — edplay.com
2. Get Ready for Kindergarten All Around Town from Peaceable Kingdom has four playful settings and 60 learning activities to help prepare children for lessons they’ll experience in school. mwwholesale.biz
3. Splash into summer with the Tangle Pets Aquatic Series, a cool series of adorable sea life cuties! Sensory seekers will love the colorful combinations and tactile textures. Perfect for bath time, playtime, anytime. (Launch Date: June 1) tanglecreations.com
4. Unique drone builds – three Forge and three Komplex – add to the Build-to-Battle fun of Snap Ships from Playmonster. With new, real, shooting projectiles, these drones/mechs pack their own punch. Collect all three of each faction and combine them into larger Fusion Builds! Each sold separately. playmonster.com
5. Custom Imprinted Dice Cups from Kardwell International (Gameparts) are great for promotions, trade shows, special events and much more. The Plastic, Leatherette, and Leather cups can be branded with your logo – any one- to three-color logo on one location. gameparts.net
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6. The Saving Water Ecologic Puzzle from Adventerra Games features adorable sea creatures to show kids how to conserve water. Sustainably made, and so much fun to play! For ages 2+. adventerragamesusa. com
7. Toysmith’s collection of 42 popular and award-winning 4M KidzLabs experiments and activities foster STEAM learning using common household ingredients in an all-inclusive kit. annemcgilvray.com
8. Candy Collections! the new family board game from Cybele’s Games, introduces children age 5 and up to the basic concepts of board-game play. In just 15 to 20 minutes, two to six players collect points by moving their tokens around the candy-themed board. Beware the green “veggie” cards. cybelesgames.com
9. The Titanic Wrebbit 3D Jigsaw Puzzle is once again available – the return of a classic! With 440 pieces, this stunningly illustrated puzzle depicts the world’s most famous passenger liner. For ages 14+. wrebbit3dpuzzle.com
10. The Birthday Fun Favors from Wikki Stix provide a fun party activity … or take-home party favor! A pack of 20 is just $15.25 MSRP. wikkistix.com
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11. The Whacky Racket is new from U.S. Toy! The elastic netting provides super-spring action. A set includes two rackets and two lightup Boingy Balls. constructiveplay things.com
12. Story Time Chess, winner of The Toy Association’s 2021 People’s Choice Award, teaches kids as young as 3 how to play and master the centuries-old game. With silly stories, vibrant illustrations, custom chess pieces, and a unique chess board, the game communicates the rules of chess to children age 3 and up in a way that makes learning simple and fun. storytimechess.com
26 May 2021 — edplay.com
13. Amahi’s Steel Tongue Drums are ready to play right out of the box. No experience needed! They’re suitable for adults and children of all ages. The drums are available in four sizes and five colors, and each comes with an instructional booklet, mallets and carrying bag. amahiukuleles.com
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14. Aim and throw sandbags or discs to gain points in this series of indoor/ outdoor toss games from Family Games. Lightweight yet durable, these games help to sharpen the motor skills of both youngsters and seniors. familygames america.com
15. The Ocean and Sand Sensory Bin from Creativity for Kids by FaberCastell offers a self-contained, hands-on, tactile play experience. Children can explore, discover, imagine, learn and create while they engage their senses and have fun. fabercastell.com
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16. The biodegradable Save the Bees Kits from Buzzy include everything needed to grow a honeybee’s favorite flowers. The pots are made of biodegradable paper so they can be planted directly in the ground – no mess! Seeds are 100-percent natural non-GMO, and are available in Zinnia, Cosmos, Daisy and Coneflower. We guarantee they’ll grow or we will replace them for free. 866-232-5463 buzzyseeds.com
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17. The Mr. Shark Inflatable Sprinkler from Hearthsong sprays 10 feet out of his mouth for hours of sprayaction fun! Setup is easy; perfect for ages 3 and up! hearthsong.com 18. DeVir Games, Mazescape is a solo puzzle game that provides seven brain-breaking mazes of increasing difficulty. Available in June. devirgames.com.
