retail

Target Fires First In Toy Wars

Mickey-B

Get ready to see lots of Mickey, Bigfoot and Sing-a-ma-jigs!: Retailers are readying their toy departments for the coming holiday season, and the price guns are already drawn.

Target says it is discounting prices on more than 1,000 toys -- including 250 that can be found exclusively at Target. The bargains include some of the toys expected to be the season's biggest hits, such as Sing-a-ma-jigs, Bigfoot, Squinkies, Toy Story 3 items, Zoobles, Kung Zhu hamsters, and Leapster Explorer Learning System.

And Toys R Us, which has already announced an aggressive holiday expansion via pop-up stores, unveiled its "hot list" for the season. The chain says consumers can expect to see plenty of offerings in four key categories: Collectibles, international playthings making their U.S. debut, 18-inch dolls and a big comeback for trains.

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Among the "Cute, Cool, Collectible" choices, the Paramus, N.J.-based chain says the trend sparked by Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters in 2009 and the Silly Bandz this summer is likely to continue with Squinkies, Sing-a-ma-jigs! and Zoobles!, which come to life in their Happitats.

Global influences will be evident in such offerings as Die-Cast Licensed Cars from TOMY in Japan, where kids can choose from models from leading Japanese carmakers; Italy's hot Cicciobello Doll from Giochi Preziosi; the Ladybug Smart Trike from Israel, and Dave the Funky Shoulder Monkey from the U.K., a YouTube favorite.

There's also likely to be a run on 18-inch dolls, including Disney Princess & Me dolls (Ariel, Tiana, Belle, Cinderella and Aurora are all in the lineup); Journey Girls, a Toys R Us private-label offering, and Best Friends Club, Ink, a new line from MGA Entertainment.

The retailer is also betting big on trains, with offerings ranging from TOMY's Road and Rails Train Set, a direct descendent of the Pla-Rail toy train system launched in Japan in 1959; Geotrax Transportation System Christmas in Toy Town RC Set from Fisher-Price, and Thomas & Friends Thomas' Mountain Adventure by MEGA Bloks.

And of course, there's Dance Star Mickey, who cut a rug with Donny Osmond when he was unveiled at Toy Fair back in February. The plush toy from Fisher Price is designed to get toddlers dancing, programmed with music and with music: Press his foot, and you'll get Disco, Latin, Techno, and even a Moonwalk.

 

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