June 2009 New Specialty Toys — Costumes & Accessories

Bumblebee was first Transformer kids got to know in the 2007 movie, and now they can act his part with this helmet. The toy mixes a child's voice to make it sound like it's coming through a car stereo, just as Bumblebee communicated. It features realistic robotic battle sounds and “radio tune-in” phrases to add more fun. Launch date: May 30, 2009.

Kids can pretend to be fan-favorite Snake Eyes, a ninja who plays a prominent role in 2009's “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” The kit includes a mask. It also has a katana-style sword that lights up, makes sounds and has a secret dart launcher in the handle. Launch date: Summer 2009.

This fanny pack features a front zipper pocket for small toys and an elastic waistband with sheaths on either side for essential pirate gear. It's a "unique kids' fanny pack with side elastic sheaths to hold kids' pirate swords, toy telescopes, treasures and more," Mike Biggers, president of Portable Playtime Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This costume includes a yellow- and black-striped dress with an attached skirt, detachable black wings and a headband with antennae. The back of the dress is knit fabric for comfort. It is available in sizes 2/3, 4/6 and 6/8. Launch date: July 15, 2009.

These gloves include official NASA patches, a textured palm for easy grip and an elastic inner cuff. They are available in small, medium and large sizes. "High-quality fabrics, construction, and attention to detail will set this product apart," Sean Schipper, COO of Aeromax, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Coral poofy princess tutu with daisies. Perfect for weddings, dance, special photography, birthdays, dress up and everyday wear. As seen in Gala Weddings magazine.

Rose Fairy Dress is a beautifully designed gown suitable for all little princesses and fairies.  The skirt has many layers and it’s made of bridal satin, tulle, tricot, and shimmery organza with the top layer gathered in a princess style and garnished with four handcrafted red roses.  The stretchy bodice is embellished with five beautiful roses.  Launch date: 2009.

Woodland Fairy Dress is a beautifully designed gown with layers of satin lining, tulle, and topping the skirt are shimmery rainbow organza petals.  The corset-style stretchy bodice is embellished with golden metallic ribbons and two rainbow organza bows on each shoulder.  The shimmery sleeves are designed from rainbow organza and shaped like petals. Launch date: 2009.

Reversible Princess Fairy Cape is made of light pink bridal satin on one side and decorated with a silver princess crown, which is adorned with pink gems.  The reversed side is made of a pink glittery spangle and decorated with pink panne set of wings which are adorned with a pink satin ribbon. Launch date: 2009.

The Queen Gown showcases a beautiful skirt, which is made of many layers.  It has a layer of rose bridal satin underskirt, a layer of lavender tulle to give it full volume, and a layer of magenta organza to give it a flowing effect.  The stretchy ruched top is made of magenta satin, and it’s finished with a silver crown which is decorated with silver heart gems. "Our designs are made from the finest available fabrics and sewn to perfection," Veesha Knight, sales and marketing manager for Creative Education of Canada, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Queen Cape is made of magenta steamed velour and it’s trimmed with black and white ermine to give it a royal effect.  The cape has a hood and it’s  tied with a white satin bow.  "Our dress-up quality is beyond compare and it's designed to last for generations," Veesha Knight, sales and marketing manager for Creative Education of Canada,  told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This Bumble Bee costume includes a lycra leotard and organza tutu. Wings and headpiece are included. The costume is available in sizes XSC, SC and MC. Launch date: May 31, 2009.

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.