With a great contest dubbed “What’s your Twistlet?” designed to get tweens and other potential customers into the swing of things, Twistlets.com has been working hard to give them the incentive they need, to become part of the Twistlets community. The theme of the contest was simple: Entrants were to submit videos of themselves doing fun and crazy things with Twistlets, and to share their creative ideas about new designs and configurations with the world!

One of the most effective tools available on the site is the easy to use and highly intuitive video function, which allows visitors to see the product in action.

Cash prizes and other cool giveaways are being offered, so entrants shouldn’t delay to get their videos posted. Along with them, vendors and wholesalers who want to ride the wave of Twistlets mania will want to be amongst the firt to promote these fun accessories to their own customers, to start building up brand recognition in their markets, and to get sales primed early.

By contrast, the Twistlets product is much more than rubber band-based fashion accessories could ever be, simply because they have the ability to change shape while the wearer is using them. Bands and other “silly accessories” don’t retain their shapes when they are in use,so the fun is not really there after they’ve been stretched and fitted over wrists, hair, etc. Twistlets, on the other hand, are built to last, and have a distinctly more functional and expressive design that lets the wearer’s creativity show at all times.

Another point to consider is the fact that products like Silly Bandz™ (www.sillybandz.com) has sold over 200 million dollars in just over 2 years, which represents a very large stream of revenue that could easily be tripled or quadrupled with a product that comes at a slightly higher – yet highly affordable – price point, especially as the new season rolls in.

Twistlets promote creativity for young girls. They can be shaped and re-shaped into necklaces, headbands, anklets, bracelets, hair accessories, belts and whatever else a girl can imagine. It’s a fun fashion accessory that young girls can play with for hours…literally.

And for anyone who thought that the female tween/teen market had peaked, an example from recent pop culture exists to dismiss the doubts: The Twilight Saga: New Moon certainly proved them wrong, raking in $275 million dollars – worldwide – during its historic opening weekend. It’s a real success story, because it only cost $50 million to make. In addition, even if marketing and promotional costs added up to be an additional $50 million dollars, that means that the film would have had to double its $100 million dollar investment in order to make a profit, which it already had done in a short period of time. Also not to be forgotten are all the licensing and merchandising revenues to come,long after the movie’s mass appeal dies down. This all equals a sum that is truly greater than its parts, and the next big thing to hit the tween market could be staring us all right in the face, right now.

Each Twistlet is branded with a special Twistlets charm for authenticity.

I plan on retailing them for $9.99 each. Wholesale $4.25. Buy 12 dozen and you get a free display. I have to confirm pricing on the display when I get to China but I should be able to offer the free display with the purchase of 12 dozen. The display will easily convert from a counter display to a floor display so the retailer has that option.

The ASD piece will be the first literature out on Twistlets. I have to get the pictures into ASD on Monday but I won’t know when the e-newsletter will go out. I’m guessing the following week. I’ll be able to confirm with you next week.

• 8 HOT COLORS with Unique Twistlets Charm
• Glam Gold Twistlets™ (all gold beads)
• Super Silver Twistlets™ (all silver beads)
• Pretty n Pink Twistlets™ (Pink and Silver beads)
• Hot Purple Twistlets™ (Purple and Silver beads)
• Aqua Marine Twistlets™ (Blue and Silver beads)
• Color Me Gold Twistlets™ (Rainbow w/Gold beads)
• Color Me Silver Twistlets™ (Rainbow w/Silver beads)
• Bold n Black Twistlets™ (Gunmetal beads)

Product Dimensions and Specifications:

• Nickel and Lead Free (tested and certified)
• 5mm in diameter
• 90cm in length
• Beads composed of metal alloy with silver metal clasp and metal charm

Packaging dimensions:

• Width: 3.5 inches
• Height: 5.5 inches
• Depth: 1.5 inches

PRICING:

• FOB L.A. $4.25/piece
• SRP: $9.99/piece
• Attractive Twistlets™ Counter display holds 5 dozen Boxes – 60 units
• Attractive Twistlets™ Floor display holds 10 dozen boxes – 120 units

The Hot New Tween Accessory… Twistlets has arrived! You can Bend it, Twist it, Shape it…Wear it! Users are able to create customized looks with accessory options raging from a necklace, to a headband, to a bracelet and back again. This fun fashion accessory has proven itself already to hold endless possibilities, and the first wholesalers to get in on the action will be the ones to reap the rewards when the next big trend in tween marketing catches on in the North American market.

