By Brendan Ross
Snow is falling, the lights are shining and the inflatable Santa sits on the lawn blown up and jolly. But Bank Street toy stores are having trouble getting customers into the Christmas spirit this year.
Despite promotions flaunting lower prices because of the strong Canadian dollar, toy stores on Centretown’s main shopping promenade say this has been one of the slowest starts to the holiday shopping season in years.
Many businesses say product recalls from earlier this year are in large part to blame for the drop in toy sales. Toy manufacturing giants Mattel and RC2, among others, recalled certain products earlier this year because they contained poisonous lead paint.
Mrs. Tiggywinkles, a toy store in the Glebe, sent back many of its popular Thomas The Tank Engine products in the summer after finding they were among the toys being recalled. Cecily Cavall, a manager at the store, says many customers have been wary of buying Thomas the Tank Engine toys ever since. “A lot of people have been really disillusioned with Thomas based on that,” says Cavall. “It’s a high end, pricey toy and they should really have better quality in what they’re making.”
Cavall says Thomas has always been popular despite its high price. “It’s usually a big thing where families will all go in together to buy a lot of pieces…and then will come together to make one huge set for a child. But people just aren’t doing that,” she says. “They’re not looking to invest in Thomas the way they used to.”
Rob Spittall, owner of The Comic Book Shoppe at Bank and Lisgar Streets, cites the recalls as the main reason why action figure sales in his store have decreased.
“Most people who come into our store don’t eat the action figures…but a lot of my clientele have kids,” says Spittall. “There might be a chance that the kid might climb up on their computer desk and grab that Elvis figure from the top. It’s not very likely, but…right now people are thinking that.”
Although none of the toys at The Comic Book Shoppe had to be sent back, Spittall says the recalls were enough to scare people from buying action figures.
“It’s like when you hear of, say, mad cow [disease] and all of a sudden people stop buying beef altogether,” says Spittall. “It was one case, but all of a sudden everybody will stop doing it.”
Boomerang Kids, a popular consignment clothing and toy store on Bank Street, isn’t having problems with toy sales because of the recalls. Carol Johnson, a manager at the store, says the holiday season isn’t the busiest time for Boomerang Kids anyway because people are less likely to buy used items as presents.
However, the recalls have meant more work for employees at the store to make sure the toys they sell aren’t dangerous. “Because we get toys on consignment, I have to keep track of all the recalls and make sure I’m not taking anything or donating anything that has been recalled,” Johnson says.
Customers have been understanding and trust her store will not sell harmful toys, she says. “They’re aware, and I just reassure them that I’m checking the recalls regularly.”
“It doesn’t feel like the Christmas shopping season has kicked into gear yet,” Cavall says.