This construction worker kit comes with a realistic vest in high-visibility neon orange trimmed with reflective tape, a bright yellow hard hat, work gloves, goggles, a tool belt, a toy hammer and saw, a measuring tape, and a name tag for personalizing. The vest is machine washable, and the measuring tape really works.
— “The Melissa & Doug Construction Worker set sells very well,” said John MacDougall, owner of Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., in early 2009.
— In a December 2011 survey about best selling Halloween items, seven out of 12 retailers named Creative Education as their best selling brand of costumes.
— “Since the introduction of costumes by Melissa & Doug, they have been selling well,” said Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Based on the sizes and shapes of standard unit blocks, these blocks feature hand-scrolled and turned detailing that turns block towers into buildings with archways, buttresses and columns. These blocks are smooth-sanded hardwood with a natural finish, and come packed in a wooden crate for storage. The set contains 44 pieces in 11 shapes. 
― “Wooden blocks by Melissa & Doug” are best-selling wooden toys, Marianne Kearns, owner of Second Star to the Right in Bridgehampton, N.Y., told TDmonthly in January 2009. She said she sells an average of eight sets per month.

Painted in a whimsical style, this 24-piece jigsaw puzzle features a host of sea creatures, from whales and sharks to anemones and starfish. The wooden pieces lie in their frame once assembled to keep the image and pieces together. 
― “Wooden puzzles by Melissa & Doug. Weekly we sell a wide variety of them,” said Chuck Harper, owner of Explorations Toys in Granger, Ind.
― “We literally sell thousands through the year,” remarked Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer's Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich.
― Also in early 2009, another retailer reported sales of 200 to 300 Melissa & Doug puzzles per month.

Healthy breakfast, refreshing snack-time treat? Whatever the occasion, kids can cut into this 17 piece set of bright colored wood fruits, such as kiwis, oranges and a big slice of melon. Velcro rounds between the segments serve the dual purpose of holding the uncut fruit together and creating a satisfying crunch sound as the included wooden knife slices right through. It comes with a wooden crate in which to store the food.
― “Anything Melissa & Doug. Play food is probably the best,” Linda Hanzelko, owner of Timmy's Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly regarding best-selling wooden toys.
― “All wooden cutting food from Melissa & Doug” sells well, added William Bingham, owner of Firefly Toy Shop in Milford, Pa.
― Seven of 56 retailers surveyed said cutting food was a top-selling wooden toy.

This 24-piece all-wood kit features a plethora of nails, screws, nuts, bolts and panels for preschoolers to pretend-play all kinds of building and repair projects. The primary-colored tote serves as tidy storage and a pounding bench, making it easy to transport the toolbox to wherever work might need to be done.
― “Melissa & Doug sells well,” Amy Akin, manager of Giggles for Kids in Suwanee, Ga., told TDmonthly when asked about wooden toys.
― “The quality of the product is so good, and the pricing,” said Sue Banducci, co-owner of Games Unlimited in Danville, Calif., in early 2009.

This garbage truck, featuring solid wood construction, measures more than 13" long when assembled, and does not require cutting or gluing. It includes a magnetic trash lift and disposal mechanism. Completed dimensions are 6.25" x 5.25" x 13.5".

Hours of creative entertainment for the young jeweler are packed into this boxed learning-activity-turned-craft. Kids can use the bright laces, various shapes and alphabet beads to create keepsake jewelry for themselves or parents, or use the kit as a reusable lacing set to practice spelling and patterning. 
— “The Melissa & Doug bead stringing kits” are the best-selling craft item at Let's Play in Hillsboro, Ore., Owner Shirley Reilly told TDmonthly in fall 2008. Reilly said she sells around 20 kits per month.
— Fifteen percent of 44 retailers said Melissa & Doug supply their best-selling craft kits.
— Kim Emigh, VP of E-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Penn., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that this was a top-2 best selling jewelry item at their store.