19. The Bubble Tree Original Refillable Bubble System #51402 from American Bubble is eco-friendly and made in the USA. The sustainable and portable system dispenses a superior non-toxic solution into high-quality aluminum bottles that can be refilled, reused and recycled. bubbletreeusa.com
20. Beautiful Blessings is a unique doll collection that honors and empowers girls and women. Each doll comes with a motivational message reminding girls and women that they are “Beautiful Blessings.” The dolls inspire hospital workers, students, military, and women and girls of every ethnicity, size and shape. iamabeatifulblessing.com 21. The Toy Stack from The Toy Network is a revenue generating musthave for any new store or existing store that is looking to boost margin! thetoynetwork.com May 2021 — edplay.com 27
So Many Dolls to Love
(continued from page 10)
Rohn used to teach, to have ‘multiple streams of income.’ I have seen online stores open brick-and-mortars, but I don’t know of any brick-and-mortars that have moved exclusively online successfully.” It’s portable The couple collects Social Security now, and Peter admits that he and his wife “are slowing down some.” At the same time, “It’s nice to make money, even though it’s not a lot. “What’s even better is knowing that every day, some child somewhere is going to get a new doll to love, and it’s great knowing that Black kids are getting Black dolls and Biracial kids are getting Biracial dolls, and that they weren’t picked over and looking ratty at the big box stores,” he adds. But Peter’s favorite thing about Pattycake Doll Company is this: “While KB Toys, Toys “R” Us, Kmart and many other toy-selling chain stores have disappeared, and while everyone in the world complained about Amazon and the Retail Armageddon, we’re still here and doing better than ever.”
Around Christmas 2019, when Essence magazine published a link to BestDollsForKids.com, business increased 3,000 percent. “That increase can only happen if you’re small to begin with,” Peter laughs. He finds it fun and challenging to keep up with the changes and improvements to ecommerce. “As much as I follow edplay, Toybook and Global Toy News, there are thrice as many feeds, blogs and emails in the ecommerce press to keep up with, and it’s a fascinating, fascinating subject. I’ve always said, ‘An idle mind is the devil’s playground, and the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s,’ so on that basis alone, it’s worth continuing with the business.” At the same time, he says it can be an anchor. Peter and Addie’s children have moved away from their rural Upstate New York hometown, and the two find it hard to travel with doll orders coming in 24/7. “Whenever we move, though, it will be easy to take the business with us. All we need is 1,200 square feet and a connection to the internet. “If someone were to make a good enough offer for our Shopify store, we’d sell,” he adds. “Know anybody?”
ADVERTISER INDEX Company
Page Website
Company
Adventerra Games North America
17 adventerragamesusa.com
MW Wholesale
Amahi Ukeleles
14
amahiukuleles.com
Playmonster
American Bubble Company
5
americanbubble.com
Beautiful Blessings
29 iamabeautifulblessing.com
CSI Connect Marketing
6
csiconnects.com
Devir Games
9
devir.com
Family Games America FGA Inc
10
familygamesamerica.com
back cover
FatBrainToyCo.com
Kala BrandMusic Co.
13
kalabrand.co
Kardwell International
23
gameparts.net
Fat Brain Toy Co.
Page Website 11
mwwholesale.biz
inside front cover
playmonster.com
Sentosphere USA
3
sentosphereusa.com
Tangle
7 tangletoys.com
The Toy Network
22
Toysmith
31 annemcgilvray.com
U.S Toy Company
21
ustoykidfun.com
Wikki Stix
19
wikkistix.com
Wrebbit Puzzles
15
wrebbit3dpuzzle.com
Around the Table a publication of the Game Manufacturers Association
Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry Publisher J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com
Advertising Director Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com
Production Manager Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com
Editorial Director Tina Manzer tmanzer@fwpi.com
Ad Sales Representative Darlene Ryan darlene@fwpi.com
Subscriptions accounts@fwpi.com
Graphic Artist Christopher Cornett Christopher@fwpi.com
Enewsletter & Online Advertising Manager Rick Kauder rkauder@fwpi.com
28 May 2021 — edplay.com
thetoynetwork.com
Copyright © 2021
About edplay Founded in 1994. edplay is the original trade magazine for the specialty toy industry. With six printed issues and monthly enewsletters, it reports on new play products, features interviews with toy experts, and provides best-practice advice for running an independent toy store.
