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Article Archive: Novelties
Innovative New Companies at the 2025 Nuremberg International Toy Fair
The 2025 Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) is gearing up to feature several new and emerging companies that are bringing fresh ideas and creativity to the toy industry. As part of the fair’s Petite Pavilion—a pilot program providing smaller, lower-cost exhibit spaces—these budding brands have a unique opportunity to showcase their products on a global stage...

3/2/2025



Parenting Approaches Continually Evolve, Reflecting Societal Changes And Emerging Research
Daughter: "Actually, I've been facing some challenges at school. Some friends have been pressuring me to start dating, even though I'm not sure I'm ready. They say things like, 'Everyone's doing it,' and it's making me feel left out and confused." Mother: "I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing that pressure. It's common for peers to influence each other, especially during the teenage years. However, it's important to make decisions that align with your own comfort levels and values. Remember, it's perfectly okay to wait until you feel ready. True friends will respect your choices and not pressure you into something you're uncomfortable with." Daughter: "I understand, but it's hard when they keep insisting. Sometimes, I worry they'll think I'm weird or antisocial if I don't go along with them." Mother: "I can see how that would be difficult. It's important to assert your boundaries confidently. You might say something like, 'I appreciate your concern, but I'm not ready to date right now.' Practicing such responses can help you feel more prepared in these situations. Also, consider spending time with friends who support your decisions and don't pressure you. Surrounding yourself with supportive peers can make a big difference." Daughter: "That makes sense. I guess I need to be more assertive about my boundaries. It's just challenging when everyone else seems to be doing it." Mother: "I understand. Remember, everyone develops at their own pace, and it's okay to be different. Making choices based on your own values and readiness is a sign of strength and self-respect. If you ever feel overwhelmed, don't hesitate to talk to me or another trusted adult. We're here to support you."...

12/1/2024



Toys to Talk About 12/17/2024
Take a look at some of the toys that largely define the toy market today. In the Holiday Toy list represented below, you’ll find our editors top picks with links to buy them on Amazon...

12/1/2024



Eerie Enchantment: The Rise of Spooky and Supernatural Toys in 2024
The "Eerie Enchantment" trend is bringing a wave of toys that blend spooky, mystical, and supernatural themes, captivating both children and adults. Here are some notable examples:...

11/1/2024



IT'S POPPY PLAYTIME™ FOR PHATMOJO
EnchantedMob, Inc. and PhatMojo® have announced their agreement for the hugely-popular game, Poppy Playtime. Under the global deal, PhatMojo will serve EnchantedMob as its master toy partner and will manage consumer products licensing for the rapidly-growing Poppy Playtime franchise. Toys and other products will be available this summer...

4/1/2022



Coca Cola, Slime toys, Stretch Armstrong vs Mentos in Big Underground
Coca Cola, Different Fanta, Slime toys, Pepsi,Stretch Armstrong vs Mentos in Big Underground Ruby and Bonnie are learning about different shapes in school but Ruby has other ideas. Bonnie is getting excellent grades in her tests but Ruby is just thinking about Pop It Toys...

1/13/2022



HALLOWEEN 2021 FIDGET TOYS AND SCARY HALLOWEEN MAKEUP AND COSTUMES IDEAS
Mary and Izzy unbox and review Halloween Fidget Toys.They have two Giant boxes of Fidgets from Amazon. They got so many different Halloween Fidgets like Halloween pop it's, Halloween simple dimples, Halloween squishes and more!!...

10/1/2021



Toys in the News 10/05/2021
Unsafe Toys...

10/1/2021



Toys in the News 8/03/2021
There Are Some Great Looking ‘R-Type’ Toys On The Way Next Year Forbes share more_vert Find out how valuable your vintage toys are during the vintage toy show KEVN Black Hills Fox  share more_vert...

8/1/2021



DIY Toys | Satisfying And Relaxing | DIY Tiktok Compilation | Fidget Trading
Kittens and Wooden Toys:...

