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Articles by Alison Marek
Which plush animals with online counterparts were on fire all over the country in 2005 (1/1/2021)
“I’ve got to tell you what’s hot across the board: Webkinz,” -- Trish Garlock, owner of Treasured Child in La Grange, Ky. 2005
Meet TDmonthly's Retailer Reporters for Toy Fair 2015! (2/1/2015)
Follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK during Toy Fair 2015, starting Saturday, February 14, and you will get great feedback on the newest toys and best deals from the best of your peers.
Toy Fair Videos 2015 - Hot toys from Toy Fair 2015 (2/1/2015)
TDmonthly is on the floor at Toy Fair so you don't have to be!
Two Top Retailers Win Chance to Be TDmonthly Reviewers (10/1/2014)
TDmonthly is excited to announce the winners of our Retailer Reviewer Contest.
And the 2014 Top Toy Debut Awards Go To... (7/1/2014)
Forty-six retailers voted to pick the 2014 TDmonthly Top Toy Debut Awards
STICKMAN STEW® Sticks It to Bullies (But Kindly!) (7/1/2014)
Bullies, your time has passed! Vampires and other beasts, you may be immortal, but you're irrelevant now. There's a new wave of compassion sweeping the toy industry, and it's being led by a three-dimensional and quite compassionate stick figure
Schoenhut Is Electrifying! (6/1/2014)
Schoenhut Piano Company could easily rest on its well-earned laurels; since 1872 it's been producing high-quality toy pianos that last for generations. But Len and Renee Trinca, owners since 1996, know that being great isn't enough
Games Workshop Captures Big Brothers & Dads (6/1/2014)
"If you've got the teens coming into the store, if you're carrying Rio Grande or Mayfair, or any of the Eurogames, then you've got the demographic," said George. "That's when you want Games Workshop."
TDmonthly Kid Reporters Dig the Dirt (& Dino Poop) at ASTRA (6/1/2014)
For the first time in its 18-year history, ToyDirectory.com and TDmonthly Magazine used Kid Reporters to cover a major American toy trade show – the ASTRA Marketplace 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona
2014 ASTRA Kid Reporter Videos (6/1/2014)
This year, TDmonthly worked with four talented Kid Reporters at ASTRA Marketplace, where they were on the hunt for the year's most exciting, innovative and FUN toys!
Why Schoenhut® Piano Company Teamed Up With Raggs (5/1/2014)
At the most recent annual American International Toy Fair in New York City, Schoenhut Piano Company announced that a recent partnership with Raggs had resulted in the creation of a unique new product line, Twinkle Tunes Pianos with Songbooks
Travel Fractiles Bend Time (5/1/2014)
Travel Size Fractiles-7 – a magnetic tiling toy from Fractiles Inc. – is a sneaky way to keep kids learning about math, science, engineering and technology (STEM) even as they ride in the car to grandma's or hang out on the beach
Yamie Chess Makes April Fool-Proof (4/1/2014)
Math phobias plague both kids and adults, and can even trigger areas of the brain associated with physical pain and instinctive risk reduction, according to a study from the University of Chicago
Yamie Chess Builds Kids' Brains (3/1/2014)
Developed by math and science educators and engineers from MIT and other top universities* in collaboration with Jennifer Shahade – two-time United States Chess Champion and Women's Grand Master, the new game Yamie Chess(R) meets kids 5 to 14 years at their own level, drawing them into an imaginary conflict between King Tigermore and the Mind Angels(R) and the King Vigdor and the Chromemunchers(TM) that is enacted on a chess board
Madame Alexander Doll Lovers Share Their Stories (3/1/2014)
At the 111th American International Toy Fair, held February 15-19, 2014 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, the Madame Alexander Booth held a special "Share Your Story Day" to celebrate the role their dolls have played in the lives of girls and women for almost 90 years
Figpickels Gets Kids to Prove That Specialty Toys ARE Special (2/1/2014)
As if their annual Holiday Board of Directors Toy Testing event and Birthday Bash weren't enough, Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coer D'Alene, Idaho ran a customer-based TDmonthly toy testing and giveaway, thanks to Schoenhut Piano Company, Hohner, HABA USA and Gymnic (Toy Marketing International).
Meet TDmonthly's Retailer Reporters for Toy Fair 2014! (2/1/2014)
Follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK during Toy Fair 2014, starting TODAY, Sunday, February 16, and you will get great feedback on the newest toys and best deals from the best of your peers
Your Local Store Owners Are About to Do Something Extraordinary! (2/1/2014)
You know your local mom-and-pop toy store has toys and gifts that you can’t find anywhere else. You know that each time you venture into their doors, whether for a playtime event or just to shop for gifts, they have something you’ve never seen before on their shelves. Did you ever wonder how it got there?
Figpickels Knows How to Make Their Holidays Bright (1/1/2014)
Last Christmas was the most profitable in the 8-year history of Figpickels Toy Emporium, www.figpickels.com thanks in part to their phenomenal publicizing of a TDmonthly Charity Giveaway
Big Events Test Toys (12/1/2013)
Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coer D’Alene, Idaho – two-time winner of TDmonthly’s Charity Giveaway contests – was selected this year for a special thank-you promotional giveaway to reward its customers for supporting specialty toys and toy stores
Big Events Test Toys (11/1/2013)
Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coer D’Alene, Idaho – two-time winner of TDmonthly’s Charity Giveaway contests – was selected this year for a special thank-you promotional giveaway to reward its customers for supporting specialty toys and toy stores
Doll House & Toy Store Get Even More Than They Give (10/1/2013)
For Sari and Sam Powazek, the husband and wife team who own the fun-loving and always cheerful Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Ariz., one of the purest joys of owning and operating a children’s toy store is knowing how happy and excited children get when they receive a new toy
Kaleidoscope Toys Gives Toys to Two Charities (10/1/2013)
Thanks to Safari Ltd., Infinitoy, Glide Bikes, Terry Myers of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock Texas, Children at Heart Ministries and TDmonthly Magazine, some children who have never experienced a birthday or Christmas will have special gifts this year.
Children's World Showers Local Charities With Attention & Toys (9/1/2013)
Tim & Cynthia Holliday of Children's World and Uniform in Sarasota, Florida, were once again able to give their local children's charities the double gift of donated toys and much-needed free publicity
Figpickels' Towers of Toys Benefit Multiple Charities (9/1/2013)
When Brett and Susan Sommers of Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho won TDmonthly's Charity Giveaway contest for the second time, they knew they had to do something different to attract the attention of their local press
Children's World Showers Local Charities With Attention & Toys (8/1/2013)
Tim & Cynthia Holliday of Children's World and Uniform in Sarasota, Florida, were once again able to give their local children's charities the double gift of donated toys and much-needed free publicity
TDmonthly Giveaways Gain Speed (7/1/2013)
This summer will be extra special for needy kids in Coer d’Alene, Idaho; Sarasota, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona and Round Rock, Texas: Their local toy stores won the TDmonthly Charity Giveaway contest earlier this year and are about to bestow the bounty on local charities and schools
Schoenhut's Warmth Flows Generously (7/1/2013)
Strong relationships are at the root of success for Len and Renee Trinca, CEO and President of the 140-year-old Schoenhut Piano Company
Retailers Lavished With Amazing Toys for Local Charities (5/1/2013)
Dozens of needy kids across the country are about to get a memorable treat: toys from Safari Ltd., Glide Bikes and Infinitoy, brought to them by their local specialty toy stores.
Veterans and Newcomer Are Finalists in TDmonthly Charity Giveaway! (4/1/2013)
Thank you to everyone who entered TDmonthly's Charity Giveaway contest! We have chosen four finalists for the latest giveaway, which will take place in late spring — just before the ASTRA Marketplace.
Children's World Grabs Public Eye With TDmonthly Giveaways (3/1/2013)
Tim and Cynthia Holliday of Children's World in Sarasota Florida used their considerable expertise in publicity and marketing to capitalize on winning TDmonthly's 2012: A Year of Charity promotion
TDmonthly's Charity Promotion Can Make Your Store a Star (3/1/2013)
We knew we could get news coverage for manufacturers and retailers by running a program that donated almost 2,000 toys worth $60,000+, but even we didn't know how extensive and powerful TDmonthly's 2012: A Year of Charity promotional giveaway program would be for sales
Schoenhut's Warmth Flows Generously (2/1/2013)
Strong relationships are at the root of success for Len and Renee Trinca, CEO and President of the 140-year-old Schoenhut Piano Company
TDmonthly Giveaway Blasted Figpickels' Biz to Stratosphere (2/1/2013)
The skyrocketing business experienced by Brett and Susan Sommer of Figpickels Toy Emporium in Couer D'Alene, Idaho -- one of the winners in the last leg of the Year of Charity giveaway -- by far exceeded any of our wildest hopes for the kind of impact the TDmonthly's 2012: A Year of Charity could have
Donated Games Help Santa Teach (1/1/2013)
TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" educational giveaways sleighed straight into the holiday season as the last of the winning retailers wound up her charity events
Winning Retailers Extend Holidays (1/1/2013)
The last winning retailers in TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" promotion — Brett and Susan Sommer of Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, and Tim and Cynthia Holliday of Children's World in Sarasota, Fla. — began their charitable giving just before the holidays, but are stretching it out to last through the new year
You Coulda Been First — Toy Fair Debuts That Keep on Selling (12/1/2012)
Not sure whether you should trek to Toy Fair 2013? Watch the following TDmonthly videos to see what types of great new toys you could be missing by nestling home in February
Educational Giveaways Impact Thousands (12/1/2012)
Part II of TDmonthly’s "2012: A Year of Charity" got more than 1,000 unique educational toys into the hands of teachers and students across the country, thanks to generous donations from Crossen Creations, FindIt Games, b. dazzle inc., PlayMais Canada Inc., Amazing Science!, Moving Picture Books, Education Outdoors, We R Fun Games, Uncle Skunkle and The Spelling Bee Game
Holiday Giveaway Is Ready to Go! (12/1/2012)
Now that Safari Ltd.® has signed onto the final TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway, we have two returning companies – the other is Schoenhut Piano Company (both took part in this year's first giveaway and Schoenhut did something similar in 2010)
Watch a Heartwarming Charity Giveaway! (11/1/2012)
Dan and Jill Driver of Jake's Toy Box in Arvada, Colorado have a unique story — that's why they were chosen as one of the winners of TDmonthly's first "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway
SCHOOLS GET AUTUMN BOOST FROM SPECIALTY TOYS (11/1/2012)
Reports from the first educational giveaways in TDmonthly’s “2012: A Year of Charity” suggest that the toys are making an even bigger impact than expected
Winning Retailers Ready to Promote YOUR Toys (11/1/2012)
For TDmonthly's final "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway promotion, two outstanding specialty toy and education stores have been chosen to distribute the specialty products to their local schools and charities during the holiday season
Charity Is "Instrumental" to Schoenhut Piano Company (11/1/2012)
Renee Trinca, President of Schoenhut Piano Company and her husband Len, CEO of Schoenhut, have signed on for a third TDmonthly Charity promotion – the second in 2012. What makes the program so appealing to the Trincas is that it is in perfect alignment with their company's mission and their personal goal to bring the joy of making music to as many people as possible. In her own words, Renee shares her passion for Schoenhut's finely crafted instruments
FINAL GIVEAWAY CONTEST FOR 2012!
TDmonthly Magazine is excited to announce the FINAL leg in its "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway promotion! This time, retailers will compete for the chance to give away toys just in time for the holidays!
DONATED EDUCATIONAL TOYS MAKING IMPACT ON COUNTRY (10/1/2012)
Part II of TDmonthly’s “2012: A Year of Charity” is in full swing, raising spirits of educators across the nation
FINAL GIVEAWAY CONTEST FOR 2012! (10/1/2012)
TDmonthly Magazine is excited to announce the FINAL leg in its "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway promotion! This time, retailers will compete for the chance to give away toys just in time for the holidays!
Hurting Schools Receive Relief--$20,000+ Specialty Educational Toys For Free from Specialty Toy Stor (9/1/2012)
For the first time in the history of the specialty toy industry, toy-store owners, manufacturers and a trade magazine have teamed up to provide educational products to thousands of students across the nation
18 Retailing Tips: Dealing with Toy and Game Trends (8/1/2012)
Keeping up with toy and game trends is essential to many specialty retailers, but knowing when to bring a toy in - or ditch it - can be difficult
Let the Giveaways Begin: 1,025 Specialty Toys Go to School! (8/1/2012)
Uncle Skunkle, Crossen Creations, FindIt Games,b. dazzle inc., PlayMais Canada Inc., Amazing Science!, Moving Picture Books, Education Outdoors, We R Fun Games and The Spelling Bee Game Improve Education for Thousands
Four Toy-Store Owners to Donate 1,025 Products to Schools! (7/1/2012)
As a way of taking the sting out of the recession and state budget cuts, four new specialty toy-store owners will have the chance to give away hundreds of toys to their local school systems, Headstart programs, and children's charities via TDmonthly's ''2012: A Year of Charity'' latest giveaway promotion
Contest: Will YOU Donate 100s of Educational Products to YOUR Local Schools? (6/1/2012)
In the latest leg of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway promotion, ten specialty manufacturers (and counting) have signed on to give away 100 educational products each to help this nation's school systems and children's charities during these trying economic times
Safari Ltd.® Let Imaginations Swim (6/1/2012)
This year, Safari Ltd.® joined TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" promotion and gave away 50 Wild Safari Sealife Flippers, Fins & Fun gift sets and 50 Frontier Land Safari River Ranch gift sets to three winning specialty toy retailers, who then donated them to their local charities
Magicforest Balanced Learning With Play (6/1/2012)
Magicforest Ltd. donated a combined total of 50 Sevi Instrument Sets and Balance Games through TDmonthly’s "2012: A Year of Charity." The company is well known by specialty toy retailers for importing unusual and high-quality toys and games from Europe.
