Games, Playthings and Plush

Which Diversions (From page 158)

in and say, ‘My grandkids have everything.’ We’ll say, ‘They probably don’t have something like this.’ And the grandparents will leave, confident they’ve gotten a good gift. CuddlPals are another big seller. They’re a ‘snuggle in bed’ kind of toy. They come in unicorns, aliens, some glow in the dark.” Chadwick said their focus is on carrying toys that will appeal to generations of children. “One of the benefits of our type of store…we have a lot of toys made of wood. They’re sturdy and last a long time. We don’t have a lot of things that take batteries. We carry a lot of classic toys which are passed down,” she said. Linda Laramy , owner of Crackerjacks Toys and Children’s Books in Easton, Md., said the classic, “family”-centered items like puzzles and games have been tremendous sellers. She strives to carry a selection of both trendy and timeless (with more emphasis on the ‘timeless’) items, adding, “For choosing what think will sell…we work with several different companies. Our sales rep will come in with a catalog, or I’ll get one and I’ll choose what I think will sell. I have a gut feeling about a lot of things. Of course, we always have the classics—dump trucks, baby dolls, et cetera. We carry more specialty toys—things you can’t find at the big box stores.” Springer said the Allison Wonderland team shares the same philosophy: “Know who your customers are, and also the identity of your store. There’s a fine line between buying what you like and what your customers like. We’ve never brought something in because everyone else has it. Quality and value are cornerstones of our decision-making process.”

Price point is always a consideration for parents and grandparents when it comes to buying toys. Both Chadwick and Laramy said Bruder, a German-based company, are among their best-sellers in the higher price point. (Laramy sells a Bruder-branded dump truck that retails for $125). “They’re the kind of toys that last forever. The customers who come in looking for those toys. …They know what they’re looking for,” Chadwick said. Laramy has a scooter in stock that retails for approximately $100. Springer said their higher price point falls in the $20-$30 range. “This past year’s strong sellers that fall into this price range would be Shashibo’s, Magnatabs, and Marky Sparky Dart Boards,” he said. Everitt sells quite a bit of plush at the higher price point. “They’re probably our second biggest seller after sensory toys,” she said. “There is a brand called Plushmallows that is extremely popular, and we have not been able to get them in. We carry a brand called Squishables, and Pusheen by Gund, so I would say they are our top sellers in the $40-$50 range. Also, people struggle to get pre-teens a present. Shashibo sells a magnetic puzzle box with earth magnets inside of it. It’s almost like a Rubik’s cube. When you open the box, there’s a piece of paper you twist and turn your Shashibo into. It’s been super popular with older kids.” On the other side, Everitt is selling quite a bit of Crazy

Aaron’s Putty. “It’s fantastic,” she said. “It’s Made in the USA. The company hires special needs kids and kids with autism. They come up with the coolest products for their company. People love Crazy Aaron’s Putty because you can get a small kit for $2.99 or a larger tin for $50. Everyone in the age group from 7-87 love it. All their putty can be rolled into a ball and bounce like a super ball. It can be molded into a volcano; after about an hour it will melt into its original form. Each type of putty has a sensory element—there’s ‘Hypercolor’, which is my favorite. You hold it and it will change color from the heat of your hand. That’s fun to play with.” Springer sells a lot of toys in the $5-$10 range, adding “Nee-Doh’s have dominated this category.” Laramy noted “We have adorable stuffed animals from the Squishables brand.

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