Hot Christmas Toys

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Overheard earlier today on a Christmas toy shopping trip:

A little girl, about 4, tells an elderly man who inquired about what she wanted for Christmas: “Zhu zhu pets … they’re like hamsters, only you don’t have to clean up their mess.”

That’s the scoop on Zhu Zhu pet hamsters.

Zhu Zhu pets have zoomed to the top of this holiday season’s hot Christmas toys list.

What are Zhu Zhu (pronounced Zoo Zoo) pets, you ask. They’re motorized, interactive hamsters. And they’re a huge hit with young children. They’re shaping up to be the must-have toy of Christmas 2009.

Armed with a touch of artificial intelligence, these hamsters squeak and squawk while darting around like their live counterparts, creating a “real” hamster experience without the … mess.

Unfortunately, they’re really hard to find. Most stores are sold out and prices online are soaring.

Already, Walmart and Toys ‘R Us report they’ll get only one more shipment before Christmas, with the majority of those hamsters earmarked for people who pre-ordered. And Target is limiting them to four per customer. Meanwhile, third-party sellers are listing the Zhu Zhu hamsters on Amazon for about $50.

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By Mara Kaplan

Toy Fair 2009 has finished its run. Toy Fair is where the toy industry gathers. Often manufacturers can do an entire year’s worth of business in the four day the trade show operates. With over 20,000 attendees, 350,000 square feet of exhibit space, 100,000 products with over 7,000 never before seen in the world, 1200+ exhibitors, and 1000 global media representatives, you can see that toys are a serious business.

I spent three days at Toy Fair this year. As the consumer cannot attend Toy Fair, I wanted to share with you what I see as the trends in the toy industry. While I can’t say that I saw all 100,000 products, I certainly walked every inch of the exhibit space, all 350,000 square feet of it. I came away with what I see as five trends that we will see reflected on toy shelves and they all have to do with the economy.

1. Less New Toys – There will be less new toys this year. I noticed that many manufacturers have not expanded their line and are focusing on their basics. There appeared to be fewer newer manufacturers, especially in the small entrepreneur category. Although, there are certainly those mompreneur that are committed to getting their product to the market regardless of the economy. They feel that strongly about their product.

2. Games – Games are what is hot this year. Games for very young children, games for children of all ages, family games, electronic games, adult games, games to play by yourself, games to play with a crowd. The industry sees a trend that we are going to be going out less. We will entertain at home and they are betting that we will purchase more games to play while we are hanging out at home.

3. Green – Green and organic toys continue to grow. This was the niche where people did expand their line. Manufactures went out of their way to tell you where their product was made, what it was made with, how it was packaged, and more. If you are interested in green products you will be pleased with what you will see at the toy stores.

4. Repackaging – Manufacturers know that we have less money to spend so they are repackaging or redesigning to lower the price point. For instance, you will be able to purchase 50 blocks in a set instead of 100 blocks. There were also a lot of smaller art kits. Another company took the electronics out of their toy to lower the price. People are also looking for ways to package their toy differently to lower their costs.

5. Special Needs – In this economy, the manufacturers know that they need to find new markets to sell to. The Special Needs community is growing and the toy industry is noticing. Many more people were talking about how their toy could be used for a child with a disability. Parents who are raising children with disabilities are going to benefit from this if the retail toy stores market the products well.

Mara Kaplan is an expert in Play & Children with Special Needs. You can read her reviews on the toys she saw at Toy Fair by visiting her website http://www.letkidsplay.com

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Interactive electronic pets, with realistic noises and movements that mimic live animals, are proving a huge hit of Christmas 2008 despite their price-tags.

Two of these best selling toys this Christmas are from FurReal Friends line of toy pets.

The first is Biscuit My Lovin Pup. This voice-activated toy dog can respond to six commands and like any good canine, he can wag his tail and hold up his paws. This plush, oversized pet is 21-inches high when sitting. Biscuit costs $200, but you can save $51 online and get free shipping, too.

Another of the hot Christmas toys from FurReal Friends this holiday season is the Smores pony. This 3-foot-tall electronic pet seeks to fulfill your little girl’s dream of having her very own pony. Smores won the 2007 Toy of the Year award for Best Girls Toy of the Year.

With Smores, your child is sure to feel like she is playing with a living, breathing pony. Soft to the touch, Smores has a fur coat and mane that feel just like a real pony’s. Her markings and color are based on an actual miniature pony. Smores also has built-in sensors all over her body, allowing her to respond to kids in amazingly lifelike ways.

Smores costs $299.99 but you can save over $100 online now and get free shipping to boot.

An easy-on-the-budget FurReal Friends option this Christmas is Squawkers McCaw the parrot. This electronic toy is one talking, squawking and completely unpredictable play pal. Surprisingly lifelike, this plush animatronics parrot has a vocabulary of over 45 words, phrases and sound effects, not to mention his entertaining signature “Squawk, Squawk, Squawk” song and dance. Squawkers is available online now for $49, a 30 percent discount.

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