NEW YORK – Toys with a tech edge were the rage during Toy Fair 2011 in New York City, which put quite a bit of distance between classic board games and traditional playthings, by contrasting them with the future of toys today. Mattel, one of the leading toy manufacturers and retail giants of the industry, put a fresh spin on an old favorite by offering a built-in microphone to its Ken doll, giving him the ability to record and play back up to five messages.

On the other side of the toy biz juggernaut playing field, Hasbro introduced some new and updated versions of their cult classic hit game Monopoly, as well as Battleship. Of particular interest was Battleship’s use of infrared scanners to detect changes in game play.

For older toy lovers, with an iPhone already part of their daily accessory list, Jakks Pacific released a microphone that makes the user sound like rapper “T-Pain” when singing into it. Some other trends that should be examined closely are the ones that examine you back; motion-sensor technology is big, as is anything that works directly with apps and other social media elements that are already in use today. With movies always providing inspiration for the latest batch of tech toys, TRON: Legacy has provided the perfect opportunity for toy makers to come up with lighted rings that can be thrown over a fair distance, while looking a lot like the main weapons that were used in battle during the movie’s fight scenes.

The same company that produces the TRON ring, Tosy, is also th one who came up with TOPIO, the robot who uses artificial intelligence to play a match of ping-pong against a human opponent, and improve his game with every swat at the ball.

For younger players, toys have adopted a tech feel, and this time for tiny hands that aren’t quite at the level of writing emails or placing calls yet. The iCan Play Case, by Fisher-Price, makes the ubiquitous iPhone more baby and toddler friendly, with a special plastic case that provides safety for a parent’s delicate iPhone, while the child plays with it. Th case comes complete with rattling rings and teething handles, making this a must-have for all babies who are tech-savvy. There are also a few iPhone apps that are in the works from the company as well, like Animal Sounds, Where’s Puppy’s Nose, and Let’s Count Animals, which are built around current iPhone standards, requiring finger taps, shakes, and swipes, to activate and engage.

One particularly interesting toy that comes with a green earth message is the OWI, an eco-friendly car replica that runs entirely on salt water. Kids are able to mix up a saltwater solution, and administer it to the little car, giving it enough electrical charge for up to seven hours of continuous play. The company has also introduced a train set that runs on solar energy,. and miniature bicyclists that use wind power to pedal their bikes.

In the world of photography, the See Yourself camera debuts, as the company’s latest version of the Kid-Tough Digital Camera line. With the ability to survive even the harshest environments of drops, throws, and other rough treatment, the camera features devices and knobs that are easy to control, and a built-in flash for low light shots. An LCD panel completes the picture, allowing kids to se the results of their work in an instant. It even comes with  USB connection that can be used to upload images to th family computer for sharing.

The Toys Wholesale industry has rarely seen this kind of technology in its midst, and when it does, it tends to go all-out. Watching for these trends will help any wholesaler and retailer know what’s hot when it comes to play time.

Reporters attending a briefing in Hong Kong last week were told that the initiative comes as a means to increase awareness about standards, while promoting business that doesn’t rely heavily upon recalls.

Although there have been numerous cases of complaints from American buyers about Chinese manufacturers and toys that fail to pass the tests, things have improved drastically. The US commission last year ordered about 400 recalls on products worldwide, with the Chinese-made products falling from over 340 recalls to only 220 in the same time period.

Meanwhile in the USA, there are campaigns in motion to rebuild a sagging manufacturing base that once held very high standards.

In the Midwest, the marble industry has revved into high gear, by completing the steps needed to achieve certification as the first toy company ever to receive the coveted “Made in USA” label.

Paden City-based Marble King has been granted license, giving a renewed sense of confidence to locals who felt all toys were going to be coming from overseas from now on.

When asked why the move was made to produce the high-quality marbles in the USA instead of outsourcing to a cheaper alternative in another country, the company’s spokesperson replied by pointing out that not only does the label “Made in USA” add a great deal of value to the product, it also offsets concerns amid imported products in the toy category that have become the focus of media attention lately. As concerns grow, the designation becomes more valuable and important.

