April 24, 2024

Girls Pamper Pets With Jewels

Diamonds Are Their Best Friend’s Best Friend

“Magnetic earrings are a new trend.” — Diana Nelson, Kazoo & Company

With additional reporting by regional correspondents Krista Lebednik, Bonnie Priever and Donna Sacks

What’s New

Little girls are scooping up jeweled collars for their pets and magnetic earrings for themselves, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine.

There’s an “exploding pet market” for girls, stated Michele Gietz, co-owner of the 15-year-old Where’d You Get That? in Williamstown, Mass. “Pawparazzi by Noodlehead (ToyShow) comes with a Bling! collar for the [plush] dog and matching bracelet for the little girl … and Pawparazzi Magazine.”

Across the country in Colorado, Jerome Crawford, owner of the 4-year-old Crawdaddy’s Toys in Lafayette is seeing the same trend.

And 5 of 20 toy-store owners who carried jewelry claimed that magnetic earrings are attracting cash: “Magnetic earrings are a new trend,” Diana Nelson, owner of 26-year-old Kazoo & Company in Denver told TDmonthly. “Just stick them on and you’re done.”

What’s Selling

Beads are big … still, ten retailers agreed, especially in kits by Fashion Angels (Gift Guide) (formerly, The Bead Shop), Alex and Bead Bazaar.

“Anything that is glittery, especially bracelets,” added Connie Hall, owner for 5-1/2 years of The Three Bears in Ruidoso, N.M.

Cynthia Strinich, manager of Phillips Toy Mart in Nashville, has noticed that lime and purple are the new preferred colors for rhinestones and other twinkly things.

What’s Fading

But look out! “Porcelain and metal letters have died down,” continued Geitz, though rhinestone letters and words such as “awesome” and “too cute” that can be strung on bracelets and necklaces remain strong for most retailers.

What to Make of It

Invest in the glitter. For gals or Great Danes, the bottom-line is clear:

“Girls want jewelry that sparkles,” summed up Rick Garlock, co-owner of The Treasured Child in La Grange, Ky. “And they sure buy it.”

Here are a few kits that retailers said set girls a-glitter, plus a few TDmonthly finds:

Mobile Phone Strap by FASHION ANGELS

Girls can decorate this pink phone strap however they wish with the 10-mm Build a Better Bracelet rhinestone letters (sold separately). 9/13/2006 (MSRP: $10.00; Age: 8 and Up)

Just Jewels by FASHION ANGELS

The Just Jewels glass bead and wire jewelry kit has everything tween girls need to design heirloom-quality jewelry. The kit makes 20 beautiful necklaces and bracelets. It includes 4,000+ glass seed beads, 1,000+ glass e-beads, 500+ bugle beads, 10 lobster clasps, 10 jump rings and 3 spools of differently colored wire.
— "I'd probably say bead kits from Fashion Angels. They're small, inexpensive, and they're fun," Tristan Hewitt, manager of Dragon's Toy Box in Seattle, Wash., said when asked about last-minute gifts.
— Jill Jernigan, owner of J. Christopher Toys in Jonesboro, Ark., also had many good things to say about the new Fashion Angels.
— Just Jewels is “very open-ended and creates real skills. The finished products are actual things you can wear. It instills a lifelong skill of jewelry making," Goldi Miller, a partner at Fashion Angels, told TDmonthly. 9/13/2006 (MSRP: $15.00; Age: 8 and Up)

Charm It Charms — Dance Diva by HIGH INTENCITY CORP.

Tween girls can dangle this Dance Diva charm from their bracelets while hitting the dance floor. “Charm It charms from High IntenCity” are a fave with girls at Crawdaddy’s in Lafayette, Colo., owner Jerome Crawford told TDmonthly. 9/13/2006 (MSRP: $5.00)

JellLoopdeLoops Sparkle Jelly Jewelry Kit by FASHION ANGELS

Girls can make an armload of bracelets with the JellLoopdeLoops kit. Using 48 feet of glitter tubing, jewelry makers will be able to design 36 bracelets and 20 rings. Of course, we added our signature glass beads to make each bracelet totally divine. Jewelry pliers are included. This product received a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Toy Award. 6/12/2006 (MSRP: $14.00; Age: 8 and Up)

