SPOKANE, Wash. —- The holiday season is here, and toy stores have been preparing for months.
This year, Toyland at the General Store secured its holiday inventory much earlier than usual to avoid the impact of overseas tariffs.
Anticipating price spikes of 80 to 100 percent from tariffs imposed on international goods, Toyland purchased inventory in the early springtime.
The store’s early stocking strategy meant inventory arrived well before the holiday rush, filling storage and shelves with toys.
“Everything came in for the most part in May, June, July,” said Tom Barany, co-owner of the General Store. “Stuff was stacked sky high.”
This approach paid off, with toy sales up 75 percent over last year, helped by trends such as the Pokémon craze.
“We were surprised by the benefits of doing this,” Barany said.
Shoppers have felt the pinch of an expensive 2025 holiday season.
“Just kind of the last-minute run, while we still have a little bit of money to spend,” said Justin Santiago, when asked about his shopping goals. “[Money] goes quick after Cyber Monday and stuff.”
“People just don’t know what to expect. And so, people are holding a little tighter to their wallets to be a little more careful,” Barany noted.
Prices for popular brands such as Mattel and LEGO have remained comparable to last year despite economic pressures.
Toyland also supports local products, whose prices have been untouched by international tariffs.
According to Barany, 2026 restocking will come with moderate price increases of around 5 to 10 percent
“It’ll be more than previous years, but it’s not going to be like a tidal wave,” Barany said.
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