Jun 5, 2009

Suburban toys stores say buyers focusing on low costBy Kim MikusDailyHerald.com

Suburban toy stores are finding top selling products have one thing in common. The price tags are under $25.

While parents trim family budgets, they still find a need to pick up birthday presents or something to keep the kids busy when they get out of school for the long summer.

“Parents are still buying, but just spending less than they used to,” said Rick Derr, owner of Learning Express stores in Barrington and Lake Zurich.

While reviewing lists of top sellers from the seven suburban franchise stores, he finds that the top selling items at most locations fit into the $25 price range limit.

“Our number one item through the spring is the Frog EcoAquarium,” Derr said.

The educational toy comes with a dwarf frog, bamboo shoot, snail and gravel that helps act as a filtration system.

The frog, which teaches responsibility, has to be fed only twice a week while the water has to be changed every five or six months.

The snail acts as the janitor to clean the algae and excess food, said Randy Horn, owner of Learning Express in Glen Ellyn.

“This is our top seller right now,” said Derr, who sold more than 300 of the frogs during the first month they arrived. The self-contained aquarium sells for $24.99.

“They’re turning out to be a good end-of-the-year gift or birthday present,” Derr said.

Here are several other toys that are proving popular heading into the summer season:

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