Most of us don’t have tons of money tucked under the mattress to pull out for the latest techno gadget or trendy fashion accessory. When you just can’t part with the Benjamins even for the most coveted item, you can always find an answer through eBay. According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, the online auction site has released its top-shopped items in 2010 list.
According to the list, compiled by analyzing sales and search data across categories to identify the year’s major moments and movements, the top shopped and pop culture obsessions of 2010 include:
1. iPhone 4
2. Barbie
3. Military jackets
4. Hot Wheels
5. iPad
6. World Cup
7. The Beatles
8. Silly Bandz
9. Alice in Wonderland
10. New Orleans Saints
11. Marc Jacobs
12. LeBron James
Top shopped in style and fashion obsessions include:
1. Military jackets
2. Plaid
3. 1950s
4. Neon
5. Marc Jacobs
6. Feathers
7. Faux fur
8. Tory Burch
9. Ankle boots
10. Leopard print
It appears The Licensing Book and eBay are in sync when it comes to pop culture obsessions—we included Silly Bandz in our Year in Review—although we aren’t too sure about feathers and fake fur.
—Mackenzie Allison
Through December 19, Walmart’s Toyland is in nearly all stores nationwide, with savings on thousands of toys. With the addition of Toyland, Walmart now has the largest square-footage dedicated to toys among all retailers and features many of the year’s hottest toys.
It catapulted a TV sitcom actor into an international movie star, put a veteran character actor in the limelight and made a limited-production sports car from Ireland into an ‘80s relic. Of course, I’m talking about Back to The Future. The iconic film and staple of ‘80s cinema has made several “Top Ten” lists in the past and had a special 25th anniversary re-release in November.
Although it’s been a while since we’ve seen Mr. Fox or Christopher Lloyd, the DeLorean Motor Company is capitalizing on the movie with a new shoe. Yes, a shoe—a shoe that looks like the DeLorean DMC-12.
In a partnership with Nike, the limited-edition DeLorean Nike Dunk actually does have a few elements of the car, including a gullwing eyestay and taillight-inspired sole. The good folks at DeLorean even sent us a pair to see first-hand. The verdict? We like it, even down to the box, which opens like the doors of the famed car. Fun fact: Besides being overall cool, this is the first sneaker made by Nike with no stitching.
Let me be honest for a second, what we really really like is the fact that we are one of a select few that now have the shoe—it debuted on Black Friday with a list price of $90 and has already sold out. Only a thousand were made, with a few hundred pairs made for Nike athletes and some other VIPs. Now, if you want it, check ebay and be willing to part with a cool $800. Don’t be jealous.
—Mackenzie Allison
According to a National Retail Federation survey conducted over the weekend by BIGresearch, 212 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black
Photo courtesy of cmablogs.com
Friday weekend, which includes Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and projected spending for Sunday, up from 195 million last year. People also spent more, with the average shopper this weekend spending $365.34, up from last year’s $343.31. Total spending reached an estimated $45.0 billion.
Additionally, according to a survey conducted for Shop.org by BIGresearch, 106.9 million Americans plan to shop on Cyber Monday this year, up from the estimated 96.5 million who shopped on Cyber Monday last year. Also according to the survey, more people plan to shop via their smartphone on Cyber Monday—with more than 6.9 % planning to use a mobile device for Cyber Monday shopping, nearly double the estimated 4 million who shopped that way last year.
It’ll be a blue Christmas this year as the Smurfs usher in the season at Macy’s. Ahead of the feature film next year, Macy’s Parade & Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced that the Smurfs will serve as Macy’s 2010 Holiday Ambassador as an exclusive plush available only at Macy’s.
As the featured character for Macy’s holiday initiatives, the collectible Smurfs plush will be available at more than 800 stores nationwide and online at macys.com. The plush will be touted by a robust marketing campaign that will showcase the Smurfs in a variety of outlets, from dedicated advertising and collateral to special events including the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Marketing support for the plush includes up to half-a-million custom-designed Macy’s shopping bags that will be distributed throughout the holiday season at Macy’s flagship location at Herald Square in New York. In addition to the 47-foot tall giant helium Smurfs balloon and Smurfs float that will return to the line-up of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year, the Smurfs will also become a coldair inflatable that will adorn a marquee entrance at Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street. The promotion of the collectible plush extends to Macy’s Herald Square store windows, jumbotron, signage in all 800-plus Macy’s locations nationwide, in-store events at high-traffic stores in key major markets, dedicated ROP and Magazine advertising in local and national publications, and a feature television spot that will run on major network affiliates in select top 10 markets.
In celebration of the anticipated theatrical release of Toy Story 3, Toys “R” Us is debuting dedicated Toy Story 3 boutiques, in all of its nearly 1,300 toy stores in 34 countries around the world.
The boutiques, which are open across the U.S., are filled with an assortment of Toy Story-inspired toys, including action figures, construction sets, role play accessories, musical instruments, and electronic devices. Similar sections will open in Toys “R” Us stores around the world, coinciding with the movie’s release in each respective country.
Walmart announced yesterday that it is removing all Miley Cyrus jewelry from its stores, after it was determined that the products contain high amounts of cadmium. The Associated Press conducted its own testing on the jewelry and discovered that the jewelry contained dangerous levels of the ingredient.
Though it is safe to wear cadmium, the danger comes if it is ingested. Since young children may put the jewelry in their mouths, Walmart determined the best course of action would be to remove the products entirely.
Walmart will continue its investigation into the product’s safety, but in the meantime, the products will be removed from the store.
The Associated Press conducted its test on 61 samples bought nationwide and found that they contained high amounts of the element. Out of 61 jewelry pieces, 59 contained at least 5 percent cadmium and 53 contained 51 percent.
The product line, which was a Walmart exclusive, consisted of necklaces and bracelets.
Check out the related Associated Press story here.
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, today Disney Store introduced a new line of eco-friendly products. New fashionable “Save Planet Earth” totes are available now at Disney Store locations nationwide and on DisneyStore.com, and a portion of the proceeds from its sales will benefit The Nature Conservancy‘s “Adopt a Coral Reef” program. For each tote sold Disney Store will contribute $1 through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to help save our oceans by protecting vital coral reefs.
Disney Store’s exclusive “Save Planet Earth” eco-friendly product assortment with the lovable three-eyed green alien from Disney-Pixar Toy Story will be available through Earth Day and includes:
• Fashionable totes, made from seven recycled bottles that have been cleaned, smashed, melted and reused
• Children and adult sized T-shirts made from 100% organic cotton with the messages “Save Planet Earth” and “Love”
• Green reusable aluminum bottles
• Journals made from recycled paper and organic cotton
• And a new exclusive Toy Story plush alien to commemorate this special occasion