Hape Cooked up a Storm (6/1/2012)
Founded in 1995 by Peter Handstein, Hape has always had a mission to create beautiful and engaging toys with minimal impact on the environment and with maximum benefit to its workers. Peter is also committed to ensuring that everyone who works for him has benefits and becomes a member of their extended family
Schoenhut Piano Company Tuned In (6/1/2012)
Schoenhut Piano Company was thrilled with the outcome of their second big TDmonthly charity giveaway. This year, Schoenhut participated in TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway promotion where specialty retailers vied for the chance to give to their local charities more than 100 high-quality toys and instruments from specialty manufacturers
Jake's Toy Box Giveaways Create Giant Smiles (6/1/2012)
Dan Driver, owner of Jake's Toy Box in Arvada, Colorado and one of the winning retailers in TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway contest has an extra reason to smile today
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities (5/1/2012)
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, the front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments. That may not be unusual for a toy store, but the stacks of toys donated by Schoenhut Piano Company, Hape, Safari Ltd., and Magicforest Ltd. were being given away to two local children's charities, Devereaux House and The Crisis Center, as part of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway event.
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, The front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments. That may not be unusual for a toy store, but the stacks of toys donated by Schoenhut Piano Company, Hape International, Safari Ltd., and Magicforest Ltd. were being given away to two local children's charities, Devereaux House and The Crisis Center, as part of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway event.
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, The front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments. That may not be unusual for a toy store, but the stacks of toys donated by Schoenhut Piano Company, Hape International, Safari Ltd., and Magicforest Ltd. were being given away to two local children's charities, Devereaux House and The Crisis Center, as part of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway event.
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities (5/1/2012)
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, The front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities (5/1/2012)
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, The front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities (5/1/2012)
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, The front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments
Doll House & Toy Store Finds Far-Reaching Charities (5/1/2012)
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at 2:00 pm, The front of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona was piled high with boxes of incredible, high-quality specialty toys and children's instruments
Retailers! You Can Give 100+ Specialty Toys to Your Local Schools! (5/1/2012)
TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" promotional program is ready for its next round! This time, Retailers, you'll be competing to give away 100+ top-quality educational toys to your local schools, Headstart programs and children's charities! Already, eight terrific manufacturers have signed up: b. dazzle, inc., FIND IT GAMES, EDUCATION OUTDOORS, MOVING PICTURE BOOKS, CROSSEN CREATIONS, AMAZING SCIENCE DVDs, UNCLE SKUNKLE and now PLAYMAIS!
Kazoo Toys' Donations Thrilled Kids and Families (5/1/2012)
To get incredible toys from Hape, Safari Ltd., Schoenhut Piano Company,and Magicforest Ltd. straight into the hands of needy kids, Diana Nelson of Kazoo Toys in Denver timed her donations with events her charities had already planned
Kazoo & Company Plays it Big (4/1/2012)
When Diana Nelson heard about TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway event, it immediately resonated with her
Kazoo Toys' Giant Giveaway Aligned with Two Giant Events (4/1/2012)
Diana Nelson, one of the winning retailers of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" giveaway event has amazing plans for the 115 toys she will be receiving
TDmonthly Announces Winning Retailers of "2012: A Year of Charity" Contest (3/1/2012)
Congratulations to Diana Nelson of Kazoo and Company in Denver, Colorado, Sari Powazek of The Doll House & Toy Store in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Dan and Jill Driver of Jake's Toy Box in Arvada, Colorado. They are the winners of TDmonthly's "2012: A Year of Charity" contest
Safari Ltd., Schoenhut, MagicForest and Hape Donate 100s of Quality Toys for YOU to give to Charity (2/1/2012)
TDmonthly's exciting new "2012: A Year of Charity," program builds on our successful 2009 TDmonthly Charitable Kid promotion
How to Demo Your Toy on Video (2/1/2012)
If you've signed up for a TDmonthly Magazine Toy Video demonstration at Toy Fair 2012, there's no need for a script and no need to be nervous!
Schoenhut® Stays In Tune With Children’s Needs (2/1/2012)
Because charitable giving continues to be a top priority for Schoenhut’s owners, Len and Renee Trinca, this year they wanted to give again and were the second company to sign up to TDmonthly’s new “2012: A Year of Charity” program
Realism and Altruism Fuel Safari Ltd.® (2/1/2012)
Safari Ltd. creates astonishing replicas of Nature’s most fascinating and beautiful creatures by hiring expert sculptors with acute observational powers
Hape Makes the World a Family (2/1/2012)
Multi-award winning Hape began in 1986 as Hape GmbH, which sold educational wooden toys directly into German kindergartens
How to Find Your Soul Employees, Part I: Hiring (1/1/2012)
Looking for a way to improve sales in the new year? Ask Creative Kidstuff CEO Roberta Bonoff what the key to success is and she can boil it down to one word: staff
How to Find Your Soul Employees, Part II: Training (1/1/2012)
Once you've found the right people, how do you teach them all they need to know about toys?
Holiday Shopping List for Girls (12/1/2011)
As busy parents, you don't have time to research toys with the best play-value and quality
Holiday Shopping List for Boys (12/1/2011)
Tired of TV toys that break the next day? TDmonthly has compiled a series of alternative holiday shopping lists by age to take the guesswork out of finding unique, fun toys that let your little boy really play
Holiday Shopping List for All Kids (12/1/2011)
You want to be sure each of your holiday dollars is well spent. Following are tried and tested toys that appeal to both girls and boys of every age.
Holiday Shopping List for Babies (12/1/2011)
TDmonthly has compiled a shopping list to make finding that perfect gift for Baby just a little easier this holiday season
Exhibitor Tips: Maximize Your Toy Fair ROI (12/1/2011)
Exhibiting at the American International Toy Fair can be overwhelming ... and expensive! TDmonthly Magazine's videos and articles can help prepare you and even show you what it's like. Here's what one newbie vendor told us
25+ Tips on Becoming Essential to Your Customers (12/1/2011)
It's not only toy-store owners who have no time. The more you do for your customers, the more they won't want to live without you
Retailing Tips: 10 Ways to Survive Toy Fair (12/1/2011)
How do you navigate the year's largest toy trade event? Systematically
You Coulda Been First — Toy Fair Debuts That Keep on Selling (12/1/2011)
If you were at Toy Fair from 2006 to 2010, your store could have been the first to feature such award-winning and hot-selling products as Hexbugs, Air Swimmers, ZipBins, Zoobies and Wild Creations' Eco-Aquariums
28 Product Videos From the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy (7/1/2011)
With more than 600 exhibitors and between 500 and 600 retailer attendees, the 2011 ASTRA Marketplace in Anaheim, Calif., was the largest and most successful show yet since its inception in 2004
Expert Advice For Specialty Retailers (7/1/2011)
When you're busy managing employees, ordering product, dealing with toy reps, traveling to trade shows, keeping track of inventory, updating your web site and otherwise being swamped by the million tasks that accumulate each day when running your business, you sometimes don't have the personal resources to deal with yet another problem
When to Close Your Specialty Store - 36 Tips (7/1/2011)
Successful people fail more than others, so if you're facing a lot of red ink, don't despair
18 Tips on Expanding Your Specialty Store (7/1/2011)
Success can bring a new set of stresses
How to Close Up Shop ... For Good (6/1/2011)
The end is inevitable. When it comes, will you be ready?
How to Expand Your Business (6/1/2011)
When your business is booming, it's tempting to want to build on the momentum
Get Online Before It's Too Late (6/1/2011)
Customers searching for a nearby toy store more likely turn to Google, Yahoo or Bing than the phone book, so if you're not on the web, you're losing foot traffic as well as online sales.
How to Maintain Your Website (6/1/2011)
There's a misconception that you just put up a website and sales come in and it's easy
How to Turn Motherhood Into Money (5/1/2011)
Added to the challenges of parenthood are the myriad small problems that complicate your daily routine. Some moms turn those problems into solutions and the solutions into products.
Get These Toys BEFORE They’re Hot! (5/1/2011)
What’s a one-word explanation of the difference between 2010 and 2011? Excitement
How to Maximize Your Online Presence (5/1/2011)
If you're not online yet, you know you should be. If you are online, you're probably not getting as much out of it as you could be
How to Deal With Studs and Duds (5/1/2011)
Whether you've picked a stud or a dud, hit toys and flops can each cause problems.
Manage Your Time, Part I: Create More Time (5/1/2011)
The holidays are coming, there are 400 boxes to unpack, payroll is due, a trade show is around the corner, and your manager just came down with the flu
Manage Your Time, Part II: Preparation & Vacation (5/1/2011)
One of the prime reasons to take time to organize is so that you'll avoid some of the costliest mistakes of running a toy store: over-ordering, under-ordering and ordering too late or too early
How to Survive a Hit or a Flop (4/1/2011)
Most specialty toy-store owners aren't ready for a major toy craze when it hits
Get More Out of Less Time (4/1/2011)
Is your day too busy to think about what you're doing next
Video Report From the WTHRA Show (4/1/2011)
Once again, TDmonthly Magazine sent its video crew to the WTHRA show — the west coast's favorite toy-trade event
The Worst Advice Ever ... (4/1/2011)
Opening and running a small business not only creates anxiety in the proprietors, but in family, friends and total strangers. Sometimes, this superfluity of emotion erupts in well-meant advice that doesn't really do anyone any good.
Top-10 Most-Wanted Outdoor Toys (4/1/2011)
When TDmonthly Magazine quizzed 15 specialty retailers about their best-selling outdoor toys, the results were clear
Top-10 Most-Wanted Ride-on Toys (4/1/2011)
On your marks, get set, ride on! Here's what's propelling kids forward in Spring 2011
Top-10 New Toys at the WTHRA Show (4/1/2011)
The WTHRA Show in Long Beach this year was marked by innovation. From plastic potato-chip-shaped pieces that can be used to build kickable balls and sets of armor to a dollhouse that folds into a small cardboard box to a doll that mimics parents
How to Pick a Winner (4/1/2011)
Nobody intentionally buys a dud toy. But it happens!
Top-10 Most-Wanted Wooden Toys (3/1/2011)
In early 2011, TDmonthly Magazine's regional correspondents spoke with 12 specialty toy retailers from around the country about their best-selling wooden products
TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Games (3/1/2011)
Once again, Apples to Apples and Bananagrams topped TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Games List
2011: The Year of Social Toys (3/1/2011)
In an exclusive video interview with TDmonthly Magazine, Reyne Rice, Toy Trend Specialist for the TIA, confirmed early suspicions that 2011 is the year of the app
Top New Specialty Tech Toys at Toy Fair (3/1/2011)
Although specialty toy manufacturers and retailers are devoted to products that stimulate learning and imagination through active rather than passive play, some companies were able to integrate these trends into their low-tech concepts
How to Pick a Winner (3/1/2011)
Learn a strategy for determining whether a game will be fun enough and involving enough to keep your customers' interest. Find out how hit movies can affect toy sales
Stay Ahead of the Holidays (3/1/2011)
Since the Christmas holiday season is the busiest of the year for toy-store owners, how you handle it can make or break your year
Addict Customers With Pricing and Knowledge (2/1/2011)
Nobody needs a toy to live, but you need to sell as many as possible to keep up your livelihood.
How to Make Your Store Special (2/1/2011)
While sex appeal may seem out of place in a toy store, most paying customers and staff are adults and are at least subliminally aware of some sort of attraction.
The Holidays Are Coming ... Sooner Than You Think (2/1/2011)
Successful retailers don't leave anything to chance
Toy Fair Videos! (2/1/2011)
Whether you made it to Toy Fair or not, TDmonthly is coming back with dozens of videos of the latest and greatest toys for you to peruse
A Taste of Toy Fair (2/1/2011)
Get ready for Toy Fair 2011 by acquainting yourself with some of the newest companies and products
Top-10 Musical Products (2/1/2011)
For the first time in the history of TDmonthly Magazine, one musical artist has catapulted to the top of the Top-10 Most Wanted Musical Toys list: Caspar Babypants.
Most Anticipated Toys of 2011 (2/1/2011)
When TDmonthly’s regional correspondents asked 14 specialty toy retailers what toys they most anticipated for 2011, three mentioned Perplexus by Plasmart
Why You Should Clean Out Your Chimney Now (2/1/2011)
Think it's too soon to think about the holidays? Preparation is the key to a successful 4Q, agree experts and specialty toy-store owners.
How to Hook Your Customers (1/1/2011)
It's wonderful when a new customer walks in your door. But how do you make sure he or she returns
Set Your Store Apart (1/1/2011)
With all the online toy stores competing for your customers' dollars, it's more essential than ever that your brick-and-mortar presence be unforgettable
How We Reel 'Em In (and Keep 'Em) (1/1/2011)
If you own a specialty toy store, you know you have to scour the globe for unique merchandise.
What We Want From Toy Fair (1/1/2011)
When TDmonthly Magazine's regional correspondents first surveyed retailers across the country about their Toy Fair plans in 2006, roughly half said they were planning to brave potential blizzard in their quest to find something new and different.
Top-10 Most Wanted Books (1/1/2011)
Of 23 specialty store owners surveyed by TDmonthly Magazine's regional corresondents in 4Q 2010, only 18 carried books or comics.
Innovations of 2010 (1/1/2011)
According to 16 specialty toy store owners during 4Q 2010 by TDmonthly Magazine, the most notable trend last year was a move away from innovation and technology toward simplicity and value.
Top Halloween Gifts (1/1/2011)
Of 23 specialty retailers interviewed by TDmonthly Magazine's regional correspondents about their top-selling Halloween items, only 14 saw sales that were specific to that holiday.
Price High, Sell More (1/1/2011)
The trick to pricing isn't to find the lowest price, but to find the price the excites the customer. From perceived bargains to perceived quality, it's all a matter of psychology and numbers
Toy Fair at Your Door (1/1/2011)
Whether you're braving the NYC cold or staying home this year, TDmonthly Magazine will bring Toy Fair to you once again via our on-site video coverage.
Get Ready for Xmas! (1/1/2011)
You haven't even replenished your shelves from the 2010 holidays yet, but it's not too soon to start planning for 4Q 2011.