6/1/2021



Glo Pals Is Introducing Sesame Street Characters Light-up Toys
What began as a college senior project has led to an innovative startup company working with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, to light up lives through creativity and technology. Hagan Walker and Anna Barker were budding entrepreneurs in Mississippi State University's Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach when they hit on an innovative technology that generated light when mixed with liquid. They leveraged the discovery to create colorful cubes that, when dropped in liquid, light up in bright festive colors. The pair received customer feedback from an appreciative mom, who used the cubes to create a soothing and happy environment for bath time for her autistic child. Since then, the innovators have repurposed the cube technology into Glo Pals that inspire imaginative learning and sensory play...

4/1/2021



Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toys
With additional reporting by Brenda RuggieroNovelty items make great impulse buys. They're perfect party favors, last-minute items to entertain kids in the car, and they make mean stocking stuffers too. Check out these best-selling novelty toys and see which would be a good fit for your store. *No manufacturer paid...

10/1/2015



Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toys
From horse masks to whoopee cushions, novelty toys can add some fun to any store...

10/1/2014



Top-10 Most-Wanted Halloween Toys
Though some retailers interviewed by TDmonthly Magazine in December 2013 told us they don't sell specific Halloween merchandise, others touted the selling power of items such as fake mustaches, face painting kits, and of course costumes!...

1/1/2014



Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toys
Mustaches, putty, and rainbows, oh my! This eclectic mix of best-selling novelty toys includes a wide variety of products...

10/1/2013



Card Games and More
These Toys to Talk About were all named as best-sellers by at least one store TDmonthly interviewed...

10/1/2013



Gifts
Check out these recently added mass-market and specialty toys that make great gifts...

12/1/2012



Toys to Talk About: Novelty Toys
Check out these fun and funky mass market and specialty novelty toys...

10/1/2012



Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toys
When TDmonthly Magazine interviewed retailers in late Summer 2012 about their bestselling novelty items, they named an impressively wide variety of products, including fake mustaches, plush puppies, and bracelets made of both braces and zippers...

10/1/2012



Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Items
When TDmonthly asked retailers about their best selling novelty items in a September 2011 survey, they listed everything from portable Pocket Volcanoes to a toy Broom and Dustpan...

10/1/2011



Innovations of 2010
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...

1/1/2011



Top Halloween Gifts
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...

1/1/2011



Trademarks and Viral Marketing
Just as viral marketing can make a brand—it can just as easily damage or destroy one...

12/1/2010



Watch Toy Videos of the Day (11/22/10 - 11/30/10)
We want you to see the toys we see, so you can determine if they're right for your store! Check this space every weekday to see brief video clips of new and specialty products...

11/1/2010



Top-10 Most-Wanted Toys for Tweens
For tween-aged kids, it's all about making a statement, with accessories, gadgets and décor...

11/1/2010



Top-5 Most-Wanted Novelty Items
In September 2010, TDmonthly Magazine spoke with 49 specialty retailers about their top-selling novelty items. While it was difficult to identify a runaway best-seller...

10/1/2010



Disney-Licensed Toys Outrank Competitors
Many specialty retailers hesitate to buy into licensed toy lines, concerned about mass-market competition and staying power in the market...

8/1/2010



Top-10 Most-Wanted Electronic Toys
TDmonthly Magazine recently interviewed 40 specialty retailers across the country regarding their sales of electronic and battery-operated toys...

8/1/2010



Visit Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats
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...

6/1/2010



Holiday Preview: Novelties
Pigs that pop, store change, play party games, and support the outrageously popular fad of snap-back, shaped rubber bands are the focus of TDmonthly’s Holiday Preview of Novelties below. It might turn out to be a boar-ing holiday season.For products that interest you, click "Add to my Inquiry Basket" to...

6/1/2010



Top-10 Most-Wanted Toys: June 2010
Kids (and their parents) continue flocking to perennial favorites like kites, puzzles and LEGO, but a more recent and fad-crazy release, Silly Bandz from BCP Imports, tops this month’s list of best-selling toys...

6/1/2010



Summary of Online Toy Reviews
TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching. Check this space for briefs on reviews and ratings from across the nation and even the globe...

6/1/2010



Novelties Stretch and Splat on Film
Stressed out? TDmonthly Magazine's toy videos from 2010 trade shows have some easy, low-cost solutions for easing the tension...

