Sea otters are a bestseller at Thinker Toys in Carmel. One of them, carrying a yellow sea star, is shown posing with her aquatic crew. Thinker Toys was founded in 1969.
Sea otters are a bestseller at Thinker Toys in Carmel. One of them, carrying a yellow sea star, is shown posing with her aquatic crew. Thinker Toys was founded in 1969. Paw Patrol Stuffed Animals
Sea otters, especially those carrying a pup or a violet starfish, sell better than any other aquatic stuffed animal to be found on what should be called The Great Wall of Stuffed Animals at Thinker Toys in Carmel, the last old-fashioned toy store left in Monterey County.
“While we focus on selling a variety of stuffed animals,” says the store manager, “we also focus on selling toys that are made of recycled products or the companies are women-owned.” She describes the 15-inch otter from Wild Republic company ($23) as a Monterey County classic, and the store always carries a lot of them. Other-than-otter options include: white sharks and humpback whales, dolphins, sea stars, even phosphorescent-blue jellyfish strung with garlands of dreamy tentacles.
During the 20th century, museums and parks opened gift shops, and chain bookstores began selling plush toys—but that’s not your neighborhood toy store’s problem. Amazon is the problem, a competition to local bookstores like Riverhouse Books in Carmel (they carry marine animal puppets), or the Monterey Bay Aquarium that sells otters in a vertical rather than horizontal (floating on the ocean) position and holding a pup or a pink clam. If you prefer a baby sea otter, it comes wrapped in a brown blanket.
Aquatic plush toys are worth consideration as a moderately priced holiday gift (from just $10 to $100 for a pillow-size soft whale) in the 2023 holiday shopping season. People generally divide between those who love stuffed animals and those who won’t admit they love stuffed animals. But spend 20 minutes next to the wall at Thinker Toys and see the emotional response on people’s faces—teenagers who forget that they are too cool for plush animals, children dragging their parents to touch a bright green sea turtle together, or elderly men who smile at an octopus, thinking no one is looking.
Believing that plush aquatic life is the best way to promote the beauty of Monterey County, local marine-themed toy sellers unite against Amazon. Because nothing says “Happy Holidays” and “I would like to hug you now” better than a stuffed otter—a 100-percent-recycled-material Monterey County ambassador.
Thinker Toys is located at San Carlos Street and 7th Avenue in Carmel.
Riverhouse Books is at 208 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel.
Monterey Bay Aquarium is at 886 Cannery Row, Monterey.
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