THE 12 TOYS OF CHRISTMAS

Stephanie Loughran

NEW YORK -- In advance of this week's Fall Mass Market Toy Expo here, the Toy Industry Association, also based here, recently presented a Holiday Preview of what it called "The Hot Dozen" toys for this season.

The first-of-its-kind preview included toys at price points suitable for supermarkets, like Barbie of Swan Lake, Care Bears Bedtime Bear Lullaby Friend, McFlurry Maker, BTR (Built To Rule!) Transformers, and Neopets Interactive Talking Neopets Plushies. Among others on the list priced higher that $25 included two honors for LeapFrog learning toys; Beyblade Remote Control Top; Bratz; My Little Pony; PowerTouch Learning System; and Hokey Pokey Elmo.

Growing retail partnerships with national toy retailers like the one between Albertsons, Boise, Idaho, and Toys "R" Us, Wayne, N.J., put supermarkets in a good position to gain impulse sales this holiday season, said Diane Cardinale, spokeswoman, TIA. "It's something additional to offer shoppers and keeps customers in the stores," she told SN. "It's a trend that will continue."

Toy Wishes, a toy industry magazine, co-sponsored the event.