5/1/2010



Tween Toys Get Taped: Watch Bakugan and MORE
Tweens may be too cool for princess gowns and police uniforms, but they won't be able to resist fake mustaches...

12/1/2009



Rubber Band Wars Break Out in Specialty
If you think dolls fight dirty, then you haven't been zapped by a silicone animal band...

12/1/2009



Novelties & Other Gifts
Go back to main article: "Award-Winning Toys for a Hassle-Free Holiday"...

12/1/2009



In This Issue
In TDmonthly Magazine's top-10 most-wanted articles this month, find out which products are selling best for the infamous tween set (boys and girls)...

11/1/2009



Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelties
If your specialty toy or gift store doesn’t carry Iwako erasers from BC Industries, you should take a second look at the sales of these tiny, collectible, puzzle erasers...

11/1/2009



TDmonthly Goes Inside … Can You Imagine
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...

11/1/2009



Top-10 Most-Wanted Collectibles
Based on a TDmonthly Magazine survey of 49 specialty retailers regarding sales of collectibles, the wide range of products catching customers’ acquisitive fancy goes from cute Japanese erasers from BC Industries to familiar collectors’ items including Steiff plush and Breyer horses...

9/1/2009



Holiday Preview - Novelties
Kids are sure to find lots of fun and zany little gifts in their stockings this year. Perhaps they’ll receive 3-D glasses for all those new movies coming out, or maybe whimsical fabric friends, or even a new wind-up fart toy (watch out, parents)! See what else is in store...

6/1/2009



Kids' Gifts for the Holidays
Last month in TDmonthly Magazine’s Holiday Preview, you got a glimpse of some eco-friendly art projects, exciting books and costumes fit for a princess. See this month’s featured categories...

6/1/2009



TDmonthly Video Goes Inside Dark Delicacies, Burbank, Calif.
Del Howison and his wife, Sue, founded Dark Delicacies in Burbank, Calif., almost 15 years ago...

5/1/2009



Retailer Spotlight: Twirl Toystore & Playspace
Two years ago, a friend’s suggestion spurred Molly McMullin to open a toy store in her small-town community...

4/1/2009



Eight Toys Honored With 2009 TDmonthly Award
TDmonthly Magazine is proud to recognize its newest award winners, a collection of eight exciting products that stood out among the 29 products selected for TDmonthly's 2009 Specialty Toys Report...

2/1/2009



Stuff Those Stockings!
Wondering how to fill customers' stockings this year? Take some advice from a few dozen specialty toy-store owners who recently gave their recommendations...

11/1/2008



TDmonthly Classic Awards
TDmonthly Magazine is proud to announce the select winners of its TDmonthly Classic 2008 Award...

8/1/2008




ToyDirectory.com® and TDmonthly™ MagazineContact: Alison Marek, Managing Editor12340 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 226Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310) 979-4330Fax: (310) 979-4350E-mail: alison@toydirectory.comwww.tdmonthly.comwww.toydirectory.comAugust 22, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Industry Leader Names Most Positive Toys of the YearTDmonthly Magazine Honors 44 Winners in Second...

8/1/2008



Watch Novelty Toys
What do you say to a toucan and a toilet paper roll that talk back? Watch TDmonthly's toy videos and find out...

7/1/2008



Retailer Spotlight: The Lollipop Shop
Some people, like Jeff Gurley, are able to turn life’s misfortunes into blessings. He took the loss of his job with a dot-com company in 2000 and turned it into a fun (and tasty) adventure, TDmonthly Magazine learned...

7/1/2008



My Best Sellers: The Lollipop Shop
At the Lollipop Shop in Jonesborough, Tenn., and Kiawah Island, S.C., Owners Jeff and Candy Gurley believe that candy and toys appeal to all demographics...

7/1/2008



TDmonthly’s Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toys
When it comes to novelty items, consumer interest ranges from wind-ups to plush to yo-yos to erasers.....

7/1/2008



Higgins Brothers Makes Life a Circus
Don Higgins was on a world tour in 1991 when he arrived in London. He didn’t have enough money for a ticket home to Canada, but he did have time on his hands, so he learned to juggle — in less than five minutes!...