These colorful wooden blocks, featuring all sorts of creatures from both land and sea, stack up to almost 3'. Package size is 5.75" x 5.75" x 5.7".
— “Melissa & Doug are phenomenal. They have great margins for volumes and are supportive. I wish we had five more of them,” Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer’s Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich., told TDmonthly in late 2008 when naming the company one of his favorite vendors. Forty-eight percent of 52 retailers surveyed praised Melissa & Doug as a favorite supplier.

This wooden puzzle consists of 16 cubes that can be arranged to feature colorful images of six different farm animals. Each puzzle includes a border designed to help kids as they're assembling each puzzle.
— Four of 32 retailers mentioned Melissa & Doug when asked by TDmonthly about their anticipated best-selling toys for the holiday season in October 2008.

Melissa and Doug’s wooden ducky flaps its wings while it’s pushed and rolled along. A large wooden knob helps small hands grasp the handle and it’s brightly painted with non-toxic paint. It measures 21.5” x 7” x 5” when assembled.
— “We sell the most of Melissa & Doug’s push-and-quack Flapping Duck Toy,” Laurel Marvin Jacobs of Science to Go in Tampa, Fla., told TDmonthly in July 2008.
— Science to Go sells an average of five Flapping Duck Push Toys per month, Marvin said.
— Two of 66 retailers polled in a summer 2008 survey cited Melissa & Doug as a top-selling manufacturer of baby gifts.

Designed to aid fine-motor, hand-eye and creative skills, this wooden puzzle has seven bug-shaped pieces that are easy to grasp and can be placed upright for play. There’s a picture underneath each piece. It measures 1” x 9” x 12” when assembled.
— “These are traditional toys. Every kid needs some basics," Catherine Higgins, owner of Stone Soup in Bar Harbor, Maine, told TDmonthly in July of 2008.
— Kathy Yuri, manager of Hammond Toys in Orem, Utah, told TDmonthly her Melissa & Doug puzzles are educational favorites: “Because they're made out of wood, they're more sturdy for the kids.” 
— Almost 15 percent of retailers surveyed in summer 2008 named Melissa & Doug puzzles as one of their best-selling educational toys.

This 75”-long stuffed lion has gold fur and a generous, fluffy mane. The big cat’s stitching and coloration contain a lot of realistic detail, including whiskers, a tufted tail and shaped paws.
— “Melissa & Doug full-size animals are doing well,” Mary Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., told TDmonthly when asked about her best-selling plush in June 2008.
— “A lot of my big plush is doing really well,” said Pat Jensen, owner of Northwind Kites in Anchorage, Alaska, who carries the Melissa & Doug line.
— Six percent of 62 retailers named Melissa & Doug's plush as a top-seller.

The colorful jewelry set comes in a handy wooden box and includes five laces and more than 150 beads in a variety of shapes, colors and patterns. Kids can create an array of necklaces and bracelets.
— “I like the new travel and craft kits by Melissa & Doug. We sell at least one a week,” Bob Colbert, owner of The Toy Box in Searcy, Ark., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— “Craft kits by Melissa & Doug,” Kathy Byrd, owner of Fantasy Island Toys in Fairhope, Ala., told TDmonthly in April 2008, when asked to name the best-selling kit her store.
— In April 2008, more than 5 percent of the 50 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly singled out craft kits by Melissa & Doug as best-selling craft kits.

This wooden, magnetic dress-up doll will encourage imaginative play. The 27-piece set comes with a stand and colorful, magnetic outfits and accessories.
— Over one-fifth of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 singled out Melissa & Doug as the hottest manufacturer of travel toys.
— “Melissa & Doug has a whole new line of travel games. We sell about one a week,” Steve Ricks, owner of My Storyhouse Toys in Roswell, Ga., told TDmonthly in March 2008.
— “Melissa & Doug has a magnetic paper doll that is great for travel, and we sell about one a week,” Pam Horwitz, manager of Mr. Toad’s Toy Company in Naples, Fla., told TDmonthly in March 2008.

