Webkinz Alternatives Should Have Strong Christmas Season
Posted by jim on September 3, 2008 under Toy Trends | 
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If you have a child between the ages of 4 and 12, are related to one, know one, or even have seen one in the last several years, you probably know what a Webkinz pet is. I have two daughters and own a toy store, so I certainly am well aware. According to Ganz, the company that makes Webkinz, “Webkinz pets are lovable plush pets that each come with a unique Secret Code. With it, you enter Webkinz World where you care for your virtual pet, answer trivia, earn KinzCash, and play the best kids games on the net!”
In any event, our store is concentrating on the Webkinz alternatives this year. A lot of other major players have gotten involved in the interactive pet/doll arena, and we have chosen a few alternatives to offer our customers. Of course, I am quite bitter towards Ganz because they didn’t want to sell to me because I’m an “e-tailer”. “E-tailer” has become a dirty word in the toy industry. In fact, I had to talk two manufacturers into letting me buy their stuff this year (one of them a very major, USA manufacturer). As a business owner, it can be very agravating “begging” manufacturers to sell their product. Shouldn’t they be begging me to carry it?
In any event, Ganz has a brick and morder policy. So, because I don’t have an official looking, walk in toy store, they won’t sell their product to me. Although, I have a building, I employ over 30 people, we take walk in business from customers, we sell toys through local home parties, we deliver toys to local schools, we sell on site for local charities to raise money and we have a catalog business. Still, Ganz will not sell to me. Don’t think this is to protect the speciality toy retailers from the evil e-tailer though. You’ll find Webkinz all over the place – Hallmark stores, makeup stores, wherever…. Certainly don’t have to be a toy store. I suppose if I owned an auto parts store I would have no problem.
Luckily, there are some great alternatives to Webkinz. If it wasn’t for Ganz giving me the brush off, I may have never found them. First up is Neopets. It may come as a surprise, but Neopets pre-date Webkinz. They didn’t start selling their plushes until early this year, but their web site has been around longer than Webkinz, is considered to be grander in scale, and allows you to create an account for free, without any purchase.
Hasbro got into the game last year as well with Littlest Pet Shop VIPs. These are great because if your child is already hooked on the Littlest Pet Shop characters or board game, now you can purchase a plush with a code and go online.
Bella Sara is an interesting choice, especially if your child is into horses. Plushes are available as well as trading cards. Also, you can access this site without any purchase necessary.
Karito Kids are another great alternative.
And, we wrap it up with Groovy Girls. We are banking on this line for Christmas 2008. Manhattan Toys already has a strong brand with their Groovy Girls and their RSVP line of dolls and pets with online codes should do very well this year – and make many a young girl happy on Christmas morning.