The wholesale toy industry has already begun getting ready 2006 holiday season in a big way. Retail buyers can expect to be getting offers for thousands of potential gift items from their suppliers. New products are released and old ones given a big shot of hype. Each one is promised to be the key to a happy and financially sound holiday. Make no mistake, toys are big business; about $20 billion a year and the holiday season accounts for a big slice of that total.

However, a toy store can’t carry everything and it is often difficult to know which offers to accept and which to return to the shelf for another year. It is impossible to be sure how a particular toy will sell, especially brand new ones, but toys that have done well all year are safe bets to do even better come Christmas time.
Historically high demand toys have not stayed in traditional retail stores through out the holidays and we are familiar with the ugly scenes of scrambling adults brawling over children’s toys. To avoid this shoppers are turning to the Internet with increasing frequency to get their gifts.

Below is a list of some of the biggest selling toys of 2006 so far. These toys are going to be on kid’s Christmas lists and in parent’s minds as they begin their annual shopping sprees. Retailers should get with toy wholesalers quick to get their hands on these toys.

It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since the first appearance of the Tickle Me Elmo toy but it has. To celebrate a decade of orange good humor Elmo’s makers, Fischer-Price, have released the TMX Elmo. Presumably TMX stands for Tickle Me Ten, even the cuddly, tumbling toy needs a high tech moniker. TMX Elmo even put in a recent appearance on the View where Rosie O’Donnell fell over herself with praise. TMX Elmo retails for around $35.

Another toy doing extremely well this year is the electronic TV plug in game called Dream Life. The toy works much like the popular Sims line of video games but centers around the life of a school age girl. While playing the game girls get to do the things they ought to be doing in their real life. Go to classes and rewards for good grades. Make money by doing chores around the house or get a job and go shopping. Make lots of friends, join a sports team or just hang out. It might be baffling to adults but it’s nothing but fun for young teens. Dream Life retails for around $35.

The Amazing Amanda Doll combines the personalization and interaction of modern electronic toys with the timeless appeal of baby dolls. Amanda is a large doll that utilizes voice recognition, sensory technology and articulated animatronics to produce a very life-like toy.