Toys Business Still Thrives

According to the Toy Association,  84% of kids still play non-computer games. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. Educational toys, board games, puzzles and collectibles are products that appeal to the creative, inquisitive and tactile nature of children.

The driving force behind consumer spending is the search for unique gifts or products that appeal to their basic nature. As the idea of “stay-cation” enters daily life, so does the need for home entertaining. This means more and more families are looking at ways to cut expenses and stick closer to home, yet still entertaining their families and friends. As a retailer, you’ll find that consumers are looking for fun toys and games that are out of the ordinary.

Using Toys To Make Your Store Stand Out

This is where your shop can excel.  By stocking your shop with collectible toys, fun board games, puzzles and educational toys, you can knock the boredom out of standard gift giving. Offering products that add fun and excitement to the weekly family entertainment gives you a unique selling proposition and a reason for consumers to shop with you.

It is easy to find the ordinary games and toys, but consumers are looking for an alternative to everyday box-mart board games or puzzles.  When consumers come into your shop, offer them items that they can’t find elsewhere – creating a uniqueness in your toy selections.

Below is a breakdown of the different toy categories that fall under the idea of unique gifts.  Once you understand how and why people buy these toys, you will be able to create an effective toys product mix for your store. Your toy wholesalers can also help you to choose which items work well in your area.

Educational Toys - Parents want to give children a gift that doesn’t scream “educational” on it, but silently says “play with me and you will learn.” Children today are interested in computer games or interactive toys. Instead of flash cards with math problems, give them a computer program that has cool math games or a dice game that encourages addition.  Adults love to show off their knowledge or expertise. Memory or question games with unique twists give adults the opportunity to show off and have fun with their kids at the same time.

Board Games – Unique board games practically sell themselves. Novelty is a big draw.  People love interaction. Think outside the box, literally.  Offer board games that give consumers the ability to make their own board game pieces. (You can’t get more unique than a board game you create.)

Consumers have many interests.  Board games can revolve around these very interests.  Games such as math games (Suduko) or “green” earth games (where the goal is making the earth eco-friendly) engage players by involving their interests.

Puzzles – This category has many extraordinary items to choose from; tiny puzzles that are only 4” x 6”, collectible puzzles that have specific themes by artist, travel puzzles, as well as 3D puzzles. All these are unique, fun items that you could incorporate into your sales mix. Consumers love a challenge. Puzzles give them a fun way to challenge themselves.

Collectible Toys - Collectible toys can be in either of the above categories or stand on their own.  Die cast cars are big collectibles as well as gifts. Another type of collectible item falls under the category of plush toys.  These toys include stuffed bears or other animals.  Dolls and other action figures have been considered collectibles for years.

Try incorporating one or more of the above unique gift ideas into your product mix.  After all, everyone needs a little entertainment in their lives.

Need help finding the right toys? The FGmarket wholesale toy vendors will be able to offer you a great selection of board games, educational toys, puzzles and collectibles.  To jump start your toy search, check out the FGmarket wholesale toy vendors highlighted below.

When you think of England, you probably imagine royalty and palaces. Perhaps you see visions of crumpet and tea brunches, the Union Jack, or a fab Brit punk band. All that’s well and good, but England’s greatest treasure is a delightful little toy called a Clay Mate. These tiny porcelain clay toys are made for American retailers by Clay-Mates USA and are too adorable to pass up. It’s their ability to be loved that brought Clay-Mates across the pond for everyone in “the colonies” to enjoy.

Clay-Mates are tiny, charming toys with a base often less than the size of a quarter. For that reason, these pocket treasures are highly regarded, competitively collected, and sent as unique gifts to loved ones of all ages.

You’re probably wondering what Clay-Mates are made of to keep them from being small and fragile. Clay-Mates are not fragile at all! They’re not quite indestructible, but they’re pretty close. They are made of porcelain clay which means that these babies will be together foreverbarring any catastrophes involving gravity and hard surfaces.

What’s even better is that each Clay-Mate is individually made. No two pieces are exactly alike which means that each Clay-Mate gift is very unique. Clay-Mates USA also makes it easy to give Clay-Mates as gifts. They do this by offering Occasion Clay-Mates which represent an occasion (obviously) such as a birthday and are packaged in a special box. Personalized messages can be included inside the box. What greeting card can top that? A smile, a warm message, and an irresistibly cute toy.

Avid collectors also have the …click here to read England’s Greatest Treasure Is Clay-Mates…

It takes a very special doll to compete with the world’s most famous plastic female figurine. In this case, it’s a whole set of fun toy dolls for little girls. The Only Hearts Club® is the modern girl’s solution to the traditional playtime toy.

There’s nothing wrong with the classics but today’s young girls want to create their own trends or fit into one very different from that of their mothers and grandmothers.

The Only Hearts Club® are fashion dolls with realistic proportions which make it easy for little girls to identify with the positive messages that they encourage.

With all of the negativity bombarding children’s minds in today’s world, parents place extreme importance on finding toys that encourage a positive set of morals and values. They want toys that emphasize an appreciation of yourself and not an unrealistic view of what a girl or boy is supposed to look like to be popular. The Only Hearts Club® fashion dolls and plush pets are precisely the right toys for a much-needed dose of positivity.

