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The mass hysteria
alternative
By Staff
Playthings -- 12/9/2003
GLENVIEW, Ill. - As the big 'boxers' try to knock each
other out of the toy ring selling children's playthings
at below wholesale, the toy mass-market alternative
- specialty retailers - are presenting a different list
of 'must have' toys for the holiday season.
Rather than rock bottom pricing and "sizzle"
as drawing cards, the American Specialty Toy Retailing
Association (ASTRA) has picked a "hot list" based on
elements that historically have made toys successful.
"We've identified toys that are creative,
open-ended, age-appropriate - and fun," Kathleen McHugh,
ASTRA's executive director told playthings.com. "The
lists are chosen through member feedback received from
a survey," she said, adding that ASTRA separates the
top toy picks in two categories, top-selling toys and
surprise sellers.
Following, in alphabetical order are ASTRA's
fourth quarter top 20 picks.
- Beanie Babies, Ty
- Bionicles and Clickits, Lego
- Blokus, Educational Insights
- Charm it Bracelets & Charms, High
Intensity
- Erector Sets, Brio Corp
- Farm Friends Bowling and My First Purse,
International Playthings
- Gobblet, Blue Orange Games
- Groovy Girls and accessories, Manhattan
Toy
- Hello Kitty, Sanrio
- Magz, Inc
- Papo Knights and Castles, Hotaling
Imports
- Puppets, Folkmanis
- Slide Bracelets, Bead Shop
- Slingchute, Klutz
- Surefire Slingshot, Monkey Business
- Thomas wooden trains, RC2 Corp.
- Train tracks, Maxim Enterprise
- Trains, Brio
- Viking series, Playmobil USA Inc
- Wooden toys, Melissa & Doug
Following, in alphabetical order are ASTRA's
"surprise sellers" for the fourth quarter.
- Artistic painting sets, Sentosphere
- Baby animal farm bowling, International
Playthings
- Bop-oh, Hog Wild
- Folding castle, Melissa & Doug
- Dolls, Gotz
- Hover Discs, Overbreak LTD
- Magic kits, Fantasma Toys
- Man Bites Dog, University Games
- Marionettes, Bozart Toys
- Octiles gameboard, Out of the Box Publishing
- Plush, Douglas Cuddle Toy
- Robot Claws, Toysmith
- Together Tunes, Neurosmith
- Toy Books, RC2/Ertl
- Treasured Child, Lee Middleton
- Triazzle Puzzles, Toysmith
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