You Coulda Been First — Toy Fair Debuts That Keep on Selling (1/1/2011)
If you were at Toy Fair from 2006 to 2010, your store could have been the first to feature such award-winning and hot-selling products as Hexbugs, ZipBins, Zoobies and Wild Creations' Eco-Aquariums
How and What to Buy at Trade Shows (12/1/2010)
You've spent a lot of time and money to make it onto the show floor: Now find out how to make that investment profitable
What You Miss By Missing Toy Fair (12/1/2010)
Thinking about saving a few bucks and staying home in February? January's TDmonthly Magazine will SHOW you why that decision might not be financially wise
See What's Coming in 2011 — Toy Fair Preview (12/1/2010)
Do you wish they had an Advent Calendar for adults, so you could count down the days to Toy Fair?
How to Find Your Soul Employees, Part I: Hiring (12/1/2010)
Ask Creative Kidstuff CEO Roberta Bonoff what the key to success is and she can boil it down to one word: staff
How to Find Your Soul Employees, Part II: Training (12/1/2010)
Once you've found the right people, how do you teach them all they need to know about toys?
VIDEOS: How I Found My Niche (12/1/2010)
The first rule of business is that you must develop a niche in your market. But how do you find a niche and how do you know it's the right one for you and your customers
Top-10 Most-Wanted School Supplies and Learning Toys (12/1/2010)
Everyone knows parents and grandparents, at least, love learning toy
Top-10 Most-Wanted Hobby Goods (12/1/2010)
RC helicopters and slot cars in general and vehicles from Kid Galaxy in particular are still the hottest in this category.
Top-10 Most-Wanted Flying Toys (12/1/2010)
The Wright Brothers pinned their hopes for flight on a wooden biplane. Kids, though, will launch anything from a rocket to a monkey.
Our Best Sellers: 26 Nationwide Retailers (12/1/2010)
In the autumn of 2010, TDmonthly Magazine interviewed 26 retailers across the nation about their three top sellers
How to Have the Hottest Holiday Toys (12/1/2010)
While parents battle each other over the last Lalaloopsy doll at the big-box store, or fill their pockets with Squinkies, you can offer simliar items to moms and dads on a search for something just a little different
Hottest High-Tech Holiday Toys (12/1/2010)
Don't believe Santa's elves can turn out a decent laptop? Want to give your kid a toy that's actually playable?
How to Make Money Without Really Trying (12/1/2010)
What would you say if someone invented an inexpensive, braintwisting puzzle that came in a multitude of designs that appeal to players from 4 to 104
December Staff Picks (12/1/2010)
New craft kits allow kids to batik their own shirts and bake their own cups
VIDEOS: Retailers Talk Up Top Sellers - The Newcomers (11/1/2010)
This time of year, you don't have time to talk to every customer about every toy. That's why TDmonthly Magazine lets other specialty toy-store owners from across the country do the selling for yo
VIDEOS: Retailers Talk Up Top Sellers - The Classics (11/1/2010)
Use the following TDmonthly Magazine videos and let other storeowners train your holiday staff about toys that have made your holidays bright for 5 years or more
Watch Videos from the ABC Kids Expo 2010 (11/1/2010)
This month, TDmonthly brings you highlights from the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas
ABC Kids Expo Lets Toy Companies Expand (11/1/2010)
Exhibitors at last month's ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas said that the show allowed them to evaluate their sales and marketing strategies and push product development into new arenas
Retailers Tell You How to Find Your Niche (11/1/2010)
For more than a year, TDmonthly has been interviewing specialty retailers about how they carved a place for themselves in their communities
Face Reality and Get Organized (11/1/2010)
In December, TDmonthly Magazine enlists two guest experts -- David Allen and Bob Phibbs
How to Be Irresistible and Unforgettable, Part I: Branding (11/1/2010)
With thousands of advertising and branding messages vying daily for your customers' time and money, your store has to offer something that no one else does... and offer it consistently
How to Be Irresistible and Unforgettable, Part II: Become Essential (11/1/2010)
It's not only toy-store owners who have no time. The more you do for your customers, the more they won't want to live without you
Design a Buying Space, Part I: Start Outside (10/1/2010)
Your toy store may be filled with child-friendly murals and even an open play area, but if customers walk out empty-handed, the store's design is not doing its job
Design a Buying Space, Part II: Be Buyer Friendly
Though you may want to cram your store full of wonderful products and ingenious displays, Tom Moseman of Envirosell, Inc. — a company that videotapes shoppers to see what they buy or avoid and why — said customers want to be able to find a product quickly and be on their way
Design a Buying Space, Part III: Analysis (10/1/2010)
When analyzing your sales per square foot, you can try comparing it to equivalent stores to evaluate your success. Jonathan Brandow, principal of BizMiner, an industry reporting agency, recommends requesting 10K reports from the Securities Exchange Commission on publicly traded toy stores.
How to Hire and Keep Your Dream Staff (10/1/2010)
Find out why you might want to offer new hires money to quit
How to Handle a Man (10/1/2010)
Men buy differently than women. For one thing, they're apt to wait until the last week before the holidays before they get serious and show up in your store
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Kazoodles, Vancouver, WA (10/1/2010)
Bob and Mary Sisson had to drive all the way from Vancouver, Wash., to Portland, Ore., to buy toys for their grandchildren because there were no quality toy stores in their hometown. That's when they had an epiphany:
Design a Buying Space (9/1/2010)
In the October issue of TDmonthly Magazine, experts in retail flow, fixture design and even feng shui will help you learn about how a retail environment can make customers buy more
How to Be Irresistible and Unforgettable (9/1/2010)
This November, you'll see for yourself why certain logos work and others don't
TDmonthly Goes Inside: Toy Castle, Jonesboro, Ark. (9/1/2010)
TDmonthly Magazine sent its video crew all the way to Jonesboro, Ark. to take a peek inside Toy Castle
How to Start a Toy Store, Part I: Locations, Teams and Business Plans (9/1/2010)
Whether you're a long-time toy retailer considering a second or third location, or a newbie starting out, a few steps can't be omitted if your goal is continued success in the toy business
How to Start a Toy Store, Part II: Find the Right Toys (9/1/2010)
If you're opening a toy store, you probably love toys, and so you might assume that choosing the right ones for your store would be easy
Kids Get Pampered at California Gift Show (9/1/2010)
TDmonthly Magazine sent its video crew to the California Gift Show this summer to sleuth around for new toys and products for kids and babies
Sizzling Videos From Comic-Con 2010 (8/1/2010)
This year's Comic-Con was filled with offbeat toys and games to catch the interest of tweens and beyond
Experience Comic-Con 2010 — on Video! (8/1/2010)
Comic-Con 2010 was filled with fun characters, new exhibitors and Hollywood celebs — "Twlight" screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and indy animator Bill Plympton — sharing their plans with attendees. TDmonthly Magazine's video crew was there, too, to bring you back a taste of the show
WATCH VIDEOS: TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Thinker Things, Calif. (7/1/2010)
Jane Naisbitt, an elementary school teacher, opened Thinker Things toy store in Del Mar, Calif., in 1974, when son John was still in high school. Jane chose educational and fun toys to stock her shelves
WATCH VIDEOS: TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats (7/1/2010)
When Jeanette Lature opened Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats in 2007, she looked for toys that she'd want to play with herself and those that allowed kids to bring their imaginations to the game
WATCH VIDEOS: ASTRA Marketplace 2010 (7/1/2010)
Equating Rhode Island's "intimate setting, and its celebration of self-determination and reinvention" with the specialty toy market's top qualities, organizers at ASTRA chose the smallest state to host their biggest event
TDmonthly Goes Inside .... Neely's, South L.A. (6/1/2010)
The week of the infamous Watts riots in 1965, I. H. and J. Grace Neely opened a furniture store on the corner of 59th and Broadway in South Los Angeles
Visit Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats (6/1/2010)
Take a trip to Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., in the July issue of TDmonthly Magazine. Owner Jeanette Lauture explains on video what makes her store unique
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Green Genes, Chicago (4/1/2010)
Two-year-old Green Genes in Chicago began with a simple idea: Owner Heather Muenstermann wanted to create a one-stop shop for organic and eco-friendly kids' and babies' products
April's Toy Videos Build on Fun (4/1/2010)
This month, TDmonthly Magazine brings you videos from some of the leaders in the specialty toy industry
Watch Videos: Toys Play at WTHRA (4/1/2010)
TDmonthly Magazine recently captured more than 150 demo videos of toys and games — including many NEW products — at the annual Western States Toy & Hobby Show
Video: ASTRA Talks Holiday Sales & Social Media (4/1/2010)
TDmonthly Magazine's Julie Jones caught up with Kathleen McHugh, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, at Toy Fair 2010. ASTRA is encouraged by 2009 holiday sales in the specialty market
TIA President Predicts Surge of Creativity in Toys (3/1/2010)
The fourth quarter of 2009 took the toy industry by surprise as customers swept clean the shelves of toy stores across the nation. The lead-paint and safety scares of 2007 had mostly faded from memory, and even recession fears began to recede
Video Interview: Toy Fair Trends Get All "A's" (3/1/2010)
The main trends to watch for this year ... are Active Toys that stimulate both body and mind, Affordable playthings that feature low cost and multiple uses, Accessible items that let kids access their favorite brands via a variety of media and products, and Aspirational products
Watch Videos From Toy Fair 2010! (3/1/2010)
These passionate toymakers braved the Northeastern weather and forewent a traditional Valentine's Day to bring their dreams to market at Toy Fair 2010
More Toy Videos to Beat the Cold (2/1/2010)
Snow and rain can keep kids inside during February, so take a look at some toys that will make home feel cozy and fun
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Sparrow, Los Angeles (2/1/2010)
When Terrie Owen became pregnant with her daughter and couldn't find the kinds of eco-friendly, organic toys and products she wanted, she realized she'd stumbled onto a business
Inside the LA Mart (2/1/2010)
In January, the LA Mart and California Gift Show opened their doors to wholesale buyers
Watch Toy Fair Videos Here! (2/1/2010)
Video demonstrations of games, infant toys, science kits and other children's playthings will be the highlight of TDmonthly Magazine's March issue, featuring more than 125 clips of products showcased at Toy Fair 2010
TDmonthly’s Charitable Kid Looks Back (2/1/2010)
It’s been seven months since Kimberly 14, of South Carolina, won the title of TDmonthly’s Charitable Kid ... Thanks to Kimberly and Schoenhut Piano Co., there are now dozens of happier children in the world!
February's Toy Videos Are All Heart (2/1/2010)
While kids are scribbling their Valentine's cards, they can take a look at these new toys, which are sure to set off a spark of love
Kids Come to Play at CHITAG (1/1/2010)
The Chicago International Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG), which took place at Navy Pier Nov. 21-22, is one of the few toy trade shows that encourages kids to come test the toys on display themselves
TDmonthly Goes Inside… The Acorn Store, Santa Monica, Calif. (1/1/2010)
The Acorn Store is the only retail shop on its block, but a sidewalk display of toys and trikes pulls in passersby who are strolling or cruising the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles.
January Toy Videos Go Traveling (1/1/2010)
This month's toys have legs. Pull-along elephants, a world explorer kit and travel-friendly pacifiers let kids trot the globe
The Acorn Store's PLAN Showroom (1/1/2010)
Behind the Acorn Store is another store, and another one, too ... three separate showrooms help give this little toy store a big presence in kids' imaginations
2010: Year of the Dinosaur? (12/1/2009)
Faithful readers of TDmonthly Magazine will be cheered to know that Michael Maddi of Puppetoys, one of the toymakers whose debut we chronicled at Toy Fair 2008, is finally watching his glove-puppet dinosaurs stomp out into the marketplace faster than he can ship them
December Toy Videos Generate Holiday Warmth (12/1/2009)
Those happy holidays are here and TDmonthly Magazine’s December toy videos demonstrate lots of new games and toys that can let people stay warm and toasty indoors
Tween Toys Get Taped: Watch Bakugan and MORE (12/1/2009)
Tweens may be too cool for princess gowns and police uniforms, but they won't be able to resist fake mustaches
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Star Toys, Los Angeles (12/1/2009)
Leonard Lieberman may be 72 years old, but that doesn’t keep him from flipping his (R/C) car on its back whenever he can
Rubber Band Wars Break Out in Specialty (12/1/2009)
If you think dolls fight dirty, then you haven't been zapped by a silicone animal band.
TDmonthly Charitable Kid Keeps on Giving! (12/1/2009)
TDmonthly’s Charitable Kid, Kimberly (14) of South Carolina, has continued a giving streak made possible by the generosity of the Schoenhut Piano Co. Inc.
Sharks Show Up on Holiday Videos (11/1/2009)
From a football game in a deck of cards to a pool table that welcomes sharks, these surprising games and toys encourage family fun
14-Year-Old Kimberly Makes Music for Needy Kids (11/1/2009)
Dozens of special needs and foster children are unexpectedly making music on high-quality toy pianos, thanks to the Schoenhut Piano Company and TDmonthly Magazine's Charitable Kid, 14-year-old Kimberly from South Carolina.
TDmonthly Goes Inside … Can You Imagine (11/1/2009)
If you’re looking for boys’ toys, tween items, novelties and things that are just plain fun and imaginative, you might want to step into the Can You Imagine showroom
How a 5-MINUTE CHALLENGE® Trumps Challenging Times (10/1/2009)
On the prowl for a product that meets the needs of the times, TDmonthly Magazine and TOYDIRECTORY took a trip to Redondo Beach to visit Kathie and Marshall Gavin, founders of b. dazzle, inc. and makers of Scramble Squares® brain-teaser puzzles.
Video Highlights of the 2009 ABC Kids Expo (10/1/2009)
The ABC Kids Expo filled the Las Vegas Convention Center with baby gear Sept. 13-16, wowing attendees with an expansive array of car seats, infant playthings, costumes, blankets, feeding supplies and more
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Pixie Toys, Long Beach, Calif. (10/1/2009)
Heather Daykin was born to toys. Her mother ran a toy store, and when it came time to decide her own future, selling toys was the only option that appealed to her.
