Plush and Toys

Trends in Toys (From page 82) sponse to that.”

Currently, Tanner sees an “explosion for Easter baskets. We do custom baskets and we have an Easter basket buffet table, where parents can grab a shopping basket and start picking things like little Jellycat bunnies. I think the talk of running out of toys because of issues at the port scares people, and they’re more inclined to stock up when we honestly don’t know when the next shipment of an item is going to come in.” To preclude some port issues, Tanner is storing items in anticipation of shortages at the end of the month in Easter items.

Other popular gift items include baby clothing. “That has hit in the last 30 days. Coming out of the holidays I was pretty nervous because baby clothing was getting crushed by COVID-19, but it has come back.” She added, “For us, the idea of shop local really helps us to sell all of these things. We had some magazine articles written on us that we are still here, which also helped, and the shop-local love has been huge. People want that expert customer service, they want our recommendations.”

Tanner encourages add-ons of gift items simply by the items she carries in her 3,500-square-foot store. “We really don’t have to do anything. Our store has become known as having gifts and fun for all ages. We even have a gift section in the store. That includes some fun adult items, like a Chirpy Top that you put on top of wine bottles, and they were the biggest hit here in December. We have giraffe blankets for