Spice dolls a hot ticket

Toy firms jump on bandwagon

Spice is hot and the toy industry is savoring the zesty flavor of monetary success - jumping on the pop world bandwagon to create miniature replicas of today's most successful female band.

Spice Girl dolls will be available in Metro department stores next week for $19.99 each.

'THE HOTTEST TOYS'

The 11 1/2-inch dolls are "the hottest toys in Europe," says Graham Mottram, owner of Main Event Toys in Mississauga, which has exclusive Canadian distribution rights.

Modelled in fine detail to represent Baby, Scary, Posh, Ginger and Sporty, he says the licenced dolls are approved by the Fab Five themselves.

"They were much involved (in the dolls' creation) in a hands-on way because they are very particular about how they are portrayed," Mottram says of the products being marketed to children four and up. "Every feature was replicated, right down to their outfits, earrings and tattoos. The Spice Girls got quite a kick out of them."

A variety of outfits for each of the British pop stars will be available next month and a whole new set of dolls will be produced to commemorate the band's May world tour.

The Spice Girl dolls were among many popular new products showcased to the media yesterday at the 1998 Canadian Toy Association Toy and Decoration Fair at the Metro Convention Centre.

The show previewed a number of trends presented by the toy industry, including an air-pressure plane which soars up to 200 yards without gas or batteries. The innovative Air Hogs plane is created by Spin Master Toys.

Other advances? Baby play things are now being created in bold colors, shapes and textures, qualities researchers now recognize as having tot appeal.

Barbie and Ken are assuming non-sexist roles as Ken, packaged with a baby brother and toddler accessories, tackles child care. Barbie has been cast as a dentist.

The number of female action figures is on the upswing, organizers note.

Collectable toys are becoming hot properties and manufacturers are helping kids (and parents) keep them together by creating specialty storage tins.

EDIBLE MONOPOLY

Other notables include Briarpatch, a company specializing in creating games and puzzles based on popular and classic children's stories, including Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd (HarperCollins, $7.95) and I Spy by Jean Marzollo (Scholastic, $16.95).

Kids craving a snack while playing Monopoly and Barrel of Monkeys can literally do so without leaving the table. These games are now being produced with edible parts made of bubble gum money and chewy candy.