Postcards Talk and Letters Roll in October's Videos (10/1/2009)
Want to mail a special note to that special someone? Challenge a friend to a race of words? Or sculpt the cutest little penguin out of wool? Watch these videos
September Videos Preview a Happy Holiday (9/1/2009)
This month’s videos give you a preview of how much fun kids will have during the holidays this year.
See "Green" in Videos of Eco-Friendly Infant Toys (9/1/2009)
Natural, eco-friendly dolls and teethers are the subjects of the following baby product videos, which also feature "Anew" design for post-maternal wraps and a soft play camera that's snappy
Tween Crafts Show Off on Video (9/1/2009)
Are your tween customers into arts, crafts and fun accessories? There's plenty for them to explore in the following kits by Fashion Angels, Artterro, Creativity for Kids and Corps of Re-Discovery
TDmonthly Goes Inside … Toy Crazy, Malibu (9/1/2009)
In 1998, when Melissa Moore opened the first Toy Crazy in Malibu, Calif., the beachside town was a lot more laidback than it is today. Sandals and cutoffs were de rigeur fashion and iconoclastic specialty shops the norm
ABC Kids Expo Highlights (9/1/2009)
The ABC Kids Expo is huge — and growing, with another 50 confirmed exhibitors during just two weeks of August, according to a Twitter post — so TDmonthly Magazine's video crew will be hitting the trade show floor
TDmonthly’s Charitable Kid Picks Her Charities (9/1/2009)
TDmonthly Magazine’s Charitable Kid Contest winner, 13-year-old Kimberly of South Carolina, has consulted with her mother and pastor to come up with the first few charities that will accept the prize of Schoenhut My First Piano IIs:
My Funniest Toy Store Stories (9/1/2009)
Shortly after we started our Awesome Bucks reward program, a little boy came into the store. He was so small he couldn’t see over the counter
Fresh Videos Take Flight (9/1/2009)
Now's the time to order, so this month TDmonthly has a new batch of toy videos to help you make decisions for fourth quarter.
FREEBIES: No-Cost, High-Value Add-Ons (9/1/2009)
TDmonthly Magazine offers lots of unique, free ways for specialty retailers to help their customers learn more about what makes their toys an incredible value. This month marks TDmonthly's first-ever in-house VIDEO BLITZ
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Sideshow Collectibles (8/1/2009)
Unlike other manufacturers who rely exclusively on laser scans and digital-wax outputs to create character likenesses, Sideshow Collectibles still hires artists to individually sculpt 90 percent of the faces and bodies for its action figures and collectibles.
TDmonthly Goes Inside … Three Cheeky Monkeys, Los Angeles (8/1/2009)
Wallace Harvey bought Three Cheeky Monkeys in Los Angeles from the original owner seven years ago, after having worked as an employee in the store, he told TDmonthly Magazine.
August Videos Get You Moving (8/1/2009)
This month's videos let kids dance to their own music, learn on the fly, and play on the move
California Gift Show Specialty Products on Video (8/1/2009)
In July, TDmonthly Magazine's video crew headed for the L.A. Mart and California Gift Show, which combined forces to attract more than 22,000 buyers from across the nation
Product Demo Vids from ABC Kids! (8/1/2009)
Dubbed one of the fastest growing trade shows in the country, the ABC Kids Expo will hit Las Vegas once again this year, featuring more than 800 exhibitors for the juvenile products industry. TDmonthly Magazine's video crew will be there
Why Kimberly Is a TDmonthly Charitable Kid (8/1/2009)
Michelle from South Carolina entered her 13-year-old daughter Kimberly in the TDmonthly Magazine Charitable Kid Contest without Kimberly's knowledge. She thought the contest was perfect for her daughter
My Funniest Toy Store Stories (8/1/2009)
Here are this month’s toy store stories, told by retailers just like you
13-Year-Old Kimberly Is the TDmonthly Charitable Kid
Thirteen-year-old Kimberly of South Carolina has been named the TDmonthly Charitable Kid and will give away 100 Schoenhut My First Piano IIs to needy children in her community
Watch and Learn With July's Videos (7/1/2009)
Help your customers turn the lazy days of summer into fun and challenging learning experiences
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Ventura Toys, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (7/1/2009)
Ibrahim Victory first opened Ventura Toys in Sherman Oaks, Calif., more than 20 years ago
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... The Elegant Child, Beverly Hills (7/1/2009)
Teri Weiss bought The Elegant Child in Beverly Hills from her friend and employer 20 years ago. Since that time, she's built her private showroom for baby gifts into an online sensation
Video Highlights of ASTRA 2009 (7/1/2009)
The 2009 ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in St. Paul, Minn., had plenty to offer in terms of creative plush, fun games, cool ride-ons and inventive accessories — and TDmonthly Magazine caught more than 150 toys on tape!
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... The Dinosaur Farm, South Pasadena, Calif. (7/1/2009)
Step inside The Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena, Calif., and you'll be transported back to the Jurassic Age ... or not, depending which room you're stepping into
How Unusual Events Expand Your Presence (7/1/2009)
Dogs in tutus, pianos strewn across gardens: If you want to stage events that attract attention, you may want to forget about toys for a moment.
The Yin and Yang of a Successful Event (7/1/2009)
The Schoenhut Piano Company has a history of participating in and funding unusual events that bring their chime-like toy pianos — and the newer 44-string mini grand piano — before the public.
ASTRA Attendees Speak Out About TDmonthly (7/1/2009)
With increased costs and lower budgets, both retailers and manufacturers have had to change the way they connect with each other.
TDmonthly Goes Inside … Puzzle Zoo, Santa Monica, Calif. (6/1/2009)
Since 1993, Puzzle Zoo has been tempting pedestrians on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to release their inner children and buy something cool.
TDmonthly Goes Inside … Puzzle Zoo, Part II (6/1/2009)
Watch Magical June Videos (6/1/2009)
June's videos are full of magic and surprises: rocks that melt into toys, wishes that fly through the air and fairytales that kids make up themselves
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Giant Robot, Los Angeles (6/1/2009)
Not many toy stores start out as a fanzine, but Giant Robot doesn't follow rules
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Elegant Child (6/1/2009)
TDmonthly's video crew recently paid a visit to Beverly Hills baby and early childhood store The Elegant Child, which carries Kaloo plush and Vulli's Sophie the Giraffe, along with a variety of custom specialty items
Will YOUR Customer Give Away 100 Schoenhut Pianos? (6/1/2009)
Schoenhut Piano Co. Inc. has generously agreed to donate 100 25-key My First Piano IIs to be given to needy children by a child who wins the TDmonthly Charitable Kid Contest!
Naughty Birds and Other Toys Caught by Camera (5/1/2009)
Summer's coming soon and kids are dreaming of vacation and all the playing they'll be doing. Put these videos on your website to give them even more to dream about
TDmonthly Video Goes Inside Dark Delicacies, Burbank, Calif. (5/1/2009)
Del Howison and his wife, Sue, founded Dark Delicacies in Burbank, Calif., almost 15 years ago
ASTRA Video - Straight to Your Store! (5/1/2009)
In addition to keeping you posted on the manufacturers exhibiting at this year's ASTRA Marketplace & Academy, June 14-17 in Minnesota, TDmonthly Magazine's video crew will hit the show floor
Regional Reports: What's Selling … And Where (5/1/2009)
The best-seller category was different for all the storeowners interviewed this month. For some, lines with broad numbers of small product, such as Lego or the Iwako erasers by BC Industries, soared.
Watch Videos From Toy Fair 2009 by Category (5/1/2009)
2009 American International Toy Fair videos listed according to product category.
More Than 180 Videos From Pomona by Category (5/1/2009)
Product videos from the 2009 Western Toy and Hobby Representatives Association listed according to product category.
Watch Toy Videos From 2009 Trade Shows by Category (5/1/2009)
If you're placing orders and have already forgotten what you saw at Toy Fair or Pomona, take a look through these two categorical video articles
TDmonthly’s Charitable Kid Contest #1: Schoenhut Piano Co. Inc. (5/1/2009)
Will YOUR Customer Give Away 100 Schoenhut Pianos? TDmonthly Magazine is teaming up with manufacturers, specialty retailers and kids to bring joy – and toys! – into the lives of needy children.
Watch Videos of How Games Played at Toy Fair (4/1/2009)
Your customers need demos before they buy; so do you! So, TDmonthly Magazine has brought you dozens of new game demos on video from the American International Toy Fair in New York
Watch Dolls, Plush and Puppets Perform on Video (4/1/2009)
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but pictures alone can be deceiving. Get a close-up look at the new dolls, plush and puppets from Toy Fair with TDmonthly's demo videos
Look at Exciting Crafts and Construction Videos (4/1/2009)
Kids who like to work with their hands will find new ways to challenge themselves with these crafts and construction toys from Toy Fair 2009
Watch Outdoor, Sporty Playthings on Video (4/1/2009)
Balance bikes gained speed at Toy Fair 2009
View Play Set, Play Tent and Action Figure Videos (4/1/2009)
Watch the newest play sets, play tents and action figures from Toy Fair 2009. Go to Egypt, go green ... there's a world of possibilities to choose from
Video Lessons From Educational Toys (4/1/2009)
TDmonthly went to Toy Fair 2009 and brought back videos of learning toys so you could learn more about them before you order. From books to kits, these products help kids expand their horizons
Multimedia Sounds Off at Toy Fair on Video (4/1/2009)
From musical instruments to DVDs, these multimedia products may ring the right notes for your store
See Teenies to Tweenies Product Videos (4/1/2009)
Babies don't know anything and tweens don't like anything, but these new products will tempt both ends of the child-age spectrum
"Just for Fun" Toys Show Off on Video (4/1/2009)
Novelties and odd skills catch the fancies of even the most jaded kids
More Than 180 Videos From Pomona! (4/1/2009)
Looking for toy videos to increase conversions on your selling site? TDmonthly Magazine went to the Western States Toy & Hobby Show in Pomona, Calif., and filmed more than 180 toy and game videos
Watch Videos From Toy Fair 2009! (3/1/2009)
Whether you flew to New York or stayed snug at home, you can still see some of the best new products from the 2009 American International Toy Fair by watching TDmonthly Magazine's demonstration videos. You even get to meet Stephan Pastis, creator of the nationwide cartoon sensation "Pearls Before Swine," as he demonstrates his new plush line by Aurora World.
Regional Reports: What’s Selling … And Where (3/1/2009)
No name came up more frequently for wooden toys than Melissa & Doug. Whether it’s play food or art supplies, this company led the pack.
Watch Videos of the Toys You Missed at the WTHRA Show (3/1/2009)
If you missed the WTHRA this year, held for the last time in Pomona, Calif.(next year: Long Beach, CA), don't worry ... TDmonthly went for you
See Post-Toy Fair Specials - Limited Time! (3/1/2009)
If you didn't make it to Toy Fair, or are still deciding what to order, don't worry: You haven't missed out on Show Specials yet! TDmonthly Magazine gathered show specials for you in one video
MORE Secret Lives of Toymakers (3/1/2009)
What is it like to have $100,000 on the line and no buyers? Find out by watching more rough sequences from ToyDirectory's upcoming documentary
Get Your Toy Fair Toys Here! (2/1/2009)
Whether you're at the show, or snug at home with your laptop, you can access the best specialty toys from Toy Fair right here at TDmonthly Magazine
These New Toys Know How to Move (2/1/2009)
Spinning seals, crawling bugs and a bunny that looks so realistic it could just hop away — February's toys are all about action
Film from the Fair (2/1/2009)
During the four days of Toy Fair, February 15-18, TDmonthly Magazine’s video crew will capture hours of exciting show footage, including product demonstration videos performed by manufacturers themselves
Congratulations to Winner of TDmonthly's eBook! (2/1/2009)
Last month, TDmonthly held an email quiz contest for retailers to test their toy smarts and get a chance to win "In the Black: TDmonthly's Essential Toy Retailing Tips"
Regional Reports: What’s Selling … And Where (2/1/2009)
Sticky Mosaics by Orb Factory are just blowing away the competition. Not only did they rank at the top for girls’ arts and crafts toys, but some storeowners reported they were the best-selling item in the store.
Find Out What Other Retailers Looked at in 2008 (2/1/2009)
Are you curious about what new products other retailers and consumers were looking at on TDmonthly Magazine in 2008? Following is a list of the 30 most-viewed 2008 products
The Secret Lives of Toy Makers (2/1/2009)
If you've ever wondered who invented that game on your shelf, or how other retailers stalk the trade-show booths, these rough sequences shot at Toy Fair 2008 will give you insights
Sales Tracking - End of January 2009 (2/1/2009)
Bananagrams keeps getting stronger. Though Quadrilla still sold fairly well for some, even Christmas didn't totally rev up this former star. Ruckus, a big hit in some stores, isn't impressing other owners.
Watch Toy Fair 2009 Videos (2/1/2009)
Whether you flew to New York or stayed snug at home, you can still see some of the best new products from the 2009 American International Toy Fair
Regional Reports: What’s Selling … And Where (1/1/2009)
From Blokus (distributor currently changing as of 12/08) to Wedgits from Imagability, small, easy-to learn games and toys are the winners when it comes to popular sellers.
How to Demo Your Toy on Video (1/1/2009)
If you've signed up for a TDmonthly Magazine Toy Video demonstration at Toy Fair 2009, there's no need for a script and no need to be nervous
Loyal Customers Kept Specialty Afloat for Holidays (1/1/2009)
Despite the gloomy economy, only two of eleven specialty toy-store owners told TDmonthly Magazine that their holiday sales were significantly lower than last year's. Everyone else's responses ranged from "okay, considering ... " to "much better than expected."
