Outlet Makes Educational Toy Shopping a Smart Move
Among the many things new parents (and new grandparents) should learn right away is what’s available in worthwhile toys. Many discounters offer many useless toys, but the price is right, so neophytes buy them. The trick is tracking down toys that aid in learning skills.
As a guideline, I have been visiting Inteliplay in Sherman Oaks because its selection focuses on educational toys. The prices are rarely discounted, but just this month the company has opened a new location. This is an outlet for some merchandise from the Sherman Oaks store as well as for new educational products, discounted from 25% to 50% off the original.
By Jove and Top Dog from Aristoplay are popular and challenging for kids 7 and older. By Jove retails for $25, but Inteliplay Discount’s price is $15. Top Dog is an even better deal with a retail of $25, cut to $10.
Sunmate’s Build-A-Robot with race cars, dinosaurs, elephants and, of course, robots, which have to be assembled by the child 8 years and up, is usually $15, but expect to pay $10 here. Easy Puppets are $11 (retail $15) and a wide selection of Soundlings, natural plush cuddlies, run $7.75 instead of $10. You’ll also see PomPom Pets, woolly animals put together by stringing pom-poms together, which are $18 elsewhere but $13 here.
Frugal shoppers will welcome Inteliplay’s outlet store.
* Inteliplay Discount, 21765 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills 91364; (818) 883-2133. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning April 19, also open Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Weekend Super Sale
An era will come to an end when Fred Hayman closes the doors come May. Until then, it’s 40% to 70% off all women’s apparel (Genny, Karl Lagerfeld, Thierry Mugler, Galiano, Kenzo and Ungaro, among others) and 50% to 70% off merchandise for men (Kiton, Portofino, Zanella, Belvest and Malo, to name some). Newly arrived spring merchandise, including men’s and women’s shoes, leather goods and fashion jewelry, will be offered. The price cuts should motivate the sharp shopper who ordinarily can’t fit this pricey store into the budget. 271 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 271-3000. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m.
