NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toy Insider, the go-to source for product information about children's toys, tech and entertainment, predicted the hottest holiday toys in its 2016 holiday gift guide (http://www.thetoyinsider.com/2016-holiday-gift-guide/) this fall. Now as consumers prepare to shop for the kids on their list, The Toy Insider shares its tips for getting the hottest toys at a great price during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
For high-resolution product photography and broadcast-quality B-roll footage of The Toy Insider toy trends, holiday gift guide and website, click here.
To prepare for holiday shopping, parents can read reviews of the hottest toys and easily add items that their children would like to a virtual wish list at http://www.thetoyinsider.com/my-wishlist.
"Holiday shopping season is officially here and we are already seeing some of this year's hottest toys disappear from the shelves. The Hatchimals phenomenon has taken hold, so if your child has this magical interactive pet on their wish list, don't wait to grab one if it's available! If your child is after their own wearable tech, the Kurio Watch smartwatch for kids will be hard to find after the Black Friday sales are over as well." said Laurie Schacht, Co-Publisher and Chief Toy Officer of The Toy Insider. "Shoppers should also look out for popular licensed characters like My Friend Pikachu from Pokémon and Frozen Northern Lights Elsa from Disney Frozen on Black Friday and Cyber Monday – these are often the first items to sell out and may not be restocked before the holidays."
The Toy Insider's Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping Tips:
Make a list: Just like making a trip to the grocery store on an empty stomach, heading out to shop when you don't know what you are looking for can result in overbuying things that you don't need. Have a plan and a budget in place before you hit the stores.
Do your research: Always look up the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) before you start shopping, either online or in stores. The internet is full of third-party sellers, and they often hike up the price of hard-to-find toys.
Look for licenses: Every year, toys featuring kids' favorite characters fly off the shelves. Toys featuring some of the hottest licenses, like Star Wars, Pokémon and Paw Patrol, will be well-stocked during the big shopping days. Even if there isn't a great sale on these items, it's best to buy them while they are still available.
Check your mail: Check weekly circulars in newspapers, which are usually available online as well. Sign up for your favorite retailers' promotional emails to be sure that you don't miss a limited-time deal.
Sweat the small stuff: Pay attention to added costs like tax, service fees, layaway costs and shipping charges – these costs add up, and the deal may not be as good as you originally thought it was!
Protect your identity: Cyber Monday is prime time for identity theft scams. Be sure that you are familiar with the websites you shop on, and watch out for copycat websites that may look like their legitimate counterparts with slightly off formatting or spelling.
The Toy Insider holiday gift guide, including its Hot 20, Top Tech 12 and STEM 10 lists, can be found at www.thetoyinsider.com. To join in the holiday toy fun on social media this season, use #weknowplay and follow The Toy Insider on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About The Toy Insider
The Toy Insider is the go-to source for product information about children's toys, tech and entertainment. It publishes two annual gift guides—one for summer and one for holiday—and is a trusted online resource for parents all year long. Its content is produced by an editorial team with more than 75 years of combined experience covering the children's products industry. The Toy Insider is published by Adventure Publishing Group, publisher of leading trade publications The Toy Book, The Toy Report, The Licensing Book and Total Licensing Report. For more information, visit thetoyinsider.com.
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SOURCE The Toy Insider