Additionally, the company feels that maintaining the general public’s support in purchasing products made in the USA are critical to keeping manufacturing jobs alive.

Experts who were asked about the decision commented, pointing out that while one company making toys doesn’t necessarily rescue the entire manufacturing industry, it certainly does present a highly provocative opportunity to those who carefully select which kinds of manufacturing jobs receive attention, and which others are sent overseas.

As for Marble King, production ends every day with roughly 1 million marbles made. Locals who have lived in Paden City for decades all seem to agree that the company has been recognized as a leader in quality and standards for over 50 years.

Another interesting aspect of the marble production center is the utilization of recycled goods to manufacture a high quality product. The majority of marbles being formed from the center are made with scrap glass from factories in the area, much of which would end up in a landfill if it wasn’t put to use.

Wholesale Toys may undergo more changes in the near future, as the prevailing thoughts surrounding the industry seem to be shifting towards a goal of finding alternatives to buying American-made goods.

Wholesale toys are big business. Every parent knows it and dreads it. While we’re still waiting to find out what the toy market was worth in 2010, I can tell you that the 2009 U.S. toy industry sales were $21.47 billion. 2010 is sure to top that with consumers reaching into their wallets at the first signs of an economic recovery.

A toy is the delight of every child. Who doesn’t remember the wonder of a special toy as a child? Every Christmas, parents try to figure out which are the hottest toys and rush to buy them before stores and websites run out. Retail toy buyers try to figure out the same thing as they source toys wholesale. Toys are becoming more sophisticated and expensive every year. Ever wonder what the best sellers were this last Christmas season?

With hundreds of different toys on the market it’s always hard to decide what to buy. Even if you know what your kids want, there’s always another decision to be made – should the Barbie be a blonde or brunette? The toys listed below were found to be best sellers and were also deemed to be highly desirable by kids of all ages. Among the best selling toys were Banagrams, Lego Sets, Squinkies, SingAMaJigs, Silly Bandz and Stomp Rockets.

Top 10 Wholesale Toys of Christmas Past

1. Bananagrams. This is a portable word game that comes in its own zippered banana shaped yellow pouch.

2. Lego Ultimate Building Set, 405 Pieces. New tub container with assortment of Lego bricks and elements including building plate, mini figure, windows, doors, wheels and building instructions for 5 models.

3. Squinkies Bubble Pack, Series One and Two. Soft squishy little figures that fit in your hand. You can collect kitties, puppies, babies, ponies and friends, with 100’s of Squinkies to collect from. Each bubble pack contains 16.

4. Silly Bandz. Fun animal shaped silicone wristbands that come in a variety of shapes and are worn like a bracelet. They can be stretched and come in themed packs like zoo animals or alphabet letters. Girls can trade with friends and wear as a fun fashion statement.

5. Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit. This fun to play with kit comes with 4 rockets and refill rockets can be purchased for many hours of play indoors or out. Received the iParenting Media Award for excellent product and Top Toy of the year from Creative Child magazine.

6. Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS. This fully automatic Nerf clip system features a new pop-out bipod for stability, which can double as a handle. Removable shield allows players to transition to Attack Mode. The full auto clip system blaster comes complete with a Blast Shield, Pop-Out Bipod, 3 Extended Clips, 1 Quick Reload Clip and 60 darts.

7. Squinkies Cupcake Surprise Bakeshop. You can close and dispense your Squinkies with the bakeshop. It includes 9 bubbles with themed Squinkies inside. You can open them up to play in the bake shop which holds up to 15 bubbles.

8. The Settlers Of Catan. The Settlers of Catan is a strategy and building game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, cities and settlements.

9. Lego Hogwarts. The Lego Hogwarts set offers Lego-quality construction coupled with the popular Harry Potter book and movie series by J.K. Rowling.

10. Leapfrog Scribble And Write. This encourages children to write early and has 4 learning modes to help a child progress from drawing simple shapes to writing upper and lower case letters.
10. Leapfrog Scribble And Write – Weighing in at just over 3 pounds, the Leap Frog Scribble and Write won’t tire your little one out, and the flashing lights will set off light bulbs of learning in their minds.

