Product Focus

Wooden Toys Branch Out January/February 2003 by Kari Anderson Retailers talk about trends in wooden toys Click here to read this article.

What’s Driving Car Sales? Retailers Offer Advice January/February 2002 by Kari Anderson Click here to read this article.

What's the Scoop on Selling Beach Toys? March/April 2002 by Kari Anderson Click here to read this article.

What Makes a Great Gag? January/February 2006 by kari Anderson Gags, pranks and tricks are sure to bring a grin to customers, but selling them in your store is no joke Click here to read this article.

Warm & Fuzzy January/February 2010 by Anya Harris Plush manufacturers talk trends from bold colors to classic characters. Click here to read this article.

W is for Word Games November/December 2007 by Kari Anderson No longer just for "wordies," this category is more inclusive than ever Click here to read this article.

U.S.-Based Compliance Testing May/June 2011 by Tina Manzer An interview with Paul Perrotti, vice president, ToyTesingLab Click here to read this article.

Trinkets at a Tasty Price: Toy Stores Try On Jewelry July/August 2005 by Kari Anderson Manufacturers and retailers offer tips on selling accessories Click here to read this article.

Toys Continue to Smarten Up November/December 2005 by Tina Manzer The latest on high-tech playthings Click here to read this article.

Toy Storage – A Post-Holiday Staple January/February 2009 by Kari Anderson Appeal to your customers' sense of good housekeeping and organization by promoting your toy storage solutions Click here to read this article.

Today's Pet Toys and Accessories January/February 2005 by Heather Merrell More than just rawhide bones and tennis balls Click here to read this article.

Three Key Baby Product Trends, plus what’s on the horizon July/August 2009 by Tina Manzer Today’s parents of infants make up a well-informed consumer base that demands products that are safer, greener, more practical and stylish. Our industry’s manufacturers are up to the task. Click here to read this article.

The Master of Games January/February 2007 by Kari Anderson Fun new versions of the classic game of Chess Click here to read this article.

The Evolution of Science Toys November/December 2005 by Tina Manzer Manufacturers give tips on sellingt this category Click here to read this article.

Terrific Toys for Trips March/April 2003 by Kari Anderson Retailers talk about their hottest selling travel toys and the advice they give to their customers Click here to read this article.

Take It Outside: Retailers Discuss Sport and Outdoor Toys May/June 2003 by Kari Anderson From flashy flowered footballs to self-storing super-sized toys, specialty retailers reveal the trends in this category Click here to read this article.

Stack, Nest, Push, Pull, Pop, Pound September/October 2008 by Kari Anderson A new generation of classic, functional toys is more sophisticated than ever. Click here to read this article.

Should You Be Selling Furniture and Décor? September/October 2004 by Kari Anderson Click here to read this article.

Reinventing the Wheel September/October 2011 by Tina Manzer Click here to read this article.

Puzzles: Lots of Satisfaction for the Price November/December 2010 by Tina Manzer Manufacturers point out the advantages of completing a puzzle, and offer suggestions on how to sell them in your store Click here to read this article.

Putting the Pieces Together: Retailers Compare Games and Puzzles November/December 2002 by Kari Anderson While they belong to the same family of products, these two sibling categories differ in terms of who's buying, when and why Click here to read this article.

Pushing Dolls Out Your Doors January/February 2004 by Kari Anderson Industry experts discuss what's popular in dolls and accessories Click here to read this article.

Profiting From Play Sets May/June 2005 by Kari Anderson Two store owners tell us how they've made modular playground units lucrative parts of their business Click here to read this article.

Playing Nerdy September/October 2009 by Tina Manzer Your science aisle may be busy during the holidays if you carry the exciting and creative science kits and toys our industry's manufacturers are churning out. Here they discuss why products in this category fit the bill for value-hunting parents. Click here to read this article.

Play Sets Pretty Much the Perfect Product March/April 2010 by Tina Manzer Helping a dad and his son choose a fun, inexpensive gift for a 6-year-old’s birthday party? Click here to read this article.

Piecing Together Construction Toy Trends July/August 2004 by Kari Anderson Learn what the experts are noticing in this growing category Click here to read this article.

Pets and Toys Go Together July/August 2007 by Kari Anderson MAnufacturers and retailers are jumping on the pet products bandwagon Click here to read this article.

Oh Baby! Retailers Talk About Infant Toys September/October 2002 by Kari Anderson Five retailers name their best-selling infant products, their secrets for product mix and layout, along with their tips for selling age-appropriate toys Click here to read this article.

New Products March/April 2012 Now that some of the biggest shopping shows for toy buyers are behind us, let’s talk about new products. Click here to read this article.

Musical Toys: Manufacturers Key in on Quality January/February 2005 by Kari Anderson Two vendors of children's instruments talk about how this category of toys has improved Click here to read this article.

Messy Crafts Are Cleaner Than Ever May/June 2007 by Kari Anderson Get the lowdown on the hottest no-mess arts-and-crafts products for kids Click here to read this article.

Many Ways to Rock the Block January/February 2012 by Tina Manzer Did you happen to see the article in The New York Times late in November that discussed educators’ “renewed faith in unit blocks”? Click here to read this article.

