Pet toys a big hit at TTPM 2018 Holiday Showcase of most wanted toys
TTPM’s Pet Shop Fashion Show
The TTPM product review site for toys, tots, pets and more announced its 2018 Holiday Most Wanted List at the TTPM 2018 Holiday Showcase Friday at New York’s Center415 event space, where new play product was introduced by over 50 brands including Disney Consumer Products, Hasbro, Mattel and Spin Master.
TTPM reviews more than 5,000 reviews of toys, baby gear, pet toys, kids electronics and sporting goods product each year. As CEO/editor-in-chief Jim Silver stated, the site regards its annual Holiday Showcase as “the first day of the holiday season,” and while he acknowledged that there’s no giant Toys “R” Us retail chain this year, he noted that nevertheless “we know the holidays will come--and kids still want toys.” Therefore, he cautioned, consumers should not wait for the season’s final five days before shopping for toys.
The TTPM team then unveiled its Most Wanted Listing of 22 toys representing what it considers the most innovative, playful and on-trend new products that will be available for holiday giving. The list includes collectibles, toys that encourage creativity, games for the family, and “truly remarkable toys” as reviewed by TTPM editors.
“There are a whole lot of ‘zit toys,’” noted TTPM content director Christopher Byrne, and sure enough, among the 22 Most Wanted toys is Spin Master’s Dr. Pimple Popper Pimple Pete—no further description really needed. Other noteworthy List entries include MGA Entertainment’s Moj Moj Claw Machine, a toy take on arcade claw machines, and the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Variety Kit, by which a Nintendo Switch gadget can be used to sound a cardboard piano and likewise operate other cardboard constructions.
But Silver also noted that America’s 180 million dogs and cats “want holiday presents,” too, and to this end, TTPM not only held a Pet Shop Fashion Show with dogs—and handlers—walking a runway, but announced its 2018 Pet Product Awards. It further featured the TTPM Pet Shop section within the showcase space, pet product exhibitors including AquaPurr, , P.L.A.Y., The Hagen Group, K9 Sport Sack, Rubie’s Pet Shop Boutique and Ruff Dawg.
As TTPM EVP/GM and pet content director/pet toys expert Andy Krinner noted, hemp products for cats and dogs has become a big category, and Green Coast Pet, supplier of “THC-free” natural treats and help products for cats and dogs (including Hemp Chews and Pawnut Butter), was among these exhibitors. Also in the Pet Shop, The Hagen Group’s Catit line—winner of a 2018 TTPM Pet Product Award for its Senses 2.0 System of changeable cat toy “circuit” layouts for maintaining feline play interest—offered its new Catit Creamy lickable “wet” treats to go with its Nibbly line of dry treats.
And while Reindeer in Here author and creator Adam Reed was on hand to sign copies of his award-winning book and spread awareness of its accompanying new reindeer plush toy, Toy Vey Toys showed its Sam the Dancing Matzo Man musical toy--a bearded Hasidic--looking figure that sings and dances to an original child-friendly rap song. The plush toy is part of Toy Vey’s licensing deal with matzo manufacturer Aron Streit, Inc., and has Sam wearing a hat and apron bearing the Streit’s logo. Sam the Dancing Matzo Man will now be featured on over a million boxes of Streit’s 2019 Passover Matzo.