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FriFridayDecDecember21st2012 How Christmass should be.

Posted Friday, December 21 2012 @ 11 AM byT4K Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Do you feel "Christmassy"? This is a new term I heard on a recent trip to the UK where I saw it being used in an advertising campaign. At first I thought "what a bizarre word" but as I pondered about what it could mean, I realized that it actually conjured up memories of my youth. Then I started to ask the question "Why was Christmas so different when I was a kid?"

As a child there was no doubt that Christmas was my favorite time of the year. There was something magical about Christmas that I felt only once a year. The world seemed more hopeful, the snow made everything look peaceful and there was much anticipation in the air of giving and receiving gifts and spending time with friends and family. I vividly remember the enchantment that the time of the year brought with it, with fond memories of exploring winter wonder lands, spending time sitting by the fire, listening to carols play over the radio, finding the perfect Christmas tree....all pure magic. I could only imagine Christmas time as being the closest experience to what it would have been like to live in Narnia. Above all I remember that it was the time of the year that everything seemed to slow down and people focused on time with each other laughing, eating and playing games instead of being consumed by there hectic schedule and to do list.

So I was wondering how the memories of the Christmas of my youth fit in when I turned on the TV last week and saw images of mobs of people stampeding through doors of malls. Where does "peace on earth and good news to all men" fit into this newly developed sport of power shopping obviously inspired by episodes of Survivor where shoppers try to either outwit or out wrestle their rival shoppers to find that perfect gift at a bargain price. Why do people want to ruin what is precious? I cannot imagine that someone feels that ripping a product from someone elses hands in order to get it at the best price, is in doing so somehow going to make their life more complete. Beyond the shopping pandemonium it seems to be a much more common discussion that Christmas is a hassle you need to endure; like getting a cold knowing it eventually will pass. Baking Christmas goodies buying gifts and decorating the yard for many are now more of an obligation than a celebration of the time of the year.

So what has happened to being "Christmassy?" I have long since learned that it is not really what happens to you but how you choose to respond to it. Christmas is what we decide to make of it. We can choose to make it extraordinary and celebrate the wholesomeness we enjoyed in our youth or we can choose to be overwhelmed by what could be perceived as a time of the year consumed by greed, shallowness and obligation.

Often it takes looking through the eyes of children to see things in their purest form. If you have kids you know what I am talking about. The way that simple things like a caterpillar or a bubble can be captivating and how imaginations can run wild with the possibilities in exploring the world around them. Christmas holds this same magic to kids and I believe it is something we should guard. Do not lose that child like curiosity that remembers the magic of the Christmas of your youth.

What I do know is that being the mall "survivor" champion will not bring you peace, joy and happiness and in fact feeling "Christmassy" has nothing to do with getting the best Black Friday deal. Truly the best things in life are not things.

Ask your self how can you make this time of the year as special to you now as it was when you were a kid? Chose to make Christmas a time that is special, celebrate the season and decide to make it extraordinary for you and your family.

FriFridayJunJune1st2012 Where do you buy toys!?

Posted Friday, June 01 2012 @ 10 AM byT4K Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

So there’s this thing called the internet. If you’re reading this blog post right now, you’ve likely mastered it. As many of us know, the internet has changed everything. How we connect with friends for example has been completely revolutionized! The idea of mailing a letter, or even speaking face to face can all easily be replaced online through email, Skype, and Facebook; a million different ways to connect, all at the click of a button. The international retail landscape has also been changed tremendously. Think about 30 years ago. Let’s say your kids came home and begged and begged for this new toy that Johnny across the street was just given. How would you go about getting it? You would likely ask Johnny’s parents where they bought it, rush out to the store, and race to the toy aisle in the hopes that it’s not sold out. Just your luck, it’s sold out. Finding another retailer with the same products, or waiting for another shipment could take weeks, and by then your kids have already run away to live with Johnny’s parents.

Fast forward to today, and you don’t even have to leave your house to buy the item. All you have to do is quickly “Google” the name of the toy (heck, even a general description of what the toy looks like will work) and there you have it, all the information in the world on where to buy, what others have bought and said, and even when the next best version will be available! Your kids will FINALLY love you!

So what does this mean for you? What is the best way to purchase a toy for your kids? Let’s look at some of the advantages of in-store vs. online spending on toys:

In-Store Advantages

- Physical touch and feel of product (Great for determining quality)
- Immediate gratification (Great for shushing crying children)
- Childhood memories (Great for bring out the child in you as you walk the toy aisles)
- Clerk assistance and product breadth (Great when you have NO idea what to buy!)

