TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Gifts for Girls

Crafts and Caring are High on Girls' Lists

By Carrie Cramer
September 2008

With additional reporting by Sharri Hefner, Terri Hughes-Lazzell, Chris Lundy, Claudia Newcorn, Marie Raven and Brenda Ruggiero

While some of the 66 specialty toy retailers recently polled by TDmonthly Magazine reported a dip in arts and crafts sales, that category, along with dolls, dominates when it comes to girly gifts. Top sellers tend to offer a unique craft experience with a usable creation (such as the make-your-own lines by Alex-Panline and Klutz by Scholastic) and toys that provide girls with an opportunity to care for a doll or plush animal (such as Corolle Dolls and Webkinz).

Pet Fashion Design Sketchbook by FASHION ANGELS

The Pet Fashion Design Sketchbook has a design guide, two pet sketchpads, markers, pencils and a design guide. Girls can create any style of pet clothes they can imagine. A portion of the proceeds from sales of their two new dog design kits to SPCA International (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International). Launch date: May 2008.
— “Anything in Fashion Angels makeup and book line is moving pretty well for us,” Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly in summer 2008. ”We sell at least a dozen a month from the arts and craft line.”
— “We sell a lot” of the design books by Fashion Angels, said Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles in Norman, Okla.
— Four of 66 retailers named Fashion Angels as a top-selling girl gift in August 2008. 6/16/2008 (Age: 6 and Up)

Princess Mirror - DYO by MELISSA & DOUG

Princess Mirror - DYO by MELISSA & DOUG Each set comes with a special keepsake and plenty of materials to decorate and personalize the mirror. Kids can decorate their mirrors with hearts, jewels, glitter glue, ribbons and more. The entire set is organized neatly in a handy wooden case.
— LB Toys Owner Jamie Burdette in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly that Melissa & Doug’s decorate-your-own kits are so popular that her store sells “40 to 60 per month.” Sallie Kashiwa, owner of Timbuk Toys in Denver said in July 2008 that her store sells 15 to 20 units per month of the Princess Mirror.
— Lyn Copeland, owner of Copelin’s Toy Zone in Norman, Okla., said that when it comes to Melissa & Doug items, her store sells “over 100 per month.”
— More than 13 percent of retailers told TDmonthly that Melissa & Doug’s arts-and-crafts products are their best arts-and-crafts sellers. In addition to this item, bead and magnetic dress-up sets by Melissa & Doug were also named as popular gifts for girls in a summer 2008 survey of 66 retailers. 1/16/2008 (MSRP: $9.99; Age: 4 and Up)

Calico Critters – The 3 Little Pigs by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

These baby piglets are designed to sit or stand, and are outfitted with denim overalls and brightly colored neckerchiefs. Calico Critters are adorable little families designed with play themes in mind. Accessories build on imaginary play opportunities and include a townhome, village house, play park and more.
— In a summer 2008 poll, Calico Critters products were the clear leader in sales when it comes to gifts for girls, with 10 of 66 retailers mentioning the critters and accessories as their top seller.
— “Calico Critters is our top girl line,” Angel Stahl, owner of Angel’s Toy Barn in Greensburg, Pa., told TDmonthly.
— “Calico Critters sells lots more than the LEGO,” noted Kara Fichtner, manager of Out of the Blue Ltd. in Albuquerque, N.M.
— Owner Randy Austin of The Gifted Child in Lenox, Mass., also noted Calico Critters as a best-selling line in her store. 8/28/2008 (Age: 3 and Up)

Webkinz Black Poodle by GANZ

This fashionable poodle is one in a line of plush pets featuring interactive computer play. Using a special code specific to the pet, kids can log onto the Webkinz website, meet the pet’s online counterpart, and build special rooms with points gained from answering trivia questions. Online, this pet’s special item is the Poofy Poodle Chair, and its special food is Licorice Canepés.
— Terry Myers, owner of Kaledioscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly in July 2008 that her store sells about 350 Webkinz per month.
— “[We sell] about 100 per month,” said Donna, owner of The Perfect Present in Suwanee, Ga., who also named Webkinz as a best-selling gift item for girls.
— Eleven percent of 66 retailers polled in summer 2008 cited Webkinz as their top-selling girl gift. 8/28/2008 (Age: 6 and Up)