If one look at the award-winning fashion dolls and plush pets aren’t enough, pay attention to the message that these dolls are encouraging. “Listen to your heart and try to do the right thing.” That’s just one of the many values that children will learn when playing with these dolls. The fun thing is that …click here to read Get The Only Dolls That Make Barbie Jealous…

If award-winning educational books and games are up your alley, Birdcage Press has new things in store for you! Their special educational toys are fantastic for furthering the development of children of many ages. Plus, they’re so much fun that adults will want to join the children too!

Want a fun way to teach children about art? “Hello Rousseau”, “Hello Matisse”, “Van Gogh & Friends”, and “The Impressionist Art Book” intrigue children with their colorful pictures while helping them discover the beautiful world of classic art.

Educational books like these from Birdcage Press are well received by parents and children alike because they stimulate creativity and passion–two things no parent wants to stifle.

Birdcage Press also has award-winning books such as “Gallery Ghost” which was recently awarded with inclusion in the National Association for Gifted Children’s 2009 Toy List.

If you have a fair amount of time for reading, visiting the Birdcage Press awards list will surprise you. The list of award-winning educational toys, books and games from Birdcage Press is huge! Many respected companies have and continue to recognize Birdcage Press for their contribution to developing the minds of children. Watch the list grow and be a part of something special in educational toys when you offer educational books and games from Birdcage Press.

Want the children who come into your store to have a better understanding of wildlife? Educational games designed just for this are available from Birdcage Press. Even parents searching for unique Christmas gifts will be drawn to their fun educational games. Games that stimulate a knowledge of art are also popular educational toys from Birdcage Press.

If you’re ready to take your toy selection up a notch or ten, visit Birdcage Press and watch little eyes light up all year.

Want to trust the toys that parents buy from your store? One of the most trustworthy names in educational, safe toys for children is HABA USA. Their distinctive brand of quality childrens toys and baby toys have kept them in high regards with parents for generations. Since 1938, fewtoy company names have resounded so pleasantly in the ears as HABA USA.

HABA is known worldwide as an excellent provider of specialty toys for children. They’ve earned this reputation because of their fun, popular toys that stimulate the minds of children. From educational baby toys that further development to childrens toys with a fun twist, HABA USA will leave children wanting to play and learning during the process.

Recognize the face on the right? That’s the smiling friendly face found on many HABA USA toys. This smile greets children warmly, providing an unspoken invitation to have fun, learn, grow and get excited today. All of HABA USA’s toys are guaranteed high quality and safe for infants and toddlers. Everything from rattlers to building blocks are made with baby’s well-being in mind.

As if safe and educational weren’t enough for these toys, they’re also award-winning! HABA USA’s “Cory Caterpillar” recently won The Toy Man award of excellent, The Toy Man seal of approval, The Toy Man eco-recognition seal 2009, and The Toy Man editor’s choice award. Talk about your quality toys!

Want award-winning, safe and educational toys to satisfy parents who visit your store? …click here to read What Smiling Toy Face Greets Your Child?…

Well, probably not in the literal sense. However, the Hugg-A-Planet® line of educational toys give children this opportunity. Educational toys like these get children involved in learning about our planet and provide an opportunity for adults to teach children about loving the environment and caring for the planet.

Ever heard a child ask “where do we live?” Hugg-A-Planet® toys make it easy for parents to quickly point out the location on the globe and discuss other locations as well. Allowing children to sleep with their HuggAmerica pillow is a fun way to instill a thirst for learning in them.

Plus, playing with the Hugg-A-Planet educational toys is fun for the parents as well! Wanting to play with children will create many bonding experiences that parents and children will treasure for years to come.

We all know that children develop many important skills during the early years of childhood. What most parents seek to find are the educational toys that stimulate this development. One of the toys essential to learning about geography and an eco friendly lifestyle is the Hugg-A-Planet® line of toys.

Educational toys like the Hugg-A-Planet®, HuggAmerica®, and Hugg-A-Planet Mars® are perfect for a wide range of customers. Teachers wanting a novel idea …click here to read Have You Hugged A Planet Today?…

Some people can’t stop thinking about football. They want to play it. They want to watch it. They eat, sleep, and breathe football. They even sport football jerseys during the off season. Does this sound like any of your customers? For the customer or their loved one who just can’t get enough of football, wow their world with the Big Sunday football board game.

Yeah, yeah. The idea for most neglected wives or girlfriends is to get their significant other away from the television. Baby steps, ladies! This fun board game is a way to break the binding spell of the tv while spending time with the handsome bloke. When you see a customer with the dejected “he chose football again” look, cheer them up with this fun board game.

The Big Sunday football board game is also a really fun activity for your customers to do before Super Bowl parties. Do you already carry the serving pieces and decorations? Why miss the opportunity to round out your party offerings and make your store the one-stop shop for Super Bowl party supplies?

