October 2008 Notable Toys — Play Houses

This 5’ structure has plenty of room for little campers to gather around the fire, simulated by inflatable logs and a battery-operated fire pit. Fun, colorful graphics add to a great outdoor feeling, and shock-corded poles make for easy set up and storage. Launch date: April 2008.

Toddlers can open the barn door on this activity set and find a barnyard of fun just waiting for them. They'll be delighted to discover three soft removable friends inside: a cow that chimes, a squeaky little chick and a cute pig that rattles. "This playset combines different sights, sounds, and textures to encourage toddlers' development and stimulate their imagination," said Stephanie Araujo, marketing coordinator for Russ Berrie. Launch date: 2008.

This two-floor, open-plan doll house with a base and slanting roof features window openings at the back. It is styled from composite wood (MDF) and comes with sanded corners that give it a traditional look. Dimensions are 69 cm H x 30 cm D x 60 cm W. Launch date: 2006.
Display Ideas: Display with a few items of doll furniture that will show off the versatility of the layout.

This versatile shelf set has a back, roof and two side walls with a slanting roof. It is styled from composite wood (MDF) painted in range non-toxic pastel colors, and comes with a sanded-corner finish. The set of shelves can hold books and toys and also serve as a large doll house. Dimensions are 171 cm H x 70 cm W x 32 cm D. Launch date: 2008.
Display Ideas: Preferably holding books/toys/doll house furniture to enhance the unique features of the item.

This 5'-long crawl-through tunnel comes with a removable Caterpillar face and is made of sturdy material.
—“The Crawlerpillar always does really well in spring. I probably go through a dozen of those a month,” Lynn Sanchez, owner of Wiz Bang Toys in Lake Oswego, Ore., told TDmonthly when asked about best-selling furniture and playhouses in June 2008.
— Five of 62 specialty retailers mentioned tents and tunnels from various manufacturers.
— Insect Lore also offers a Butterfly Bungalow tent.

This 1:12 scale wooden dollhouse includes four rooms and a balcony, and comes with tools for assembly. It measures 24.8" L x 14.2" D x 23"H.
— “We cycle out what we carry year to year — right now we have a Plan dollhouse,” Tina Schwindt of Fairhaven Toy Garden in Bellingham, Wash., said when asked in June 2008 about top-selling furniture and playhouses.
— “Plan Toys — not selling a lot right now, given the time of year; generally, I’ll sell six rooms a month. … As we get into fall, [we] will expand [the line] a lot more; it’s a line we love and their dollhouses are great,” Jerome Crawford, owner of Crawdaddy’s Toys in Lafayette, Calif., told TDmonthly.
— When asked about best-selling furniture and playhouse items, three of 62 retailers told TDmonthly that they carry dollhouses by Plan Toys. There was some concern, though, about slow sales at the time of the interviews, in early summer 2008.
— Heiko Peine, owner of Treehouse Toy Shop in Cumberland, Md., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that they sell 1-2 each month.
— As of 06/29/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Simple yet high-quality; durable. Cons: Too deep and dark to play on the bottom floor.

Outfitted with magnetic closures, this portable dollhouse with a wooden handle comes with a kitchen unit, a table, a rug, a fireplace, a sofa and other accessories.
— “We sell playhouses — wood playhouses from Ryan's Room,” Kathy Goeddy, manager of JaZams in Pennington, N.J., told TDmonthly when asked about best-selling furniture and playhouses in June 2008.
— One other retailer, out of 62, mentioned dollhouses from Ryan’s Room as a top-selling item in that category.
— The Ryan’s Room brand offers several different styles of wooden dollhouses.

With classic decor against a subtle pastel color palette, this three-floor dollhouse include four open rooms, two staircases, a chandelier, a terrace and wide windows. It comes with 11 furniture pieces and is suitable for fashion dolls up to 11.5" tall.
— “KidCraft always does well,” Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toy & Book Store in Scottsdale, Ariz., told TDmonthly in June 2008.
— “KidKraft — their big dollhouse for Barbie,” answered Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children’s Store Inc. in Boise, Idaho, when asked about best-selling furniture and playhouses.
— More than 6 percent of retailers surveyed in June 2008 said dollhouses by KidKraft are good sellers in the category of playhouses and furniture.

This bright red, wooden kitchen features a retro design and includes under-sink storage, a removable sink for cleanup, knobs that turn, and a microwave, refrigerator and freezer that open and close. It measures 33.75" x 11.75" x 36.5".
— Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Games & Books in Oklahoma City, said she typically sells about one KidKraft kitchen per month, but sells about six around Christmas.
— Three of 62 specialty retailers told TDmonthly in June 2008 that they carry kitchens by KidKraft when asked about best-selling furniture and playhouse items.
— KidKraft offers 16 different kitchens in various colors and sizes.