Games, Playthings and Plush

Plush and Toys (From page 101) instance, Shashibo shape shifting cubes were a recent recommendation that continues to do very well. “Again, they fall into that fidget category popular with kids, but they also capture adults’ imagination.”

Bicycles are a top seller at Le Jouet, a specialty toy store in Metairie, La., in business for 54 years. Customers will also find a wide selection of toys from brands like Mattel, Fisher

“We try to be helpful to our customers. We have a 21-day full refund return policy, and we offer at-home deliveries for convenience. So, if someone doesn’t want to leave their home, we can deliver balloons and party supplies as well as table and chair rentals. Our customers love that we can do that for them because it just makes things easier.”

Price, Brio, Bruder and more inside the 6,600-square-foot retail space which has an accompanying 14,000-square-foot warehouse. “From classic to hard-to-find toys to the latest trending in advertisements, we have it all,” said Buyer Mary Wood . “People love that they can call us up on their way to a birthday party and say, hey, can you find me a gift for $20 and wrap it up – we offer free gift wrapping year-round – and they can just come in and pick it up.”

That kind of service is indicative of Le Jouet’s philosophy concerning customers. “The customer comes first all the time. If somebody comes in, we make sure we acknowledge them. We make sure they feel welcome and stay on top of what they need,” Wood elaborated. In terms of plush merchandise, Ty products are a consistent best-seller as are selections from the Jellycat, Douglas, Aurora World and Wild Republic lines. “It’s hard to say which one is number one because they all sell so well here. They’re all very well made and super soft whether for infants or older kids. We have a big variety.”

Le Jouet remains in constant communication with its sales reps to stay up to date on current trends in plush and toys. Word of mouth plays a role too. “We read the catalogs and watch for advertisements. I also have two small children and other staff members have grandchildren so going to different parties and being around different kids, we can see what they’re wanting and what is trending,” Wood concluded.

At World of Mirth, a toy store for kids of all ages in Richmond, Va., the top-selling plush line is Jellycat and has

Continued on page 104