It鈥檚 getting 鈥渋nsanely busy鈥� at Toy Traders right about now.
As B.C.鈥檚 biggest independent toy store, the 91原创 Bypass shop is one of the go-to places to find the best and fastest moving toys and collectibles for Christmas.
鈥淚t鈥檚 busy, I鈥檓 not going to lie,鈥� said Lyndsay Anderson, who鈥檚 been with Toy Traders for 18 years.
鈥淚t gets insanely busy, but it really is a great atmosphere to be in. Whether you鈥檙e a kid that鈥檚 two or you鈥檙e a kid that鈥檚 52, if you鈥檙e young at heart and you get that sort of twinkle in your eye and that excitement at Christmastime 鈥� it鈥檚 a great place to be,鈥� she added.
Anderson is in a unique position of seeing what draws 91原创 crowds as Christmas approaches.
鈥淔ingerlings are big鈥� this year, said Anderson. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e got monkeys and unicorns, and I don鈥檛 know what,鈥� she elucidated. 鈥淵ou can play with them and they do tricks and they鈥檙e interactive. Remember Furbies when they were really big? It鈥檚 a kind of a trendy thing like that.鈥�
Although the manufacturer鈥檚 age recommendation for Fingerlings is four to 14 years, Anderson suggested 鈥渟ix and up, because they have a battery.鈥�
Toys 鈥楻鈥� Us and online reviewers tend to agree with her, and put the low end of the range at five or six years.
鈥淎nd of course LEGO is big, always,鈥� Anderson said, adding, 鈥淪tar Wars LEGO, always always. LEGO is right up to adults: teens, adults鈥� LEGO is very popular.鈥�
While LEGO is rated four years and older, there are special LEGO kits rated for newborn to two years and three to four years.
Naturally, gooey stuff is popular with kids, too.
鈥淎ny type of slime is a big this year,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淎nything like Orb Slimy [5-13+], Putty Peeps [4+], Floam [6-15], Play Dough [2+]鈥� anything goopy, kids are kind of big on that. Anything that鈥檚 kind of mucky, but still maintains its shape. It鈥檚 so popular this year, I mean seriously, it鈥檚 just flying off the shelf. It鈥檚 not necessarily a brand name or anything, it鈥檚 just really popular.鈥�
Recipes for homemade floam and play dough are readily available online, too.
鈥淧laymobil [four to 14, according to Netmums.com] is huge again,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always popular.鈥�
This year one of the biggies in the Playmobil line-up is How to Train Your Dragon, she said, but there are lots of other themes, including the 鈥渉orrendously popular Ghostbusters Playmobil.鈥�
Playmobil covers a range of interests.
鈥淵ou might have a fire theme, or farm theme or outdoor theme or whatever鈥� there鈥檚 all sorts of different themes with little figures that are outfitted with whatever goes with that theme.鈥�
For instance, a fire themed Playmobil includes fire trucks, a firehall, and firemen with hoses and other accessories.
Themes are a big deal in a wide range of Christmas attractions in the toy store, she added. 鈥淎nything Star Wars is always big, right? Anything that has a sort of a cult following will be popular with everyone right up to adults.鈥�
Board games and puzzles are back, including old favourites with updated themes, like Legends of Zelda Risk, or Harry Potter Monopoly, or Dr. Who Clue, or Nightmare Before Christmas Operation, or Yahtzee, or varied combinations.
鈥淎t the store we carry the vintage versions, as well,鈥� Anderson assured those who might not be familiar with games that are particularly popular this year. Those include Exploding Kittens, Carcassone, Bonanza, Ticket to Ride, Code Names, any of the Politically Incorrect, which is a take off on Cards Against Humanity.
As Christmas approaches, it just gets busier and busier for Anderson and her co-workers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut you know what? It鈥檚 really worth it, because kids get so excited and you see them come in and they鈥檙e just so stoked, and as you get closer to Christmas, the excitement builds, and it really is fun.鈥�
