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Talking retail
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TnP loves to hear your views. This month we ask retailers what’s selling well, and what caught their eye at Toy Fair
Amanda Alexander Owner, Giddy Goat Toys Didsbury, Manchester What’s selling well for you? Tonies were the standout for me in January and February in terms of shop and online demand. I think a lot of parents bought Tonie Boxes for their children for Christmas and are now adding to their collections. Pokémon cards continue to be big in demand with my local customers. When you visited Toy Fair, did you find any exciting new products that you plan to stock?
Joseph Pulfrey Senior Buyer Hobbycraft Group 100-plus stores across the UK What’s selling well for you?
“Wood craft, wood accessories and wood kits including beads are all flying, and we’ve seen a big jump in sales of science kits”
As usual with Hobbycraft, it’s all things art & craft that drive our sales, whether that’s kits for crafting projects or the raw ingredients such as paints, stationery, craft accessories, paper, card, and glitter. Some specific areas have shown some notable growth in the past few months and have really stood out: Wood craft, wood accessories and wood kits including beads are all flying, and we’ve seen a big jump in sales of science kits. Craft kits are always the big stars of Christmas sales and this year it was science & nature leading the way.
Not so much ‘new new’ toys, “I’m adding but lots of ‘new to us’ toys. In fact, I found it hard to choose depth and and could honestly fill a shop choice to twice the size of the one I have… but I’m adding depth and choice our current to our current ranges. So, for ranges” example, I ordered the eco plush range from Keel Toys, a range of Paw Patrol figures and vehicles, plus the Kaloo range of dolls from Jura and some Barbie dolls - two very different products to stand alongside the range of rag dolls and Lottie Dolls from Bigjigs Toys, which give customers more choice. I check the search terms on our website and go by requests I receive from customers when deciding on new lines.
Julia Wingate Owner, The Trading Post Kingsbridge, Devon What’s selling well for you? Half term has just started and the new lines from LEGO, Ty, Tech Decks and Nee Doh balls are selling fast. When you visited Toy Fair, did you find any exciting new products that you plan to stock? I loved seeing it all and it’s hard to pinpoint the top toys I liked but we are definitely going to stock Nee Doh balls, Adoptables from Keel Toys, and the Asmodee card game called So Wrong It's Right. 26
Debbie Maloney Senior Manager, Austins Department Store, Newton Abbot, Devon What’s selling well for you? Squishmallows, Heroes of Goo Jit Zu, Hot Wheels, Sylvanian Families, and LEGO.
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