The manager of a Smyths Toys outlet in Dublin has revealed the most popular toys that are flying off the shelves this Christmas.
Speaking exclusively to Dublin Live, Stephen Timlyn - who runs the Carrickmines branch of the toy retailer - says he will use tonight’s Late Late Toy Show as preparation for the Christmas rush, but a number of newly released toys have already been highly requested in store.
Stephen opened the store early for the website this morning before shoppers arrived and walked through all the toys that parents are scrambling to buy. Here are the toys you need to know about.
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One of the popular items sold in Smyths is the innovative Mama Surprise toy. This unusual playset consists of a fake guinea pig, which grows and produces its own babies over time, retailing at €79.99.
Stephen told Dublin Live: “Toys like Mama Surprise are often one offs that can’t be used after they hatch, but with this you can keep using the toy again and again to create more guinea pigs. That’s one of the leading ones at the moment, it’s right up there.”
Ziggy the Robot Dog is another animal toy adored by children in store. This toy is reasonably priced at €49.99, as the remote control dog carries out a range of impressive tricks for its owners.
Meanwhile, pop culture continues to have an impact on the type of items sold in store. The release of the latest Jurassic Park movie in cinemas has introduced more action toys to the market, while the rebirth of Pokemon has seen demand for card collectibles soar.
The phenomena that is the Squishmallow range offers comfort to children of any age. These plush animals have flown off the shelves, with the Baby Yoda design being particularly sought after in stores (currently sold out in store).
Most parents of young children will have heard of CocoMelon (count yourself lucky if you have never been exposed) and Smyths has a huge selection of toys from the famous toddler show. From dolls to buses to toy baths, the store stocks an impressive range.
Stephen also says that hardback annuals, such as The Guinness Book of World Records and Beano, continue to surface on Santa lists in spite of new technology. Meanwhile, the sale of Lego continues to soar as the Danish brand comes up with new and exciting sets for hands-on children across the globe.
He also predicts that music loving children will drift towards karaoke machines this Christmas season, with the most basic version costing €17.99. He explains that this toy is a lot less hassle to set up in the days of mobile phones.
Stephen says: “You can very easily link them to a phone or a tablet, the days of trying to connect them via TV or finding CDs with the graphics are over. You can start off with a basic mike they can sing through at €17.99, although the more advanced sets range from €50 to €100.”
Whether children prefer technology based games, Lego or traditional annuals, there is a wide range of toys kids can take a look at before putting pen to paper for their Santa lists.
For more details on popular toys, check out Dublin Live's feature article here.
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