Making the Most of Stuffed Animals
Consider new ways for selling stuffed animals wholesale
Stuffed animals and other plush toys are a tried and true category for retailers. Owners of grocery stores, floral shops, drugstores, department stores and, of course, toy stores can find success selling stuffed toys in their shops. Their appeal is for all generations, for the truly young to the young at heart.There are many different kinds of plush toys. Among the category of stuffed animal, you have everything from the well-loved teddy bear to lifelike jungle animals. The category of plush dolls can include soft dolls appropriate for babies 18 months or older to licensed characters appropriate for toddlers. Expect a wide range of quality, from the small plush toys you can win in a vending machine to Steiff mohair teddy bears that cost hundreds.
To help you in making the most of stuffed animals for your business, consider the following points.
1. Stock up on the hottest stuffed toys including Webkinz or Beanie Babies.
2. Keep age-appropriateness in mind when organizing stuffed toy shelves, reserving stuffed toys with small parts such as plastic eyes for the older set.
3. Look for companies with a good track record of safety and corporate responsibility.
Look for new approaches to stuffed toys
Kids love the comfort that stuffed animals offer, and manufacturers have come up with new ways for kids to have their friends close at hand. Toy developers are also increasingly conscious of the needs of children with asthma or allergies and have developed special toys to meet that demand.
Try: Joissu sells plush animal pillows in a variety of styles, great for the TV room or bedroom. Kids Preferred makes stuffed toys that are safe for children with asthma and allergies, including the floppy puppy dog in pink or blue.
Explore options with interactive stuffed toy products
Kids develop relationships with their stuffed animals, and smart toy developers keep the kids interested with Internet tie-ins, special outfits and other accessories. Other companies have developed ways for kids to have choices in how the end product of their stuffed bear or toy will look like.
Try: Webkinz pets can have a virtual life on the Webkinz Internet site with the secret password included with each Webkinz stuffed toy. The popular Build a Bear Workshop has franchise opportunities available.
Invest in small plush animals to add to gifts
Small plush toys can be great add-ons at the cash register to round out a gift or even serve as part of the outer wrappings. Floral shop owners should stock up on plush animals that can hug a bouquet of flowers for new parents.
Try: Burton & Burton has a wide variety of wholesale plush animals, including the vase hugger stuffed toy. Best Wholesale Stuffed Animals sells pairs of plush toys called Smoochies that gravitate toward each other and kiss.
- See the hottest stuffed toys firsthand at toy shows, such as the Toy Industry Association's Toy Fair.
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