This wooden pizza set comes with 50 toppings, six thick slices of pizza, a bright tray, a cutter and a spatula. All pieces are packaged inside a convenient wooden box.
— Fifteen percent of the 40 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 singled out Melissa & Doug products as their best-selling infant and toddler products.
— “A pizza by Melissa & Doug — we sell about one a month,” Mary Fortier, a longtime salesperson at The Toy Palace in Jackson, Miss., told TDmonthly in March 2008.
— “Customers ask if we’re following recalls; they ask for wooden toys from Melissa & Doug,” Barbara Burn, owner of Children’s Orchard in Litchfield Park, Ariz., shared with TDmonthly in March 2008.

The 48-jumbo-piece puzzle depicts the planets and the moon in the solar system. The puzzle is educational and also teaches kids matching and motor skills. Each puzzle piece is made of extra-thick cardboard for extra durability. The puzzle measures 24” x 36” when assembled.
— “Melissa & Doug’s solar system puzzle – we sell at least one a day,” Steve Ricks, owner of My Story House Toys in Roswell, Ga., told TDmonthly.
— “Floor puzzles by Melissa & Doug – [we sell] at least one a day,” Bob Colbert, owner of The Toy Box in Searcy, Ark., told TDmonthly.
— Over 11 percent of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in early 2008 shared that large floor puzzles by Melissa & Doug are their stores’ best-sellers when it comes to puzzles.

This authentic-looking fireman costume features bright stripes and comes with a hat, a megaphone, an ax, a fire extinguisher and other accessories. It retails in a clear vinyl bag. Launch date: 2008.
—  “Melissa and Doug have great dress-up costumes ... those are moving briskly,” said Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo and Company in Denver, Colo., about her top-selling dress-up items in March 2010.
— In a December 2013 survey two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that fire fighter costumes were one of their best-selling Halloween costumes.

The jumbo puzzle features thick puzzle pieces that are hand-painted, feature full-color images and are capable of standing on their own for additional play. When assembled, the puzzle measures 12" x 11" x 4/5". The puzzle promotes creativity and matching skills. Launch date: June 2006.
– “Melissa & Doug…we sell two or three of their products every day. The best selling one is their puzzles,” Steve Ricks, owner of My Story House Toys in Roswell, Ga., told TDmonthly.
– Over 63 percent of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly named a Melissa & Doug product as their best-selling wooden toy item. Melissa & Doug wooden animal puzzles are very popular at The Toy Shop in Lexington, Ky., the owner told TDmonthly. “We sell one or two a day.”
— “Klutz books have been steady sellers for us,” Melodie Ingwersen, owner of Creative Kids Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly in March 2008.

Each set comes with a special keepsake and plenty of materials to decorate and personalize the mirror. Kids can decorate their mirrors with hearts, jewels, glitter glue, ribbons and more. The entire set is organized neatly in a handy wooden case.
— LB Toys Owner Jamie Burdette in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly that Melissa & Doug’s decorate-your-own kits are so popular that her store sells “40 to 60 per month.”  Sallie Kashiwa, owner of Timbuk Toys in Denver said in July 2008 that her store sells 15 to 20 units per month of the Princess Mirror.
— Lyn Copeland, owner of Copelin’s Toy Zone in Norman, Okla., said that when it comes to Melissa & Doug items, her store sells “over 100 per month.”
— More than 13 percent of retailers told TDmonthly that Melissa & Doug’s arts-and-crafts products are their best arts-and-crafts sellers. In addition to this item, bead and magnetic dress-up sets by Melissa & Doug were also named as popular gifts for girls in a summer 2008 survey of 66 retailers.

This two-sided board allows kids to release their artistic expressions either on a chalkboard or dry-erase surface. It comes with colored chalk, a dry-erase marker, and 36 magnetic letters and numbers. The board measures 16” x 12” x 0.75”.
— As of fall 2007, new art supplies by Melissa & Doug rank as a top seller at Brain Station and Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, Mich., said Owners Hans and Tricia Masing.
— “Melissa & Doug has some cute new travel games they just came out [with], and we are selling one or more a day,” Andre Truso, a longtime salesperson at The World of Mirth in Richmond, Va., told TDmonthly in March 2008.
— “New travel games by Melissa & Doug…We just got them in, but they are selling pretty fast,” Mary Fortier, a longtime salesperson at The Toy Palace in Jackson, Miss., told TDmonthly in March 2008.