Exhibitor Tips: Maximize Your Toy Fair ROI
Exhibiting at the American International Toy Fair can be overwhelming ... and expensive! TDmonthly Magazine's videos and articles can help prepare you and even show you what it's like. Here's what one newbie vedor told us
Holiday Roundup: Keep on Ordering (12/1/2008)
Get your last-minute holiday orders from these great companies, sorted by category
Top-10 Holiday Toys on VIDEO! (12/1/2008)
Ever wonder why most top-10 hot toys lists show you the same old things over and over? Many of the biggest toy companies pay spokespeople to inundate the media with their products during the holiday season
What to Expect When You're Exhibiting (12/1/2008)
You've spent months, years and sometimes decades devising, designing, refining and producing your new toy or game. You've visualized yourself cashing that first big check and "seen" your baby on toy-store shelves all across America
Hot Holiday Sellers - 2008 (12/1/2008)
You've seen other Top-10 lists, but they don't have much to do with your store
WINNERS of 5-Sec Video Offer Post-Show Specials (12/1/2008)
Even after Toy Fair, the bargains will continue! These 20 manufacturers won 5 seconds of free airtime on TDmonthly Magazine
TDmonthly's Greedy Grown-ups Xmas List (12/1/2008)
The job of a TDmonthly Magazine staffer is to analyze and evaluate each new toy that passes through our office. Some of them we write about; some we dismiss. Here are the ones we'd like to keep
Regional Reports: What’s Selling … And Where (12/1/2008)
Only interested in what’s going on in your market? Take a peek by region to see what to stock and when to think twice
Watch Before You Buy (11/1/2008)
You've heard about SpinMaster's Bakugan Battle Brawlers, but are they right for your store? Now you can see for yourself. TDmonthly's videos let you try out toys without meeting a rep or boarding a plane
Place Your Last-Minute Orders Here (11/1/2008)
Several specialty toy-store owners have told TDmonthly Magazine that they are ordering later than usual this holiday season, owing to the uncertain economic climate
Holiday Roundup: Quality Comes First (11/1/2008)
Prepare for the holiday season by looking through these great toys, sorted by category
Conquer Toy Fair 2009! (11/1/2008)
Don't leave the most important U.S. toy show of the year to chance
ABC Show Shows Off (10/1/2008)
At the ABC Show in Vegas last month, "mompreneurs" and other inventors showed off innovative, problem-solving products. TDmonthly Magazine brought its camera crew
ABC Kids Expo Booths Needed Help! (10/1/2008)
At the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas last month, Charles W. Allen of the C. W. Allen Group was shocked by the uninspired booth designs that prevented great companies from attracting the kind of traffic they deserved
Regional Reports: What’s Selling … and Where (10/1/2008)
Only interested in what’s going on in your market? Take a peek by region to see what to stock and when to think twice:
Singing Prodigy Eschews Toys for Grander Things (9/1/2008)
When TDmonthly Magazine spoke with Connie Talbot, the 7-year-old singing phenomenon whose “Over the Rainbow” album will debut this month on the AAO Music/Reality label, she said she was hoping to get a bicycle for her birthday on November 20
Sales Tracking - End of August 2008 (9/1/2008)
TDmonthly Magazine surveys toy-store owners throughout the country to find out which steady sellers are still doing well
ABC Kids: Caught on Tape (9/1/2008)
Hundreds of companies and thousands of buyers will attend the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas this month, and TDmonthly Magazine will be there to capture it
Regional Reports: What’s Selling … and Where (9/1/2008)
Only interested in what’s going on in your market? Take a peek by region to see what to stock and when to think twice:
TDmonthly 2008 Awardees Get Moving (9/1/2008)
See for yourself why these products won awards over the thousands of toys and games that TDmonthly staff evaluated over the past year
TDmonthly Classics and 2008 Innovations Awards (9/1/2008)
The new and the old fit perfectly together as these toy videos of TDmonthly's Classics and 2008 Innovations award winners make clear
Watch ASTRA Marketplace Videos on TDmonthly (8/1/2008)
Even if you were at the ASTRA Marketplace at the end of June, you can still use the videos TDmonthly Magazine shot to introduce your customers to new products by putting the videos on your website
See What Attendees Said About ASTRA 2008 (8/1/2008)
At the end of June, ASTRA retailers converged at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut to see some of the newest products from specialty toy manufacturers, and TDmonthly was there with our camera crew
August Staff Picks (8/1/2008)
As summer sales wind down and holiday ordering begins, you probably don't have time to look through the 500+ products TDmonthly Magazine uploaded since last month
Sales Tracking - Summer 2008 (8/1/2008)
TDmonthly Magazine surveyed 12 specialty retailers throughout the country to find out which hot sellers were still doing well
Film Me, Film Me at ABC! (8/1/2008)
Keep an eye out for TDmonthly’s Video Crew at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, Sept. 7-11! We’ll be capturing video demonstrations of the newest toys
Top-10 Toys at the ASTRA Marketplace (8/1/2008)
TDmonthly's video and editorial crew have picked out the top-10 toys and games from June's ASTRA Marketplace show
ASTRA Comes to You (7/1/2008)
Visit the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s annual Marketplace & Academy after the show!
Clicking Into Christmas: Find New Toys (6/1/2008)
You can ditch the catalogs, evade the reps and still be ready for the Holiday Season
Get Ready to Order! (6/1/2008)
TDmonthly Magazine’s July Holiday Preview issue will continue to highlight the newest products for the 2008 holiday season
How to Get the Time You Need (6/1/2008)
If you’re feeling stressed and not very playful, you’re not alone.
See Your ASTRA Colleagues on Video! (6/1/2008)
Meet your colleagues before you hit the ASTRA Marketplace floor by watching these videos TDmonthly Magazine shot during ASTRA's Party With the Stars at FAO Schwarz during Toy Fair 2008
How to Close Your Store and Move On (5/1/2008)
Optimism can cure a slew of predicaments, but how do you know when it’s time to shut the “Glad Book” and face the facts?
Get Ready for the ASTRA Marketplace (5/1/2008)
Looking for amazing new toys and games by small, inventive companies that no one's discovered yet?
Getting Kids to Talk, One Card at a Time (5/1/2008)
Glad you’re not a kid in this hooked-in, constant-access, grow-up-now world? If you were, wouldn’t you need a little help wading through society’s ethical quagmires?
Get an Edge on Santa by Spying These Toys (5/1/2008)
Santa's hard at work on his list ... have you started yours? Find out what toys kids want in their stockings by taking a peek at TDmonthly's Holiday Preview articles
Hybrids Lure Kids Outdoors (4/1/2008)
When is a lawn dart not a lawn dart? When it's also a shuttlecock
Picking Puzzles Apart (4/1/2008)
Take a look at these new puzzles to see which pieces fit best with your customers.
Watch More Than 40 Videos from WTHRA! (4/1/2008)
Thanks to TDmonthly and the web, almost anyone can see the hottest new toys from the WTHRA show in Pomona last month.
Toy Fair 2008 Videos - Arranged by Category (4/1/2008)
Quickly find the toys you need from Toy Fair when you search by category.
Webkinz Speaks (4/1/2008)
At Toy Fair 2008, George Kacic, vice president of sales and marketing for Ganz, said he felt TDmonthly Magazine hadn’t covered his company’s point of view about the Webkinz shortage last year.
Challenged Economy = Opportunity (4/1/2008)
Talk of recession and comparisons to the Great Depression in the media fuel consumer anxiety, but most experts predicted to TDmonthly Magazine that toy stores will fare well in a challenged economy
Toys That Got Us Hot (4/1/2008)
The 2008 orders are in and more than half of 45 storeowners surveyed by TDmonthly Magazine are revved up about the new toys coming their way
Watch Toy Fair Documentary (3/1/2008)
Perhaps you’ve already seen some of the product demo videos from Toy Fair 2008 in the March issue of TDmonthly Magazine.
Wooden Toys Are the Hot Old Thing (3/1/2008)
While the furor over the recalls last summer has simmered down a bit, wooden toys are still enjoying a resurgence
Games Are Fun for Everyone (3/1/2008)
Games may be the most reliable category in specialty toy stores right now
Toy Fair 2008 Videos - 180+ Toys Move It (3/1/2008)
TDmonthly Magazine sent three video crews to Toy Fair 2008 in New York to find out what's really going on with specialty toys.
TOY FRENZY! Update: Flu Storms the Fair (3/1/2008)
Kleenex packs, not galoshes, were the accessories of choice at Toy Fair 2008.
Robots Take Over Toy Fair (2/1/2008)
This year's Toy Fair teemed with robots and other high-tech gadgetry that yanked the World of Tomorrow into today's playthings. Watch videos to see more
TDmonthly's February Staff Picks (2/1/2008)
Even before you hit the show, you’ll need to know what new companies are out there and the latest offerings from vendors you trust. TDmonthly Magazine looked through this month’s nearly 500 uploaded products
In This Issue (2/1/2008)
Get your new Toy Fair toys and monthly news in video form
See the New Toys Here! (2/1/2008)
TDmonthly Magazine found the best new toys at Toy Fair, spotted trends and found out what specialty retailers thought about the show
TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls (2/1/2008)
Thirty-seven of 62 toy-store owners raved that Corolle babies are their best-selling dolls, with sales averaging from two to 50 per month year-round and significantly more at Christmas.
Our Favorite Videos (2/1/2008)
We're about to bring back a whole documentary from Toy Fair '08, so we thought it was time to look back through the history of TDmonthly's Toy Videos
Tips: Finding Space for Success (2/1/2008)
Two related challenges for successful toy-store owners are finding sufficient storage space when the trucks roll up to their doors and deciding what to do with merchandise that won’t budge from the shelves.
Celebrities Love Specialty Toys (2/1/2008)
Smart Mom LLC and Alpha Source International each found gaggles of celebrities to go ga-ga over their offerings
50 Winners of Free TDmonthly Video at Toy Fair (2/1/2008)
TDmonthly Magazine offered free toy demonstration videos to the first 50 Toy Fair exhibitors who responded to our email
Gourmet Toys Make Kids Think About Food (1/1/2008)
Kids who shovel food in their mouths can be literal about it with a utensil set from Constructive Eating
Games to Improve Brains (1/1/2008)
These new games make brain strain fun
Gearing Up for Baby (1/1/2008)
Tiny people need special care ... and lots and lots of stuff
Plush, Puppets and Dolls Try Something New (1/1/2008)
Never cuddled a moose before? Now you can.
Words and Music Expand Kids' Horizons (1/1/2008)
Parents who don't want to send their kids to the high seas might appreciate a book or two that lets junior live the pirate's life
Building a Better World (1/1/2008)
These toys challenge kids to see the world in new ways
Dressing Up Inside and Out (1/1/2008)
Wearing fairy wings is a thing of the past for most tweens, but that doesn't mean they won't use them to dress up their bedroom
Toys for Just Plain Fun (1/1/2008)
Children who need a break from having their brains challenged can relax with these new toy toys
Top-10 Most-Anticipated Toys for 2008 (1/1/2008)
Christmas is over, so let the ordering begin! Based on fairly spectacular holiday sales, specialty retailers told TDmonthly Magazine Dec. 26 to 28 that they’re eager for more
Top-10 Best-Selling Holiday Toys for Boys (1/1/2008)
What boys’ toys took off like a rocket during the 2007 holidays? According to 27 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly Magazine from Dec. 26 to 28, planes and rockets
Still Innovative (1/1/2008)
Though these products debuted up to two years ago, they're still fresh and deserve a closer look
TOY FRENZY! Candidates Tell Their Stories (1/1/2008)
At Toy Fair 2008, TDmonthly Magazine will follow up to new companies debuting their products
TDmonthly's January Staff Picks (1/1/2008)
When restocking shelves, be sure to check out these new or unusual companies and products, picked by TDmonthly Magazine staff for specialty stores
In This Issue (1/1/2008)
Stop reading! TDmonthly Magazine is highly scannable this issue, so you can grab the points you need and then get back to your orders and Toy Fair plans.
Halloween: Tattoos for "Boos" (1/1/2008)
It's one thing to wear a Frankenstein mask, but how much better to flaunt fake scars over real kid skin
If We Were Kids ... Xmas List (12/1/2007)
If you're caught in a bind of last-minute-I don't know what I wanna get, here's a list from TDmonthly and Playzak staffers
Ty Girlz Spanked and Webkinz Whipped (12/1/2007)
Clean up your act, was the message Ty’s Ty Girlz got from irate consumers and retailers, who told TDmonthly Magazine they disapproved of the plush-online doll’s Bratz-like face and skimpy clothing.
Our First Toy Fair: Toys and Gifts (12/1/2007)
Going to Toy Fair, but don't have much time? Decided to stay home this year? Either way
Our First Toy Fair: Games (12/1/2007)
Before you hit Toy Fair, check out these new companies who told TDmonthly they were exhibiting at the show for the first time
Webkinz Get Sued! (12/1/2007)
Dec. 11, 2007 — From the "could it get any worse" department comes the news that toy-store owners are suing Ganz, Ganz may be returning the favor, Wal-Mart is
The Best Gifts for Christmas and the Holidays (12/1/2007)
Nobody wants to give a forgettable gift. To find toys and games that kids of all ages will remember and treasure for years to come, check out TDmonthly Magazine's Holiday Gift Guide
TDmonthly's December Staff Picks (12/1/2007)
With any luck, your shelves will be bare by the end of the month! What should you restock them with for January
This Issue's Highlights (12/1/2007)
Specialty retailers are predicting a better-than- average holiday season, which means you'll be busy, busy, busy! So get your news in a flash with TDmonthly's issue highlights
Get These Toys! (12/1/2007)
Suddenly out of out-of-door toys and have to order fast? This month, two retailers spontaneously mentioned
Barbie Wins Doll Wars, But Boys Like Transformers (11/1/2007)
The BIGresearch company has concluded that Barbie is the top doll in the land and that robot cars rule
Holiday Gift Guide: Hot Toys for Christmas (11/1/2007)
While every other shopper in America is standing on line, waiting for a "hot" toy that will lose its appeal 5 minutes after opening
Watch Fall Toy Preview VIDEOS! (11/1/2007)
TDmonthly Magazine's camera crew wound its way through the maze of the Dallas Marketplace exhibit rooms, seeking some of the coolest new toys for 4Q and 2008
Get These Toys! (11/1/2007)
What, besides Webkinz, is heating up for the holidays? Dolls and trucks, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine
Find Out WHY Toys Are Great in 2007 TDmonthly Specialty Toys Report (11/1/2007)
If you're still struggling over which toys to buy this holiday season, the 2007 TDmonthly Specialty Toys may help
This Toy's Got Your Name On It (11/1/2007)
If your customers crave a more personalized approach to toy buying, give these products a try
Tween Girls Crave Crafts and Fashion (11/1/2007)
What do tween girls want? Anything they can use to transform their worlds
Nature Grabs Tween Boys (11/1/2007)
Tween boys are on the go, but these toys should get them to stop in your shop
TDmonthly's November Staff Picks (11/1/2007)
Want to wade through more than 400 new products we uploaded since last month? How about 30 TDmonthly Magazine picked for you?
