Those holiday shoppers scrambling to find that must-have item on your Christmas list this year may have trouble laying their hands on it, let alone knowing what it is.
For the first time in years, there is no "it" item that's grabbing Christmas shoppers, at least nothing that compares to the Furby, Nintendo or introduction of the iPod, consumer observers say.
The lack of an "it" item this year is hurting retailers because that's often what draws shoppers into stores, said Rob Warren, director of the University of Manitoba's Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship.
Warren points to the strong Canadian dollar, which has shoppers looking for all sorts of items, from clothes to electronics.
Meanwhile, all the toy recalls this year have marketers backing off aggressive campaigns to promote one item that could be recalled in the future, he noted.
"Typically, those are the must-have items," Warren told CBC News in Winnipeg. "But with all these recalls, nobody wants to get out in front of a toy just on the off chance it has to be recalled for safety issues."
Add to that the Hollywood writers' strike, which has hit the mute button on the litany of Tickle-Me Elmo jokes that prove to be the holiday fodder for late-night talk show hosts like Jay Leno and David Letterman. With no one to make fun of what we all want, how do we know what we all want?
Gamers still swinging for Wii, Guitar Hero
At this time last year, North American malls were abuzz over game consoles, as Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii waged a fierce marketing war for gamers' wallets.
The closest thing to an "it" item this year, Warren said, is the Wii, which responds to the user moving the wand-like wireless controller, unlike the more standard multi-button, dual-stick platforms.
The unorthodox, yet highly popular console sells almost immediately when it reaches stores, even though Nintendo has ramped up production several times.
The Wii's staying power has been bolstered by the popularity of Guitar Hero, a game with appeal across generations, including the coveted adult market.
Sony and Microsoft cut the prices of their consoles this fall, but continuing demand for the Wii, priced at around $279 in Canada, has meant Nintendo Co. hasn't had to.
While it may be scarce in stores, eBay is flooded with Wiis for bidding, with some asking prices listed at $450 and higher.
With files from the Associated PressMORE MANITOBA HEADLINES »
- Suspect sought in attack on Winnipeg real-estate agent
- Winnipeg police are hunting for a man accused of attacking and trying to sexually assault a real-estate agent who thought she was making a sale.
- CBC Sports' Don Wittman retires
- Friends and colleagues of Don Wittman gathered in Winnipeg Tuesday to pay tribute to the great sportscaster.
- Brandon residents to vote on native-run casino
- Brandon residents will vote on whether to allow a native-run casino in the city, councillors decided Monday night.
- City committee shelves cable-car proposal
- A proposal to use cable cars to move people across the Red River in Winnipeg between the University of Manitoba and the St. Vital neighbourhood is dead in the water.
- Family sues after allergic son dropped from baseball team trip
- A Winnipeg teen and his parents are suing an amateur baseball league, saying their son was denied a chance to compete on a national level because of logistical problems caused by his severe allergies.
Canada Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window
