Toy tractors still tops for Cavan children

Forget your fancy gadgets and hi-tech toys because in Cavan, the demand for toys this Christmas is still very much with traditional toys. "Farming related stuff because of where we are is still huge," Francis Clarke, the proprietor of Toymaster in Cavan told The Anglo-Celt this week. He was speaking as the store distributed its annual catalogue in this week's issue of the paper (free inside). Tractors and trailers (on a 1:32 scale) are still the biggest winner with little boys, according to Francis, and Toymaster has all the big brands including Siku and Britains. Bicycles and go-karts are also selling strong with a full range upstairs in the Cavan store including the market-leading Berg makes. For little girls, dolls are ever popular but the big thing still this year is Sylvanian families. New emerging toys this year include 'Fijit' a squishy robot that can dance and tell jokes. Retailing at €55, it's already tipped to be one of the big sellers this Christmas. And if you fancy adopting your own pet monster, watch out for Moshi Monster. Cars 2 was the big movie of the year and merchandise is selling well, according to Francis, though it's not quite in the same league as last year's Toy Story products, which are still popular. According to Francis, people are much more organised this year and savers in his Christmas Club are up 25%. The value of stock put away is also up on this time last year, as people pay off the amount weekly. It's not too late to join the Christmas Club with Christmas Day just over eleven weeks away now. See the Toymaster catalogue free inside this week's Anglo-Celt.