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=4052 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4052 Games and non-traditional construction pieces will keep children's imaginations alive and offer hours of fun as spring approaches http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4074 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4074 This issue is rather dark, given reports of a gothic haze over the IDEX doll convention, a review of a vampire guide that's sure to keep fans of Twilight's Edward and Bella in the know, and Kamhi World's crazy-cute, blood-thirsty Vamplets http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4079 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4079 We want you to see the toys we see, so you can determine if they're right for your store! Check this space every weekday to see brief video clips of new specialty products http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4081 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4081 CEO Isaac Larian of MGA Entertainment is considering selling shares of the toymaker’s stock in a public offering http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4034 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4034 These passionate toymakers braved the Northeastern weather and forewent a traditional Valentine's Day to bring their dreams to market at Toy Fair 2010 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4083 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4083 Toy Fair unfailingly has an overwhelming selection of new toys and games every year, which is one reason TDmonthly Magazine brought you daily updates on our favorite toys and specialty retailers' recommended items http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4082 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4082 Zhu Zhu Pets, TIA’s Toy of the Year Award winner for 2010, stands poised to cause quite a squeak this year with its expanded product line. The Zhu Zhu Wild Bunch from Cepia adds a skunk and bunny to the line of hamsters, and the new Hamster Babies promise even more cuteness http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4078 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4078 During the American Specialty Toy Retailers Association’s Share the Fair event at Toy Fair 2010, more than 80 representatives from specialty toy stores gathered to discuss the toys and games they’d been most impressed with http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4084 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4084 The fourth quarter of 2009 took the toy industry by surprise as customers swept clean the shelves of toy stores across the nation. The lead-paint and safety scares of 2007 had mostly faded from memory, and even recession fears began to recede http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4085 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4085 The main trends to watch for this year ... are Active Toys that stimulate both body and mind, Affordable playthings that feature low cost and multiple uses, Accessible items that let kids access their favorite brands via a variety of media and products, and Aspirational products http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4080 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4080 Actress Daryl Hannah and best friend Hilary Shepard were inspired to design Liebrary when they found themselves on vacation without the books they needed to play their favorite parlor game http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4068 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4068 At the International Expo of Dolls show in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 28-31, Alice in Wonderland made an appearance at nearly every one-of-a-kind artist booth, it seemed. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4073 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4073 In 1973, Kai Rady was a new mom in a new town. She and her husband had just moved to Charlottesville, Va., and discovered there was a shortage of good toys available in the area to stimulate and entertain their young son. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4072 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4072 At Shenanigans toy store in Charlottesville, Va., solid service backs up more than 300 lines of available merchandise http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4070 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4070 Enter 2010, and Bananagrams continues to hold steady as the No. 1 game among specialty retailers, revealed a survey of 38 specialty toy-store owners and buyers http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4071 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4071 Melissa & Doug. We could almost stop there, based on responses from 38 specialty toy stores across the United States, but there are other top-selling wooden toys, too. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4075 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4075 You know about the frenzy over Bananagrams and Set Enterprises' trio of popular games, but what about the games just behind the top-10 best sellers? To help ensure your store has the best possible selection, we've outlined the top-20 games customers want most http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4050 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4050 This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Book Expert uncovered an artful guidebook for vampire fans, followed a feisty little pajama-wearing mouse to school, and saw the beauty in a folk tale about seeing through more than our eyes. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4051 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4051 TDmonthly Magazine’s Roundtable families recently experimented with a new approach to conflict resolution, using the Pocket Referee from Vraney, Inc. While some reviewers had mixed feelings about the coin, most participants were thrilled with the results http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4053 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4053 TDmonthly Magazine’s Preschool Roundtable agreed that the flat design of the Take Along Teddy from Vermont Teddy Bear and its unconditional lifetime guarantee make the bear stand out from typical stuffed animals. Praised by moms and children alike for their soft, silky fur, the bears in this portable collection garnered a high rating. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4066 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4066 TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4065 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4065 Ryan Treft, vice president of marketing for Zoobies, is straightforward about his learning experiences in bringing products to market: “I’ve found that nothing can take the place of a face-to-face meeting http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4067 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4067 After several years of steep sales increases, new video game software and hardware suffered a decline in 2009. This is generally blamed on economic factors that began to turn negative in late 2007 and that, still today, depress purchase motivation for both categories. http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4054 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4054 After business stationery, a brochure is often the next item that businesses develop and print. While some may think of a brochure as an informational piece, good copywriting can turn it into an important sales tool http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4076 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4076 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=4077 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4077 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=4055 http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=4055 The annual Western States Toy and Hobby Show is heading to the Long Beach Convention Center at the end of March, and so are we! TDmonthly Magazine's crew will be there to get updates