Springtime Arietta Beading Kit by BEAD BAZAAR/KID JOURNEYS

This set includes glass and ceramic beads of various shapes and colors, and an instruction and design booklet, all in a wooden, hand-crafted case with a sliding top. The kit makes 8+ accessories.
— Jewelry-making kits are popular at The Toy Store in Atlanta, Denis Hofstetter said, because “they are a good price point [and] something that lasts.”
— “Jewelry items from Bead Bazaar” are popular buys for girl gifts at Sisters Kids in Springfield, Mass., Co-Owner Diana Gisolfi said. “Girls wear more jewelry in the summer.”
— Four of 66 specialty toy retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2008 that beading kits are top-selling gifts for girls. 8/28/2008 (MSRP: $22.00; Age: 8 and Up)

Sticky Mosaics Enchanted Forest by THE ORB FACTORY LIMITED

Numbered templates and sticky foam allow kids to easily create beautiful mosaics. This particular kit includes 3000+ sticky foam and jewel pieces, four sparkling designs and four wall hangers.
— “Without a doubt, the Orb Sticky Mosaics” are a best-selling girl gift, said Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun’s Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
— “Sticky Mosaics by The Orb Factory. Enchanted Forest in particular. We sold five dozen of that particular one last year,” Kai Rady, owner of Shenanigans Inc in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly during a January 2010 survey regarding best-selling arts and crafts items.
— Eighteen of 48 retailers listed Sticky Mosaics as their best-selling arts and crafts item in early 2010. 8/28/2008 (MSRP: $16.99; Age: 6 and Up)

Calin Smiling by COROLLE DOLLS

Suitable for ages 18 months and up, 12” Calin Smiling is cuddly and soft, with a beanbag body that allows her to be posed like a real baby. She features sleeping eyes and can wear clothing from the Mon Premier collection.
— “They're reasonably priced and decent quality,” Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer’s Toy World/Baby USA in Battle Creek, Mich., said about Corolle baby dolls.
— Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly in July 2008 that his store sells 30 Corolle dolls a month. Other stores that mentioned Corolle indicated they sell between two to eight dolls per month.
— Seven of 66 retailers named Corolle dolls as a best-selling gift for girls in summer 2008. 8/28/2008 (MSRP: $30.99; Age: 2 and Up)

Chicken Socks - The Cootie Catcher Book by KLUTZ

This activity book contains 20 pre-printed pages that can be torn out and folded into cootie catchers. It also provides instructions on how to make the craft as well as the fortunes that lie inside it.
— “I’m continually impressed by the quality of products coming out from this company even after 30 years,” Paul Faustine of Red Dragon Toys in Brunswick, Maine, said in reference to Klutz books, which are a best-selling gift for girls in his store.
— Renee Nordhus, owner of ABC & Toy Zone in Rochester, Minn., noted that Klutz crafts are the top-selling gift item for girls in her store.
—Three of 66 retailers cited Klutz as a top seller for girls’ gifts in a summer 2008 TDmonthly poll. 6/18/2008 (MSRP: $9.95; Age: 6 and Up)

Groovy Girls Libbi & Louie by MANHATTAN TOY

This 8” doll is dressed to party and comes with an exclusive Web access code, plus a puppy. Groovy Girls are characterized by their funky fashions, hair and accessories.
— Mary Ellen Cerney, owner of Dear Friends & Children in Duncan, Okla., told TDmonthly in July 2008 that her store sells 30 Groovy Girls per month.
— Three of 66 retailers polled in a summer 2008 TDmonthly survey cited Groovy Girls as a top-selling gift for girls. 8/28/2008 (MSRP: $15.00; Age: 3 and Up)

Color a Purse by ALEX BRANDS

With this kit, kids can color a dragon and butterflies on purse that measures 10” W x 7.5” H x 3.5” D. It comes with six permanent markers in a pouch.
— The “Color a Purse and Backpack by Alex,” are popular girls’ gifts at Pun’s Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Owner Joe Berardoni told TDmonthly in July 2008.
— Four retailers of our 68 mentioned Alex craft kits as a best-selling product. 8/28/2008 (Age: 7 and Up)