Independent Toy Stores

Predictions for the Best-Sellers of 2021

While no one knows what the future will hold, one thing is certain – kids will always love toys, and parents, friends, grandparents, and children themselves will always want to buy them. At independently owned toy stores, toy sales are going strong. Owners and staff discuss current top-sellers and predict the hits they foresee ahead.

At Toys N’ More in Reno, Nev., Owner Stefanie Forgie predicted anything that “keeps kids happy and occupied” will continue to sell well this year. “Parents right now really need to be keeping children entertained whether the kids are home-schooled or just due to other changes from the pandemic. Art-making items will continue to do well I’m sure, and we are starting to carry lots more outdoor toys which will certainly be strong in warm months. The number one request right now is for outdoor toys. They’re looking for motorized vehicles, sand toys, and things to experience nature or explore it. Melissa and Doug brand has bug-catching items, and outdoor exploring-type items that are popular and will continue to be.”

Currently, Forgie’s bestsellers are wide ranging. “We have a large variety of Mattel items like Barbies and Hot Wheels that always do well; we have the largest selection of Melissa and Doug toys in the area, and we are doing well with a new company out of Santa Cruz, Modari. They have very nice quality items, very well-built, and that appeals to people. Of course fidget toys are still going through the roof, and we have a lot of retro toys that appeal to parents because the toys remind them of their childhood.” She added that other top sellers are those that are seen by kids on Tik Tok. “If they see it that way, on that platform, then all of a sudden they’re going crazy for it,” she related. And, defying any trends or promotion, kites and puzzles also remain strong sellers for the sim- ple and active at-home fun they can both provide.

In her 8,500-square-foot store, Forgie frequently adjusts her displays by moving “any items that seem stagnant or aren’t selling” to a more prominent area in the store. “We will test it in different locations to see if it does better, and usually it does.”

In Sedona, Ariz., Jennifer Williams , owner of Sedona Kids Company, predicted fidget toys, which are currently hot sellers for her, and current high-demand outdoor toys, will continue to do well for the store all year. “Beyond that, I can’t predict. We try to carry a lot of Southwestthemed products, especially in children’s books, and those should also do well. Visitors to the area look to those items as gifts.”

Overall, currently, Williams noted, “A lot of educational toys do well, especially with home- schooling or distance learning, they’re a bit more appealing. We sell a lot of STEM-related projects. Family games also do well, and of course, that too is related to people being at home more.”

Williams’ displays are based less on foot traffic and more on window space. “I have three large display windows that are my display focus. I also do move things around in the store based on foot traffic, but in the windows, I have a little bit of everything to pique interest, including our games and STEM products.”

Current best-sellers at Thinker Toys in Portland, Ore., include everything from puppets to books and puzzles, to stuffed animals and science kits, according