TOY STORY

Shop Early

Over the Mountain Toy Store Owners with The Season’s Best Bets

STORY BY EMILY WILLIAMS-ROBERTSHAW e PHOTOS BY MAURY WALD

Supply chain issues don’t seem to be a problem for Over the Mountain toy stores. Our friends at Homewood Toy & Hobby, Smith’s Variety and Snoozy’s/george have been hard at work making sure Santa’s helpers have plenty to choose from (shop early!). In this section our toy gurus offer some can’t miss ideas, as well as share some tips for navigating the 2021 holiday shopping season. Please bear in mind that toy selections and prices may vary from store to store. e

Homewood Toy & Hobby owner Tricia McCain with the new for 2021, the Calico Critters Baby Amusement Park. Smith’s Variety owner Brad Simpson llikes Perfect Petzzz, handmade pets that not only look lifelike, they “breathe.” Snoozy’s/george owner George Jones with a returning favorite from last year, the Toniebox.

Tricia McCain – HOMEWOOD TOY & HOBBY

HOMEWOOD TOY & HOBBY

is at 2830 18th St. S. in downtown Homewood. For more information, call 205879-3986 or visit the store’s Facebook page. SMITH’S VARIETY is at 45 Church St. in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village. For more information, call 205871-0841 or visit the store’s Facebook page.

Do you have any tips for shoppers who are navigating the 2021 holiday shopping season?

My tip for shoppers this season is that if you want a particular item and you see it on the shelf, don’t hesitate on buying it. It may not be there even a couple of days later. We are well stocked for the holidays but reorders are SNOOZY’S/george is at pretty much impossible 228 Country Club Park in to guarantee at this point. Mountain Brook’s Crestline Some of our companies Village. For more information, cut off ordering as early as call 205-871-2662 or visit the September this year due to store’s Facebook page. staffing and shipping issues. We are lucky we ordered early for the holidays in anticipation of delays!

What is your favorite rising trend in toys?

We are seeing more and more toys being released that focus on creativity and imaginative play and toys that get kids outdoors. This past year has seen a huge increase in sales in our hobby department with more kids getting involved in remote control cars and plastic model building.

If you could be any toy, which would you be and why?

I couldn’t come up with a toy, so I asked our store manager, Julie Marix and she says she would be a baby doll because they are loved and cherished for many generations.

Tricia’s Picks

For the infants on up, McCain said Bella Tunno teethers, $12.99 and available in various colors, have been a huge hit. They come in multiple colors and feature trendy phrases.

Le Toy Van Noah’s Balancing Ark, $29.99, is a wooden Noah’s ark with colorful animals that teaches basic stacking skills. Ages one and up.

Toddlers will love the Hape Rocket Ball Air Stacker, $32.99, which includes stack tubes to build a rocket. Once the rocket is built, drop the ball inside and turn on the fan to see the balls fly in the tubes.

The Kidoozie Cruisin’ Cuisine Playset, $34.99, is the funnest food truck in town, with accessories, working See HOMEWOOD TOY, page 27

Brad Simpson - SMITH’S VARIETY

Do you have any tips for shoppers who are navigating the 2021 holiday shopping season?

With the supply chain issues that all stores are facing, we recommend shopping early this year. If you see something in stock that you like, buy it now as it likely won’t be available later in the season. We’re fully stocked and have a great selection right now!

What is your favorite rising trend in toys?

My favorite trend right now is hands-on STEM and building sets. More than just science experiments, many new STEM sets build working toys like roller coasters, candy claw machines and gumball machines.

If you could be any toy, which would you be and why?

I played with LEGOs almost every day as a kid, and they’re as popular now as they were 30 years ago. Rarely are there toys that stand the test of time, especially in today’s digital age. I would want to be LEGOs if I were a toy simply because I know I wouldn’t get thrown away after a couple days of use!

Brad’s Picks

Remote-controlled cars never go out of style. At Smith’s, Simpson has been loving the RC Mini Tank, $29.99, a “small but very fast and agile remote-controlled tank.”

Car-loving kids also will get a kick out of Tracer Racers, $99.99, a high-speed remote-controlled super-loop speedway.

For a kid who likes a little extra, the Water Bomber Drift remote control car, $69.99, has a built-in water bullet shooter and its wheels accommodate steep inclines, horizontal driving and multi-directional drifting.

