Heart Bubbles Over Walmart: Valentine's Day at Retail

The calendar retail follows to celebrate holidays monetarily will always be a bit of a mystery, mostly because it changes from store to store, region to region, and year to year. One year, three days before Halloween, it seemed the spooky holiday was abandoned and Target aisles went full speed through the nearest wall into Christmas Town. This year, my local PA Walmart hung onto those creepy vibes at least a week after the blessed day, allowing me to scoop up makeup, costume pieces, and monster decor at 90% off. We haven't even hit the 10th of January yet, but my Walmart has gone completely red and pink with Valentine's Day hearts slapped on the belly of every licensed character imaginable. While I can recall some interesting Valentine's merch in the past (a furry sasquatch themed, heart-shaped box instantly comes to mind), this year makes me think someone suggested they had not been exploiting the lovey-dovey holiday enough. The amount of merch and wide range of characters spotted is STAGGERING ...for the wallet....because there's some awesome stuff! Prepare your bank account and start your hunting engines...

Toy Fair 2021: Disney and Pixar's Cars NASCAR Products Revealed

Disney and Pixar’s Cars Week is back, and you’re invited to join the action-packed week leading up to this year’s Daytona 500 on February 14th. Whether you’re a rookie or a pro, #CarsWeek is the perfect chance to put your pedal to the metal and test the speed limits! 

With all new products and activations inspired by your favorite real-life NASCAR drivers and iconic Disney and Pixar’s Cars characters, there is no telling how far you and your four-wheeled friends will go.

Walmart Stepping Up to Fill the Toys R Us Void

When news of Toys R Us closing all stores in the US started circulating, among industry vets, the immediate discussion was who might fill those big, giraffe shaped shoes? The most obvious choices were Target and Walmart, who already boast massive retail space from coast to coast. It wouldn't be too difficult to expand toy sections in any number of locations. Still, my thoughts settled on Walmart who, in my neighborhood at least, seem the most willing to restructure and/or cut into space that seems to be all too often empty (of customers) alongside those well traveled toy aisles. Target took the first steps toward broadening their selection, welcoming collectors to come shop for NECA's mega popular action figures on their shelves. Now Walmart announces their plans for toy domination...

Deadpool Photobombs Discount Blu-rays at Walmart

As we in the states approach the 1 day mark until the premiere of Deadpool 2, the insane marketing monkeys that have been whipping us into a frenzy have left a trail of merchandise for us to scoop up! You'll find a fantastic stack of this merchandise at Walmart (on sale as of yesterday) in the form of some fan favorite films both iconic and geektastic. Each Blu-ray release features a new slip cover photobombed by Deadpool himself...

Jay and Silent Bob Go Toy Shopping While Stoned

Probably the best thing you'll watch all week. I know..there were a lot of trailers..but seriously. Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) and Jason Mewes take a trip to a local Walmart in Michigan, very possibly for snacks..because..stoned.. and get 100% sidetracked by the toy aisles because TOYS ARE AWESOME!! We at Idle Hands celebrate the glory and wonder of toys nearly every day, but seldom can we capture the excitement we get from seeing new items on the shelves quite like Jay and Silent Bob do here. Jump in below and laugh your ass off!

Your Star Wars: Force Friday Checklist Has Arrived!

With just 2 days til the Star Wars: Force Friday madness consumes collectors of all shapes and sizes at retail stores world wide, we've joined forces with Boba Fett Fan Club, Jedi News, Jedi Temple Archives, Mint In Box, Star Wars Action News, Teekay-421 and Yakface.com to present a comprehensive checklist of everything you SHOULD be able to track down as you swarm across your toy hunting grounds!

Say You Love Them...With Meat

Whilst perusing the isles at the center of all New Jersey civilization (ie; Walmart) to see what new pop culture tie ins they've come up with for the Valentine's Day season, I came across the most unique food item I've ever seen outside of a Japanese grocery store. I should restate. It isn't the food item itself that is super unique...it is the presentation. On Valentine's Day, we immediately think of pinks and reds and flowers and boxes of chocolate. Welp...Jack Link's Beef Jerky know their fan base and have packaged their delightful meats especially for this overly smooshie holiday, allowing you to give the most treasured of all gifts....The Gift of Meat. Not only can you give your meat gift with undeniable love (thus the heart box), but it seems they've added an element for those of you hypnotically clicking away on facebook all day to the agonizingly cute pictures of fluffy animals.

You can pet the box.

