Go Back to www.IndependentRetailer.com COVER STORY Toys, Gifts &


Novelties Forecast continued from page 90


ing the market. But for now, Sokoloff believes he may be the only one carrying them. He also anticipates great suc- cess from the licensed Disney bracelets that are just hitting the market, as well as sports themed bracelets. “It’s popu- lar priced merchandise, cheap retail,” he says. “Kids always have a fi ve dollar bill in their pocket


to spend. The price


point is what makes it.” Television advertising helps,


Huge Selections At Incredible Prices


Starter Kits Available! 


www.alamodeonline.com 1-800-622-4404


92 September 2010 Visit


and Sokoloff indicates that “As Seen on TV” items are always hot. These include products like the Snuggie and the Pillow Pet. With many of the most popular items, customers keep coming into stores and asking for them, which then leads store owners to ask Sokoloff about them. Then he’ll go out and try to buy that merchandise. Six months ago, for instance, he had hundreds of stores coming to him, asking for the silicone bracelets. So he start- ed jumping all over it, fi nding the manufacturers and buying them. Sokoloff obviously values feed- back from his customers. “We always look for that next hot trend, something that the kids want. A lot of parents will even call the stores to see when there are more coming in.” Whether


it’s price points,


technology, seasonal appeal, or keeping up with trends, it


continued on page 94 Online at INDEPENDENTRETAILER.COM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104