Pamida’s toy department manager, Vicky VanHulzen, displays one of the Bratz dolls that have been popular gifts for pre-teens this Christmas. What she can’t show is Rapunzel Barbie and Radio Shack’s micro-mini remote control cars, which have been sold out since Thanksgiving.
By Lori Ehde
Last year at this time, shoppers were beating down the doors for Sony’s Playstation II and Microsoft’s X-Box. Other years, Ferbie and Tickle Me Elmo have taken center stage.
This year, for local shoppers anyway, Rapunzel Barbie and Radio Shack’s micro-mini remote control cars were the big sellers in the toy aisle.
According to Pamida’s Diane Stearns, shoppers purchased more than 200 mini remote control cars by 8 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving.
"People were just crazy for them," she said. "We knew they were going to go, but we didn’t realize they would be that popular."
At the time, they were sale priced at $7.77 apiece, but she said kiosks in the Sioux Empire Mall are now offering them for more than $20.
Pamida’s been sold out Rapunzel Barbie – both the prince and the princess dolls — since long before Thanksgiving, but Stearns said all Barbie dolls and accessories continue to be popular gifts.
Also popular this year for girls are the Bratz heads and Bratz mini dolls, which come with hair and makeup kits for pre-teen color and styling fun. Pamida has these in stock and continues to sell plenty of them, Stearns said.
Among gifts for older recipients, she said all electronic toys and gadgets continue to be big sellers, particularly Gameboy Advance and Playstation II.
Karen Loosbrock at M-M Farm and Home Discount said Barbie dolls and Bratz are big sellers there too, but she said M-M caters to other gift shoppers.
"Being a farming community, we carry a big line of the Ertl equipment," she said. "It’s tractors, combines and farm equipment."
She said people looking for specific John Deere and Case IH equipment can go to the dealerships for those items, but M-M carries most models under both names.
"We also have some more expensive collector farm toys, and we have people who come to Luverne just for them, because they know we have them," she said.
Breyer horses are another line of toy collectibles that bring shoppers to M-M every Christmas.
"We have a collector in Brandon who comes every year to see what we have new," Loosbrock said.
She said M-M stocks a sampling of most popular toy brands, but the farm toys take up about half the shelves in M-M’s toy department.
"Being a farm and home store, I think people look to us for those items," Loosbrock said.
According to information from the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce, shoppers can still get in on 0 percent loans to purchase Christmas gifts from local businesses.
For information, inquire at any Luverne bank.