Many happy gamers at trade shows all across the country have proven …click here to read How Are You Preparing For Big Sunday Football?…

How Promoting Family Fun Will Help Your Business

There is an emergence of renewed family time occurring across the nation. With this trend, also, comes the need to shower loved ones with gifts. Plush and novelty toys are wonderful gifts given through out the year and a potential for increasing your sales. As with any merchandise you sell, understanding and knowing your market is essential to success. In this FGmarket Newsletter, we will look at the different categories of plush and novelty toys as well as how you can capitalize on family friendly products with younger members and special occasion emphasis.

PLUSH TOYS – Pleasing The Young At Heart

Plush toys fall in to several categories: play plush, collectible plush and complimentary plush gifts. Each category or style can appeal to wide consumers base and enhance other existing product lines. It is important to understand your market as well as the categories and how you can pump up sales for each of these types of plush types through out the year.

Play Plush refers to toys that children can play with, hold and carry around. These toys can be interactive like Fiesta Toy Company’s plush puppets with sound. In fact, interactive toys are great for young children. While, ever popular teddy bears are considered the staple of the play plush toy market, stuffed animals (puppies, furry little kittens, frogs, etc.) are great items for those looking for children’s toys.

Plush Collectibles refer to toys that are given or bought because they are a series in a collection or commemorate special memories, such as a graduation plush toy or a school mascot. Holiday collections are a another form of collectible. Easter plush toys and Christmas decorating plush toys are holiday collectibles that are very much in demand.

Plush Gifts refer to items that customers will want to give for special events, such as valentine plush toys, or birthday bears and even plush baby toys for welcoming baby home.

As you can see even though these plush toys fall into different categories, they all work together and can make great add on sales to your other product lines. A flower for Valentines day is great, but add a stuffed animal and it’s is extraordinary. Using wholesalers that carry a wide array of plush toys in all the categories can save you time. Plus, they already have a good idea of what items sell best.

Novelty Toys and Gifts – Making Family Time Entertaining

Novelty toys and gifts are diverse items. Puzzles, board games, as well as books, all of items that fall into the novelty toy and gift category. Patrons who buy these items do so for birthday’s, parties, as well as for family fun time.

Puzzles come in many styles and designs ranging from simple puzzle for toddlers to elaborate puzzle meant to be pieced together by friends and family’s as a project.

Board Games refer to the type of novelty games with participatory interaction among a group of people. Interest in board games especially unique or educational are on the rise. In fact, board games such as the FamilyLore Game, where players have to answer family questions, is a really great type of game for engaged couples, helping them learn about each others family in an entertaining way. Board games that ask fun facts about the great outdoors or science, are great for schools, families and even camps, on a rainy day. Board games offer variety and loads of family fun, as kids toys they can’t be beat. They make great gifts and have an impulse buy quality for a parent needing some family time.

Books and Educational Toys are great baby shower gifts, children’s gifts, and birthday gifts. Books are also good impulse buy items and educational toys appeal to parents and grandparents. You may have a customer pick up a flower arrangement or gift who may stop and browse through the books you sell. This often leads to an extra sale, as they can purchase a book that they can read to their niece when she visits. Children’s books aimed at toddlers and elementary school children are excellent additions to gift baskets and coordinate well with other gifts like plush toys. Hint: Always carry items that can play off one another in sales situations or create an impulse buying reaction.

A nice mixture of plush and novelties sparks fun and oohs and aahs. More importantly providing customers with family friendly items will boost your sales as well. Promoting and selling novelty and plush toys isn’t hard. Most likely you carry a few for Valentines day, so why not carry more for each holiday season, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. Board games, teddy bears, puzzles, books all things that can be sold separately or bundled together in a gift basket can help you increase your holiday gift sales. Keeping these products all year long can also increase your everyday gift sales.

Look to the wholesalers at FG Market for the right mixture of novelty for family fun with fuzzy fantastic plush and unique toys. Your customers will be entertained and you’ll be successful.

Wholesale educational games from US Games Systems, Inc. put your products in a whole new ballpark, reaching a valuable niche market for your store. These are the parents, teachers, daycare providers, and any other person with a major influence in a child’s life. These are also the families striving for creative activities to enjoy during family time. To tap into the potential of the group looking for educational toys, educational games, and family games, here are a few home run secrets.

Home Run #1: When browsing wholesale educational toys from US Games Systems Inc., consider the many ways that offering these products to your customers is allowing time to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Learning, playing, and competing together creates a family bond that can’t be broken. Your customers are seeking out great ways to provide this opportunity to their families. Being the one-stop provider of educational games creates en emotional bond with your customers who will later return to your store for toys (and people) that they can trust. …click here to read How Wholesale Educational Toys Help Gain An Edge…

Well of course they are! In fact, the memory of board games played in the past is probably the reason that you chose to browse this blog at all. Entertaining board games like those found through JAX Ltd, Inc. play an intricate part in the development of children mentally, educationally, physically and as competitors. As these children grow into adults, the right game can return them to the cherished days of childhood once again.

At some point in our lives, everyone has played a board game and been completely swept up in the surge of competitive energy, excitement, and learned a bit about the other players in the process. So how do you ensure that your customers are able to share this life experience, nay, nearly a rite of passage with their friends and loved ones? Easier than rolling dice. …click here to read Are Board Games Really Fun?…