Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Comments (2)     E-mail article     Print view

Techno gadgets out, retro is back

Without a "must-have" toy fad this holiday season, and with parents facing a deteriorating economy, tried-and-true toys are being embraced by parents and toy makers alike — what one analyst calls a "back to the toy box" approach.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Counting dollars this holiday season, Tom De Santes wants to avoid buying high-priced techno gadgets as gifts for his two sons.

Instead, he is going to buy the boys, ages 6 and 7, a classic from his own childhood: Lincoln Logs.

"I loved them as a kid and used to build huge log cabins," remembers De Santes, 38, who lives outside Boston in Scituate, Mass., and is a marketing director for an education-software company. With Lincoln Logs, "I like that my boys and I can create something together."

Without a "must-have" toy fad this holiday season, and with parents facing a deteriorating economy, tried-and-true toys are being embraced by parents and toy makers alike — what one analyst calls a "back to the toy box" approach.

" 'Retro' or 'nostalgia' toys can be viewed as the 'comfort food' of the toy industry and I do think folks naturally gravitate to what made them happy when they were young, or what is familiar to them," said Anita Frazier, a toy analyst at NPD Group, a market-research firm.

Ken Moe, general manager of Backtobasics.com, a Web site owned by Scholastic Corp. that offers classic toys such as "Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots," Slinky and Colorforms, said sales so far this season indicate a rising interest in old favorites.

"It's instinctive in tough times to reach back to a happier, simpler time," he said. "Parents remember how much they loved those toys, and want that same happiness for their children."

Lauren Horsley, who has 5- and 1-year-old boys and a 3-year-old girl, plans to buy TinkerToys, a Cabbage Patch Kid doll and classic board games Sorry! and Hungry Hungry Hippos this holiday season. The 29-year-old from Salt Lake City said she finds value in the toys' quality and universal appeal.

"We just bought our first house this fall, and with the economy so unstable we need to be as conservative as possible to ensure that we pay our bills," she said. "A lot of pricey, faddish toys aren't going to do our children much good if we don't keep a roof over their heads."

Hasbro has found success revitalizing names such as the 40-year-old Nerf brand and Transformers, which first hit the U.S. in the early '80s and are selling well again after last year's "Transformers" movie.

The company also debuted revamped versions of the classic board games Clue, Operation and Monopoly this year.

Jakks Pacific has brought back a 25th-anniversary Cabbage Patch Kid doll that is the replica of the original version and a new Smurfs plush toy and DVD.

advertising

"During these times parents want to remember something positive to share with their family now more than ever," says Tom Delaney, senior vice president of marketing for Jakks' Play Along division. Classic toys "bring parents and grandparents back to their childhood memories of a simpler time," he said.

That's why Elizabeth Peterson, 39, from Redondo Beach, Calif., bought an Easy-Bake Oven — first introduced in the 1960s — for the holidays. The mother of a 2 ½-year-old boy and a 10-month-old boy admits she might be jumping the gun a bit, but couldn't resist.

"I never got one when I was little and all my friends had one," she said. "I'm probably going to be the one playing with it."

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
Googled for the correct link: http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/  Posted on November 25, 2008 at 8:51 AM by laursen. Jump to comment
These old toys are great, glad they are available. Might want to fix the link. Clicked on the link in the story and it took me to a shampoo page....  Posted on November 25, 2008 at 6:48 AM by seeker1. Jump to comment

Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate

UPDATE - 05:12 PM
SC gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws

U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show

Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm

India's feeling bruised even before White House visit

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

Advertising