at Toy Stores

There’s nothing more fun than toys – except, perhaps, finding the toys that become best-sellers for toy stores throughout the country. Play, after all, never goes out of style.

At Toys n’ More of Reno, Owner John Forgie has several big hits that stand out in his store. “Hot Wheels sells very well, Squishmallows have been really in demand because of the Internet hype behind them, plus they were not available for delivery for a while. Bruder Trucks are also a big hit for us. They are kind of a replacement for Tonkas, but they’re a really high end, quality product,” He noted. “They’re not inexpensive, but good is hardly ever cheap, and cheap is hardly ever good.” He added that the store also sells a large number of Legos. “Overall, we have a very wide mix of products. We’re not Toys ‘r’ Us, but the nearest toy store to ours is 2,100-square-feet, and we have 8,500-square-feet, so we can carry a lot of products.” The store’s largest selling single brand is Melissa and Doug, he said.

“While we have an extensive selection, we also offer personal service, like complimentary gift wrapping. We own the store, we work the store, and we have three kids ourselves, ages 5, 6, and 9.”

With that in mind, Forgie said that the best way to find unique toys to sell in the store is through his and his wife’s personal experience. “We purchased the Bruder trucks for our own kids. We have some that are 8 years old – we use them as a demo in the store. We’re a physically big family and our kids don’t break them. One was left out in the snow in Tahoe in the winter – and when the snow melted it was still in great shape.”

When it comes to display, the store groups toys primarily by age. “One end of the store is for the youngest children, and the far end of the store goes up to age 12. We also have a little corner for fidget toys and other small items. And throughout the store, we have items in distinct areas, like RC cars, or nerf guns all in one place. But primarily, we display by age.”

In Tucson, Ariz., at Mildred and Dildred, Sales As- sociate Kristin Steiner and manager Lindsey Duel discussed the store’s top sellers and how they’re selected. According to Duel, “We find our toys through company reps who come in and show us new items, through word of mouth, and based on items requested by customers. Those are the main ways.”

Steiner described best-sellers as “DIY doll houses for older kids that are intricate and fun; pop fidgets which just sell like hot cakes for kids from age 6 to 11 years of age; and Japanese capsule toys because anything small has a great deal of appeal right now. The capsule toys are little kits that allow you to make tiny fruit, or groceries, things like that. Some are items that you sew or shape.” She explained that “The miniature world has a lot of appeal, and so does the trend toward Japanese items. The feeling of having or making something super tiny can feel really good to kids, I think it’s mostly the size, and they’re super cute. The do-it-yourself kits are popular because parents want their kids to stay busy, and kids enjoy being more occupied. There’s benefit to all play of course,

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