Videos From New York (11/1/2007)
For the third year in a row, TDmonthly Magazine’s ToyTV video crew will be at the American International Toy Fair in New York … We're also hoping to get some hot footage from the Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair in Nuremburg, Germany!
Hot Toys for Christmas 2007 (10/1/2007)
Get the toys that no one else has by shopping in TDmonthly's Holiday Gift Guide
Holiday Gift Guide Brings Great New Toys to You (10/1/2007)
If you've been searching for gifts that are new, different and of better quality than usual, you've come to to the right place
Kookeys Aim for Webkinz Jugular (10/1/2007)
Think plush is cute? What about the hungry creators behind it? Kids may be playing with KinzCash, but Ganz is raking in real millions, and manufacturers want in.
TDmonthly's October Staff Picks (10/1/2007)
Last month, we uploaded more than 500 new toys! Since you don't have time to look at them all, we looked at them for you
Collect These Cards (10/1/2007)
The plethora of card games on the market makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other, 32 specialty retailers told TDmonthly Magazine, though classic decks for Old Maid, Rummy, Gin and Go Fish still make the “cut”
TDmonthly's Top-10 Toys: ABC Kids Expo (10/1/2007)
Cookie doll clothes, crazy French plush and plaster baby feet? These are just a few of the toys that TDmonthly Magazine captured on tape at the ABC Kids Expo
Get These Toys! (10/1/2007)
If you're just starting your toy store and don't know what to stock, here's what successful specialty retailers say are musts
Get These Toys! (10/1/2007)
If you want to get the hottest specialty toys for the holidays, check these out
The 2007 TDmonthly Specialty Toys Report
The 2007 TDmonthly Specialty Toys Report will be offered to the general public, retailers and the press in mid-October 2007. Its mission is to help consumers make informed buying decisions for the holidays and to introduce them to companies and products they will not find in mass-market outlets.
Keep the Lead Out (9/1/2007)
Millions of children exposed to hazardous substances. Millions of toys recalled. What, exactly, is sitting on your shelves?
How to Find the Coolest Christmas Toys (9/1/2007)
If you want to know how to find the best quality, most innovative toys in the market, take some tips from the people who do that for a living: specialty toy-store owners.
TDmonthly's September Staff Picks (9/1/2007)
Last chance for Holiday orders! If your catalogs are so dog-eared you can't read the fine print, take a look at this list
Buying for Birthday Babes (9/1/2007)
If customers are searching for the perfect gift, make a boy happy by giving him a bullet-proof car from Automoblox, box up a Schleich Elf or Ty Girlz for a girl, and swaddle a babe in a plush animal blanket
Toys, Games and Gifts for $10 and Under (9/1/2007)
Need last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers and things that kids can buy with their holiday money? TDmonthly Magazine picked out 30 new toy and gift items for you
Toys, Games and Gifts for $10 to $20 (9/1/2007)
If your customers are looking for affordable gifts for their nieces, nephews and kids, here's a list of toys and games from $10.00 to $20.00 that will still impress the little ones
Toys, Games and Gifts From $20 to $50 (9/1/2007)
The holidays are the time to splurge, so be sure to provide your customers with plenty of pricier, though still reasonable, new toys and games. Here are some that TDmonthly found for you
Toys for the Big Wow: $50 and Up (9/1/2007)
Frugal parents and grandparents may be enticed to blow their budgets when they see these instant child-pleasers
Unusual Gifts Catch Shoppers' Eyes (9/1/2007)
If you're shopping for unusual gifts for unusual shoppers, TDmonthly Magazine has found a few for you
Discounts for TDmonthly Readers (9/1/2007)
Need free shipping to make your budget work? These specialty toy companies may give you a break if you mention ToyDirectory or TDmonthly Magazine
Check Out These Holiday Discounts! (8/1/2007)
If you’re looking for a break while ordering, check out the companies below. Just for mentioning ToyDirectory or TDmonthly Magazine you may get anything from free shipping to 10 percent discounts!
TDmonthly Toy Video Crew Finds New Toys at ASTRA (8/1/2007)
If you missed the ASTRA show in Las Vegas, don't despair! TDmonthly's ToyTV picked up some of the greatest new companies and toys for the specialty market
Roundtable Roundup: Our Favorite Toys (8/1/2007)
What makes a great toy? More than anything, it depends on whether the kids still play with it after the rush of the new is gone.
Dolls Won't Let Up (8/1/2007)
Though few of the 62 retailers surveyed by TDmonthly Magazine claimed dolls as a stellar seller, all but one carried them — a testament to this classic toy’s staying power.
Roundtable Roundup: When New Toys Get Old (8/1/2007)
To determine which toys have lasting play value, our Roundtable moms and kids looked back at the products they evaluated from March to July 2007.
TDmonthly's August Staff Picks (8/1/2007)
TDmonthly Magazine uploaded more than 650 new toys and games last month! To make your job easier, we sifted through them and selected the ones we think might do well in specialty stores.
New Toys for New Folks (0 to 4 Years) (8/1/2007)
It's time for Christmas, so get your ordering muscles in shape by browsing through these specialty toys selected for you, for kids 0 and up
Gifts for Real Kids (5 to 7 Years) (8/1/2007)
Take a peek on this page to see what specialty toys you might need to order for kids 5 to 7
Gifts for the Jaded (Kids 8 to 12) (8/1/2007)
Ordering for tweens can be difficult. Take a look at these specialty toys
How to Survive a Monster Hit (8/1/2007)
You dream of it and dread it: A specialty toy explodes into the mainstream consciousness. Your sales skyrocket, your foot traffic becomes a stampede, and then ... you run out of the toy
Fashion Passion (8/1/2007)
Anyone in need of fashion inspiration can cancel that trip to Paris and look instead to these dressed dolls
This Issue's Highlights (8/1/2007)
Skim these TDmonthly Magazine stories to find out what you need to know for the ordering season
Get Ready to Order (Part II) (8/1/2007)
Need some cheap stocking stuffers to round out your toy selection?
TDmonthly's Toy Videos Top-10 ASTRA Picks (8/1/2007)
TDmonthly Magazine's own Julie L. Jones demonstrates our top picks from the newest companies at the ASTRA Marketplace
Retailers Speak Out at ASTRA (8/1/2007)
TDmonthly Magazine asked specialty toy-store owners to pick their favorite toys at the ASTRA Marketplace in Las Vegas
TDmonthly's Toy Videos (8/1/2007)
TDmonthly's Toy Videos give you instant access to toy demos so you can evaluate a product before you buy it
Watch ASTRA Marketplace Symposia (8/1/2007)
In addition to networking with peers and discovering new manufacturers, retailers at trade shows have a great opportunity to learn or review skills that increase the bottom line
UPDATE: TIA's Member Code of Conduct (7/1/2007)
As reported in prior issues of TDmonthly Magazine, a committee headed by Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (aka Dr. Toy), and Marshall Gavin (b. dazzle, inc.) among others, has worked assiduously to develop
TDmonthly's Toy Videos (7/1/2007)
TDmonthly's Toy Videos give you instant access to toy demos so you can evaluate a product before you buy it
Spidey's Special, But Knights Still Rule (7/1/2007)
OK, knights still KO most other action figures in the specialty market, but a mass-market arachnid has caught kids in its web.
TDmonthly's July Staff Picks (7/1/2007)
From an optical-illusion construction kit to books that reach the underserved audience of biracial kids, July's toys are all about relationships.
This Issue's Highlights (7/1/2007)
If you don't have time for the whole issue of TDmonthly, check out the companies specialty retailers say are fair
How to Manage a Monster Hit (7/1/2007)
Some store owners smell a hit and go for it. Others keep away. What could be wrong with a best-selling toy?
Candy and Food Are Good to Go (7/1/2007)
Kids who can't afford a toy treat may be able to buy a candy one
Notable and New Toys by Category (7/1/2007)
TDmonthly Magazine has more than 11,000 products in our searchable database and adds hundreds more each month, so you can increase your chances of finding this Holiday's Hits ...
Preschoolers: Enthralled by Morality (6/1/2007)
Most Roundtable participants were surprised by how strongly the moral dilemmas presented in a new set of books from All 4 Kidz affected their children, and how each book opened up a new series of discussions
TDmonthly's Toy Videos (6/1/2007)
If a picture's worth 1,000 words, a video's worth volumes. Use TDmonthly's Toy Videos to get a better look (and listen) at some of the latest toys on the market.
This Issue's Highlights (6/1/2007)
No leisure? Get the gist with these story summaries, and then click the links to read on
TDmonthly's June Staff Picks (6/1/2007)
What could be cuter than a bucketful of dachsunds
Good Co./Bad Co. (6/1/2007)
Specialty retailers from across the United States have contacted TDmonthly Magazine and ToyDirectory via emails, comments and the Forums about their troubles with Ganz
Farmer's Hats Off to Bur Bur and Friends (6/1/2007)
Like so many entrepreneurs, JoAnne Pastel was inspired to found her company, Farmer’s Hat Productions, when she noticed something missing in the marketplace.
Trish Garlock (6/1/2007)
There are a lot of sad children in La Grange, Ky., this spring
Kids Take Culture "To Go" (6/1/2007)
Straight to the moon! Or the rodeo. Kids travel the universe, using playsets that emphasize the world outside their doors.
How to Keep Your Toy Store Thriving (5/1/2007)
Running a toy store isn't easy. High costs and competition snuffed out at least one neighborhood specialty store within the past two years
TDmonthly's May Staff Picks (5/1/2007)
Magic is the theme this month, as brush strokes dissolve on a Buddha Board
This Issue's Highlights (5/1/2007)
Don't have time to read a whole issue? Glance on
TDmonthly Toy Videos (5/1/2007)
Want to know what a toy's really like before you order?
Preschoolers' Roundtable: Enthralled by Morality (5/1/2007)
What do little kids think when confronted with moral or ethical issues?
Easter Brought Bucks (5/1/2007)
Despite a dearth of Ganz’s Webkinz, 12 specialty toy-store owners told TDmonthly that Easter 2007 was
Webkinz: Boom, Bust or Both? (5/1/2007)
Now that the Webkinz boom has made the mainstream press, and rumors of a mass-market sellout are flying, specialty retailers who built the brand are telling TDmonthly Magazine they’re frustrated with shortages and angered by Ganz’s silence
Tweens Shun the Tub (5/1/2007)
From one to 12 bath toys splash out their doors each week, 25 of 37 specialty retailers told TDmonthly Magazine
Backyards Beat Water Parks (5/1/2007)
Treks to the water park will be a thing of the past if manufacturers of ever-more- elaborate inflatable versions have their way
TEST VIDEO (5/1/2007)
test video for randomline
How to Move Outdoor Toys Out (4/1/2007)
With just a few months to sell outdoor toys, they’ve got to move quickly, 18 specialty toy-store owners told TDmonthly Magazine.
Retailers Speak Out at Toy Fair (4/1/2007)
While at Toy Fair 2007, TDmonthly Magazine interviewed specialty toy retailers about new products they've spotted
This Issue's Highlights (4/1/2007)
Want to know what other specialty retailers look like? And sound like? And what they want in their stores for 2007?
Top-10 Family Games at Games Expo 2007 (4/1/2007)
Games Expo’s debut 2007 show in Las Vegas highlighted strategic board games, fantasy games and just-plain-fun games for the family.
TDmonthly's April Staff Picks (4/1/2007)
While we were looking for special toys for kids of all ages, the following products came across our desks at TDmonthly Magazine
Watch Pomona and Toy Fair TOY VIDEOS by Category! (4/1/2007)
Want to know what your favorite specialty vendors are up to in 2007?
How to Keep Your Toy Store Thriving (4/1/2007)
What are the secrets to keeping your customers from crossing over to the mass-market dark side? Everything from owning your toy store’s building to wrapping birthday gifts with lizards
Cool Toy VIDEOS From Pomona (4/1/2007)
The TDmonthly Magazine video crew moseyed out to Pomona to capture manufacturers demonstrating their new toys at the annual WTHRA show.
Watch Games Expo VIDEOS! (4/1/2007)
More than 200 exhibitors showed off their new games at the debut of Games Expo last month in Las Vegas
Videos From WTHRA Bring New Toys to You (3/1/2007)
Winter is almost over and Spring toys are ready to bloom.
Watch Toy Fair VIDEOS Here! (3/1/2007)
We've now uploaded all of the 150-plus product demonstrations TDmonthly Magazine shot at Toy Fair 2007.
TDmonthly's March Staff Picks (3/1/2007)
Pencils and cameras ready, TDmonthly Magazine trolled the aisles of Toy Fair for special toys for specialty shops. Lucky for us, other toys came straight to our office, too.
TDmonthly's Top-10 Coolest Toy Fair Toys (3/1/2007)
TDmonthly was at Toy Fair, too, and here are some of the toys we think kids of all ages, backgrounds and sensibilities would have a hard time resisting:
Toy Fair New Toys Videos by Category (3/1/2007)
Don't have time to watch dozens of videos? Then click on the category you most need to fill
Toy Fair 2007 Preview (2/1/2007)
Before you get out your parka and Ugg boots to prepare for another trek to the Javits Center
TDmonthly's February Staff Picks (2/1/2007)
TDmonthly Magazine is always on the lookout for new and exciting toys and games that might do well in specialty toy stores
Toy Fair Frenzy! (2/1/2007)
Get ready ... get set ... go get new toys!
