November 2008 New Specialty Toys — All

Battue: Walls of Tarsos is the first expansion for Battue: Storm of the Horse Lords, a strategy board game for 2-4 players. As the battle deepens, players will find new challenges to overcome and more rewards for success. Although the goal, to loot the richest sections of town to prove your right to lead the Golden Horde, is the same, the means to that end are much different. Rivals arise and defenders band together within the city to prevent the pillage. All of Red Juggernaut’s games are set in the world of Terris, a world where everyone can perform enchantments and powerful ritualists shape society.

Rooted in the World of Terris, a brutal, dark fantasy setting envisioned by authors Robin Laws and Scott Hungerford, Battue: Storm of the Horse Lords is a strategy board game in which players take control of a horde of Horse Lords bent on looting Tarsos, the City of Brass Pillars. This strategy game is easy-to-learn, fast-playing, fun, and keeps players involved in the game even when it’s not their turn. The player who manages to control the choicest sections of the city and has the most loot at the end of the game is the winner. Further expansions will introduce new rules and options as well as allow additional players to join the game.

The appearance of a sandal is designed onto these socks. Now your baby can wear sandals throughout the year. This box includes 6 pairs of “sandals” in 6 colors. Jazzy Toes socks have non-skid grips on the bottom of the socks to help infants learn to walk . They socks come in a ready-to-mail gift box.

These Mary Janes designs come with a flower on the buckle. These socks for girls come with elasticized ankles and non-skid grips that help babies learn to walk without slipping. With six different colors in the set, each ready-to-mail gift box contains six pairs of socks. The full collection includes 12 original designs and a variety pack for both boys and girls.

This sleek, smart (and always safe) shooter sends super durable, specially-designed bands flying in a snap! Load up a band and pull back the firing arm until the spin action release sends the soft ammo soaring. This shooter turns stretch power into super speed! It’s a souped-up, tricked-out rubber band gun with no trigger necessary.

Looking for realistic golf action on a smaller scale? This sized-down, top-performing mini-golf set includes a driver, iron and putter for your pint-sized golfer. Designed with durable construction and detailed workmanship, Li'l Tiger Golf™ features authentic bamboo shafts, leather-like handle grips and a heavy-duty travel bag. Set up a game straight away with the included flags!

The non-stop action of traditional tennis can now be served up whenever, wherever with Top Spin Table Tennis™, the ultimate active indoor game! Serve, smash and volley your way through a manic match in mere minutes. The set includes everything you need for high action tennis on any table and comes with a durable mesh bag for travel or storage.

Get prepared for some extreme bow action with the Surefire™ Compound Bow X2™! These safe, soft foam arrows fly over 100 feet. The guide wire provides easy, accurate aiming while the dual power cords add maximum distance! Just aim your arrow and let it fly! Set includes 1 bow, 3 arrows and 1 arrow holder. Patent pending.

The arm of this colorful excavator is moveable, and the cabin rotates for added play value.
— Six of 66 retailers named Playmobil as an overall best seller in July 2008.
— “[It’s] probably a good 40 percent of my sales each month,” Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly.
— According to Randy Austin, owner of The Gifted Child in Lenox, Mass., Playmobil items were best sellers at her store during summer 2008.

Indiana Jones has the treasure map but will first have to make it through the gate if he wants a chance at finding the Holy Grail. The set includes the following: Indiana Jones with accessories (hat, whip and bag), Professor Henry Jones, a guard, a motorbike with a detachable sidecar, and a gate that moves up and down. Please check with company, as not all LEGO sets are available in the specialty market.
— Nine of 66 specialty retailers named LEGO as a best-selling gift for boys in a July 2008 TDmonthly survey.
— "Any new LEGO that comes in is out the door,” said Tina Benoit, operations manager for Kidstown in South Burlington, Vt., which sells about 50 units of LEGO per month.
— LEGOs are a top-10 best seller for Randy Austin of The Gifted Child in Lenox, Mass., she told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

Tatutina's Olympic-style wooden medals are hand painted and come with a matching ribbon and Velcro on top for easy removal. The "winner" can put his or her name on the back of the medal. Designs include Grandma Loves Me, Good Citizen, New Big Brother, Funniest Kid and more. Launch date: 2008.

