Post by MileySmiley08 on Jan 21, 2008 20:20:52 GMT -5
If you opted to sleep through Black Friday rather than brave the crowds, the cold and the craziness, good for you.
But what are you going to give those cute little cherubs in your life?
Every year, there are a few items that drive Christmas, said Linda Jessie, a manager at KB Toys in Clarksville, Ind.
This year, Transformer action figures that change from robots to planes, trucks and other things, and cost anywhere from $7.99 to $50 at KB, are big, thanks to the recent movie.
Especially popular, said Jessie, is the Ultimate Bumblebee figure.
Shoppers seem to be less particular when it comes to the "High School Musical" dolls, which are based on the characters in the popular Disney movie and sell for $14.99 at KB.
"They all do really great," she said. "There's no particular one that people run for first."
Tickle Me Elmo used to be the toy the little ones asked for, but this year, not only is there an Elmo T.M.X. that rolls around, laughs, shakes and talks, but also a Cookie Monster and Ernie that do just about the same thing, for $34.99 versus Elmo's $39.99, said Jessie.
If you are thinking of something a little more, um, productive, try the Fisher Price Smart Cycle, an exercise bike for young children that plugs into the television and plays educational games. Like anything good for you, it costs -- $109.99 at KB, to be exact.
Then, of course, there is "Hannah Montana," the popular Disney Channel show.
"Anything that we have that's 'Hannah Montana' -- anything -- just kind of went this year," said Shawn Haskins, a manager at Best Buy on Outer Loop.
That would include a micro-digital camera at $17.99 and a DVD at $19.99.
Another musical toy that has them hopping is "Guitar Hero 3," going for $79.99, said Haskins. Plenty of children have been testing out the popular video game that comes with a guitar controller.
And some not-so-small people.
"We've seen some adults out there hacking away," Haskins said. "It's pretty cool."
Interactive seems to be the way to go; just take a look at sales of the Nintendo Wii gaming system, which allows players to use the controller to do things like throw a punch in a boxing game, Haskins said. At $249.99, the system is far more expensive than simply buying a pair of boxing gloves, but, alas, make-believe is always better when it comes to Christmas, right?
Also flying off the shelves, at least at The Summit, are Webkinz stuffed-animal toys that run about $14.99 and have their own world online, said Summit property manager Becky Norton.
If all of this sounds too advanced, or simply too hard to pronounce, try Playthings Toy Shop on Shelbyville Road, which offers more traditional fare such as Playmobil airports, knights and other toys depicting things that exist in real life. OK, maybe not the knights.
But that doesn't matter. The store is still selling gobs of the 200 or so different Playmobil items, running from $2.99 to $179, said owner Doug Noe. As he talked on the phone, a woman placed three Playmobil boxes on the counter.
For the girls, he said, Calico Critters are proving purrfect. Little plastic animal families with houses and other fixtures, they run from $8 for twin baby animals to $79 for a house, said Noe. Unlike some of the newer toys, the critters can be described simply in a way even those born before 1980 have a chance of understanding.
"They're just really cute," said Noe.
sourcewww.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/FEATURES/712040302
But what are you going to give those cute little cherubs in your life?
Every year, there are a few items that drive Christmas, said Linda Jessie, a manager at KB Toys in Clarksville, Ind.
This year, Transformer action figures that change from robots to planes, trucks and other things, and cost anywhere from $7.99 to $50 at KB, are big, thanks to the recent movie.
Especially popular, said Jessie, is the Ultimate Bumblebee figure.
Shoppers seem to be less particular when it comes to the "High School Musical" dolls, which are based on the characters in the popular Disney movie and sell for $14.99 at KB.
"They all do really great," she said. "There's no particular one that people run for first."
Tickle Me Elmo used to be the toy the little ones asked for, but this year, not only is there an Elmo T.M.X. that rolls around, laughs, shakes and talks, but also a Cookie Monster and Ernie that do just about the same thing, for $34.99 versus Elmo's $39.99, said Jessie.
If you are thinking of something a little more, um, productive, try the Fisher Price Smart Cycle, an exercise bike for young children that plugs into the television and plays educational games. Like anything good for you, it costs -- $109.99 at KB, to be exact.
Then, of course, there is "Hannah Montana," the popular Disney Channel show.
"Anything that we have that's 'Hannah Montana' -- anything -- just kind of went this year," said Shawn Haskins, a manager at Best Buy on Outer Loop.
That would include a micro-digital camera at $17.99 and a DVD at $19.99.
Another musical toy that has them hopping is "Guitar Hero 3," going for $79.99, said Haskins. Plenty of children have been testing out the popular video game that comes with a guitar controller.
And some not-so-small people.
"We've seen some adults out there hacking away," Haskins said. "It's pretty cool."
Interactive seems to be the way to go; just take a look at sales of the Nintendo Wii gaming system, which allows players to use the controller to do things like throw a punch in a boxing game, Haskins said. At $249.99, the system is far more expensive than simply buying a pair of boxing gloves, but, alas, make-believe is always better when it comes to Christmas, right?
Also flying off the shelves, at least at The Summit, are Webkinz stuffed-animal toys that run about $14.99 and have their own world online, said Summit property manager Becky Norton.
If all of this sounds too advanced, or simply too hard to pronounce, try Playthings Toy Shop on Shelbyville Road, which offers more traditional fare such as Playmobil airports, knights and other toys depicting things that exist in real life. OK, maybe not the knights.
But that doesn't matter. The store is still selling gobs of the 200 or so different Playmobil items, running from $2.99 to $179, said owner Doug Noe. As he talked on the phone, a woman placed three Playmobil boxes on the counter.
For the girls, he said, Calico Critters are proving purrfect. Little plastic animal families with houses and other fixtures, they run from $8 for twin baby animals to $79 for a house, said Noe. Unlike some of the newer toys, the critters can be described simply in a way even those born before 1980 have a chance of understanding.
"They're just really cute," said Noe.
sourcewww.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/FEATURES/712040302