VIDEOS: See Toy Fair Toys in Action (2/1/2007)
The more than 150 product demonstrations TDmonthly Magazine shot at Toy Fair 2007 are a great way to revisit products before you place that final order
Notable and New Toys by Category (2/1/2007)
Not everybody is going to Toy Fair, so if you want to see all of the latest toys that have come TDmonthly's way
Toy Fair 2007 Toys (2/1/2007)
While sitting in the airport, waiting for your plane to New York, or back in the hotel after a day working the aisles, take a look at the toys
Specialty Toy Stores Boast "Excellent" Xmas (1/1/2007)
How were sales at specialty toy stores this Christmas?
"Phenomenal!"
TDmonthly's January Staff Picks (1/1/2007)
Every month, TDmonthly staff evaluate the toys that pass through our hands
Retailing Tips: How to Survive Toy Fair (1/1/2007)
How do you navigate the year's largest toy trade event? Systematically
This Issue's Highlights (1/1/2007)
This month, TDmonthly Magazine is all about communication: books, DVDs, online, offline.
Have a Merry European Christmas (1/1/2007)
Christmas is coming this month ... in Europe
TDmonthly's Top-10 "Toys I Didn't Have" (1/1/2007)
No specialty toy-store owner has ever admitted to stocking MGA's Bratz
Notable and New Toys by Category (1/1/2007)
It's time to reorder, so check here first to see all of the toys that have come our way via manufacturers' or retailers' recommendations
December Videos (12/1/2006)
If you want to know what a toy will look like on your shelf, TDmonthly Magazine lets you see it before and after it comes out of the box.
Homeschoolers Glide Into History (12/1/2006)
Five homeschooled families ventured back into history as they built a replica of a Wright glider, jammed with legendary jazz greats, rode into the outlaw West with Billy the Kid, and revisited Troy.
Retailing Tips: Choosing a Trade Show (12/1/2006)
Picking trade events that feature newly discovered companies that are right for your toy or gift store requires some legwork.
TDmonthly's Greedy Grown-ups Xmas List (12/1/2006)
Every day the staff at TDmonthly Magazine thinks about, talks about and writes about brand new toys for the specialty toy market
TDmonthly's December Staff Picks (12/1/2006)
TDmonthly staff members are always looking at new toys, hoping to find something that will sit well (for a very short time) on specialty retailers' shelves.
Hot Toys for Christmas (12/1/2006)
If you've shopped 'til you dropped at your local specialty toy stores and still haven't found the perfect gift for the perfect people on your list, you've come to the right place.
Girls Pamper Pets With Jewels (11/1/2006)
Little girls are scooping up jeweled collars for their pets and magnetic earrings for themselves, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine.
When a Key-Chain Just Won’t Cut It (11/1/2006)
Gift-buyers seeking to please Taniquas, Cassandras and Xaviers need no longer despair
Homeschoolers: Tween Girls Will Be Girls (11/1/2006)
You can take the girl out of the schoolroom, but you can’t take the girl out of the girl.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (11/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families evaluated 5 new toys, rating them on a scale of 1 to 5, with "5" being the highest score and "1" being the lowest.
Why We Go to Toy Fair ... or Don't (11/1/2006)
Ninety-eight specialty retailers across the country were surveyed by TDmonthly Magazine to see how many will be attending Toy Fair.
TDmonthly's November Staff Picks (11/1/2006)
Fairies are fine, but can they beat plush insect girls?
This Issue's Highlights (11/1/2006)
Time is precious. So TDmonthly Magazine has summarized some of our top stories for a quick scan.
November Videos (11/1/2006)
If you want to know what a toy will look like on your shelf, TDmonthly Magazine lets you see it before and after
Top-10 Hot New Holiday Toys in Specialty Stores (11/1/2006)
After kids tire of tickling Elmo, they’ll need some real toys for real fun.
Six Things You Need to Know About ToyDirectory (11/1/2006)
In celebration of 10 years in the toy industry, ToyDirectory.com Inc.'s general manager, Tho Ngo, answered six questions about why ToyDirectory is so effective.
Hot Toys for Holiday Gift-Giving (11/1/2006)
You've seen them. You want them. Now buy them.
Where to Find the Great Gifts You've Heard About... (11/1/2006)
If you’ve heard someone from TDmonthly.com talking about toys on the radio or TV, you might wonder where to find all these cool new gifts for kids.
Well, here they are!
Boys Get Moody With Booty (11/1/2006)
Crack open the treasure chest and pull out ... mood rings? Boys are pirate-crazy, everyone knows, but mood rings have also caught on with guys who adorn.
Notable and New Toys by Category (11/1/2006)
TDmonthly Magazine has gathered up all of the toys that have come our way over the past 3 months
Hot Toys for Christmas 2006 (10/1/2006)
Nobody wants to give a boring toy. But that's probably what you'll get if you go to the same store to buy your bread, toilet paper and toys
Get Collectors Collecting Again (10/1/2006)
Competition for adults' diminishing disposable income has collectibles manufacturers scrambling for new sales strategies.
LeapFrog Leaps Into Cinema (10/1/2006)
The nice thing about being in Hollywood is that everyone — and I mean everyone — knows someone in the entertainment world, and the buzz never stops.
This Issue's Highlights (10/1/2006)
TDmonthly Magazine tells you how kids pass each other the good word, what collectibles are filling their shelves and emptying their pockets, and why they’re so plugged into electronics toys. But if you haven’t time for the whole issue
Homeschoolers Say: Robots Rule! (10/1/2006)
Moms and kids agreed: Toys by OWI and National Geographic were loads of fun, and could be used as part of a homeschooling curriculum, too.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (10/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families in North Carolina evaluated three new toys, rating them on a scale of 1 to 5, with "5" being the highest score and "1" being the lowest.
TDmonthly's October Staff Picks (10/1/2006)
Every kid knows: Gross is Good.
TDmonthly Experts' Top Toys for October (10/1/2006)
Every month, TDmonthly Magazine forwards new products to our team of experts for review.
Rubies for Rottweilers (10/1/2006)
If your plush puppies aren’t strung with pearls, you’re missing one of the hottest tween-girl toy trends.
ToyDirectory: Build an Online Trade Metropolis (10/1/2006)
In celebration of ToyDirectory’s 10th Anniversary, Bob Naimi — founder of ToyDirectory and publisher of TDmonthly Magazine — explains how using the online trade metropolis he's building will strengthen the specialty toy industry.
New Toys: Find Your Holiday Winners (10/1/2006)
Every day, toys huff and puff their way into TDmonthly Magazine. We hear about them from retailers, we hear about them from manufacturers
Retailing Tips: TDmonthly's Top Tips (10/1/2006)
Every month, specialty retailers and industry experts share their problem-solving techniques with TDmonthly Magazine
Kids Snatch Up Adult Collectibles (10/1/2006)
A little punk rabbit has sneaked into a market where PVC knights usually reign supreme ...
Adults Grab Kids’ Toys (10/1/2006)
Adults are the biggest collectors "because they have the disposable income and come from a generation that’s very self-centered," ...
Manufacturers Talk Back: Gifts Are Here to Stay (9/1/2006)
Does the ubiquity of retailer gift cards mean that traditional gift-giving is out of style? Not according to manufacturers who spoke with TDmonthly Magazine.
Kids Want Carrots for Birthdays (9/1/2006)
Kids Want Carrots for Birthdays (9/1/2006)
Food is the best offering for a little kid’s birthday, retailers from the South told TDmonthly Magazine correspondents ...
ToyDirectory: Get Online and Change the World (9/1/2006)
Retailers hunt for outstanding products. Some manufacturers have them.
New Toys for the Holidays (9/1/2006)
Manufacturers have sent TDmonthly Magazine previews of their latest and their best.
This Issue's Highlights (9/1/2006)
This month, TDmonthly Magazine asks specialty toy stores for tips on selling CDs, Back-to-School Supplies and other items that many mom-and-pop shops avoid.
September Peeks (9/1/2006)
We at TDmonthly Magazine like toys, and these are the toys we wished they'd made when we were kids.
Pretty Shiny Things for Boys (9/1/2006)
“Young children like the Schylling Mood Rings,” stated Powell Phillips, owner of the 60-year-old Phillips Toy Mart.
Homeschooling Roundtable: Scholars Flip for Flying Toys (9/1/2006)
Roundtables are a great way for manufacturers to test products that are still in development, get feedback and make improvements.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (9/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families* in North Carolina evaluated 2 new toys, rating them on a scale of 1 to 5, with “5” being the highest score and “1” being the lowest.
TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Toys With Interchangeable Parts (8/1/2006)
Specialty toy storeowners normally don’t like to carry big-box items, but LEGOs and Playmobil were mentioned eight times when ...
Roundtable Roundup: Homeschooled Tweens' Top-5 Toys (8/1/2006)
If you want to keep a tween girl’s interest, give her a problem to solve.
This Issue's Highlights (8/1/2006)
This month, TDmonthly Magazine examines award winners, finds out what's up with dolls, gives kids' furniture a once-over, and discovers what's new in plush and puppets.
What Kids Want ... and Want and Want (8/1/2006)
Cooler than cool collectors might be distressed to find their urban vinyl in the hands of innocent babes.
ToyDirectory: Where Would You Be Without Us? (8/1/2006)
Lost in Cyberspace. That’s where most toy industry business owners were back in 1996, when ToyDirectory.com first came online.
Keeping Specialty Dolls Special (8/1/2006)
Are there any specialty dolls left for the specialty market?
Rag Doll Revival (8/1/2006)
Rag dolls have been transformed from nostalgic gifts to modern-girl must-haves.
New Action Figures Get Going (7/1/2006)
Action figures encompass such a broad category of toys that they appeal to almost any age.
Phillips Toy Mart Does Business With Bunnies (7/1/2006)
Phillips Toy Mart in Nashville, Tenn., has been in business for 60 years.
Homeschoolers Are Fashionable (7/1/2006)
This month both the homeschooled girls and boys had fun crafting items to play with, wear or display.
When Unique Dolls Go Mainstream (7/1/2006)
With Groovy Girls and Only Hearts Club already at Target and Lee Middleton heading to JCPenney, retailers wonder, what's the incentive to carry dolls once considered the anti-Barbie?
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (7/1/2006)
See how five homeschooling families evaluated four new educational arts and crafts toys.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Water Toys (7/1/2006)
Traditional water toys, such as sprinklers, diving toys and water guns, have been given a boost by new technologies, transforming the mundane into mondo cool.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Flying Toys (7/1/2006)
Eighteen store owners told TDmonthly Magazine which toys flew off their shelves last month.
Papo and Schleich Kick Hasbro off the Shelf (7/1/2006)
Boys and dads sweep shelves clear of Papo and Schleich knights, and then drop to the floor for a jousting match before bringing the figures home.
Games Grow in Sophistication … and Sales (7/1/2006)
Stress relief, strategy building and strengthening the family have accounted for the growing popularity of game playing across the United States.
Plush and Puppets Play and Go (7/1/2006)
Even kidults need cuddly friends, manufacturers of plush and puppets told TDmonthly Magazine.
Dolls Talk Back and Kids Respond (7/1/2006)
Technology has advanced so quickly that baby dolls don’t just talk, they talk back. But do kids go for dolls that have a mind of their own?
Boys Venture Into Doll Shops (7/1/2006)
At Dolls by Jerree in Kingsport, Tenn., the customer demographic has suddenly shifted in the last three months to include boys and men age 10 to 40.
Kamhi World Makes Fortunes (7/1/2006)
Jay Kamhi went from selling toys on the streets to running a multi-million dollar company.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (6/1/2006)
Kids and parents of all ages and genders loved the K’NEX and Uberstix building kits, but the little boys were the biggest fans of TriKing Games’ historical battle card game, Anachronisms.
Ten Years of ToyDirectory: The Inside Scoop (6/1/2006)
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about how ToyDirectory and TDmonthly Magazine work.
Top-10 Most Wanted Toys for Little Girls (6/1/2006)
Arts, crafts and collectibles are still going strong with little girls.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Tween Girl Toys (6/1/2006)
Tween girls are still heavily into crafts, agreed retailers.
Ariel’s Child Turns 20 (6/1/2006)
Toy store owner Ricki Block is expert at networking and developing solid relationships.
Novelty Toys Stuff Stockings (6/1/2006)
Novelty toys for the holiday season 2006 will be small, cheap and fit nicely in stockings.
Excitement Builds for Construction Toys (6/1/2006)
Former engineers and architects are trying their hand at building on a smaller scale.
Kids Get Cooking With Toy Food (6/1/2006)
When it comes to pizza, tiny tots prefer theirs wooden, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine.
Homeschooling Roundtable: Tween Girls Build Bridges (6/1/2006)
This month, the home-schooled tween girls got what they like best: plenty of building materials.
Webkinz Are Exploding, Retailers Report (5/1/2006)
Ganz’s new Webkinz are on fire all over the country, specialty retailers told TDmonthly.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Fantasy Games (5/1/2006)
Fantasy games may be the perfect toys to recapture the elusive boy customer age 12 and up.
Homeschooling Roundtable: Kids Amazed by Solar System (5/1/2006)
The homeschoolers glimpsed the immensity of the solar system when using Rob Walrecht Productions’ Solar System Model.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (5/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families evaluated three new toys, rating them on a scale of 1 to 10, with “1” being the best and “10 being the worst.” This month, moms raved about Rob Walrecht Productions’ Solar System Model, while kids ran to their computers with their new Webkinz. Everyone enjoyed getting wet with Watery Science.
The Bead Shop Changes Name to Fashion Angels (5/1/2006)
It’s now official: the tween-crafts and -fashion company known to specialty retailers as The Bead Shop has changed its name to Fashion Angels Enterprises.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Clothes-Making Kits (4/1/2006)
Knitting, crochet and flip-flop kits top sales charts at a number of retailers surveyed by TDmonthly.
Dolls Go Soft for 2006 (4/1/2006)
When retailers report grown men buying plush dolls for themselves, you know something’s up.
Games Shrink and Smarten Up (4/1/2006)
Quick-playing strategy games were mentioned 20 times by 25 retailers when asked what new games would be hot in 2006.