Pawparazzi Pets have a nose for style and whatever they’re wearing is what’s PAWpular in fashion! Girls will gasp when they see this tail-wagging collection of stylish clothes and fashionable accessories. They can dress their posh pets up for a night on the town or get together with friends and put on a fashion show. High-profile style for Little Pets Living Big Lives!™

This play airport featuring Alaska Airlines includes everything needed for authentic play. There is a die-cast airplane and ground equipment, including signs.
— This playset is a best-selling item at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, Operations Manager Susan Miller told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

This wonderfully illustrated book includes the words to the famous poem, “Twas the Night before Christmas.” Written by Clement C. Moore in 1822,  the poem remains a holiday classic. Parents will enjoy rediscovering it with their kids. Launch date: September 26, 2005.
— This book is popular with customers at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, according to Operations Manager Susan Miller.

“Z” stands for zero temperatures in this book that teaches children the ABCs using ice worms, glaciers, goats and more. It is written by Charlene Kreeger and illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. Launch date: 1993.
— Alaska-themed children's books published by Sasquatch Books are top sellers at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, Operations Manager Susan Miller told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

In this board book, Little Bear says goodnight to all of his friends on his way to hibernate in his den for wintertime. This is one in a collection of books specifically written to teach children about Alaska and its history, or to commemorate a visit to Alaska by a child or family member. Launch date: about 1997.
— The collection of Alaska-themed books for children offered by this company, written and illustrated by Bernd and Susan Richter, is popular at The Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, Operations Manager Susan Miller told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

This child-sized water bottle has a connected twist-on top and a “North Pole, Alaska” snowy pole design. It makes a great stocking stuffer when filled with treats or special goodies. Launch date: 2005.
— The custom water bottle is a best-selling item at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, according to Operations Manager Susan Miller.

These Eskimo dolls are created for a range of ages. Some are soft-bodied with rubber hands and faces (for younger children), and others are porcelain (for the collector).  All are wearing Eskimo parkas, and the porcelain dolls have rabbit fur trim on their parkas. MSRP: $9-$22.
— The Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, does well with both the children’s and collectible Kipmik dolls, Operations Manager Susan Miller told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

This 59-piece nativity set includes Mary and Joseph, the three wise men, manger animals, and even a storybook that tells about the first Christmas. A cardstock stable is included for display.
— The nativity set and advent calendars by Playmobil are best sellers at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, according to Operations Manager Susan Miller.

This beanbag reindeer sports a custom ribbon that leaves no doubt about its origin. It says, “Santa Claus House, North Pole, Alaska.” It is 8” high and is stuffed with plastic pellets. Launch date: 1998.
— This plush is a best-selling item at Santa Claus House, according to Operations Manager Susan Miller.

Outfitted with a shield, a helmet with horns, and weaponry, this knight is ready for battle. It is one of many styles in the varied Papo collection.
— “Papo figures always seem to be the best-selling thing in our store; we sell hundreds. I order from Papo once a year, so I order in my inventory for the entire year … a $17,000 order,” Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles in Norman, Okla., told TDmonthly in summer 2008. “I have birthday wagons … kids fill them with what they want people to buy for them, and they always include Papo figures.”
— Jessie Wood of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vt., said in July 2008 that her store sells roughly six Papo figurines per month from each of about 30 SKUs in the line. They’re best sellers at The Gifted Child in Lenox, Mass., Owner Randy Austin told TDmonthly in summer 2008.
— Four of 66 retailers named Papo as a best-selling gift for boys in summer 2008.

This pool toy looks like a swim aid but is designed to surprise other swimmers by shooting water up to 30’. It comes in a variety of colors.
— “It's made from the same stuff as the noodles,” Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly in July 2008. “We sold 28 in two weeks. It's a good seller, and we'll run out of it.”
— "We've sold over 4,000 in two-and-a-half years," Ron and Sue Banducci of Games Unlimited in Danville, Calif., told TDmonthly about this top-selling gift for boys.
— Three of 66 retailers mentioned water or pool toys when asked about best-selling gifts for boys in summer 2008. Three of 40 retailers named Max Liquidator Eliminator as an overall best seller in early summer 2010.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller

Melissa and Doug’s wooden ducky flaps its wings while it’s pushed and rolled along. A large wooden knob helps small hands grasp the handle and it’s brightly painted with non-toxic paint. It measures 21.5” x 7” x 5” when assembled.
— “We sell the most of Melissa & Doug’s push-and-quack Flapping Duck Toy,” Laurel Marvin Jacobs of Science to Go in Tampa, Fla., told TDmonthly in July 2008.
— Science to Go sells an average of five Flapping Duck Push Toys per month, Marvin said.
— Two of 66 retailers polled in a summer 2008 survey cited Melissa & Doug as a top-selling manufacturer of baby gifts.

This child-sized custom metal lunch box makes a great gift container. It includes a photo of Santa writing a letter on one side, and says “Santa Claus House” on the other. Launch date: 2005.
— It’s a best-selling item at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, according to Operations Manager Susan Miller.