March 2009 New Specialty Toys — Costumes & Accessories

The So Sweet dress features a stretch velvet bodice and glitter mesh over a satin inset, plus tulle over the organza skirt. It is available in sizes XSC, SC, MC and LC. "Our award-winning products have been proudly manufactured in the USA for over 15 years and use the finest fabrics and trims to create truly sophisticated dress up apparel," Renee Stojek, marketing director for A Wish Come True, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Jane Jenni's custom-fit personality buttons come assorted in a container of 300 buttons. There are more than 112 designs that describe various personalities. Are you a "queen bee" or a "big cheese"? There's a button to fit nearly everyone, and the colorful and fun buttons can appeal to all ages. The combination of the word and picture to illustrate the phrase is designed to stimulate conversation between generations. "The word and picture illustrations engage the customer, and capture their imagination. The collection of various personalities offers the customer a fun item to give to their assortment of friends and relatives," Designer Jane Jenni told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2004.
— Buttons and pins, including ones from Jane Jenni, were best sellers at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in early 2009, according to Owner Molly McMullin. “We’ve had great success finding both companies and individuals making cute, funny or artsy buttons,” she told TDmonthly. “They’ve been our most consistent seller, and are also great for preteens through young adult.”

This tall black pirate hat can let small swashbucklers and large ones alike tell everyone who's in charge. The hat is made of rich black velvet and printed with the Jolly Roger in white.
— “They are inexpensive and there's a nice variety,” said Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., of Jacobson Hats.
— “Jacobson Hats and pirate stuff,” said Candace Gooch, owner of At Once All Agog in Limerick, Maine, of her top-selling dress up items in early 2009.

A charming little fairy from a familiar tale, the I Won't Grow Up character costume is comprised of a stretch velvet leotard in glittery forest green with an attached petal skirt in several layers of chiffon. It is accented with sheer fabric flowers. A pink tiara is included, and it pairs with various wings or other accessories from the A Wish Come True line.
— “The fairy tutus, anything like that,” said Katherine King, manager of Giggles Toys and More in Bozeman, Mont., who listed A Wish Come True as one of her top-selling lines dress-up lines.
— Six percent of 52 retailers listed A Wish Come True for their top-selling dress up in early 2009.

Several layers of pink and purple tulle gather to a flexible elastic waistband to form this light, versatile tutu. Accented with three shiny ribbon roses with petite green leaves, the one-size skirt can be paired with other dresses and bodysuits from Creative Education of Canada, a swimsuit or leotard, or any variety of clothes in a little girl's wardrobe to be part of a fun, creative costume.
— “Best sellers are tutus for girls,” Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va., said to TDmonthly of her top-selling dress up in early 2009.
— “Tutus and princess dresses sell best,” said Rosie Morris, manager of Whiz Kids in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

This construction worker kit comes with a realistic vest in high-visibility neon orange trimmed with reflective tape, a bright yellow hard hat, work gloves, goggles, a tool belt, a toy hammer and saw, a measuring tape, and a name tag for personalizing. The vest is machine washable, and the measuring tape really works.
— “The Melissa & Doug Construction Worker set sells very well,” said John MacDougall, owner of Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., in early 2009.
— In a December 2011 survey about best selling Halloween items, seven out of 12 retailers named Creative Education as their best selling brand of costumes.
— “Since the introduction of costumes by Melissa & Doug, they have been selling well,” said Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa.

In shimmering pinks and purples, this full-length princess gown features a multi-layered skirt in sheer material with a panel of shiny satin in the front, a frilly, gathered bodice, puffy sleeves and a pink princess hat with a long chiffon veil. Little girls can act out their favorite fairy tales or invent their own fantasy stories while looking the part.
— “Probably my upper-end dress-up clothes from Puppet Workshop. I sell 10 to 15 of these a month,” Charles Bonner, owner of Heights Toy Center in Little Rock, Ark., told TDmonthly of his best-selling dress-up items in early 2009.
— “Princess related dress-up from Puppet Workshop,” said Mary Ann Benson of best-selling costumes at her Austin, Texas, store, Kinda Krazy Kids and Company.

Made in Canada, the Forest Fairy Dress combines the float and shimmer of organza in the multi-layered petal skirt with the rich textures of crushed panne and satin in the fitted top of the dress. Matching organza petals form poofy cap sleeves at the shoulders, and organza flowers adorn the neckline.
— “They last, and the lining underneath is very soft. We've had them for four or five years, and we go through a lot,” said Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Center in Paoli, Pa., of Creative Education of Canada, in early 2009.
— “I sell 20 to 30 a month of complete girl's outfits,” said Fred Rosenberg, owner of On the Park in Kingwood, Texas.
— “We sell a lot of fairy or princess-oriented dress up,” Kim Emigh, VP of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College  Pa., told TDmonthly about her sales in dress up.