Online Advantages

- Extreme convenience (Great when you really have no time for shopping)
- Virtually unlimited inventory (Great when you really only want that one toy)
- No geographical limitations (Sold out in Canada? No problem, but it online from Russia!)
- Product reviews and recommendations (Great when –again- you have NO idea what to buy!)

Both options definitely have their advantages, and many people will find themselves shopping online as well as in store. According to a recent study by the NDP group, 3 out of 4 consumers have shopped online in the past 12 months, showing that online shopping has become VERY prevalent.

How do you shop for toys? Do you shop in-store or on your favourite e-retailer? Here are a few of the different ways people purchase their toys which should help you figure out where your allegiances lie:

In-Store

- Mass Merchandise Retailers (ex. Wal Mart, Target, Toys R Us)
- Big Box Chains (ex. Costco, Sams Club, BJ’s)
- Specialty Retailers (ex. MasterMind Toys, Hobby and Gift Shops, Kidding Awound, Playful Minds Toys, etc.)
- Grocery/Drug Retailers (Walgreens, CVS, Shoppers Drug Mart)

On-Line

- Physical Retailer Website (WalMart.com, ToysRUs.com, etc.)
- Online Retailer Website (Amazon, GrandRiverToys.com, etc.)
- Online Sales Sites (Groupon, Zulily, Totsy, etc.)
- Direct from Manufacturer (Ex. Buying Barbie dolls straight from the Barbie website)

We would love to hear from you. What do you think? Is online shopping better than actually going inside the store?

- T4K (Graeme)

FriFridayMayMay18th2012 The Toy Industry and it's impact on the US Economy

Posted Friday, May 18 2012 @ 1 PM byT4K Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Here's a great write up on just how important the Toy Industry is from an economic standpoint. Toys in general are fantastic tools to help entertain and develop our children's minds, but what about the business side of our economic impact? The fine people at the Toy Book have put together some highlights from a recent economic and fiscal analysis of the toy industry. With global fears surrounding the Eurozone Crisis and it's impact on the global economy, it's important that the Toy Industry continues to contribute jobs, wages, and tax revenue. Report highlights listed below:

Report Measures Impact of U.S Toy Industry

The Toy Industry Association has commissioned an economic and fiscal analysis of the U.S. toy industry, the Economic Impact of the Toy Industry in the United States study, which found that the toy industry’s annual total economic impact is nearly $81 billion. From toy inventors to store clerks, the industry supports 533,177 jobs, generates $25.8 billion in wages for U.S. workers, and $11.1 billion in annual tax revenue ($5.2 billion for the states combined and $5.9 billion for federal).

The analysis was developed using figures from Dun and Bradstreet, Inc., and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, as well as toy industry data provided by TIA, The NPD Group, and other private sector sources.

The report has been used during TIA’s annual legislative events and relays information to legislators regarding the number of jobs, wages paid to employees, the value added, and total output of the toy industry. In addition to national data, economic impact reports are available for each of the states and for each congressional, state Senate, and state House district.

Copies of the national and individual state reports are posted for public access in the Toy Biz section of the TIA website.

- T4K (Graeme)

MonMondayMayMay7th2012 How Tech Toys Have Slowly Crept Into Our Lives!

Posted Monday, May 07 2012 @ 3 PM byT4K Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

With all the talk of Tech Toys and how the toy industry is going through rapid change in 2012, we found this great infographic from ultimatecoupon.com that explains the past 30 years of toys! Check out how technology has been creeping into the industry from the very beginning. Kids have always loved playing with tech toys whether they're online or physical!

Do you remember anything on this list? I remember that old Nintendo GameBoy VERY well. Much different than the modern day iPod Touch and iPad! Check out the list below, there's sure to be something here for everybody!

- T4K (Graeme)

FriFridayMayMay4th2012 On The Cutting Edge – How the Toy Industry is CHANGING!

