Consumer Corner

What’s Trending in the Toy Box? The Toy Insider™ Experts Dish on What’s Hot to Help Holiday Shoppers Find Toys Sure to “Wow” Kids and Kidults

Published

1 month ago

October 27, 2023

Daily News Staff

A Barbie-fueled doll craze, toys inspiring future chefs and makers, parent-approved pets and active toys, plushies in all shapes and sizes, plus toys and games made for adults, all on trend

 NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — The Toy Insider, the toy industry’s most influential organization and a trusted go-to resource for parents and gift-givers, revealed the top toy trends of 2023 and expert toy picks from each trend for effortless holiday shopping. As inflation persists in toy aisles this holiday season, consumers should prepare to add a couple more dollars to their budget and shop early to find trending toys at the best price.

The Toy Insider revealed the top toy trends of 2023 and expert toy picks from each trend for effortless holiday shopping.

“This year’s trending toys are filled with thoughtful and fun innovations, giving everyone the chance to revel in the joy of play, whether you’re a kid or kid at heart,” says Marissa Silva, Co-Editor-in-Chief, The Toy Insider. “We’re seeing trusted classics—dolls, stuffed animals, active toys and activity kits—undergo a modern-day renaissance for today’s kids. More options are tapping into kids’ love of food and pets. Plus, a rapidly growing assortment of options for adults proves grown-ups just want to have fun, too!”

Shoppers can choose from a wide range of trending toys, with something for every budget, using The Toy Insider’s 18th annual Holiday Gift Guide. Broken down by age, the guide has more than 360 toys from 135 vetted toymakers, with direct links to multiple retailers for an easy toy shopping experience.

The Toy Insider’s Top Toy Trends of 2023: 

Hello, Dolly!: Thanks in large part to Barbie: The Movie, the doll aisle is busier than ever! These classic toys promote social skills, inspire imaginations, and spark creativity.

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: Barbie Dreamhouse Playset (Mattel), Cry Babies Newborn (IMC Toys), Disney ily 4EVER Fashion Dolls (JAKKS Pacific), Fidgie Friends Fairie Garden (Sunny Days Entertainment), Glitter Girls Gia & Gypsy (Glitter Girls), Hugs & Giggles (Madame Alexander), Latinistas Fashion Dolls (Purpose Toys), Rainbow High Color & Create (MGA Entertainment), Style Bae (Just Play), The Fresh Beats Collection (The Dr. Lisa Co., formerly World of EPI)

Bake It ’til Ya Make It: They always say, “Don’t play with your food,” but we must disagree! These toys encourage pretend play in the kitchen, from popping pizzas in the oven to mixing up batches of cookies!

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: Build-a-Slice Pizza Cart (LeapFrog), Cook & Care Kitchen Nursery (Step2), Cookeez Makery (Moose Toys), Disney Princess Style Collection Fresh Prep Gourmet Kitchen (JAKKS Pacific), MGA’s Miniverse Make It Mini Food Café & Diner – Series 2 (MGA Entertainment), Mini Brands Series 5 Capsule (ZURU), My Baking Oven with Magic Cookies (Hape), Pretendables Cinnamon Roll Set (Fat Brain Toys), Shape Sorting Grocery Cart (Melissa & Doug), Sushi Go – Spin Some for Dim Sum (Gamewright)

Kids @ Heart: “Kidulting” is a big buzzword this year because toys have a new audience: adults! More grownups are playing with toys than ever, and toy companies are making toys with kids at heart in mind.

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: 3Doodler Flow 3D Printing Pen Set (3Doodler), Crayola HD Coloring Set (Crayola), Deadlines (Foxmind), Disney Castle Revolution (Ravensburger), Kanoodle Pyramid (Educational Insights), Lite-Brite Touch (Basic Fun!), Monopoly Prizm: NBA Edition Game (Hasbro), Rainbow Brite 3-inch Figures (The Loyal Subjects), Risk The 1980’s Edition (Winning Moves Games), Super Mario Wonder (Nintendo)

Make & Create: Whether it’s learning how things work or gaining a new hobby, the benefits of creating something or learning a new skill are monumental for kids at any age! If they love music, building, jewelry, beauty, or anything else, there are plenty of ways for kids to unleash their creativity.

