Wednesday 31 October 2012

Branded Toys vs. Generic Toys

Today I want to talk about giving kids at your event branded toys verses no-name, generic toys.

Branded toys are those that are under well known reputable brands such as Fisher Price, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Leap Frog, Tonka, Baby Born, Crayola, Disney, Lego, Lamaze, Little Tikes, Meccano, My Little Pony, Polly Pocket etc - you get the idea.

No-name, generic toys have no reputable brand and will generally try imitate/copy the actual brands.

It is quite simple. Branded is best! Why?

Kids want branded toys because that is what is advertised on television, in kids magazines, on the internet and in retail catalogues. Branded toys are those that their friends are playing with at school. That is what the kids want. If you want to make the kids most happy and generate the most excitement ... then give them what they desire the most.

I have seen on several occasions the disappointmentt on a kids face when they receive a no-name doll as opposed to a 'real' Barbie, Bratz or Disney doll. For good or for bad kids are as brand conscious as adults and one needs to take that into consideration.

Now I know you can argue that you get more bang for your buck buying the no-name toys, but in my opinion its worth opting for the branded products. Not only will the kids be far more satisfied, but on the whole the branded product is better quality, more durable and will last longer. In addition you will be assured that product has gone through the required safety testing and complies with Australian consumer laws. Very often the no-name, generic toys are imported by unscrupulous companies who are in it for a quick profit and ignore the laws ... putting your kids at risk! You've all seen the toy recalls around Christmas time - guess what products they are? No-name toys.

There are a mixed bag of suppliers out there. Some do exclusively no-name, generic toys - stay away from them! Others doing exclusively branded toys - go with them and be confident in the product you are giving the kids.

Monday 27 August 2012

Showbags - Essential for any Kids Chirstmas Party

Showbags are a great addition to any children's Christmas event. Not only will the kids receive a gift, but also a showbag filled with goodies. It's amazing how much excitement a showbag generates. It's that element of surprise!

I have found that the easiest way to go about organising showbags is to speak with your toy supplier. They already know your numbers and age group split and it all arrives in one delivery - convenience and efficiency is what you want on event day.

Most of the toy suppliers or wholesalers out there offer showbags. Some suppliers are better than others. Some will only offer one bag, whilst others present you with a range of price and contents. I have even seen that Protoys (www.protoys.com.au) allows you to design your own showbag! They have a great selection of lollies, confectionery, crisps and novelty toys that you can combine to create your ultimate showbag!

I have actually found that with specialist showbag suppliers its often a bit of over kill. They primarily focus on showbags for the Easter Show and similar events so their bags can be expensive, very commercial and large. For corporate or club kids Christmas events I think something more simple, small and affordable is the way to go.

Make sure you see a sample of the actual bag itself and ensure it is decent and strong. I have spoken to organisers who had nightmare experiences when the actual bags started splitting and all contents were falling out. Can you imagine! A Christmas design on the bags is also nice to add to the atmosphere of the day.

For very young kids watch out for hard lollies and any chocking hazards. Some suppliers will offer a junior showbag that only has soft lollies for the safety of the kids.

Hope this article helps and gives you some pointers. let me know if you have any questions.