Ideal for a first manipulative, this 35-piece set features two-sided pattern boards that have cut-out spaces for secure shape placement. It measures 11" x 11" x 3". Launch date: January 2004.
— “Melissa and Doug — the puzzles and blocks are the best sellers. We sell something Melissa & Doug everyday,” Annie Polard, a buyer for Gretchen’s in Atlanta, Ga., told TDmonthly.
— For Alison Cox, owner of Animal Quackers in Raleigh, N.C., and Sheena Brittman, manager of Weiner Dog Toys in Marco Island, Fla., customers come into the store asking for Melissa & Doug products “by brand name.”
— Over 19 percent of retailers surveyed told TDmonthly that Melissa & Doug wooden blocks are the best-selling item in their store.

This treasure chest features ornate brass handles, a locking skull latch, a pirate bandana, an eye patch, gold dubloon coins and a secret compartment for stashing away the most valuable loot. It has pretend-play value and allows little pirates to learn about adventure on the high seas. The chest measures 6.5" x 9.5" x 7.5".
— Melissa and Doug's Pirate’s Treasure Chest was cited by Linda Hays, owner of Hopscotch Inc. in McMinnville, Ore., when discussing popular items for young boys.
— Five of 54 retailers told TDmonthly Melissa & Doug items would be popular during the 2007 Christmas season.
— "Kids can store all kinds of treasures in this sturdy wooden pirate chest," said Valerie Cavallaro of Melissa & Doug.

The Flower Power Jewelry Kit offers a delightful variety of shapes, colors and patterns to create necklaces and bracelets that are sure to please. The kit includes more than 150 wooden beads and five laces with beautiful wooden flowers to accent a piece. Children can even make their own bracelet or necklace and take it home as a party favor.
— " Beads — I'm selling Melissa & Doug," said Frances Finfrock, owner of Aunt Franny's Toys in Richland, Wash., when asked to predict a hot-selling item for girls for Christmas 2007.
— Four of 54 retailers who spoke to TDmonthly in fall 2007 said Melissa & Doug jewelry and arts and crafts items will be popular holiday picks for girls ages 8 to 12.
— "The Flower Power Jewelry Kit is a wooden bead set featuring a customized organizer, stunning varieties of beads and stringing cords — everything needed to make beautiful jewelry, decorative items and gifts," said Valerie Cavallaro of Melissa & Doug.

For 6 months and up, this toy features four silly sea creatures in a mesh-bottomed bowl. The Fill & Spill Fishbowl is a multi-textured toy that rattles, jingles, squeaks and crinkles in little hands. Made with soft materials, it is machine washable, self-storing and great for travel. It measures 8" x 12" x 6" inches boxed.
— "I haven't done my Christmas shopping yet, but these just came in yesterday and I'm pretty happy with them.  There's a Fill and Spill Picnic Basket, Jug and Fish Bowl. There's also a flower pot version and a candy jar," said David Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont.
— "They're little see-through items. They sell for $20. They look pretty good,” Campbell added.
— "Made with ultra-soft materials, this clever activity toy helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and stimulates tactile senses in delightful ways," said Valerie Cavallaro of Melissa & Doug.

The 3.5" x 3.5" x 8.5 Rainbow Stacker is a classic toy that allows infants to develop cognitive and motor skills. It comes with seven rings, each a different color and size, as well as a ball and a wooden base. Kids can stack the rings in order from largest to smallest, and place the red ball on top to complete the task.
— When asked to predict a hot baby item for Christmas 2007, Shirley Reilly, owner of Let's Play in Hillsboro, Ore., said, "Probably the Melissa & Doug Wooden Stacking Rings ... because they sell for $5. Parents and grandparents like to buy it for kids."
— Seven of 54 retailers asked by TDmonthly said that Melissa & Doug baby toys will be big-ticket items for the 2007 holiday season.
— "The Rainbow Stacker is a true classic toy. It includes eight smooth, easy-grasp wooden pieces to stack on the solid wood, rocking base," said Valerie Cavallaro of Melissa & Doug.