TDmonthly is a division of ToyDirectory.com Inc.
TDMONTHLY HOT TOPIC
Plastic Prices Disturb Toy Industry
Seventy-one percent of all toys are made of plastic. Seventy-one percent! Why? Plastic is safe, easy to work with, and above all … cheap. Not anymore....READ MORE
As video games continue to grow increasingly violent — and popular — retailers must choose between easy sales and parents’ trust when determining whether to sell games to minors....
Obesity In Children. It strikes terror into the hearts of parents, teachers and government officials. But no matter what anyone proposes, the problem’s not going away....
With licensed products ranging from stationery to bed sheets to electronics devices, it seems safe to say that Hello Kitty fever continues to rise. Yet, while Sanrio dealers should be happy to sell the popular product, some are grumbling....
In this, the sixth and penultimate installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry starts out in a much better position than the previous book. When last we left him, he was being called a fraud and a glory-hound. Basically, no one but his close friends believed in him, or the fact that Voldemort had returned....
VEHICLES - RIDING
Taking the Wheel
Although the NPD Group reports that last year’s toy vehicle sales dropped nearly 9 percent, some say the trend is reversing....READ MORE
The wise retailer will stay on top of the latest warnings from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. A spate of problems with powered scooters, coupled with new reports based on recent data, has generated recalls and warnings....
Pocket bike and minimoto racing organizations are springing up across the country. With teams and events boasting corporate sponsorships, what once was considered a casual hobby, like snowboarding and skateboarding, could be on its way to bigger arenas....
TRAINS
Model Railroading for Beginners
Unlike many childhood hobbies, model railroading is something that can carry on into adulthood....READ MORE
The biggest trend in model trains can be summed up in three letters: DCC. With Digital Command Control, model railroaders control multiple trains at multiple speeds in multiple directions on a single track without the need for complex wiring or toggle switches....
For many people, the words “model railroading” elicit images of old guys in engineer’s caps and striped overalls playing trains together....
WOODEN TOYS
Wooden Toys in the Modern Age
While they may look like the same wooden blocks or trucks of 50 years ago, some of today’s wooden toys are going high tech. Several companies are using technology to improve safety measures or to create more unusual products. ...READ MORE
The wooden toys category is unusual in that it encompasses products made of a similar material, rather than a similar mode of play. For that reason, this month’s selection of roundtable participants bring products to retailers that range from play sets to games to pianos....
Who would have thought that being environmentally conscious and marketing products as quality buys that stand the test of time would generate sales in this high-tech era?...
RETAILING TIPS
Five Ways to Tell a Product Will Be a Winner
If you could recognize a product destined for success before your competitors, you’d be rich by now, right? While there’s no recipe for identifying toy glory, we’ve culled the advice of industry experts to determine what to look for when stocking your shelves....READ MORE
Thinking of starting your own online retail toy outlet? Anne Yates, president of Manchester, N.H.-based eLearningtoys.com, recommends a solid business model, business plan and financing. ...
TDMONTHLY POPULAR STORIES
Licensed vs. Unlicensed: The Battle Begins
Are the latest media-driven toys unhealthy for children? Do they stifle their mental growth and socialization skills?...READ MORE
Still in its relative infancy, online gaming represents a small but growing piece of the gaming industry’s pie. ...
Everybody knows: Roger Shiffman, the mastermind behind Tiger Electronics’ phenomena Furby and Giga Pets, is coming out of retirement. But what everybody wants to know is: what’s brought Shiffman back and what, exactly, is he working on? ...
So how can parents and store owners fight the humungous amount of advertising dollars pushing licensed toys?...
Let’s take a jaunt across the “pond” and see what’s going on with our media next-door-neighbors. This month we’re getting on a big FX plane and flying to the UK for a look at what’s happening in the cartoon biz....
“Toxic Toys? No Thank You!” “Toys That Can Kill” “PVC – The Poison Plastic” These headlines are bombarding the globe. But can the claims be substantiated? Is this a hoax?...
TDMONTHLY COOL COMPANY
Growing HABA Feels No Pain
The flagship Fifth Avenue FAO Schwarz store includes a room devoted to HABA products. HABA, the maker of high-end European maple and beech wood toys, didn’t subsidize this prime piece of toy real estate; the placement was driven by customer demand....READ MORE
RETAILER SPOTLIGHT
Everybody Needs a Laugh
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....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY BRASS RING
LIKEaBIKE Gives Wheels to Children’s Feet
LIKEaBIKE USA introduced a new concept to America: the running bike. Running bikes, familiar vehicles in Europe, use the feet to propel and stop the vehicle, which makes it an excellent way for children ages 2 to 5 to develop balance and motor skills. ...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY MOM´S PERSPECTIVE
Double the Alpha Toy, Double the Fun
Children come in pairs. If they don’t have a sibling sharing their toy box, they have an endless schedule of play dates....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY TOP-10 MOST-WANTED LISTS
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Die-cast Cars
Die-cast cars have always been solidly made and solidly sold. But lately, there’s a lag at the smaller retail levels. Certain stores are having slow sales, or even getting out of the die-cast arena altogether. Yet, on the Internet and at the higher end, TDmonthly is getting reports of sold-out shelves....READ MORE
Many retailers have pointed out the appeal of wooden games and puzzles: Unlike cardboard games, wooden games won’t tear and can be passed down through generations....
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....
As we enter the heart of summer, TDmonthly Magazine has been hot on the trail of top-selling toys. After talking with two dozen stores across the country, here’s what the retailers are saying:...
Use this catalogue to discover new and unique toys....
"PEEKS" OUR INTEREST
August Peeks
These products are either unexpectedly great sellers or something we just think is cool. Take a look: Maybe they’ll work for you!...READ MORE
TDMONTHLY UPCOMING ISSUES
Get Real, Baby
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....READ MORE
Small retailers take note: Big Lots! has been so successful with their scrapbooking section (implemented in October 2004) that by October of this year, they hope to expand their eight feet of linear store space for scrapbooking into12 feet....
As action toy sales flatten out for boys, are action toys for girls the future? Wild Planet must think so; their boys’ action toys are being repackaged to appeal to a female audience....