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: Craft Your Own PomPom Purse (Purple Ladybug), Hydraulic Boxing Bots (Thames & Kosmos), Magic Sketch Glow (Boogie Board), Monster High Ghoulish Glam Nail Salon (Cra-Z-Art), Penn & Teller Magic Lab VR (Abacus Brands), Pinxies Unicorn Creation Studio (Luki Lab), Snap FM Radio (Snap Circuit), STMT Infinity Jewelry (Horizon Group USA), Switch & Go 3-in-1 Rescue Rex (VTech), Tinkertar (Buffalo Games)

Movin’ and Groovin’: We know how important regular movement can be to both physical and mental health — so why not use playtime to encourage kids to move? These playthings get kids moving, dancing, and staying active.

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: 3-in-1 Skate Trainer (Flybar), Bebé Fuerte Stack & Count Kettlebell (TOMY), Bluey 12-inch Kids Bike (Dynacraft), CoComelon Big Bouncer (Bestway USA), Droyd Romper (Droyd), KanJam Pickleball (Eastpoint Sports), Koosh Face-Off (PlayMonster), Laser X Ultra Double Blasters (NSI International), Sesame Street Elmo Slide (Just Play), Stapelstein Rainbow Set Classic (Stapelstein)

Pet Frenzy: No mess, no stress—just fun! Kids can care for these digital pets and furry friends that encourage nurturing and responsibility, while providing companionship.

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: Bitzee (Spin Master), Furby (Hasbro), Jurassic Park Real FX Baby T. Rex (Wow! Stuff), Little Live Pets My Puppy’s Home (Moose Toys), MINTiD Dog-E (WowWee), My Fuzzy Friends: Magic Whispers Kitty (Skyrocket), Pokémon Dreams Plush (The Pokémon Co.), Pokémon Train & Play Deluxe Pikachu (Jazwares), PYXEL: A Coder’s Best Friend (Educational Insights), Tamagotchi Uni (Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America)

Pint-Size Pals: There’s nothing better than a bestie—and a lot of times, kids really connect with the characters they see in their go-to entertainment content. Kids’ BFFs from their favorite shows and movies come to life in the toy box!

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: Disney Bluetooth Karaoke with Wireless Mic and Easy Link Technology (eKids), Batman and Wonder Woman Tonies (tonies), LEGO Disney 100 Years of Disney Animated Icons (LEGO), Numberblocks Step Squad Mission Headquarters (hand2mind), PAW Patrol Chase’s Mighty Transforming Cruiser (Spin Master), Playmobil 1.2.3. & Disney: Winnie’s & Piglet’s Tree House (Playmobil), RTR Blaze RC Rock Crawler (NKOK), Sonic Prime Paradox Prism (PMI Kids’ World), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Van (Playmates Toys), YuMe Disney 100 Surprise Capsules (YuMe)

Plush-a-Palooza: Plush toys are often one of the most memorable staples of childhood—and this year, they are hot, hot, HOT for kids of all ages. Stuffed animals, collectibles, and plushies in all shapes and sizes are topping wish lists this year.

The Toy Insider’s Favorites: BumBumz (Jazwares), Bumpas (Bumpas), Care Bears Sequin Cheer Bear (Basic Fun!), Emotional Support Fries (Relatable, formerly What Do You Meme?), Fluffie Stuffiez (MGA Entertainment), GUND Sustainably Soft Plush (Spin Master), Snackles Super Sized 14-inch Snackles (ZURU), Squishmallows (Jazwares), TeeTurtle Plushie Tote Bags (TeeTurtle), Vs World Cows Vs. Aliens (Cepia)

About The Toy Insider 

The Toy Insider is the go-to source for information about toys, tech and entertainment. Its expert team publishes two seasonal gift guides yearly and reviews toys daily to find what’s hot and trending. Visit www.thetoyinsider.com for reviews, toy news, giveaways and parenting tips. Follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. 

SOURCE The Toy Insider

Consumer Corner

Inspiring Ideas for Your New Home

Published

1 day ago

November 27, 2023

Daily News Staff

(Family Features) Moving into a new home offers an opportunity to create a space that reflects your family’s values, enhances comfort and is better for the environment.

Whether you’re shopping for a new home, renovating your current space or building from scratch, consider some of the latest trends while searching for inspiration.

Home Automation
From ovens that can be turned on remotely to skylights that open and close automatically and more, there are a multitude of ways to integrate smart home technology into your living space to make it more energy efficient and convenient. Start small with a voice assistant, smart light bulbs, home security system or a programable thermostat. After that, you can implement additional features like smart appliances, remote-controlled window blinds and other electronic devices you can control from your phone for a complete smart home system.

Sustainable Design
A long popular trend, sustainable design has evolved over the years to include more than energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs. Now, it’s about reducing your carbon footprint and minimizing impact on the environment. To try the trend yourself, think big and get creative – install solar panels on your roof, choose highly insulated building materials that don’t require deforestation and upcycle old furniture or decor instead of buying new.