Building blocks come in many shapes and styles, but none have stood the test of time quite like LEGOs. While sets come in many styles and sizes, Simpson’s top picks are LEGO Friends, $14.99-99.99, which are designed for girls, and the ever-popular Star Wars sets, $19.99-99.99, which feature characters from the movies as well as the Mandalorian series. See SMITH’S, page 32

George Jones - SNOOZY’S/george

Do you have any tips for shoppers who are navigating the 2021 holiday shopping season?

Number one tip, if you are remotely interested in buying an item (preferably from a local merchant) and you have it in your hand, buy it! The delay in the supply chain is real.

What is your favorite rising trend in toys?

Trends this year include fidget toys, blind packages (The customer knows what type of item they are buying; they will not know the color or personality of the piece.) and cool tech items. My favorite is the U-Bot. The U-Bot is a personal camera bot with 360 degrees rotation with smart face tracking. This device is brand new. Love it!

If you could be any toy, which would you be and why?

I think I would be a Gel-Blaster. The Gel-Blaster, $69.99, is a projectile that shoots biodegradable water “gellets” over 100 feet. Why? All ages from 9 and up have enjoyed this product that debuted earlier this year. It’s fun and with no adverse effects on the environment.

George’s Picks

One of the coolest tech toys this year is the U-Bot, $69.99, which connects to your phone and accommodates hands-free filming, following you through the use of facial recognition.

Educational play is all the rage, and one of the most popular geographic toys is the Intelliglobe II Smart Globe, $169.99. With the stylus, simply travel the globe and click on a country or area to learn more about its population, capitals and other cool facts.

For kids who want to master a true instrument, Jones said they can’t get enough of their ukuleles, $59.99.

A returning favorite from last year’s top toy roundup is the Toniebox, $99.99, a storytelling device with a variety of characters available. Now through December, the purchase of a Toniebox comes with a free set of headphones and one See SNOOZY’S, page 32

From page 26 components and sounds of a real moving kitchen.

Kids who love to work with their hands can’t get enough of Educational Insights Design & Drill ABCs & 123s, $32.99, a battery drill with bolts and activity cards that not only entertain your kids but teach them.

Brand new for 2021, the Calico

Critters Baby Amusement Park,

$64.99, is a complete playset to use with Calico Critter babies. In addition to this new play set, the store carries the full line of critters.

One of the Homewood Toy and Hobby crew’s favorite tech features this year is the Boomerang Stunt Drone, $19.99. The motion-activated drone has become a Tik Tok sensation.

The love of unicorns does not seem to be waning. One of the latest popular items is the Hot Focus Unicorn Beauty Backpack, $29.99, which includes a glittery make up kit.

Crafty children can create their own indoor fairy garden with the

Creativity for Kids Wee Enchanted

Fairy Garden, $26.99. The kit includes a planter as well as fairy-inspired accessories.

Endorsed by Russell Wilson, the

Aerobie Sonic Fin Football, $22.99,

will get kids playing outside and testing its ability to be thrown up to 100 yards.

When it comes to stuffing stockings,

Kids who love to work with their hands can’t get enough of Educational Insights Design & Drill ABCs & 123s, $32.99.

Marix and McCain’s go-to are Plus Plus tubes, $7.99. The construction toys are one of the store’s bestselling items that match building with creativity.

A blast from the past that has remained popular has been Duncan YoYos, $5.99 and up.

Choose Your Own adventure

books, $6.99, are a great stocking stuffer, according to Marix, especially if you have a car trip coming up.

Rory’s Story Cubes are an imaginative line of games that come with themed cubes that kids can use to build their own stories. While the store stocks a variety of themes, one of The Kidoozie Cruisin’ Cuisine Playset, $34.99, is the funnest food truck in town.

Hot Focus Unicorn Beauty Backpack, $29.99, which includes a glittery make up kit. Rory’s Story Cubes are an imaginative line of games that come with themed cubes. Star Wars pack, $15.99.

Creativity for Kids Wee Enchanted Fairy Garden, $26.99. The kit includes a planter as well as fairyinspired accessories.

Marix’s favorites is the Star Wars

pack, $15.99.

For a fun surprise in a blind package, Marix is loving CuteTitos Babitos, $12.99. Each package includes a baby plush animal wrapped in a mini burrito blanket and stuffed into a taco.