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It isn't all Elmo this Xmas
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December 19, 1996: 6:38 a.m. ET
Stuffed dogs and Baby Boomer toys give Tickle Me Elmo stiff competition
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) -- Tickle Me Elmo may be the hottest toy of the U.S. holiday season, but it's not the hottest toy trend, according to the chief of legendary toy store FAO Schwarz.
"This is the year of the dog," John Eyler, chief executive of high-end toy emporium FAO Schwarz, proclaimed during an appearance Wednesday on CNNfn.
"With all due respect to Elmo, (stuffed-animal) dogs outsell bears this year for the first time in memory," he said.
Eyler said dogs -- from Patrick the Pup to toys based on the Walt Disney Co.'s "101 Dalmations" movie -- are a major draw this year.
Eyler said Baby Boomer customers in their 30s, 40s and 50s are also buying children the same types of toys that the Boomers received as children.
He said that means "classic" toys like "Curious George" books, Monopoly sets, GI Joes and Barbie dolls are moving off of shelves as well now as they did a generation ago. (105K WAV) or (105K AIF)
Such trends mean FAO Schwarz expects December sales to rise 10 percent this year from year-earlier levels.
As for Elmo-mania, Eyler said: "Nobody ever dreamed it would be a feeding-frenzy toy. Once the media start talking about it, (customers) have to have it. People who don't even have kids have to have it just to have it."
Does Eyler have a private stash of Tickle Me Elmos saved up for the power brokers and celebrities who shop at FAO Schwarz?
Not one, he swore. "But will I have a piece or two before the holiday? Maybe. But it's not a sure thing."
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