TDmonthly is a division of ToyDirectory.com Inc.
TDMONTHLY MUST READS
Ten Years of ToyDirectory: Manufacturers Increase Sales
This year, as ToyDirectory enjoys its tenth anniversary, we celebrate the fact that we have helped many manufacturers....READ MORE
Take a look at TDmonthly's top stories for May 2006....
TDMONTHLY HOT TOPIC
The Bead Shop Changes Name to Fashion Angels
It’s now official: the tween-crafts and -fashion company known to specialty retailers as The Bead Shop has changed its name to Fashion Angels Enterprises....READ MORE
Ganz’s new Webkinz are on fire all over the country, specialty retailers told TDmonthly....
Every time there’s a dip in the graph of rampant consumerism, the doom birds shout it out with glee. But is your toy store doomed?...
TDmonthly turned to specialty retailers and manufacturers and asked, "Is it harder to buy toys for girls or boys?"...
TDMONTHLY TOY VIDEOS
Toys on Tape: Video Demos
Mr. TOYDIRECTORY's latest crop of toy videos have come into full bloom this May....READ MORE
Trade events are so brimful with new toys that sometimes it's hard to keep them all straight....
TDMONTHLY NEW TOYS
There will be a heatwave of new products released by toy manufacturers this summer....
Early warning detection is the key to staying ahead of the curve, and TDmonthly Magazine is always on the lookout for the fresh, the innovative and the brand-spankin’-new....
INFANT & TODDLER
Gotta-Have-It Baby Gear Goes Beyond Pastels
Manufacturers are banking on a soft touch, cool colors and versatility to help parents create the most comforting nursery....READ MORE
Today’s babies prefer nursery items they can manipulate and those with super soothing textures....
New companies entering the children's media arena are expanding well beyond teaching kids their ABCs and 123s....
TRAVEL TOYS
Electronic Games Rule the Travel Set
Card and trivia games are moving fast, as far as travel toys are concerned, as well as small, colorful electronic handhelds, sources told TDmonthly....READ MORE
These days, baby's got a lot of clever options when it comes to packing for the road....
Both portable and enjoyable, multimedia products for kids on the go are emerging as family favorites....
WATER ACTIVITIES
New Toys Transform Pools Into Water Parks
Remember when inner tubes and flimsy rubber rafts pretty much summed up the toys that everyone took to the pool and lake? Those days are no more....READ MORE
There’s a whole lot of fun taking place in the bathtub these days, thanks to the emergence of toys that promote creative, interactive and educational play....
The undersea world has a perennial appeal to children....
TDMONTHLY POPULAR STORIES
Toy and Pet Industries Meet
Luxury for pampered pets along with games and gifts with an animal theme may be a retailer's best bet in stocking shelves this year....READ MORE
Last month, I had the opportunity to interview entrepreneur icon, Maxine Clark, founder and chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop, while attending Office Depot’s 6th Annual Success Strategies for Businesswomen conference....
What you may not know is that hand stuffing is where it’s at, and parties are sustaining the market....
TDMONTHLY MANUFACTURER'S CORNER
How to Judge a Gift By Its Package
TDmonthly Magazine caught up with Bill Goodwin to ask him a few questions about the significant role packaging plays in selling toys....READ MORE
What does it take to be a one product company?...
TDMONTHLY MOMīS PERSPECTIVE
Preschool Roundtable: Preschoolers Love to Picnic
Preschoolers tested Huggy Buggy Monster Truck by Hooray!, The Picnic Game by eeBoo Corp. and Crunch Art by HandsOn Toys Inc. this month....READ MORE
This month, four families and three preschool classrooms evaluated three new toys....
This month, TDmonthly's Expert Mom is on sabbatical, so the staff grabbed the toys and got down to the business of play....
The homeschoolers glimpsed the immensity of the solar system when using Rob Walrecht Productions’ Solar System Model....
Five homeschooling families evaluated three new toys, rating them on a scale of 1 to 10, with “1” being the best and “10 being the worst.” This month, moms raved about Rob Walrecht Productions’ Solar System Model, while kids ran to their computers with their new Webkinz. Everyone enjoyed getting wet with Watery Science....
RETAILER SPOTLIGHT
The Treasured Child: Selling Toys for All Ages
Since 1997, the Treasured Child has nestled on a quaint main street in a historic district of La Grange, Ky....READ MORE
RETAILING TIPS
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....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY COOL COMPANY
Noodle Head Thinks Beyond Activity Kits
Today, Noodle Head expands beyond travel accessories and activity kits into celebrity-themed plush products and pretend play items....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY TOY BUZZ
Merrick Mint Moves From Coins to Candy
The Merrick Mint has earned status as a licensed sports coin company....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY TOP-10 MOST-WANTED LISTS
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Outdoor Toys
Outdoor toys are moving in new ways, helping to create a less sedentary lifestyle for many energetic youths....READ MORE
TDmonthly Magazine talked to over 30 retailers, manufacturers and parents who were all “singing” the praises of the latest sing-along products....
Fantasy games may be the perfect toys to recapture the elusive boy customer age 12 and up....
TDMONTHLY BRASS RING
EarthBall Continually Reinvents the Globe
In 1984, the earth moved for Eric Morris, owner of globe manufacturer, Orbis Company....READ MORE
TDMONTHLY UPCOMING ISSUES
Vehicles That Require Assembly Are a Real Gas
Construction kits on wheels provide play with multiple benefits....READ MORE
Norooz Productions creates unique DVDs that celebrate diversity....
Classic dolls and plush figures keep buyers coming back for more....