Little People - stocking fillers

 

just in - superb little people figures in stocking filler sized tubes - PBT is currently best price on amazon

buy now in time for Xmas! (get in quick before my kids snap them up!)

other Little People stock available - and more arriving...!

Friday Blog - Xmas Lists, NOT the most wanted 10.

So, everyone has done one, and they started way back in July. I'm talking about Xmas Top 10's, 12's, 15's, 20's toy lists from every retailer, which have been news stories every week in the past few months in the trade press, as well as in the national press and on TV, with spots on shows like ITV's daybreak highlighting the bigger retailers top toys.

And its occurred to me that the retailers listing Xmas lists this year have done so, not because these items will be most wanted but also because they are the most overstocked items or those most recommended by the manufacturers to major retailers.

Now, that's not to say that the Ride in Dalek won't be popular, nor the Dance Star Mickey, nor Fijit to that matter, but its unlikely that many of these toys will totally sell out, only a few make it to Zhu Zhu pets 2009 status or the infamous Buzz Lightyear year. 

I've got a few of the popular lines in for sure, but competing with the big boys on price and quantity is nigh on impossible, as they've likely to have ordered a fair chunk of these top ten toys in good quantity. The likes of Argos, Tesco's, Asda & Toys R Us have a lot of stock in already and a lot of competing discounts on the main brands and main lines. And in some cases main line retailers are discounting to such a degree that competing is impossible with margins so tight. Either they have no need to make much profit on these toys or that they have done some great deals direct from the suppliers, usually missing out middle distributor men, which us smaller retailers have to deal with.

To this end, I want to let customers know that we independents stock a wide variety of toys, some more exclusive product lines that larger retailers don't bother with, and also to let you know that kids don't always want the main branded products. 

I'm not one to tell you what to buy your kids, but fighting for that one toy, above and beyond any other doesn't always pay off... we're 5 to 6 months down the line from the top ten toy lists being written - and I know from my own experience that my kids have moved on from fads and toys after a month or two. 

I know from bitter experience that getting something special or really wanted doesn't really reap any greater rewards than other toys at Christmas. Last year my son wanted an Armouron outfit, Santa got him one, they were not too hard to track down, I understand, and after I spent Xmas Day putting it all together for him , he didn't wear it until the 29th Dec, and hasn't worn it since. It was unsurprisingly other toys, not even ones requested that sparked his imagination, including a build your own robot and a model plane.

Christmas and Toys are all about play and imagination, but that shouldn't just be the Children's imagination, but the parents and adults imagination in buying that something special, not what retailers say is special. Do kids want to go back to school in January and say I got a NERF gun or a Fijit, and all their friends say, yeah so did I. There's nothing wrong with being the kid with the 'different' toy, and being happy. I'm sure they'll have more fun and longevity playing with a surprise toy than with a bog standard branded product.

That said, I am stocking all of the key lines, but look beyond the top ten's and twenties, and try and be a bit more imaginative, alternatives to Lego for example exist in Mega Bloks (and others) and their range is pretty impressive this year, and there are often good quality, cheaper and in some cases better looking alternatives, I know there are competitors to the Harumika range. 

I know kids are demanding, I have three now, but they don't always have to have the IN thing, after all they could get a toy and make it IN themselves.

One plus point against all of this is that if the top 10 sell out everywhere, there is always the next best thing - which is simply everything else. Kids should be grateful for all their presents, but make sure they get, not only what they want, this year, but also something different too, you never know it might be the best present they get. 

Don't always be swayed by what you are told is popular, often its not, its just overstocked, and a good deal is not always a good deal. £50 off a £100 toy you don't want is not a bargain, its £50 more than you spent on something you don't want! Be intelligent and imaginative this Christmas... there is still plenty of time to be a hero for your kids.

Top Gear in Stock

we have a range of BBC's Top Gear Cars in stock, including the famous Caravan smashing Car Darts Set which features THE STIG driving a white car down a ramp and smashinginto a caravan on a scoring target. 

also available are 6 x 1:64 Scale die cast vehicles from the STIG POWER SERIES all with THE STIG as driver, including the

Maserati MC12,
Megane Trophy,
Mercedes SL65 AMG Black,
Pagani Zonda R,
Laborghini Reverton
and the Mercedes SLS AMG

awesome official vehicles tested by the TOP GEAR team and driven by the Stig - wach vehicle in the series features a mini Stig driver! To say these are essential is understating their awesomeness! 

 

currently, we at PBT's are the ONLY stockists on Amazon of these toys, so get them while I have them...

Lego TOYS Update

further to yesterdays news - we have the details of the Sun Lego promo:

on Sat 8 Oct: Star Wars: Star Destroyer

on Mon 10 Oct: Harry Potter: The Lab

on Tues 11 Oct: City: Blue Truck

on Weds 12 Oct: Alien Quest: ADU Jetpack (with a minifigure!)

on Thurs 13 Oct: Cars 2: Gremlin

on Fri 14 Oct: Ninjago: Ninja Training (with minifigure!)

on Sat 15 Oct: Harry Potter: Trolley (with minifigure!)

just buy the Sun everyday, redeem token at Toys R Us or WHSmith and get the days toy FREE, sun costs 60p on Saturday and 30p every other day...

last time the sun extended teh promo and issued a couple more toys, so maybe they will again this time... stay tuned for more info. Remember these toys are not available anywhere else and thus are exclusive to the day of release and also highly collectable....

Plush is Lush

Some cute plushes have arrived my way in the past week, perfect for younger kids are the Sesame Street Pals from Playskool, Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Big Bird and my fav, Cookie Monster. Linky Here

also perfect are the In The Night Garden Talking Plush - Here

plus a great Dress Up Upsy Daisy...

Sun Lego promotion again!

our friends over at the Current Bun, The Sun, have announced the launch of another Lego promotion starting this Saturday, its the usual, token and pick up in store bagged toy promo. Not seen what's included yet, nor seen any TV ads, just teasers in the paper. But it surely will be worth picking up a 30p newspaper for toys that are worth much more. Ideal stocking fillers, which on the secondary market fetch a few pennies, and are very limited (on the scale of it). Will update when I have more!

lets hope there's some Star Wars premiums in there again!

Moshling Clay Buddies

 

Arriving today in stock, Moshi Monsters Clay Buddies. These are gonna be huge. Build and collect your own Moshilings and Monsters. Card Packs, and Deluxe starter set.

have now arrived and are available here

be sure to order from Piggy Bank Toys