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Budget Buying

-- Gifts and Dec, 2/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Philadelphia

O'Doodle's Toy Store

• Bananagrams word games. Bananagrams

• Sticker Factory. Alex

• Slinky, Silly Putty. Poof-Slinky

• Tin kaleidoscopes, Children's Broom set. Schylling

• Wind-up toys. California Creations

• Rubik's Cube. Winning Moves

• O-Balls. Rhino Toys

• Finger Monsters. Accoutrements

• Impulse toys. Westminster

• Bubbles. Little Kids

• Set game. Set Enterprises

• You've Been Sentenced! McNeill Designs

• Calico Critters. International Playthings

• Yumiko plush. Russ Berrie

• Magnetic Dress-Up Dolls. Melissa & Doug

• Wooden baby toys, musical instruments. Plan Toys

• Tidoo dolls. Corolle

Toys priced in the sweet spot of under $20 were the strongest sellers across the board at O'Doodles during the pre- and post-holiday periods, owner Fran O'Donnell tells Playthings. “Old classics like Slinky, Silly Putty, tin kaleidoscopes, little wind-ups did tremendously,” he says. “It was a lower price-point thing during the holiday season, so that's really how we pulled it off.” Expanding his store's usual impulse toy displays to include even more classic and evergreen toys that appeal to multiple ages of kids as well as adults—like the Rubik's Cube and O-Balls—helped attract customers who were strapped for cash but still hoping to score some sure-fire hits with their gift giving. “I think people were just looking for security with some of these,” O'Donnell says. Other strong sellers in recent weeks were items that already have proven track records at specialty, like Bananagrams, Set, Calico Critters, the lower-priced Corolle dolls, the wooden dress-up dolls from Melissa & Doug and Plan Toys' wooden baby items and musical instruments. Notes O'Donnell, sales of [Plan's] xylophone were “amazing.”

Portland, Ore.

Piccolo Mondo Toys

• Bananagrams word games. Bananagrams

  Karito Kids' 21 inch Piper

• Doink-It Darts. Marky Sparky

• Magformers. Rainbow Products

• Magna-Tiles. Valtech Co.

• Blokus. Educational Insights

• Qwirkle. Mindware

• Karito Kids dolls, books, accessories. KidsGive

• Travel Charmers soft dolls. KidsGive

• Sticky Mosaics kits. Orb Factory

• Shrinky Dinks kits. Alex, Creativity for Kids, Klutz

• PakNaks charms. Paknak

• Novelty erasers. BC USA Toys & Stationery

• Puzzles, WOW vehicles. Ravensburger

• Calico Critters. International Playthings

• Settlers of Catan. Mayfair Games

• Ticket to Ride. Days of Wonder

• 10 Days in Europe, 10 Days in Asia. Funagain

• Zingo. ThinkFun

• Webkinz. Ganz

• Plush cats, dogs, horses. Douglas

• Uglydolls. Pretty Ugly

“Games is our number one category,” Piccolo Mondo owner Michelle Smith tells Playthings, although magnetic toys (including the Doink-It Darts, Magformers and Magna-Tiles) have flown out of the store recently as well.

Smith promoted those items with play areas as well as demos, she says. Low-priced novelties, plush and crafts were also solid sellers in recent weeks. On the higher-end of the scale, Piccolo Mondo has also had success with the Karito Kids line of dolls, books and coordinated accessories. This holiday season, Smith significantly expanded the items in the line that her store carries, added a large display and hosted a special in-store event complete with passports, stamps and costumes provided by KidsGive. “It made all the difference,” she says, noting that her efforts immediately sparked steady sales. “I love them!” Smith says of the dolls. “They're beautiful, and the company is great to work with.”

Do you want your toy store featured on What's Selling? Contact Karyn M. Peterson at (646) 746-7314 or karyn.peterson@reedbusiness.com.

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