Art Materials Retailer for People Who Sell Art Supplies Educational Dealer for retailers who sell to teachers, parents and schools ASTRA Toy Times The Magazine of The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
Tangled Up, in “Blue”
(continued from page 30) current spread of fidget items is currently very broad, from Fat Brain’s SimplDimpl to Schylling’s NeeDoh ball.” Nick points out that the interesting aspect of today’s current fidget craze is that in-store sales are being driven by social media, where consumers are highlighting the collectability of different fidget assortments. “We’ve seen a massive increase in demand from Learning Express stores,” he says. “To attract attention to their fidget selection, they devote a section of their stores to selfie production, complete with a green screen and tripod. That way, customers can take pictures of themselves with the fidgets they’ve found and post them online. It’s become almost like a treasure hunt as people compete to find the most unique fidget items and colorways.” In terms of Tangles, there are currently 25 active SKUs. Each series has different colors, patterns and/or textures, Nick explains. “The variety drives the collectability of Tangles so much so that hunting for unique and rare Tangles has become immensely popular on TikTok.” The people at Tangle Creations are constantly innovating to meet the demand. “New textures, trendy colorways and adorable characters help keep Tangle play patterns endless. “Occasionally we’ll retire select SKUs and colors to make room for new versions,” Nick adds.
“It’s important for us to stay on top of rising trends, although our customers are the driving force behind the colors and textures we choose. We listen closely to what they say, and watch to see what they share with each other.” A current favorite is the new Tangle Jr. Atomic series that lights up as it twist and turns. It’s fun and stimulating – the lights activate the emotional, motor, and creative areas of the brain. Tangle Creations is a family business spanning three generations. Nick wants specialty toy retailers to know that he and his team work tirelessly to grow their reach and bring about positive, meaningful change to the company’s community. “We believe in the power of our products,” he says. “Tangles are fidget toys, yes, but they’re also learning tools for school, therapy devices for minor stress and anxiety, and miniature and movable works of art. They’re mess-free, never expire and you can take one with you wherever you go.”
for your business information (continued from page 23)
Pandemic’s Essential Business Rules Continue to Impact Small Business In April, Retail Dive reported that nearly one-third of all small retailers still couldn’t pay their rent, based on data from online smallbusiness referral network Alignable. While that figure has dropped from its peak of 50 percent in March, the picture is worse for minorityowned businesses. Fifty-three percent couldn’t pay their full rent in April, down from 67 percent in March. What hurt small retailers the most was the decision in many jurisdictions to allow “essential businesses” to stay open. Some communities took more drastic measures than others. In Portland, Maine, last year, nonessential businesses of all sizes were forbidden to conduct curbside, delivery or mail order under threat of hefty fines and the loss of their business license. Worldwide, 97 percent of the 2.4 million merchants that shuttered for good last year were retailers, restaurants and hospitality businesses with fewer than five locations, based on research from apparel company IHL Group.
“As governments defined essential versus non-essential companies, they unwittingly oversaw the largest transfer of retail wealth ever from smaller to larger companies,” noted Greg Buzek, IHL president. Retailers with brick-and-mortar stores, including independent toy-store owners who had to scramble to launch e-commerce and curbside pickup, were hit the hardest. “If they can hang on, smaller retailers may find plummeting rents in cities for both commercial and residential properties,” noted Retail Dive. It could signal a revival as Gen Z consumers move in, based on recent research from Placer.ai.