Disaster Resiliency
From wildfires that last for months to devastating tornadoes and major floods that impact entire cities, an increase in natural disasters due to climate change has required changes when building homes. Opting for disaster-resilient materials is an important first step. For example, using strong, energy-efficient insulated concrete forms (ICFs), like those from Nudura, instead of traditional wood framing helps homes better withstand extreme weather. Additionally, ICFs can endure winds of up to 250 miles per hour (equivalent to an F4 tornado) and offer a fire protection rating of up to 4 hours.

Outdoor Living
Transforming your backyard can help you make the most of your existing space. To take full advantage of your yard or patio, consider incorporating elements from the interior such as a television and comfortable seating options. Outdoor kitchen setups complete with refrigerators and sinks can make entertaining easier and a fire pit or fireplace can allow your friends and family to enjoy the outdoors even on cool nights.

Customization
You no longer have to settle for run-of-the-mill floor plans or what works for others. If you’re considering a new build, work with an architect to create exactly what you’re looking for, or speak with a contractor about including personalized architectural features and custom-built storage, for example, in your existing home.

To see how you can make sure your home lasts a lifetime, visit nudura.com/future-proof.

SOURCE:
Nudura

Business and Finance

The Rise and Evolution of Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday: The online shopping extravaganza that offers incredible deals and convenience for savvy shoppers. #CyberMonday

Published

1 day ago

November 27, 2023

Hal Machina

man feeling happy with his gray coat on sale — Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

Cyber Monday, the digital shopping extravaganza, has emerged as the Internet’s response to Black Friday. Traditionally held on the Monday after Thanksgiving, it initially aimed to rival the in-store deals of its brick-and-mortar counterpart. However, the retail landscape has evolved, and now both events often overlap. Yet, Cyber Monday retains its allure, with online sales soaring and social media playing a vital role in advertising. The convenience of mobile shopping has further fueled its popularity, allowing people to snag deals on the go. From tech gadgets to clothing and gift cards, Cyber Monday continues to captivate shoppers seeking holiday savings.

https://youtu.be/oWzD5MxXpBM

Black-Owned Company Develops “Hidden Diversity” Greeting Cards to Address Overlooked Consumer Market of the Cultural “In-between”

https://stmdailynews.com/black-owned-company-develops-hidden-diversity-greeting-cards-to-address-overlooked-consumer-market-of-the-cultural-in-between/

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/cyber-monday-monday-after-thanksgiving

Consumer Corner

Unwrap the Season’s Best: Waterdrop Filter’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday Extravaganza!

Published

2 days ago

November 26, 2023

Daily News Staff

ONTARIO, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — Get ready for a shopping spree like never before! Till November 30, our Black Friday & Cyber Monday bonanza is live, offering up to 50% site wide discount and double points on select purchases. Be one of the first 50 customers on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday to snag Waterdrop Filter’s premium products (G3P800, G3P600, K6) and receive delightful surprise gifts. Dive into this thrilling roller coaster of savings and surprises!

But wait, the celebration doesn’t end there! Elevate your gift-giving experience with Waterdrop Filter’s exquisite Christmas packaging, designed to immerse you in the festive spirit.

Why Waterdrop Filter?

The star of this season would be our tankless under-sink RO system!

UV Sterilizing Light and Reverse Osmosis System for Waterdrop 800GPD: Elevate Your Water Experience
The Waterdrop 800GPD RO system is the ultimate choice for homeowners seeking a reliable source of RO water. Upgraded and improved, it ensures efficient water supply for homes and small enterprises. Experience healthy, great-tasting water with cutting-edge filtration technology, and save water with the built-in water-saving technology.
Optimal Materials and Effective Filtration: Your Assurance of Clean Water
The Waterdrop 800GPD boasts a powerful three-stage filtration system that eliminates contaminants and prevents scale buildup. Coupled with a water scale inhibitor, it keeps your water appliances in top condition. The upgraded seven-layer RO membrane effectively removes chlorine and heavy metals, ensuring your water is pure and safe.
Up-to-Date and Secure LED UV Sterilizer: Unmatched Bacterial and Viral Protection
Waterdrop Filter’s RO system features a sophisticated LED chip guaranteeing 99.9% removal of bacteria and viruses. Activating only when water flows through, it ensures energy conservation while providing unparalleled sterilization.

Revolutionize your water experience with Waterdrop Filter—where innovation meets purity. Shop now and embrace a healthier, happier lifestyle!

SOURCE Waterdrop Filter