August 2009 New Specialty Toys — Die-Cast

Beloved by children and farmers alike, the John Deere brand is well known for its durability and reliability. In Ertl’s 1:16 scale line of die-cast replicas, the tractor models’ details are faithfully rendered and finished with glossy paint and decals. The tractors roll freely on heavily treaded wheels ready for pretend-play or collector display.
— In July 2009, one of 49 retailers surveyed said John Deere tractors are the best-selling die-cast toys.

In eye-catching black and white, Schylling’s die-cast model of a police car is ready to respond to any emergency.  Zipping along on working wheels and a pull-back motor, the cruiser  has 9-1-1 printed on the side.
— “They're wonderful sellers,” Michelle Sahr, owner of My Little Red Wagon in Stow, Ohio, said of her Schylling die-cast vehicles in July 2009. Sahr said the police car is a favorite in the line.
— In an August 2013 survey, two out of nine retailers told TDmonthly that police cars were their best-selling type of die-cast toy.

With its glossy paint of bright red and double sets of deeply treaded tires, Case’s heavy-duty farm equipment is rendered in careful detail in Ertl’s 1:64 scale model. The interior of the tractor’s cab is sculpted faithfully and visible from the clear plastic enclosure. The chunky wheels are functional. 
— Two of 49 storeowners told TDmonthly in July 2009 that Ertl provides their best-selling die-cast toys.

An assortment of 10, 1:64 scale cars with realistic details and working wheels, this set of Matchbox cars can stand alone or accompany a collection, parking garage or road set. Familiar vehicles like family sedans, emergency vehicles, sports cars and construction equipment are cast and painted with realistic details to engage imaginative playtime.
— Of 49 retailers contacted during a July 2009 survey, three told TDmonthly Matchbox cars are their best-selling die-cast vehicles.

Color Shifters cars go through a transformation when immersed in warm or cold water. Themes include flames, city, camo, racing and color-to-color. 
— “The Hot Wheels are the best,” remarked Helen Dean, owner of Toy Safari in Alameda, Calif., when asked about her sales in die-cast vehicles in July 2009.
— Four of 49 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2009 that Hot Wheels is a top-selling brand, reporting sales of about 100 per month, on average.
― As of 9.21.2010, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 24 on the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Sturdy and entertaining. CONS: Does not work well indoors. Must be refilled often.

With swing-open doors, a working stop sign and details in crisp black, Schylling’s Die Cast Bus is an effective miniaturization of one of childhood’s most beloved and familiar vehicles.  A pull-back motor sends the bus zooming across floors or tables, and the interior is detailed with rows of seats visible through clear windows. 
— “The School Bus is always our best seller,” said Kim Emigh, VP of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., who told TDmonthly during a July 2009 survey that Schylling provides her top-selling die-cast vehicles.
— “The best seller in die-cast would be [the] school bus,” said Michelle Smith, owner of Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore.
— Seven of 49 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2009 that school buses are their best selling die-cast vehicles.
— “Oddly enough, school buses are our best-seller,” said Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorers Toys in Zionsville, Ind., when asked about her best-selling die-cast items in July, 2010.
— Four out of 38 retailers specified the Schylling Die-Cast Bus as their top-selling die-cast toy in July 2010.

ActionJetz minijetz are cool diecast planes that each come with a secret code card. With it, kids and parents can chat, play and learn new stuff in the online world of ActionJetz.

These are crystal clear display cases for diecast cars, dolls, sports items, figurines and more. The displays come with "cut out" background images on retail boxes. The sports items come with a grass image and a basketball court floor image on the retail box, and diecast car displays come with the classic car garage image, a modern (Nascar) garage image, and a "ROUTE 66" neon sign image on the retail box. Launch date: June 8, 2009.

Produced in a detailed 1:16 scale, this die-cast replica of a John Deere tractor demonstrates a high degree of attention to realistic features. The classic John Deere green and yellow color scheme is accented with chains on the oversized back tires so that this heavy duty farm equipment can take on any terrain to get the work done.
— “We don't do much license product, but we do some, like John Deere. That does well for us,” said Phil Wrzesinski, owner of Toy House and Baby Too in Jackson, Mich., during an April 2009 survey of 49 retailers about their sales of licensed toys.