Here's a brief look at some of the news and feature items appearing in the current issue of Toys & Games Magazine.

FEATURE ARTICLES...

Sales of generic figures coming on strong
While licensed action figures associated with big-name movie properties still account for the largest piece of the figures-category pie, generic figure lines are attracting new numbers, say Canada’s specialty retailers and suppliers. In fact, with so much fabulous product targeting both boys and girls, recent figures show the generic segment of this lucrative market reached $150+ million in North America last year.

More suppliers entering the infant-toddler-preschool market
Stats Can figures indicate Canada is in the midst of a baby “boomlet”. Since 2006, it seems more professional women, who delayed having children until reaching their late twenties and early thirties, recently decided to put their careers aside for motherhood. This expanding customer base is attracting more suppliers—both big and small—who, in turn, are beefing up their lines of safe, entertaining and educational product for preschoolers.

RETAILER PROFILE
Prince Edward Island family discovers rewards of toy retailing
Charlottetown’s Owl’s Hollow toy store, owned by the Balderston family, offers its Island customers a warm welcome, knowledgeable service and a wide range of product. The 7,000-square-foot store includes everything from traditional specialty lines like Haba infant products and Djeco tea sets to made-in PEI wooden crokinole games. Read how this business-savvy family attracts new customers and keeps its regular clients coming back, in the October issue of Toys & Games.

TOY BRIEFS…

RSV Productions’ Jishaku-The Game of Magnetic Action, which is distributed in Canada by Ottawa’s PlaSmart Inc., recently picked up a 2008 Seal of Approval from the U.S.’s National Parenting Center. Cited for its “fresh approach to game play”, Jishaku challenges players, eight years old and over, to be the first to cross the pitted-foam playing surface while leaving their magnetic stones behind. Canadian retailers were wowed when PlaSmart reps treated them to a sneak preview at the Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada trade show, last August. For information visit www.plasmacar.com

Murder, mystery and mayhem are more popular than ever in Canada, says Lee Rolfe, who heads up Calgary’s DFR Media Corp. and is the creator of a new game, Criminal Matters. Rolfe, along with two partners, launched the board-less trivia title earlier this summer to great response from retailers across the country. The game contains 500 crime-themed question/answer cards pertaining to four categories—Actors & Movies; Arts & Letters; Television & Radio; and Crimes & Misdemeanors—on each colour-coded card for a total of 2,000 questions. The Crimes & Misdemeanors category, which covers sensational real-life crimes, offers some especially intriguing information that’s bound to inspire fans of the genre to further research and reading. Geared for adult players, Criminal Matters comes in a compact, take-along box. For information contact dfrmedia@shaw.ca

The made-in-Germany Haba line, which is distributed in Canada by Quebec’s Filosofia Inc., picked up a Fall 2008 National Parenting Seal of Approval for its Stack the Trix Mix preschool toy. The adorable, wooden pull toy, designed for 18 months and over, also serves as a stacking toy that’s ideal for developing new skills. For information visit filosofiagames.com

Paradise Horses, represented in Canada by London, Ontario’s Brands in Balance, signed an agreement with the creator of Bella Sara collectible cards giving it licensing rights to produce a line of 1/9- and 1/12-scale poseable horses, accessories and playsets under the Bella Sara brand. The line debuted this fall at the Dallas Toy Preview trade show. Bella Sara, a hit with girls, five to 12 years old, recently received a 2008 Toy of the Year Award (Collectible Card Category) from Creative Child Magazine. For more information contact katebaldwin@rogers.com

In response to consumer demand and to complement its best-selling World of Elves figure collection, Schleich North America is launching a 220-page story book entitled Bayala-The Daughters of the Elf King. The book, which contains loads of illustrations of the line’s popular characters on horseback, is designed to fit retailers’ Schleich-figure display units, countertops or in stores’ book sections. For information visit www.schleich-s.com