Making a Move? These Cities are the Most Environmentally Friendly The most sustainable cities in the U.S. have more wind turbines and solar panels, fewer cars and more walking, and fewer farting cows and more Impossible Burgers, says LawnStarter, a company that operates like Uber, but for lawn care. It created this list by comparing the 200 largest
U.S. cities across 24 key sustainability factors, including the number of incentives and policies supporting renewables and energy efficiency, the number of zeroenergy buildings; the share of workers who use green commuting methods, and the prevalence of community-supported agriculture. Here are the 10 that came out on top. 1 San Francisco 2 Boston 3 Sacramento 4 Washington, DC 5 Baltimore 6 Rochester, New York 7 San Diego 8 Oakland 9 Salt Lake City 10 Seattle California is a trailblazer in sustainability. It was the first state to propose banning sales of gas-powered cars and constructed America’s first high-speed rail line. A years-long drought forced it to reimagine water management in more sustainable ways. The study revealed this surprising trend: larger cities are often greener than smaller ones. New York City, for instance, was ranked a respectable #14, coming in first on transit and the share of green commuters.
May 2021 — edplay.com 29
Tangled Up A colorful, textured sculpture that’s also a fidget is becoming today’s hot collectible by Tina Manzer
Let’s take a moment to consider the Tangle, celebrating its 40th birthday this year. After all that time, some of us in the toy biz may be tempted to take its twisty-turniness for granted. Don’t. Uses of the little toy we’ve sold millions of over the years continue to be reinvented and rediscovered by people of all ages. At the same time, the Tangle has managed to retain its original Zen-infused artistry and creative play magic. The Tangle started life as a work of art. Created by renowned sculptor Richard Zawitz, it’s composed of a series of pivoting 90-degree tangent angles (“tangles”) that can be manipulated into an infinite variety of shapes. “I wanted to create something featuring curves and waves that would bring positive energy into the world,” Richard explains. A keen student of Asian philosophy, he was fascinated by the belief that curves in nature promote positive energy. He calls the movement through which Tangles are articulated “Curvism,” and explains that “it is both innovative and profoundly familiar because it is inspired by ancient design principles like those underlying the Tibetan Knot of Eternity and vortex energy.”
Since starting Tangle Creations, Richard has developed a myriad products based on the original, ranging from miniature sculptures and toys to science models and therapy devices registered with the FDA. The company’s bestselling product is the 7-inch long Tangle Jr. Classic. Adults I know like the six metallic versions, and use them as mini desk sculptures and a beautiful shiny fidgets. Other Tangle Jr. themes include “Pets,” “Fuzzies,” “Masterpiece” (with stunning, colorful prints), “Crush,” “Hairy” and more. Using a Tangle for a fidget actually helps untangle your brain for better clarity and focus. California psychologist Roland Rotz, whose area of specialty is ADHD, explains that his clients – children, teens, college students and adults – often gravitate to the Tangle he keeps on the coffee table in his office. “While they talk, some clients find themselves disconnecting the Tangle segments and re-connecting them based on color or texture patterns. Others seem to use Tangles like worry beads, fingering them with a rhythmic and repetitive motion. But no matter how they interact with them, they find that Tangles provide an important sensory stimulant that gives them the ability to focus on the discussion at hand.” Roland composed the forward to Learning with Tangles Braintools, a book with activities and ideas for teachers, written in 2007 by Richard Zawitz along with teacher, writer and puppeteer Mary Beth Spann. The activity guide for educators features specially designed lessons and games and a Tangle Jr. to kinesthetically teach math, reading, grammar, emotional understanding, and much more. “Kinesthetic learners absorb information best through movement,” explains Nick Zawitz, Richard’s son and executive vice president of Tangle Creations based in South San Francisco. “Twisting and turning Tangles draws the hands towards the midline and helps to improve focus and retention of information. Quiet fidgeting is beneficial for individuals with all kinds of sensory needs, as teachers have discovered.” “I work with children with autism and motivation is always a concern,” comments a special education coordinator. “When I noticed a steady increase in the skill acquisition of one student after I gave him a Tangle toy, I started using Tangles with other students. I saw a dramatic improvement in their behavior. They were calmer and better able to deal with daily stressors. Older and more advanced students were highly motivated by Tangles.” An ASD teacher writes, “My students with autism use them in so many ways, especially as a fidget. When they take them to their general education classrooms, they are able to stay focused on instruction longer.” As Nick Zawitz notes, fidget toys seem to be driving specialty retail right now, “but it’s not like the spinner fidget craze of 2017 when that one item drove the trend across all retail. The
(continued from page 29)
30 May 2021 — edplay.com
