Archive for the ‘Building Toys’ Category
16
Feb
Talk about open ended
Categories: ABC Show 2007, Building Toys, Toys, Travels & Trade Shows, Travels & Trade Shows
We did a survey of our customers this month, and we asked for opinions about the kinds of products we should be looking for at Toy Fair. One phrase came up again and again – “open ended.” So we were on a mission, to find open-ended playthings – toys that can be used again and… read more!
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12
Feb
K’nekting with K’nex
Categories: Building Toys, Toy Fair 2007, Toys, Travels & Trade Shows, Travels & Trade Shows
There are some toy brands that have always been at the forefront of my consciousness. As a kid I really enjoyed Lego, Brio, and Lincoln Logs and Erector sets, and I get a kick out of seeing these products in my store. Today at Toy Fair I meandered into a booth with a great brand… read more!
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12
Feb
Brick by Brickadoo
Categories: Building Toys, For Older Kids, Toy Fair 2007, Toys, Travels & Trade Shows
This is my 4th toy fair, and one of the categories that I have been seeking out are great, new building and construction toys. There seemed to be a plethora of items that match that description, many of them wooden, but my favorite product of the day were the Brickadoos. When I mentioned the Brickadoos… read more!
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29
Jan
Stacks & Slots
Categories: Building Toys, Toys
The new Dado Cubes set from Fat Brain Toys offers a sophisticated spin on stacking construction toys. Dado comes with 10 plastic nesting cubes that feature interlocking slots. You can organize them in millions of combinations to create complex and beautiful structures, and the blocks are touted as beneficial for visual-spatial learning. They are really… read more!
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19
Nov
Building with trees
Categories: Building Toys, Toys
I picked Tree Blocks as one of my favorite finds this past year at Toy Fair. Now, they’ve finally arrived. We’re carrying a 21-piece set, a 36-piece set and two types of treehouses. The blocks are extremely unique. They are hand-cut from real branches in precise 2cm length increments, with wider 2cm pieces that can… read more!
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14
Nov
The search engine is rolling into the station
Categories: Building Toys, Preschool Toys, Toys
Here’s a quandary. Your company produces an iconic children’s toy beloved by generations. But lately, it seems like everyone is knocking off your product, and sales have slowed. How do you update your product for the 21st century, to keep it fresh and relevant for today’s kids? Well, if you’re Brio, you take a huge… read more!
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23
Oct
Squishy towers
Categories: Building Toys, Infant Toys, Toddler Toys, Toys
Edublocks have been a fixture in our store’s playscape since we first opened in 2004. The set of giant, foam Lego-style blocks are probably the only toy that has survived two years of unmitigated abuse at the hands of our littlest customers. But they are very expensive, and despite their popularity, we don’t sell too… read more!
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18
Oct
In gear for the holidays
Categories: Building Toys, Toys
Oliblocks are one of the successful instances where art and play intersect. Designed by architect Daniel Oakley, the original blocks have been featured in a variety of venues, from museums to toys stores. Now, they just introduced Oligears, a set of 11 gears in various sizes that can interlock or connect magnetically. The pieces are… read more!
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8
Aug
Lego on and on
Categories: Building Toys, For Older Kids, Toys
The appeal of Lego is so broad, it’s staggering. This one company produces plastic bricks (or variations on that theme), and manages to successfully attract customers ranging from infants to adults. Until recently, though, the older Lego customer was usually a die-hard Lego enthusiast, one who loved the challenge and satisfaction of assembling the models… read more!
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18
Jul
Warning: Hexabits are addictive
Categories: Building Toys, Toys
One day, a salesperson sat down at my desk and pulled out a plastic baggie filled with small, flexible hexagon-shaped pieces that interlocked. A new construction toy. I don’t think I paid attention to another word he said. I was totally captivated by my creative efforts, and I was reluctant to return his sample an… read more!
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