Soft fedora hat 4 asst colors black_red_purple_white adult size

5 to 10 eac $2.25 eac

15 to 35 eac $2.00 eac

40 eac & up $1.75 eac

Before spending too much time looking for the source, those looking to find the best deals can turn to reputable and well-known suppliers like Hayes Specialties, a company that brings the best of wholesale novelties directly to dealers at prices that must be seen to be believed.

This is a supplier that carries thousands of terrific gifts and novelty items for prices that are far below what dealers might expect to pay.

There are, of course a diverse and practical selection of categories to help make the selection proces even better. With so many products in stock, it’s easy to see why Hayes Specialties can get the right kind of wholesale novelties to any kind of customer.

Knobby ball 7 inch 65gram deflated red and blue assorted colors

12 to 108 eac $0.50 eac

120 to 228 eac $0.40 eac

240 eac & up $0.34 eac

Some examples of categories found on the Hayes Specialties website  are:

• Hayes Specialties New Items
• Overstocks
• Wholesale Gift Items
• Wholesale Novelties & Toys
• Wholesale Gaming, Bingo & Poker
• Wholesale Party Supplies
• Wholesale Seasonal Items
• Raffle Drum & Raffle Supplies
• Popcorn/SnoKones/Cotton Candy/Etc
• Carnival Hats

In addition, there is a large and useful online catalog that brings sample images and descriptions to anyone who wishes to know more about the product selection. With everything from sizes, color choices, and quantities listed, it will become a convenient place to assess which goods might be particularly suitable for any buyer in the business.

Another way to become familiar with the product offerings on the Hayes Specialties website can be found by visiting the TopTenWholesale TV post, in which a virtual tour of the Hayes Specialties booth at the 2010 ASD Las Vegas Show will bring their products to life. There is useful information about the company, as well as the best and most attractive items on sale.

Comet ball

50 to 200 eac $0.15 eac

250 to 450 eac $0.14 eac

500 eac & up $0.13 eac

Featured in the video is Jim, from Hayes Specialties. Jim says: “It’s all customer-driven, our customers tell us what they’re looking for. Hats are one of the biggest categories that have been selling like hotcakes, raffle drums have proven themselves to be an extremely popular category for bingo and gaming. Hayes has everything from brass drums to acrylic drums, and everything in between. These items are perfect for corporate events, casinos, schools, fund raisers and charity events. And they are good profit drivers for everyone from the most humble local flea markets, to the biggest fortune 500 retailers. Hayes sells to people at every level of a variety of industries, and can handle orders large or small, while offering $100 minimum orders at the trade shows, and online sales at $50 per order. With thousands of products priced from $1 and up, you should give Hayes a look!” That’s exactly what customers will discover after touring the site, and watching the video.

Milk slime 1 dozen dsp box milk carton box with white slime

1 to 2 doz $9.60 doz

3 to 5 doz $8.40 doz

6 doz & up $7.20 doz

Hayes Specialties has been a leading importer of wholesale novelties, plush toys, and dozens of other products for over 40 years. You can share the fun as you join Jim and Jason on a virtual tour of the Hayes booth at the ASD show in Las Vegas, and see why they should be the first on your “wholesaler radar,” when you’re looking for your next novelty purchase. Click the graphic below to see the video, and remember to check out all the other great videos on TopTenWholesale TV while you’re there.

Christmas 2010 is predicted to be a tough one, but it also comes with promises of bringing consumer sales to the outlets who have marketed and developed their selling strategies accordingly.

While demand for flat panel TV sets and related items are on the decline,  there are some goods that have been vying for attention from buyers, especially for those who cater to children.

To be sure, there are a lot of hot Christmas toy selections out there, and more will undoubtedly be revealed in time. On the other hand, there are a lot of consumers who will be very careful with their spending, which means the best of the bunch will be getting all the attention. It also means that there will be a lot of overstock and liquidations to pick up after the dust has settled in 2011.

One example of a game that is supposed to be making some waves will be based upon electronics design, allowing kids to come up with their own “circuit boards” on their own. Although it sounds high-tech and high dollar, the truth is that it’s not so different from construction sets of 50 years ago, and there will likely be many lower-cost variants that come up to compete with major brands.

Robots will be part of the new toy landscape as well, and companies like Playskool and Hasbro will be joining the race to furnish children with robots and droids that look and sound like the ones they see in the movies.

