Walmart Searches for Toys That Are Both Kid Tested and Mom Approved

Walmart Canada launches second annual Great Big Toy Testing Event to help parents find the toys kids want for the 2013 holiday season

MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Walmart Canada is looking for parents and their kids who want to become Toy Testers to take part in the second annual Great Big Toy Testing Event. Last summer, over 300 parents and 550 kids tested toys for the 2012 holiday season and this year Walmart expects to see even more parents and kids coming out to have fun. This one-of-a-kind "Toy Lab" experience takes place on July 20 at an undisclosed location just outside the GTA and gives kids and parents the chance to interact with more than 120 toys to help determine the retailer's list of the most popular toys for the 2013 holiday season - many of which are not even available to the public yet.

"Walmart understands that shopping for the right toy for children during the holidays can be stressful, we also know that it can be difficult to find toys that kids love and parents approve of," said Jeff Tate, director of category marketing at Walmart Canada. "Listening to what the customer wants is invaluable to us, so an event that involves both kids' and parents' feedback is just the type of two way conversation that we love to have with our customers to help to give them what they are looking for."

This year's event will take place on Saturday, July 20 at a location and time only disclosed to those who are lucky enough to be selected at random. To participate, parents can register their Toy Testers at https://fb.walmart.ca/toytesters. From the list of registrants a lucky batch of Walmart Toy Testers will be selected at random and provided more details about the event.

Parents and kids will be treated to a larger-than life experience. Kids will have the chance to play with approximately 120 toys, including many that aren't yet available in stores, in a fun and interactive environment. There will be multiple toy testing zones for different age categories, ranging in toys appropriate for children eight months old to 12 year olds.

"This exclusive event creates the ultimate playroom where kids can try out the new toys for the season freely and most importantly where they can have fun doing it," said Cheri Anthony, senior director of toys at Walmart Canada. "Their reactions, alongside their parents' feedback, are important in determining which products will make our top toy list for the holidays and to ensure we are carrying the toys kids want on our shelves."

The toys will be evaluated based on a number of criteria including educational value, age appropriateness, ease of use, how the child reacts to the toy, and if mom and dad like it. Last year, Canadian families tested 108 toys and collectively filled out 2,000 surveys sharing their thoughts on what they thought would be the best toys for a growing Canadian family.

About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 380 locations nationwide serving more than one million customers each day, as well as its flagship online store, www.walmart.ca, which is visited by over 250,000 Canadians daily. With 95,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is recognized by Waterstone Human Capital as having one of Canada's top 10 corporate cultures. Walmart Canada is focused on helping Canadian families in need. Since 1994, Walmart has donated and raised more than $180 million to Canadian charities and not-for-profit organizations.  Additional company information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/@walmartcanada.

SOURCE: Walmart Canada

Susie Nick, APEX Public Relations, 416-934-2125 [email protected]