Managing Employees of All Ages January/February 2010 If you’re like most independent toy-store owners, you’re using this retail transition time to step back and look at your store with new eyes. Click here to read this article.

Make Your Own Bling May/June 2011 by Tina Manzer Personalization and do-it-yourself characterize today’s jewelry for kids, tweens and teens. Click here to read this article.

Make Room for Multicultural Toys March/April 2004 by Kari Anderson Linda Kapnick of Ambassador Toys tells how she incorporates diversity into her product mix Click here to read this article.

Make Room for More Dollhouses November/December 2004 by Kari Anderson More competition in this category has meant lower prices, a bigger variety of innovative products and a wider array of consumers Click here to read this article.

Let’s Pretend! Retailers Talk About Role Playing July/August 2003 by Kari Anderson Find out what's hot, read about trends, and get tips on selling dress-up and role-playing toys Click here to read this article.

Let Them Eat Cake September/October 2011 by Tina Manzer Creative products in the kids-in-the-kitchen category have made role-play richer, “funner” and more realistic. Click here to read this article.

Legal, Addictive and Fun – Why Customers Go Crazy for Brainteasers September/October 2006 by Kari Anderson Six manufacturers discuss what makes these puzzles irresistible and offer suggestions for boosting sales Click here to read this article.

Kids and Parents are Crazy for Kits January/February 2011 by Tina Manzer Manufacturers discuss the growing popularity of kits, new introductions for 2011 and best practices for merchandising kits Click here to read this article.

It's Tea Party Time! March/April 2009 by Kari Anderson Of all the seasons, spring is the time most associated with tea parties. The warm weather drives us outside, our Easter clothes are begging to be worn again, and of course Mother’s Day requires an event that moms and children can enjoy together. Click here to read this article.

Insects, Ants and Plants Why This Category Is Coming Alive November/December 2008 by Kari Anderson Learn why this is one of the fastest growing categories in toy stores today Click here to read this article.

Impulse Items Grab Attention May/June 2002 by Kari Anderson These little gems can mean big sales for your store – and they don't have to be cheap to be popular Click here to read this article.

Hats Off to Hats March/April 2008 by Kari Anderson Hat vendors offer up ideas on product selection, target markets and merchandising. Click here to read this article.

Great Kits for Kids January/February 2011 Click here to read this article.

Give Your Ball Sales a Bounce May/June 2006 by Kari Anderson Innovations in the ball category have given this standard toy some surprising qualities Click here to read this article.

Giddyup! May/June 2009 by Kari Anderson It’s still a heyday for horse toys, as you’ll see by the variety of animals, figures and accessories presented in this article Click here to read this article.

Get Ready September/October 2011 by Naftoli Versch Click here to read this article.

Get Kids Up, Out And Playing March/April 2011 by Tina Manzer Click here to read this article.

Endcap: A Spoonful of Fun November/December 2012 by Alyssa LaFaro Click here to read this article.

Electronic Toys Find a Space on Specialty Shelves November/December 2006 by Kari Anderson Factors to consider when integrating electronic toys into your product mix Click here to read this article.

Dinosaurs Are Timeless Toys January/February 2008 by Kari Anderson They're more popular than ever. Here, manufacturers discuss their never-ending appeal Click here to read this article.

Cutie Cards for Kids May/June 2008 by Kari Anderson Greeting card and sticker publishers discuss how those products can generate easy, cost-effective add-on sales for your store Click here to read this article.

Crazy for Kits May/June 2004 by Kari Anderson Find out why everyone loves kits, and get some tips on boosting sales through birthday parties and in-store craft days Click here to read this article.

Collectibles Bring Customers Back September/October 2007 by Kari Anderson Manufacturers share ideas for maximizing sales of collectible toys Click here to read this article.

Children’s Apparel: The Perfect Accessory for Toys July/August 2008 by Kari Anderson Kid's cloths in a toy store are a good fit, say suppliers. Here, they discuss the possibilities and provide suggestions for selecting and merchandising your mix. Click here to read this article.

Buy Me May/June 2002 by Tina Manzer Speaking of impulse items, candy takes the cake. Its “buy me” personality needs no explanation, but we’ll offer one anyway: low price, pocket size and kid-oriented eye appeal make it the quintessential category to feature at the cashwrap. Click here to read this article.

Bits and Pieces March/April 2013 by Alyssa LaFaro Shape and picture puzzles are classic playthings that are constantly being made new through the creativity of our industry’s manufacturers. Click here to read this article.

Babies Need More Than Toys July/August 2006 by Kari Anderson A look at how juvenile products dovetail with infant playthings in toy stores Click here to read this article.

Are You Offering Religious Toys? September/October 2005 by Kari Anderson Retailers and manufacturers discuss religious playthings Click here to read this article.

Are You Missing the Boat on Bath Toys? March/April 2005 by Kari Anderson Many retailers are cashing in on this newly expanded category. Are you? Click here to read this article.

"Mommy, can I get this? Please?" September/October 2003 by Kari Anderson Impulse buying is huge. The question is: how can you get customers to do more impulse buying in your store? Click here to read this article.