Posted Friday, May 04 2012 @ 9 AM byT4K Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

Movies, TV shows, and toys. The three have been synonymous within the toy industry for as long as most toy professionals can remember. Characters found in toy shows and movies, can very likely be found on shelf at the local toy retailer. It was only a few years ago when people began realizing, “this has been done before!” If you were in your mid-twenties, the toys coming to market would be updated versions of what you played with as children. Properties such as Spiderman, Barbie, Power Rangers, Anything Disney, Batman, Superman, etc. were all the rage, and have always been the rage. They’ve all been staples of the Toy Industry with no sign of fading. But what’s been lacking within the toy industry these past years, is the online world. Considering children spend an average of 8 hours a day consuming different types of media (46% TV, 25% Music, 15% Online, 13% Video Games; According to a 2010 study ), often using multiple media at the same time, kids are increasingly influenced by the online and gaming world. Since this study took place in 2010, one would assume the percentage of time online and in front of video games has skyrocketed due to the prevalence of mobile devices, which due to apps, combine both media onto the same device. Needless to say, the online world is changing the landscape of the toy industry. Looking back on the recent New York Toy Fair in 2012, what were the most popular properties? Well, based on the Annual Property of the Year award, it was Rovio’s Angry Birds. This prize is given to the property which had the “greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry. ” This is pretty crazy since the most hero packed action movie Marvel’s ever released opened this past year, as well as the fact that the revamped Spiderman series opens later this June. Rovio had some heavy hitters up against it, but its over half a billion downloads of the Smartphone app couldn’t be rivaled . Considering the recent release and popularity of the new Angry Birds Space game, Rovio is taking this brand to heights never before imagined for an online property. Angry Birds theme parks? Angry Birds dedicated stores? All a part of the plan, according to the Helsinki based developer .

So yes, Angry Birds is great. But who else? Two other key properties at the New York Toy Fair were Moshi Monsters (the online social networking game for kids which allows them to adopt and care for their own monster), and Skylanders (which promotes a wicked video game that finally bridges the gap between real world toy play and in screen video play as users place their physical characters on a podium to transport them into the video game). Both companies were extremely well promoted and were some of the most desired items at the show! With Moshi Monster making its way over from the UK, and Skylanders sold out pretty much everywhere, these virtual properties are setting the bar even higher for “classic” players who have been dealing with the same competition for years. Although Angry Birds, Moshi Monsters, and Skylanders have already made it; there are a slew of upcoming online brands which are gaining more and more popularity as the toy world begins to realize that these properties are to be taken seriously. Apps such as Cut The Rope, Where’s My Water, Fruit Ninja, and Doodle Jump are all crossing the once impossible chasm into the toy world. The YouTube sensation Annoying Orange has also been popping up at retail and is now being featured in its own series on the Cartoon Network. And to think, these characters were created not so long ago in someone’s basement with a simple video camera and some video editing software! The days of large companies setting the tone for what toys kids want is over. If it resonates online, it will work! These new dynamics in the toy industry will be sure to make for an interesting ride for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike during the remainder of this year. The Toy Industry wanted change? Well, it got it!

Whose making these products? Staying true to its “cutting edge” mentality, Tech 4 Kids has been on the forefront of this change adopting a number of online licenses for its toys. Jumping in early with both Angry Birds and Moshi Monsters has allowed Tech 4 Kids to get a head start in developing product that hits right on the mark. Angry Birds product such as Mash’Ems and Splat Strike are as “on brand” as you can get and essentially allow kids to get a great feel for the game in real life. Shooting and splatting your Angry Birds characters lets you take Angry Birds off the screen and into your own home while twisting, squishing, and launching your Mash’Ems is only rivaled by the unparalleled fun of collecting each character in the series. Cute Moshi Monster night lights, flashlights, and Mash’Ems also allow kids to bring their favourite Monster and Moshlings home. Falling asleep next to the gentle flicker of the Iggy Lantern Lite, or guiding your way through a dark room using your Katsuma Charm Lite promotes fun, safety, and really help kids sleep at night. The product, which is now available in the UK, US, and Canada has been flying off the shelves and is yet another testament to how successful these new and untested online brands can be. Currently working on Angry Birds Space product, Tech 4 Kids licensing expert Kelly Pedersen says “We’re working on a number of deals that will be sure to supply endless amounts of fun for kids with the latest and greatest licenses they love.”

About Tech 4 Kids Inc.
Since 2009, Tech 4 Kids has been designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing children’s toys in over 60 countries worldwide. With offices in Hong Kong, China, and Toronto, Tech 4 Kids is known for combining great innovation with some of the most popular children’s licenses on the market. With 6 product lines and hundreds of toys catering to kids of all ages, Tech 4 Kids is constantly expanding its presence on shelves within all major retailers. For additional information or an opportunity to view our products, please visit us online at www.Tech4Kids.com.

-T4K (Graeme)

Blog 4 KidsGreat information on new toys and trends!by Tech 4 Kids is known for bringing together great licenses and innovative product concepts and maintain a strong, continually growing portfolio of childrens toys across 6 brands.