Early shopping: Area stores reporting hot-selling items before holiday season begins

Although Thanksgiving has not arrived, Southeast Missourians already have begun buying gifts for the holiday season.

And local retailers are already having trouble keeping some of them in stock.

In more than one store in the region, Hatchimals are the popular toy of the season, and those stores are faced with a supply-and-demand issue: all demand, little supply.

There is intrigue with this interactive toy. The buyer can select a style — options have names such as Draggle, Burtle, Owlicorn and Bearakeet — but the appearance of the toy is unknown.

The battery-operated creature emerges from an egg through tactile encouragement — holding, tapping, swinging.

Wooden bow ties are on display Tuesday at Atelier in downtown Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

Once hatched, the owner is tasked with nurturing and raising the creature from a “baby” to a “kid.” Ultimately it will “learn” to walk, talk and play games.

“It’s kind of like a bird-Furby,” Courtney Brune, who works in guest experience at Target in Cape Girardeau, said.

Her store’s stock of the battery-operated critters is depleted. Vendors underestimated their popularity, she said.

“We’re already sold out,” said Russell Brown, store manager at Kohl’s.

“We’ve been sold out for a few weeks,” said Brandon Shannon, merchandising manager at Barnes & Noble.

Michael Ornburn,picks up a flamingo bow tie while shopping at Atelier Tuesday in downtown Cape Girardeau.ANDREW J. WHITAKER

They all expect to see more Hatchimals arrive before the holidays, but how many remains to be seen.

“I hope we get a thousand of them,” Brune said. “I’m sure they would be gone.”

Gina Yoast, co-manager at Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau, said it expects to have a limited supply in time for Black Friday. The others aren’t certain.

There are, of course, other toys geared toward children that are expected to sell well this season.

Brown said other interactive, robotic toys of the same ilk as the Hatchimal are extremely popular.

Karen Waller considers small kitchen appliances Tuesday at Kohl's in Cape Girardeau. "I have $50 that I have to spend," she said. Waller decided to buy a slow cooker that was sale-priced $8 over her budget.Fred Lynch

“We have an electronic monkey and a few others,” Brown said. “People can’t wait to get them.

“But the biggest toy we have,” he added, “is the American Girl Doll of the Year,” which is available only in Kohl’s and American Girl stores.

Yoast emphasized the high-tech toys available at Wal-Mart, such the Terra Climber radio-controlled vehicle and a wide selection of drones, which she expects will do well this season.

Karen Waller considers small kitchen appliances Tuesday at Kohl's in Cape Girardeau. "I have $50 that I have to spend," she said. Waller decided to buy a slow cooker that was sale-priced $8 over her budget. Fred Lynch

Star Wars memorabilia already is selling well at Barnes & Noble before the December release of the movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Shannon said.

A book was released recently, which takes place just before the point in time when the movie begins, also has proven to be a popular gift.

“It’s already a best-seller,” Shannon said.

In the new game Speak Out, players wear mouthpieces not unlike lip retractors worn at the dentist’s office and are prompted to say different popular phrases.

YouTube videos have sparked considerable interest in the game this year, Brune said.

Yoast likened it to last year’s popularity of the game Pie Face, which resulted in people randomly hit in the face with a dollop of whipped cream. Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau and Target are sold out of Speak Out, though more are expected in soon.

Also popular: Nintendo’s new NES Classic Edition. Though it’s a system children can enjoy, Brune suspects they’re mostly being purchased for nostalgic adults.

While gifts for adults are available at the larger retailers — Brown said air fryers are a popular item this year, and Yoast said the robotic vacuum systems carried in her store are selling well — many people are looking to smaller shops to find something different for their friends and loved ones.

Jerra Hutson said at her family’s furniture store, Hutson’s Fine Furniture in downtown Cape Girardeau, jewelry armoires and children’s rocking chairs are popular gifts each year.

But at her new boutique, Atelier, she, like other small-business owners in the region, is gearing up for the holidays and noticing trends from people looking for unique gifts.

Hutson said her store’s leather, wood and traditional silk bow ties have consistently sold well, and she expects them to sell more for the holidays, too.

Stackable bracelets, she said, also have been a popular gift item,

Because of the variety available, Hutson said shoppers will be sure to find something their loved ones don’t have already.

Lisa Walker, who co-owns High Street Station in Jackson with her sister, also carries stackable bracelets. She emphasized the ability to mix and match inexpensive pieces to create a “bohemian style” that is popular now.

Hutson and Walker noted popular trends reflected in their merchandise.

For Hutson: Furry and fuzzy items, such as fluffy scarves and trimmed handbags.

Walker identified plaid as a popular pattern. Also, she said, her customers seem to like personalized items, from a hand towel suitable for monogramming to a Missouri-themed cutting board.

“Anything that can be customized or personalized seems to do well,” Walker said.

Hutson said shoppers should look for gifts that are not only uncommon but well made.

“Unique is great,” Hutson said, “But it has to be good quality, too. ... A great, well-made product instantly becomes a desirable gift.”

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

202 Siemers Dr., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

315 Shirley Dr., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3049 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

31 C Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

106 S High St., Jackson, Mo.