http://www.tdmonthly.com Trade Magazine for the Toy, Hobby, Game, and Gift Industry en-us http://www.tdmonthly.com http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/images/5-12-03logo.gif http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3512 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3512 Huggable and handmade plush, artistic accents and eco-friendly designs characterize some of the newest items out in the specialty market http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3513 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3513 It's a fresh, new year ... and time to think about how your 2009 is shaping up http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3544 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3544 Ganz revealed its latest product — Webkinz Jr. — at AmericasMart Atlanta this morning. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3473 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3473 TDmonthly Magazine offers lots of unique, free ways for specialty retailers to help their customers learn more about what makes their toys an incredible value. See January's updates, including a Double Shutter video http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3539 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3539 Blankets that turn into balls or dragons. Toy carts that are mobile libraries. Necklaces that make wishes come true: These TDmonthly Toy Videos demonstrate that 2009 will be bringing plenty of innovative products into retailers' and kids lives http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3515 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3515 Michelle Smith, who owns Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore., with her husband, Merrick, tries to bring a piece of the world to her customers. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3516 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3516 One of the goals at Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore., is to bring a little bit of the world to customers. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3520 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3520 From Blokus (distributor currently changing as of 12/08) to Wedgits from Imagability, small, easy-to learn games and toys are the winners when it comes to popular sellers. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3522 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3522 In my retail store, there were several holiday seasons where sales exceeded our expectations. If you don’t have a plan for this situation ahead of time, you can find yourself spending wildly and blindly — to the detriment of your business. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3523 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3523 Ideally, your store has the perfect balance of merchandise that flows in and out the door at just the right time according to customers’ wishes. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3546 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3546 Despite the gloomy economy, only two of eleven specialty toy-store owners told TDmonthly Magazine that their holiday sales were significantly lower than last year's. Everyone else's responses ranged from "okay, considering ... " to "much better than expected." http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3545 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3545 If you've signed up for a TDmonthly Magazine Toy Video demonstration at Toy Fair 2009, there's no need for a script and no need to be nervous http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3528 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3528 See all the new Specialty Toys we've uploaded in the last month to make your ordering easier http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3529 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3529 See all the new toys we've uploaded in the last month to make your ordering easier http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3540 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3540 From plush and blankets that turn inside out to multi-use furniture inspired by animals, there are plenty of fun, new products to ring in the New Year http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3517 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3517 In November 2008, TDmonthly surveyed retailers across the country about their sales of books for kids, young adults and teens. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3518 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3518 About 30 percent of 52 specialty retailers who spoke with TDmonthly Magazine in fall 2008 said they don’t carry specific stock for Halloween in their stores http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3527 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3527 In late 2008, TDmonthly Magazine asked 52 specialty retailers to share their preferences for vendors. Which companies can they not live without? http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3538 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3538 What attracts specialty retailers to long-term relationships with their suppliers? Everything from excellent customer service and return-friendly policies to fast, free shipping and broad product selection http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3534 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3534 Under condition of anonymity, 52 specialty retailers were asked by TDmonthly Magazine in fall 2008 which suppliers are their least favorite to work with. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3543 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3543 TDmonthly Magazine’s Psychologist Mom hung out with a magical elf, discovered an ideal carry-along for a plane trip with kids, and found an ingenious way to help “spot” a lost child in her latest round of reviews. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3537 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3537 TDmonthly Magazine’s Boys Roundtable went back to the basics with a woodworking kit from Woodland Magic Imports. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3533 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3533 If you want to know which children’s CDs may be worth carrying in your store, see what TDmonthly’s Music Expert has to say. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3521 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3521 Introducing between 80 and 100 themed playsets, accessories and figures every year, Playmobil toys help to stimulate children’s imaginations and create endless adventures. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3535 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3535 If a robot toy were crossed with an insect, what would you get? A HEXBUG! For Innovation First, the result has been a sellout, with demand overwhelming supply in the products’ first year. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3519 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3519 A black bat silhouetted against a yellow background. And a smiley face button splashed with blood: http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3524 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3524 It’s finally happened: my assistant went on vacation. Once a year, I’m thrown into confusion by this and swear I’m going to automate. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3531 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3531 MGA Entertainment filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals Friday, requesting that it stay a court order that would ban the company's manufacture of Bratz http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3542 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3542 The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires that manufacturers and/or importers provide Certificates of Compliance to distributors and retailers for products manufactured on or after Nov. 12, 2008 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3536 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3536 The pure, anecdotal sales pitch is dead, and few observers are mourning its passing. Have you noticed how difficult it is for anyone with the word “sales” in his or her title to get a simple appointment? http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3514 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3514 Four days of the latest offerings from companies big and small — plush, games, construction toys, science kits, educational products and more! Will you be able to see it all? http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3525 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3525 Throughout the year, TDmonthly Magazine's Roundtable reviewers — parents, their children, and occasionally retailers and experts — don their testing gloves and give their honest feedback about dolls, toys, games and infant products http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3526 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=3526 How does your website compare to those of other specialty retailers? Find out in the ShopTalk section of TDmonthly Magazine's February issue, where former retailer Adeena Mignogna will reveal what storeowners are doing right