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In the context of global supply chain shortages, the interactive plush Labrador puppy with a smart collar and a "magic cauldron" allows children to cook furry pets with mixed ingredients. This is the book One of the most sought-after toys of the season.

Adrienne Appell, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the non-profit toy association, said that due to the lack of truck drivers in the country to pick up the goods, the crates of Moji the Lovable Labradoodle and Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron are in full swing. Stop at the port.

"This is a perfect storm," Ms. Appel told the Washington Times. "We always advise consumers to shop as soon as possible to avoid supply chain problems."

Skyrocket's Moji is a lifelike puppy that can respond to voice commands stored on the card, and has a smart collar that can perform tricks such as skipping rope. The suggested retail price for 4 years and older is $99.99, which is listed as "out of stock" on the website of retail giant Target.

"It's hard to find that in the store," Ms. Appel said. "We have one in our family, and my children have always liked it."

She said that the suggested retail price of this toy cauldron is $69.99, which is in short supply.

These two toys are one of 114 finalists for the Toy Association’s 2022 "Toy of the Year Award". Consumers can vote for the best toys in 16 different categories and the best toys as a whole before January 4th.

The winners will be announced in the annual competition on February 18. Hasbro won the competition last year with its Star Wars: Children’s animatronic toy, which is better known as the "Baby Yoda" doll.

This year’s other shortlisted works include Mattel’s Jurassic World Marine Protector Mosasaurus, Crayola Light-Up Activity Board, Super Mario Deluxe Bowser Ship Playset, Bill Nye’s Space Lab and a Volkswagen Camping Bus.

According to industry insiders, it is easier for parents to find these toys than ink or atomized cauldrons.

Toy scalpers have already sold Moji through resale sites for up to $144. Amazon's earliest delivery date for robotic puppies is after New Year's Day.

Nelo Lucich, CEO of California-based Skyrocket Toys, which specializes in technology entertainment, said that toy scalpers use "gray market robots" to automatically purchase inventory immediately after the product goes online, and then resell it at a higher price.

Mr. Lucich told The Times: “The scalpers with robots grabbed them before their parents,” he added, “Since the third week on the shelves, Skyrocket’s Moji have been out of stock at most retailers.”

Designed in California, assembled in Hong Kong and shipped back to US retailers, this time-consuming process may help make Moji the rarest hot toy this year.

Mr. Lucich, who co-founded Skyrocket in 2010, said: “We sold every product we could make and shipped it to the United States, so we sold out almost everywhere.”

At the same time, the maker of Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron said that more stock supplies will reach US retailers this week.

Belinda Gruebner, chief marketing officer of Australia-based Moose Toys, said in an email: “There will be more inventory inflows in the next one to two weeks.” “So if shoppers They haven’t found Magic Mixies yet, they should check it often online and in stores of their favorite national retailers."

According to data from the market research company The NPD Group, Magic Mixies Magical Cauldron was the third best-selling product in the toy industry in October.

Ms. Appel of the Toy Association said that parents should not overemphasize the most popular toys for their children. She cited her experience with her 6-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.

"The hottest toy is always anything your child wants to play with," she said. "For me, this is a cabbage doll from the 1980s, but it varies by age and child."

• You can contact Sean Salai at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.

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