Suffer the Poor, Defenseless Toys

I swear...if this continues I'm going to commission a mournful infomercial showing the toys left battered, broken and unloved after a rampant Toy Raping has occurred. We've touched on this subject in the past, but it seems the same three individuals are still at work in my area, so I thought I might shed a blinding light on them once more in the hopes Toys R Us, Walmart, Marshalls, Target and K Mart will actually keep an eye open and catch these fantastic asshats in the act. Here are the latest victims and our profiles on the attackers. Police sketches courtesy of Photoshop...



Code Name: Swapenshizer

Crime: Most likely buys a set of figures, takes out the figures and pieces of figures he wants and replaces those items with others.

For the Lady at Walmart

This...is for you...

Oh Foxy Grown White Woman in a Dashiki
Most Ladies your age would not try it
Like some Heavenly chessboard
You wear
No Bra
Mr Checkout man
Thanks you
.....For leaning over

Oh Foxy Grown White Woman in a Dashiki
That
Is a whole lot of purple

New Jersey embraces you
One love.

How to Train Your Dragon Hits Walmart

YAY! Finally..Viking war weapons for your kids!! I was just saying how that's what is missing from the toy isles! Couple these with the NERF Broadsword and Double Edged Axe and you are ready for a little medieval war on your block. All kidding aside, THERE BE DRAGONS AT WALMART!!

From the Studio that brought you “Shrek”, “Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda” comes “How to Train Your Dragon”. Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, this is the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges he and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view. Spin Master brings the movie characters and story to life with its “How to Train Your Dragon” toy line. Battle dragons, role play your favorite characters, soar through the air like a dragon, and more! Age: 5+

For more information on “How to Train Your Dragon” please visit www.howtotrainyourdragon.com. Here's what's in stores now...

Spin Master: How to Train Your Dragon Toy Line

Moving on to the second line inexplicably absent from the US Toy Fair 2010, we'll take a look at How to Train Your Dragon! I'm still amazed that for once, they showed something at UK and NOT in the US, so neither camps have live pics now. Odd. Anyway, this line has me excited, as any opportunity to give dragon toys to my nephew is a good day. He's got the Imaginext Dinosaurs and I just started him on Megabloks Dragons, so this line is PERFECT to segway him right into action figures! You'll notice some differences in my pics between items that look similar. Half the images came from Spin Master who sent the optimized press pics. The others were released by Walmart (the exclusive outlet for the line) and reflect the actual product. Click the images to super size. Here's the press...


From the Studio that brought you “Shrek”, “Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda” comes “How to Train Your Dragon”. Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, this is the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges he and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.
Spin Master brings the movie characters and story to life with its “How to Train Your Dragon” toy line. Battle dragons, role play your favourite characters, soar through the air like a dragon, and more! Age: 5+



For more information on “How to Train Your Dragon” please visit www.howtotrainyourdragon.com.

All new this Spring and Fall 2010!
Vikings & Dragons Characters: Collect your favorite characters from the movie including Vikings and dragons with these small scale 3" novelty figures.
Package includes:
• One character
• One weapon
• One base for display
Suggested Retail Price: $4.97







Action Dragon Action Figures: An assortment of the most popular dragons comes to life, each with their own iconic feature.
Package includes:
• One dragon figure
Suggested Retail Price: $11.97





Battle & Collapse Playset w/ Viking: The ultimate Viking defense system against dragon attacks!
Package includes:
• One battle tower
• One Viking
• Two projectiles
Suggested Retail Price: $14.97

Hiccup's Dragon Sword: Role play with Hiccup’s "dragon battling" sword just like in the movie.
Package includes:
• One sword
Suggested Retail Price: $12.97

Viking Battle Pack: A complete set of full Viking gear to take on any dragon in battle!
Package includes:
• One helmet
• One axe
• One dragon shield
Suggested Retail Price: $19.97

Dragon Flyers: A fun foam dragon that can be launched to re-enact the magic of dragon flying. Pull back the dragon's tongue and launch it! Flies over 20 feet!
Package includes:
• One dragon flyer
Suggested Retail Price: $9.97

Smack N' Roar Plush: Stylized plush that each has a unique dragon roar when you smack them!
Package includes:
• One Smack N' Roar Plush dragon
Suggested Retail Price: $5.97

Dragon Eggs: Magic dragon eggs that fizz in water and dissolve to reveal hidden dragon parts inside! 15 characters to collect and connect. Dragon parts are interchangeable with all characters.
Package includes:
• One dragon egg
• One dragon
Suggested Retail Price: $4.97

Volcano Playset: Set your Dragon Egg in the volcano and watch as it dramatically and slowly fizzes, foams and then erupts to reveal the dragon inside!
Package includes:
• One volcano
• One dragon egg
• One dragon
Suggested Retail Price: $11.97