With one side in crushed velvet and the other shiny satin, this generous hooded cape allows for hours of open-ended role playing and story telling. One the velvet side, the cape depicts a frog on a black background, featuring wide buggy eyes on the top of the hood. The other side is a rich royal blue with a black and silver shield that sports a heraldry-style lion. When flipped around, the frog-hood becomes a prince's crown. Fabrics compliment other items in the line such as crowns, tunics, and decorated form swords to accessorize your child's characters. Launch Date: April 10, 2009.

Fire fighters don’t go to work wearing sneakers. It’s against regulations. So help your Jr. Fire Fighter with a genuine-looking pair of Jr. Fire Chief Boot covers. Available in small, medium, large and adult (Hey, moms and dads like to pretend too!). Launch date: February 2009.

Where are you running, kid? To a fire? Well, you’re certainly dressed for the part! This brand new yellow fire fighter outfit includes bib overalls with pockets and knee patches, adjustable suspenders. Also included is a coat with buckles, zipper, pockets, authentic gauntlet cuffs and reinforced elbow patches. Plus, an awesome adjustable hard helmet. Available in 6 months size for babies all the way up to adult size for the dad or mom who wants to play, too. (Price varies for baby and adult sizes.) Joins best-selling colors tan and black. Launch date: February 2009.

The cheers are up to you but the style is all Aeromax with bright colors, great attention to detail, a set of pom-poms, matching briefs and hair scrunchie too! Choose from three fresh color combinations: red, white & blue; purple & gold or classic blue & white. The one-piece outfit with authentic pleated skirt comes in three sizes: 2/3, 4/6 or 6/8. Launch date: February 2009.

This lilac Arabian Princess dress is designed for comfort with a stretchy, crushed velvet top adorned with beautiful gold trim and a purple jewel. The lilac pants have an expandable waistband and are made from China silk with an added gold fringe. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This exquisite dress is made with a stretchy pink, crushed velvet bodice and an elegant skirt made from pink China silk. There is great attention to detail in the trims and ruffles, making this a charming, regal dress up. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— “Little Adventures — anything with a princess theme for girls. They're well-made outfits, and reasonably priced,” Gary Green said of the top sellers in the dress-up department of his Asheville, N.C. store, Toy Box of Asheville.
— “Little Adventures, a new company out of Salt Lake, has a Princess line which does very well,” said Carol Knight, owner of The Toy Store in Ketchum, Idaho, in early 2009.
— “I sell Little Adventures out of Utah. [We] found them to have more of a play value,” Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children's Store Inc. in Boise, Idaho, told TDmonthly when asked about her best-selling dress-up items.
—  “Little Adventures is the most successful and ha[s] the best quality,” Jim Davis, owner of Kid's Center in Tucson, Ariz., told TDmonthly of his best-selling line of dress-up clothing in spring 2010.
—  Eight of 37 retailers named Little Adventures as a best-selling dress-up line during a March 2010 survey.

This themed cape is made of washable crushed velvet lined with comfortable China silk. It is easy for children to put on and take off with quality Velcro closures. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This tutu features a two-tone organza petal topskirt over a tulle tutu with flower trim. It is child-sized and comes in turquoise, lavender and pink. Launch date: March 2009.

This bouquet crinoline chiffon petticoat tutu has sequin appliqué and comes in lavender, pink and hot pink. Launch date: December 2008.

This dress features a panné velvet leotard and a glitter topskirt over the tulle and organza skirt. It is available in light blue and pink, and comes in four sizes: XSC, SC, MC and LC. Launch date: February 2009.
— Two of 52 retailers mentioned costumes and accessories from A Wish Come True when asked by TDmonthly about best-selling Halloween items in fall 2008.

This costume comes complete with a deluxe, oversized mask with helmet that allows the user to gain an extra 12" in height by looking out of the neck. The costume also comes with hand/arm extenders, Sasquatch feet, muscle-suit padding and an attached latex chest piece. Launch date: 2009.

Available in five sizes, this girls’ dance outfit features a sequin-dotted lycra leotard, an organza skirt with sequin trim and a big red bow on the back, and a matching hat. The gloves, socks and shoes are sold separately. This costume is only available to professional dance teachers and studios. Launch date: February 2009.

This faux-suede hat featured patchwork detail and has an invisible string that secures behind the ears.
— Two of 52 retailers mentioned Elope when asked in fall 2008 about Halloween items that sell well in their stores, particularly for the company’s hats and Harry Potter accessories.

Available in small, medium and large, this costume includes a muscle chest jumpsuit with boot tops attached, a headpiece, a cape, a belt and two Batarangs.
— Two of 52 retailers mentioned Rubie’s costumes when asked in fall 2008 about Halloween items that sell well in their stores.