3/1/2008



How to Create a Licensed Character
It’s tough to create a character that connects with fans and successfully draws them to theaters, bookstores and Sunday comics...

10/1/2007



Pitch Your Product to the Biz
Quality, not quantity, is the golden rule when pitching products. Equally important are research and preparation...

9/1/2007



Nano Novelties Puff Up Sales
Sometimes a novelty item at the register is just enough to get a whiny kid out of the store...

7/1/2007



NuOp Design Thrives on Originality
In 2005, Frank Frisari and John McCoy pooled their talents to create geometric magnets and the flexible plastic Q-Man. Two years later, they have a line of colorful novelties...

7/1/2007



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Novelty Toys
Play Visions keeps stretching the limits of wackiness with the Flower Inside-Out Ball and Flex Net additions to its Hyperflex line...

7/1/2007



Fast, Cheap and Under Control
Harried holiday shoppers who want a unique present that won't break their budgets or take much time can pick up these fun toys...

7/1/2007



Toy Sleuth — Inner Eye to Outer Limits
June’s Toy Sleuth takes you from the smallest particle/wave of light to the biggest thing there is: the cosmos...

6/1/2007



Playmaker: Not Your Typical Monkey Business
A screaming monkey flying across the room sort of speaks for itself. And it should, according to President Ernie Wong of Playmaker Toys...

4/1/2007



Screaming Monkeys Are Serious Business
Ernie Wong, president of Playmaker Toys, believes that toys should speak for themselves. So his scream...

3/1/2007



Gifts & Novelties: Pillows Beat to a New Rhythm
Banana Design Lab's heart-shaped plush pillow gradually syncs to the rhythm of its owner’s heart,...

2/1/2007



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Stocking Stuffers
Play Visions' Inside-Out Balls and Toysmith's Growing Lizard are just two of the novelty toys that will be peeking out from stockings this year...

12/1/2006



How to Get Boys Buying
Action is as action does...

11/1/2006



Kamhi World Makes Fortunes
Jay Kamhi went from selling toys on the streets to running a multi-million dollar company...

7/1/2006



Novelty Toys Stuff Stockings
Novelty toys for the holiday season 2006 will be small, cheap and fit nicely in stockings...

6/1/2006



Sugar High in the Toy Store Aisle
Too sweet for your blood?...

6/1/2006



When Does Humor Drive Customers Away?
Novelty retailers in particular need to know which controversial products mean high sales and which could draw protest signs...

5/1/2006



Do Offensive Products Mean Big Sales?
Novelty retailers in particular need to know which controversial products could mean high sales and which could draw protest signs...

4/1/2006



TDmonthly’s Top 10 Whacked-Out Toy Fair Toys
We mean whacked-out in a good way: These are the toys that TDmonthly staffers want to play with...

3/1/2006



TDmonthly's Top 10 Most Wanted Gross Toys
TDmonthly did a gut check and waded into the sea of grossness, talking to over 30 retailers, to find the most disgusting toys out there...

11/1/2005



TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Glow-in-the-Dark Toys
Why should a kid have to stop playing with her toys just because it’s getting dark outside? That problem is happily solved by glow-in-the-dark toys, which provide illumination as well as entertainment...

10/1/2005



TDmonthly's Top 10 Most Wanted Spy Toys!
Playing spy never goes out of style; each generation discovering a new icon. But the toys we play with get more and more sophisticated...

10/1/2005



TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Natural Toys
Throughout most of Toyland, plastic is king. But all-natural toys are carving out their own niche in the industry and finding plenty of consumers ready to purchase them...

10/1/2005



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...

8/1/2005



Directing Boys’ Impulses
When boys pick a toy up on the spur of the moment, it’s because it speaks to their need for energetic play. Boys have a large play space that is not limited to their rooms...

7/1/2005



What Girls Buy on Impulse
Girls are motivated to pick up things that fit into their environment, specifically their rooms...

7/1/2005



New & Notable Toys: Novelties
Check out these new and noteworthy toys...

7/1/2005



“I Gotta Have It! Don’t I?” — Shopping 101
According to numerous studies on consumer shopping habits, two major influences determine the likelihood of impulse purchases: emotions and environment...