Soothing Hearts Bead Chest by BEAD BAZAAR/KID JOURNEYS

Girls can hide all of their treasures in this stylish, hand crafted bead chest. It’s the perfect place to store beads and other accessories. All the drawers in this adorable chest are fully lined. The Soothing Hearts chest is beautiful, with hearts and flowers in a pink, green and yellow design. The bead chest is a great permanent keepsake and it is one of Bead Bazaar’s icon items; it adds a touch of style to any room. 3/6/2006 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 3 and Up)

CHARM IT! Hello Kitty Charm Stickers by HIGH INTENCITY CORP.

CHARM IT! Hello Kitty Charm Stickers bridge the gap between sticker and charm because they are metallic stickers. They come three to a pouch and CHARM IT! stickers are packaged four per polka-dot pouch. 12/14/2005 (Age: 6 and Up)

Fwingers — Sign Language Alphabet Key Chain by SMALL MARVEL INC.

Fwingers are sign-language alphabet charms and key chains in the shape of bright cartoon-like hands. Educational and fun, they’re available in the 26 letters of the alphabet, plus four generic hand signs. Fwingers do well at Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass., owner Michelle Deutschmann told TDmonthly. "Fwingers are the first and only sign language initial keychain that offers the complete alphabet," noted Craig Zucker of Small Marvel. "Sign language is the third most popular language in the United States." 9/13/2006 (MSRP: $3.50)

Flip Flop Necklace by CAROLYN FORSMAN CONVERSATION PIECE JEWELRY

This flower power comes in citrus brights. There's a 16" silvertone chain with a 2" extension. It's sold in a violet, cotton-filled box. $20 set. For tweens. Smaller size on organza pouch. 8/2/2006 (MSRP: $12.00)

Mini Xmas Lights by CAROLYN FORSMAN CONVERSATION PIECE JEWELRY

Think of them as Christmas lights for electrically challenged Lilliputians. It's a 36" long rainbow on green cord, red on black cord, silver on black cord. Price: $5; 3 for $12, 12 for $45 with free shipping. 8/2/2006 (MSRP: $5.00)

Baubles and Bangles Jewelry for Fun by AURORA WORLD INC.

This unique line of jewelry for Aurora plush products includes six different styles, each individually packaged with an illustrated "How To" backer card. Each package includes four strands of detachable jewelry hanging from a key ring with clip. Two of the strands can be worn as bracelets by the child or his or her plush pet. The other two become charms for a purse, cell phone or MP3 player. One or all of the strands can be left on the key ring as a decorative accessory. 6/27/2006 (MSRP: $4.99; Age: 5 to 12)

Fancy Pal Pet Carrier: Pug by AURORA WORLD INC.

This adorably soft 8” pug fits snugly in his very own pink purse that is adorned with hearts. He can be removed from the purse for added play value.
—“Aurora sells those cute little Fancy Pal purses. That sells really well,” was the observation made by Sherry Collins, owner of Abundant Joy for All Ages in Spring, Texas.
— “Right now, with the girls, it's the Aurora pets and pocket book — The Fancy Pals: cats and dogs that come in a purse,” was the sales trend noticed by Jackie Keyes, buyer at Over the Moon in Hingham, Mass. Jan Grimsley, owner of Trademarks in Little Rock, Ark., agreed.
—The plush Pet Carriers are Aurora’s No. 1 seller and have won an iParenting Media award. Aurora announced an expansion of this product line in February 2006. 7/18/2006 (MSRP: $9.59)

Sterling Silver Charms by RINGS & THINGS

Rings & Things offers more than 400 sterling silver charms and word beads, ideal for high-quality charm bracelets or simple necklaces. Also available are connector findings, clasps and chain by the spool for custom lengths, or 16” and 18” finished necklace chains. 9/22/2006 (Age: 5 and Up)

Magnetic Earrings — Birthday Cake by SCHYLLING

These cute plastic earrings have a magnetic backing so girls who aren’t ready to pierce can still doll up. Other styles include dolphins, strawberries, tulips, ducks and teddy bears. 9/13/2006 (MSRP: $1.99; Age: 5 and Up)

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