TDmonthly Magazine!
September 2011 | Vol. X - No. 9


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Top-10 Most-Wanted Toys: September 2011


With additional reporting from Chris Lundy and Brenda Ruggiero

When TDmonthly interviewed retailers in Summer 2011 about their overall best-selling products, there were a few that really stood out; for instance, games from Blue Orange were named as best-sellers by six out of 14 retailers, with Spot It garnering the most mentions of all. Some seasonal items with stellar sales in the summer months made the list as well, like the Waboba Blast Water Skip Ball from WABOBA INC. and the Super Sports OgoDisks Set from OGOSPORT, LLC.

You can see the full list of overall best-selling toys below.

No manufacturer paid to be included in this article. All products listed were designated by editorial staff without regard to the company's relationship with TOYDIRECTORY.com/TDmonthly Magazine.




Age Range: 6 and up
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: General Games
Card Games



Spot It is a party game for two to eight players. It's played by laying a random assortment of cards on the table and all players racing to find one image that matches between two cards. This fast-paced game is designed to never be the same twice, and though it has very few rules to remember it requires a sharp eye to master. The set of 55 round cards transports in its own carry tin. Watch Spot It: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010
— Spot It has been been a top seller for retailers surveyed by TDmonthly since early Spring 2010.
— In a March 2012 survey, 3 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Spot It was their overall best selling product, and had been for more than a year.
— Dean Smith, Co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells 50-60 copies of Spot It each month.
Awards: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

Where to buy:
SOUTH
NORTH EAST
NORTH WEST
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 27018      (added 2/11/2010)
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MSRP: $8.99
Age Range: 3 and up
Specialty: Yes (as of 2011)
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Water Activities
Sporting Goods & Accessories
Outdoor Fun



The Blast is made specifically for pool play with its engineered design to be more controllable and not bounce as high as the Extreme and Pro. Since it's lightweight, softer, and easier to catch, it is suitable for the whole family.
— Dean Smith, Co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells "about a gross" (144) of Waboba skip balls each month, but it's usually a summer item.
— Michelle Deutschmann, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass., told TDmonthly in an August 2014 survey that Waboba is their best-selling toy. They sell over 100 each month between two styles of the ball.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 32666      (added 8/9/2011)
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MSRP: $29.95
Age Range: 14 and up
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Construction
Novelties



This set includes 216 powerful rare earth magnets that can be molded, shaped and snapped together in an endless variety of configurations. Each Buckyball has two poles — one repels, one attracts. Not intended for children. Watch video
— ''Pun's has sold about four dozen in the last month alone,'' Joe Berardoni, Sr., owner of Pun's Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., shared with TDmonthly in the fall of 2010.
—Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., sold nine of 24 units in two days after opening a box for display, she told TDmonthly. Two of 39 retailers named Buckyballs as a best-selling travel toy in March 2010.
— Dean Smith, Co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells "probably 50" sets of Buckyballs each month.
— May 27, 2010 RECALL of 175,000 sets (prior to March 2010) with 13+ labeling violating a federal standard that powerful magnets not be sold to children under 14.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26179      (added 11/25/2009)
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MSRP: $7.99
Age Range: 3 and up
Gender: Boys
Category: Electronics
Robotics
Novelties



The regular Hexbugs and the HEXBUG Nano Hive Habitat Set won the Specialty Toy of the Year Award at the 2012 American International Toy Fair. This glow in the dark version features the same motion sensors and scuttling capabilities that made the original version so popular. Glow in the dark habitats are also available. Batteries included.
— Jamie Merlavage of Tree House Toy Shop in Cumberland, Md., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that they sell about a dozen HEXBUG Nanos each month.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone  in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey about best-selling toys that she sells a dozen HEXBUGS each month.
— In a March 2012 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Hexbugs were their best selling product. Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., said that they sell dozens of different styles of Hexbugs each month, and that the line has been a best seller for more than a year now.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 31716      (added 2/18/2011)
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MSRP: $16.95
Age Range: 8 and up
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Arts & Crafts
Creative Activities
Licensed Products



Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars is packed with tips and techniques, practice space to draw right in the book, and translucent overlays to make kids a master of drawing. Start with stick figures, move onto basic shapes, and finish up with the details. Learn to draw 20 different Clone Wars characters. The book comes with everything needed, including a black marker, double-tipped metallic — colored pencils, and an always-sharp mechanical pencil. Of course, we also include perhaps the most essential tool for any artist… an eraser.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that she sells "Klutz books of all sorts —  dozens —  especially Star Wars," each week.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 32667      (added 8/9/2011)
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MSRP: $44.00
Age Range: 3 and up
SKU or Item #: SD001
Launch Date: May 2007
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Sporting Goods & Accessories
Outdoor Fun



This 18” sports disk features a foam ring with a high-strength elastic membrane, and can catch and throw balls up to 150'. It is a safe, high-quality sports activity device that adapts to volleyball, tennis, baseball and other sports, and can be a blast at the beach or pool. A 12” size is also available. Suggested retail price for the two sizes ranges from $15 to $40. “The Super Sports Disk products are fantastic as confidence-building, motor-skill activities for young children, but are also great for more advanced users,” Kevin Williams of OgoSport told TDmonthly. This product received a Spring 2007 Parents' Choice Award. Launch date: May 20, 2007.
— Quality materials and a super bouncing effect earned the classy OgoSport a TDmonthly Innovations 2007 award. Its broad appeal and correlation to other sports make the disk applicable to a variety of fun and healthy activities, and its bright color and sleek packaging grab attention.
— “OgoSport is a good line for us,” Eric Masoncup, owner of Gepetto's Toy Box in Oak Park, Ill., told TDmonthly about his best-selling gift for boys in summer 2009.
— Joe Beradoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey about best-selling toys that "during the summer, we sell 5-7 a week."

Past videos: WTHRA 2007
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 11557      (added 2/21/2007)
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Inspired by the popular 90's toy, these silicone watches can be slapped onto wrists. They come in a variety of vibrant colors and in two sizes, small or large. The analog watch face is backed in the same vibrant color as the watch band, and the watch face is framed by a metal in the same shade as well. These watches can be collected, swapped, or worn in multiples to create a bold fashion statement.
— Kay Emigh of Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., told TDmonthly in late Summer 2011 that small Silly Slapz! Slap Watches were a top-three best-selling item in the store.
— John Taylor, owner of O.P. Taylor's in Brevard, N.C., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that he sells 250 slap watches a month between his three stores.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 31747      (added 2/22/2011)
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MSRP: $39.99
SKU or Item #: 4851
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Play Sets
Pretend Play
Animal Figures



The Children’s Zoo allows children to role-play petting and feeding animals at the zoo. This set includes four figures, piglets, goats, sheep, and lamb. Also comes with fences for the animal enclosure, rock formation with water fall, birdfeeder, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four to ten. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that Playmobil is one of her top-three best-selling brands of toy.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 31537      (added 1/21/2011)
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MSRP: $39.99
Age Range: 2 and up
Gender: Girls
Category: Dolls
Bath
Preschool



Specially designed for bathtime fun, Tidoo is soft and posable and so light that it floats.
Filled with polystyrene "beads" that dry quickly, Tidoo can play out of the tub, too; it can even suck its thumb. Tidoo baby dolls can wear any fashion from the Mon Premier collection. Corolle also offers a wide selection of nursery accessories specially sized for Tidoo. 12 inches tall. Blue sleeping eyes.
— In a Summer 2011 survey 10 of 14 retailers told TDmonthly that dolls from Corolle were their best-sellers. Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr,  Pa., said they sell 6-10 Corolle dolls per month, and that Tidoo is the best-seller.
— Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that dolls from Corolle are in her top-three best-selling products.
— In a June 2014 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Corolle makes their best-selling dolls.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 32517      (added 6/28/2011)
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