7/1/2005



Designer Toys Go Mainstream
Until recently, designer toys were relegated to specialty and hobby stores aimed at collectors of underground art. Now the products are showing up in more mainstream venues...

7/1/2005



HyperFlex Turns Sales Inside-Out
After more than two decades in the toy biz, Mark Chernick, the founder and chief executive officer of Play Visions, is presiding over his company’s hottest product to date: Hyper-Flex, a material that can stretch to eight times its length, then return to its original form...

7/1/2005



TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Practical Joke Toys Under $10
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...

7/1/2005



A Mystical Approach to Toys and Play
In 1993, Stephen Poreda was just a guy on a beach, playing with a toy he had made in his bedroom...

4/1/2005



Novelties: Simply Uncommon Delights
These fanciful, whimsical products take off this year in intriguing designs, shapes and styles. Whether the goal is to draw a silly reaction or merely light up someone’s day, modern novelties take on a range of ingenious forms. Take a look at the following one-of-a-kind samples of novelty inspirations...

1/1/2005



Marvin´s Magic: Treasure For Wizards of All Ages
Article Synopsis: Son of a magician, Marvin Bergas originally had designed individual tricks to be sold by an in-store demonstrator...

12/1/2004



Hayes Specialty Corporation: Hot Fun in the Summertime, Wintertime or Anytime
Whether it’s a felt hat shaped like a beer mug, a set of casino chips, a Mardi Gras bracelet and matching tiara or a crucifix night light, Hayes Specialty Corporation is a novelty business mainstay and a players’ paradise, no matter what your game is...

10/1/2004



TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Political Playthings
Get out to the polls and, while you’re at it, vote with your dollars for your favorite political toys. The presidential contest has been on everyone’s mind this year and will continue to generate interest as the election draws closer...

10/1/2004



Lights
Lumisource, Inc. Express yourself with the Firefly Floor Lamp by Lumisource, Inc. Use the numerous lamp arms to form an art display when you put it together. This amazing chrome-finish lamp has multi-colored sconces that use 10-watt halogen bulbs. A fabulous addition to make your room stand out...

9/1/2004



NOVELTY & IMPULSE
Hog Wild Toys The Desk Top Punching Bag is a glutton for punishment. Simply lick and stick the aggressive rubber suction cup to any flat surface and you´re ready to thump, flick and pop Bop-Oh! The bounce-back spring keeps him coming back for more. ($7.99) Jumping Beans “Jumping...

8/1/2004



Naughty and Nice Novelties from Toysmith
Smith has seen an increase in accounts stocking novelty toys, such as hobby stores and a department store chain...

7/1/2004



Strange Attraction: The Fascination With Novelty Items
Impulsive, quirky, smelly... What compels people to purchase those wacky novelty items?...

7/1/2004



The Gooiest, Grooviest, and Coolest Novelty and Impulse Toys
Impulse and novelty toys, if merchandised correctly, can help retailers claim a share of the more than $1 billion worth in sales...

7/1/2004



Salmagundi Tin Toys: Reproductions from the Past
When Buck and Norma Service started with one tin toy among their antiques and collectibles...

6/1/2004



Toys to Talk About
"Toys to Talk About" features dozens of exciting companies and products! So, make sure you´re clued in and see what everyone´s talking about...

6/1/2004



The Top 10 Toys for May
Nostalgia, fashion and entertainment characterize the toy industry´s current focus. Here is a forecast of the top ten toys for the 2004 holiday season...

4/1/2004



WITHRA Show Highlights at Pomona
This year’s Western States Toy & Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) Show was a strong indication that manufacturers of toys have been hard at work, creating fun and innovative new products...

4/1/2004



A Personal Billboard that Can´t Be Ignored
Have you ever wanted to warn the driver in the next lane that his headlights are off?...

4/1/2004



Aquapets: The New Goldfish
Journeying from the distant AquaPlanet, Aquapets will arrive in America in the fall of 2004...

4/1/2004



Kid Inventor Wins Toy Competition
Wild Planet Toys hosts an annual competition, allowing kids the opportunity to become the next Thomas Edison or Alexander Graham Bell...

3/1/2004




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