Hot October toy sales already have retailers feeling joy
Toy retailers are seeing more action in October than usual — and five hot toys are already selling out, retailers tell The Post.
“It’s odd to have this kind of demand so early in the shopping season where toys are just blowing out of the stores and selling out online,” said Jim Silver, president of TTPM, a toy review Web site.
Toronto-based Spin Master makes two of the best sellers, Hatchimals Surprise, a $70 egg that hatches two bird-like creatures, and Luvabella, a $99 doll (right) that babbles, blinks its eyes and turns its head when it’s done eating.
The other three bestsellers are Fingerlings, a monkey-like creature that sells for $15 a pop; Pikmi Pops Surprise, an $11 plush toy by Moose Toys; and, L.O.L. Big Surprise, a $69 doll that sold out on Amazon and Toysrus.com within an hour of going on sale on Sept. 29, according to toy maker MGA Entertainment.
With the toy out of stock, anxious parents are placing pre-orders with some stores for the L.O.L. — basically reserving a place in line for when new shipments arrive.
“L.O.L. will be MGA’s biggest seller,” said Chief Executive Isaac Larian, whose company sold $1.3 billion in Bratz dolls in 2005 and 2006.
Larian increased the number of L.O.L dolls on order to 1 million from 650,000 to accommodate the demand, he said. Still, he expects to sell out all of them by Thanksgiving.
Some L.O.L.s are selling on eBay for up to $200.
“It’s a net positive that you have multiple hot products on the expensive side,” said Sean McGowan, a toy consultant with Liolios.