Homeschoolers Blast Off on Toys (4/1/2006)
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s homeschooled tweens and their parents had strong and different opinions on the toys evaluated, depending on the kids’ inherent interest in the subject.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (4/1/2006)
This month, five homeschooling families evaluated three new toys (rating them on a scale of 1 to 10, with “1” being the best and “10” being the worst).
WTHRA Show 2006 Video Roundup (4/1/2006)
The compact size of the Western States Toy and Hobby Show, held annually in Pomona, Calif., allows smaller manufacturers to shine without being overwhelmed by the shadows of the Big Boys.
Manufacturer Video Demos (4/1/2006)
TDmonthly Magazine sent its camera crew to Toy Fair and has brought back more than 180 video interviews with manufacturers, listed here in alphabetical order.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Toy Fair 2006 Toys (3/1/2006)
This month, TDmonthly searched the booths at Toy Fair with a 3-chip video camera to find the best 10 toys available.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Whacked-Out Toy Fair Toys (3/1/2006)
We mean whacked-out in a good way: These are the toys that TDmonthly staffers want to play with.
Retailers Give Buying Strategies via Video (3/1/2006)
Trade shows can be overwhelming, but a retailer with a plan can emerge from the chaos with the best products for her particular store. At the ASTRA Party With the Stars event at FAO Schwarz, held in conjunction with Toy Fair 2006, specialty retailers spoke with TDmonthly Magazine about strategies for stocking toy shelves.
Retailers Talk About Fav Toy Fair Toys (3/1/2006)
While at Toy Fair 2006, TDmonthly Magazine interviewed several retailers on the floor about what new products they planned to bring into their stores for 2006, or what had been some of their best sellers for 2005.
Pomona Toy Show 2006 Video Roundup (3/1/2006)
The compact size of the Western States Toy and Hobby Show, held annually in Pomona, Calif., allows smaller manufacturers to shine without being overwhelmed by the shadows of the Big Boys.
Watch New Toys From Toy Fair (3/1/2006)
TDmonthly Magazine sent its camera crew to Toy Fair and has brought back some of the best toys and interviews with manufacturers, presented in alphabetical order.
Zoomorphs and Lonpos Go to School (3/1/2006)
The homeschoolers had their creativity and nimbleness tested with new puzzles, games and construction toys.
Toys Blended Together, but Quality Stood Out (3/1/2006)
Retailers were unanimous in their assessment of Toy Fair 2006: nothing was mind-blowing, but high-quality got them high.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (3/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families in Western North Carolina evaluated four new toys, rating them on a scale of 1 to 10, with “1” being the worst and “10” being the best.
In Tenth Year, ToyDirectory Introduces Forums (3/1/2006)
ToyDirectory celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a special section designed to spark communication between manufacturers, retailers and other people in the toy game.
Serious Buyers Braved the Blizzard (3/1/2006)
Despite the blizzard, the retailers who showed up to Toy Fair 2006 were ready to buy, most vendors told TDmonthly Magazine.
Toy Fair 2006 Video Roundup (2/1/2006)
TDmonthly Magazine sent its camera crew to Toy Fair and has brought back more than 180 video interviews with manufacturers, listed here in alphabetical order.
Make My Year: 2005 Did It (2/1/2006)
2004 was a good year for selling toys, but 2005 was better, 16 of 25 specialty toy retailers told TDmonthly Magazine this January.
Winning the Game (2/1/2006)
Thinking inside, rather than outside, the (big) box may be counterintuitive, but original problem solving is one reason long-term storeowners heap on the years.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Slumber Party Stuff (2/1/2006)
Roll out the sleeping bag and roll up the hair. It’s slumber-party time and girls just gotta have fun.
Homeschoolers Rate Toys (2/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families evaluated three different toys. Here are their numerical ratings, based on a scale of 1 to 10.
Homeschoolers Play to Win … and Lose (2/1/2006)
TDmonthly’s five homeschooling families in Western North Carolina were asked to evaluate three games for educational and play value.
A Few of Their Favorite Things (1/1/2006)
These are a few toys that didn't make TDmonthly's 2005 Top-10 lists but which retailers picked as their favorite things in 2005.
Tweens Want Stories That Never End (1/1/2006)
Magic and information: That’s what tweens want, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine.
“Indie” Books for Tweens (1/1/2006)
There are lots of new books for tweens that follow mainstream tween book trends that may not yet have found their way into bookstores.
Tweens Elected President (1/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families in Western North Carolina evaluated four new toys for TDmonthly Magazine.
Homeschool Families Rate Toys (1/1/2006)
Five homeschooling families evaluated four different toys. Below are their numerical ratings, based on a scale of 1 to 10, with "10" being the best and "1" the worst.
Tween Girls Go Scientific (12/1/2005)
Five homeschooling moms in North Carolina and their nine tween daughters evaluated six toys for TDmonthly Magazine.
Homeschooling Moms Rate Toys (12/1/2005)
Homeschooling moms rate toys on a scale from one to 10.
Santa’s Babies (12/1/2005)
In specialty stores, tradition sells for the holidays, retailers agreed … and what could be more traditional than dolls?
Infant and Toddler Products Are Tough to Outsell (12/1/2005)
Euro/retro wooden toys and bouncy rubber rides catch the fancies of infants and toddlers — or at least their parents — 40 retailers across the nation told TDmonthly Magazine.
The World in a Pocket (12/1/2005)
Though not always small in price, tiny collectibles are big with little kids, a TDmonthly Magazine survey of 40 specialty retailers revealed.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Quick Gifts for Girls (12/1/2005)
The customer’s on his way to a holiday party and just remembered that the host has kids. All girls. What do you hand him when he’s in a hurry and has only $20 to spend per kid? Fifteen retailers around the country gave TDmonthly Magazine their suggestions.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Stocking Stuffers (12/1/2005)
TDmonthly asked retailers what some of their best mini items were to help compile our list of best stocking stuffers.
Construction Toys Zoom (12/1/2005)
Two new surprise great sellers are both construction toys, retailers have told TDmonthly Magazine over the past few months: RollerCoaster Tycoon by Miniature Amusements and the low-tech, high-fun Zoomorphs by River Dolphin Toys. Also high on their list are old-reliables with new twists.
Games Win for the Holidays (12/1/2005)
Families who want that get-together spirit to last through the New Year are expected to load up on games for the holidays.
Kids Want Their Plush to Go (12/1/2005)
Girls on the go don’t have to go it alone, according to manufacturers and retailers of plush products. Kids’ve been zipping up their fake furry friends in fuzzy knapsacks and taking them to school, to play … wherever.
Watch This! Toys On the Loose (12/1/2005)
The weather outside is frightful and these toys have found their way under the warmth of the spotlight in front of the camera.
Guys Grab Dolls for the Holidays (12/1/2005)
Tonner, Integrity Toys and Mattel have the gals of the moment, and smart retailers have ordered extra Tyler Wentworths, Jason Wu-designed Fashion Royals and I Love Lucies for well-behaved adults this Christmas.
Marketing to Homeschoolers (11/1/2005)
If you’re looking for a perfect niche market for your specialty toys, you might try homeschoolers.
Homeschooled Kids Teach Toys How to Play (11/1/2005)
TDmonthly Magazine interviewed five homeschooling mothers from Western North Carolina who are raising a total of 15 children among them to find out what kinds of toys they buy.
How Dolls Do It: Getting Cuter, Staying Hot (11/1/2005)
TDmonthly Magazine talked with industry experts to find out why a toy captures the public’s fancy and how manipulating face and body shape keeps it on top.
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Tween Sharing Toys (11/1/2005)
Manufacturers and retailers know a secret: Tween girls like to share.
Dolls Pick Up Speed for Christmas (11/1/2005)
Doll manufacturers are increasing production speed to fill orders for Christmas.
Coming Soon: Homeschoolers Rate Toys (11/1/2005)
TDmonthly Magazine had 5 homeschooling families with 15 tween girls between them evaluate 6 great toys.
All About She (11/1/2005)
A few companies are flourishing with 8 to 12 year olds by creating products that help the girls define themselves.
Hot for the Holidays (11/1/2005)
TDmonthly spoke with specialty retailers across the country to discover their picks for what will be top sellers this Christmas season.
Toys on the Move (11/1/2005)
Mr. TOYDIRECTORY climbed into the toy box and recorded videos of toys on the go.
Celine Dion Gets Real With Dolls (11/1/2005)
Celine Dion has been working with Uneeda on a line of realistic baby dolls, and other celebrities are getting involved with dolls as well.
Barbie's Building a Bear (11/1/2005)
Barbie shops at Build-A-Bear Workshop in January 2006.
Homeschooled Kids Teach Toys How to Play (10/1/2005)
Is the growing and lucrative homeschooling market a perfect match for your store?
Traditional Playsets Get a Fresh Look: Dollhouse Roundtable (10/1/2005)
Dollhouses, a standby in the toy industry for over 100 years, are becoming hip once again.
Toys Around the World: What´s Selling (10/1/2005)
If you want something new this Christmas, try looking abroad.
Blowing up Furniture (10/1/2005)
For kids who change their tastes more quickly than channel surfers hit the remote, inflatable furniture may be the answer.
The Staff in The Wizard’s Chest (10/1/2005)
How do you find a staff as committed to your store as you are? Who are willing to learn about new products and teach customers how to use them? The answer might be as close as your selling floor: at The Wizard’s Chest in Denver, Colo., several devoted employees started out as devoted customers.
Rearranging Doll Furniture Sales (10/1/2005)
Dollhouses and furniture are coming back. These days, people want their dollhouses ready-to-go and their furniture high-end.
Be the Monster (10/1/2005)
Classic monsters such as Frankenstein and the Wolfman are making a comeback, according to Luke Rook, owner of Lulubell: A Toy Bodega in Tucson, Ariz., who’s noticed that kids like them, too.
TDmonthly’s October Recommendations (10/1/2005)
What’s hot in the shops, now that the weather’s started to cool? TDmonthly Magazine spoke with 16 retailers across the country to find out.
Teen Trends Reach For Tweens (10/1/2005)
Mattel has chucked out the old template for fashion dolls and come up with something new: 17" Teen Trend dolls.
Toys on the Move
Mr. TOYDIRECTORY shows you size relation, dimensions and playability in the following 10 to 20-second videos. The Toys are sorted by categories.
Witches and Love Triangles Snag Tween Girls (9/1/2005)
Tween girls may not buy toys, but they do buy comics — especially shojo manga-influenced floppies and graphic novels.
Christmas Bombs and Booms (9/1/2005)
TDmonthly Magazine surveyed 16 toy shops from coast to coast to find out which toys fell flat and which flew high in Christmas 2004.
Kitty Comments: Sanrio Distributor Speaks (9/1/2005)
Last month, we published an article dealing with the incandescently popular Hello Kitty by Sanrio.
Passing the Pencil: A Female Comics Writer Roundtable (9/1/2005)
Comics have blossomed into a dual-gender art form, thanks mostly to the Japanese artists and writers who created the shojo manga books so popular with girls and young women.
Toys at Play: Products Caught on Camera (9/1/2005)
What better way to experience a toy than firsthand?
More Toys Steppin´ Out and Onto Video (9/1/2005)
These toys are too active to stay still.
Toys Makin´ Their Move Onto Video (9/1/2005)
These toys just can´t sit still.
September Toys on the Move (9/1/2005)
If you really want to get to know a toy, you´ve got to see it move. Or quack. Or do whatever it is that toy was meant to do. Mr. TOYDIRECTORY examines these new products in the following brand new videos produced just for specialty retailers like you. Tickets, please! It´s time for the show
More Toys Movin´: Watch Toys in Video Clips (9/1/2005)
Mr. TOYDIRECTORY has got his hands on a few more products this month, and he´s improving his style.
Candid Camera: Toys Caught on Film
Take a moment to watch the following toys do their thing right before your very eyes!
Watch This! Toys On the Loose
Oh dear; these toys have found their way in front of the camera.
Toys! Quiet on the Set!
Just click on the following links to see what antics the toys got up to with their beloved friend, Mr. Hands.
Sugar, Snails and Silicone: Today´s Doll Materials (9/1/2005)
What are little girls and boys made of? These days, if they’re collectible replicas, a soft vinyl and silicone mix. From sculpting to manufacture, new materials are revolutionizing the look and feel of baby dolls.
Little Girls Get Real Babies (9/1/2005)
Little girls are picking up lifelike baby dolls meant for adult collectors, and they’re not putting them down.
Buying a Doll Experience? — Priceless (9/1/2005)
See a doll, hear a doll. Touch it. Buy it. Then come back for more. The sensory approach to doll selling that Jerree Childers has chosen for her store seems to be working; she estimates that 70% of her customers are repeat buyers.
Groovy Girls Play It Both Ways (9/1/2005)
How do you sell a specialty item that some fear isn´t so special anymore? When the Groovy Girls hit Target last January, a number of toy shop owners and managers who’d helped build the popular Manhattan Toy Company line felt betrayed.
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Realistic Play Babies (9/1/2005)
When it comes to baby dolls, the “realer” the better. Lifelike baby dolls meant for collectors, such as Ashton-Drake Collectible’s So Truly Real! line and the Lee Middleton Original Doll Co.’s Breath of Life Babies, have even crossed over into the (very careful) play category.
Everybody Needs a Laugh (8/1/2005)
Instead of trying to compete with mega stores by offering the same crap as they do, Valerie Pontbriand of Four Eyes Joke Shop throws her crap on the ceilings and around her bright geometric carpets.
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Bath Toys (8/1/2005)
Bath time is craft time, splash time and quiet time for girls and boys. Many of the best-selling tub toys let kids go wild with color without worrying about cleaning up afterwards.
Get Real, Baby (8/1/2005)
The lifelike baby doll trend that exploded the collector’s market is moving to the local department store. The Uneeda Doll Company is working on a line of mass-market lifelike baby dolls meant for play instead of collection.
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Practical Joke Toys Under $10 (7/1/2005)
Almost 100 years after the first practical joke product hit the market, gag toys remain steady sellers in toy and novelty shops across the country.
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Alternative Building Kits (7/1/2005)
Many retail toy stores surveyed by TDmonthly concentrate on finding more unusual construction toys that appeal to both boys and girls.
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