***********Please help me - Market research for toyshop I may open - How old are your DCs and what are their favourite toys? Thanks******

[Malaleche]

Need to know what toys different age-groups like. Please don't include computer games. Thanks!

ds 4.5 loves trains ,planes and automobiles

also building stuff and imagination stuff like pirate ships etc.

dd is 15 so clothes basically

thanks! keep em coming - what is a FP ball blaster thing hatrick?

FP=fisher price, I think

DS1 is 9 - those cards. Can't remember what they're called Ougioh would be the phonetic spelling. Not a lego boy, but likes those Power Pod footballers, sciencey things like the National Geographic weather station, all kinds of board games.

DS2 is 7. Figures, cowboys, knights, soldiers. Transformers, Top Trumps.

DD1 is 5. CRAFT and art messy things. Does much more of this than 'girl toys'.

DD (5) - Barbie, Polly Pocket, Sylvanian Families, Disney Princess, still likes dolls too.

Thanks, good info, anyone else?

dd1 10 - polly pocket disco, canoe, playmobil (she "knows" shes too old for it, but still likes it)
ds1 - 9 Playmobil, lego, swimming things.
ds2 - 7 Playmobil, lego, science set, wants a Leapster
dd2 - 3 model Horse, Playmobil, dollies & teddies, jigsaw puzzles

all children like sledges in winter.

Try doing some research in Germany, the toyshops here are amazing.

If you are going to open a toy store (an independent one at that) you can't seel the same stuff you get at babies r us etc. I would shop at a store that sold unique toys and art supplies/crafts stuff. No one ever seems to stock crafts stuff. See kidonyc.com for what I;m talking about.

DS 10 months and we're distinctly unimpressed with most toys on the market. He loves his ball, his board books, his stacking beakers, his FP shape sorter, his wooden activity cube, a FP roll a rounds toy train, and a set of nesting animals that's pretty old. That's pretty much the contents of his toy box.

Priority for me is avoiding unethical, made in china stuff. Most of the big companies are really bad. Look here.
I love unusual, non-plastic toys.

dd1 (5.6) - ponies and barbies
ds (4.0) - turtles & power rangers
dd2 (0.9) - anything she can get her hands on

ds(9) - Lego, Playmobil(Knights, pirates, Romans), Top Trumps, board games, scooter
dd(5) - Playmobil (dolls' house and horses), Barbie, Polly Pocket, Hama beads

I'll warn you now that the toy market is very competitive, on price and supply, with a relatively low profit margin and most retailers only make a profit in the run up to Christmas.

ds (5) lego/power rangers/kidnetix /craft stuff
dd (3) dolls dolls house/ toy kitchen/ any form of dressing up

so far so predictable (despite my naive attempts at non gender specific toys)

But there favorite toy (and has been since both were two) is marble madness by ELC (you create different marble runs to race down) We've now got 3 sets and create monster size ones .. every child I know is facinated by it

Nightynight - would love to visit the toy fair at Nuremburg some time...

DSMEZ am planning to stock some craft supplies and educational toys, avoiding licenced stuff and battery operated. hoping to source German, French, UK made toys etc, wood etc.

Tooticky - thanks for link, very interesting. i get the TIE (Toy industry of Europe) newsletter which gives updates on legislation, safety etc

LIZS - i think the proft margin is about 40 - 50 % ie about half the selling price is profit, this is what ive been used to in the sector im in at present (crafts and souvenirs) I think about 70% of the year's sales in toyshops are in the run up to xmas.

Malaleche, your ideas sound just like the toyshops that our family likes best! I just hate all this power rangers / disney type stuff in most UK toy shops, and children dont seem that interested in it.
There are toyshops in most medium sized towns here in Germany, but I think shop costs are lower than in the UK, also people have more disposable income. Ours stocks everything a child could want, from swim nappies and books, outdoor toys (in season), soft toys, Didl licenced toys, Ravensburger puzzles, model aircraft, Playmobil, Lego, story tapes and videos, hobby and rocking horses, dolls (not a lot of Barbie, though iirc), swords and shields and other weapons, water pistols, playdoh, play food...these are all the things my children have looked at recently.

Ravensburger puzzles are great - I was doing one with dd this morning, and thinking about this thread!

ds - 1 - balls and sticks Wooden activity cube.
dd1 - 8 -bike, scooter, puzzles,books
dd2 - 6 - polly pocket, dolls house, any small carachter type things(scooby doo, dr who, pp and dolls house people all play together with assorted other small people and animals,)

ds - 1 - balls and sticks Wooden activity cube.
dd1 - 8 -bike, scooter, puzzles,books
dd2 - 6 - polly pocket, dolls house, any small carachter type things(scooby doo, dr who, pp and dolls house people all play together with assorted other small people and animals,)

I am in Spain and the toyshops in my town (which has a pop of about 300,000 plus many villages and commuter suburbs around) are a bit boring. There's a ToysRus on the outskirts in a shopping park place and apart from that only a few traditional but dull shops and 2 franchises which are also a bit uninspiring. There is a gap in the market for a toyshop which has educational toys, wooden stuff, craft supplies and generally toys and brands which are not really around in this part of Spain. I have met with some reps already and they agree there is a gap for a shop like this here.

dd1 (5) loves artsy crafty things, anythign to make, colour, stick, ect. Also loves lego

dd2 (2.6) loves dolls, pushing things around, toy kitchen, tea set

dd3 (8m) not really into anything. Takes great delight in anything passed to her or that she can grab or find in her path.

dd-7- puppy in my pocket,hamtaro hamsters,anything little worldy/imagintive play.
ds-6-dr who toys,hot wheels,lego
ds-17 months- anything his brother and sister are playing with!plus his sleepy cow(his cuddly) and empty pots with lids!

(Am still catching up with all your comments, thanks!)

Costs in Spain are not as high as in the UK i would never consider it there - we dont have whopping big rates for a start. However, rents are relatively high - about 2 - 3,000 euros/month for about 30m2 in the centre of town. Also i'd need at least one full-time assistant/manager until DD2 starts nursery in a year and a half, then i could do the morning shift...