Mattel has entered the running with Loopz, an electronic musical game that brings creativity to the digital age, and provides some fun ways to develop an ear for music. In educational toys and games, there will also be new earning aids from old friend like Leapfrog, a veteran company in the electronic learning category.

Moderately priced electronic e-book readers will also be thrown into the mix, to expand upon an already strong e-reader and tablet community that’s picking up more speed on a daily basis.

In the world of gaming for those who want to expand upon their collections of game systems that support online experiences like World of Warcraft and other popular titles, there is even a freshly-hatched game console that’s already generating headlines. Panasonic’s “Jungle” game system is bringing the Japanese giant full-circle in to virtually every niche of consumer electronics out there. Rumor has it that there will even be support for true cloud-based gaming in this device’s design, and adoption of this not-necessarily-new concept could be the break cloud needed to make a strong entrance to the market in 2011.

Even with aggressive discounting being the catchword during the ramp-up to the 2010 holiday sales season, there is a lot of optimism surrounding an industry that has typically seen large numbers generated during this time. Margins may be affected by the slashed pricing, but a bump in employment could make things quite stable for the year end.

Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn describes consumer behavior these days as “episodic,” acknowledging every time that a new and exciting product hits the market, consumers still find a way to buy. This year, the company expects to add about 29,000 seasonal positions to the payroll at nearly 1,100 US stores.

Those who are dealing with imports are going to need to do their homework early, as the process of establishing agreements and trade specifics can be a time-consuming affair, especially in the beginning. It’s of utmost importance to get sources verified and quoted by the middle of the year, so that placing the actual orders and beginning the process of shipping can come with an automatic margin for error that allows re-shipments from distant countries, or special rates that may be given to buyers who accept slower or more flexible shipping schedules.

It should go without saying that suppliers appreciate early orders for goods, since it keeps the wheels of their companies moving, and encourages more detailed dialogue between them and their customers, without the crunch of holiday time making things feel hasty or under pressure.

As the holiday season approaches, it becomes increasingly expensive when securing rates for shipping, and it becomes equally difficult to make good on delivery time lines. Recent economic headaches for everyone in the business has also created some additional obstacles, such as cargo with reduced capacities, and special schedules that don’t allow too much flexibility. The most obvious of all changes to anticipate is the price hike that comes with related services, not just the actual shipping.

Great importance is placed upon security these days, and while there are many legitimate and secure methods of transacting shipments from other countries, it’s a safer and far more effective strategy that includes the luxury of time, since mistakes can be caught early, and hopefully corrected without much incident. Time and advance preparation oftentimes affords the luxury of sampling goods at leisure, too.

Being early also allows buyers to take the time and effort to provide purchase orders and payment information using Letters of Credit, credit cards, and other secure methods, thus ensuring a stress-free shipment process.

It may seem rather obvious, but the storage facilities that hold containers and goods that are being prepared for their voyage to a new home are relatively easy to fill during the off-season. Prices generally reflect the lag in business, and companies that are dealing with goods that can sit and wait for some time will benefit greatly from not paying a premium for shipping.

With delivery and shipping dates confirmed, the time is right for followups and further confirmations to be made, even as the goods are in transit. Typically, this is the stage where unexpected changes and events can make trouble, and only the ones who order early are going to avoid the excessive pains of clearing matters up under the deadlines of hundreds other customers who are waiting for their orders as well. Being certain to keep tracking numbers at the ready, and promoting the first shipments of goods will perhaps create incentives for customers to buy early, giving stores a great boost to early numbers for the year.

Containers of goods will be flooding into ports, and ground shipping will be proportionatly greater as well. This could be a good time to consolidate shipments, in order to make the process not only less expensive, but to make the most of an opportunity to take control of the situation, and put everything together for greater convenience. While shaving off a few dollars will be worthwhile, it’s difficult to put a price on peace of mind.

The last few months of the year – generally the last quarter – is the time to focus completely upon sales and marketing, without the distraction of supplies and logistics to make the environment anything but conducive to selling. With the proper panning and preparation, companies that stocked up early will be at a tremendous advantage over the ones that procrastinated and allowed their holidays to be filled with stress and worry. Customers can smell fear in the air, and nothing is more fearful than a business that hasn’t covered  its bases, while watching competitors ring up sales at the register through the entire holiday season.