Toys That Teach Typifies Top '09 Trend

This month, parents have finally found a way to combine what their children want with what they want for their children. Shopping specialists at CSN Stores – a top three online retailer with over 200 e-boutiques – have spotted an emerging trend within its toys and games category: items that encourage learning, exploration, imagination, and creativity, are virtually flying off of the virtual racks.

For example, from March ’09 – September ‘09, a number of related categories have exhibited a significant spike is sales, including play houses (406 percent), theater (111 percent), toddler development toys (93 percent), puppets (41 percent), and pretend play (18 percent). Our experts suggest these increases can be attributed to a number of factors. One, parents are hoping to get a little more out of their purchases than just a few hours of idle time. It’s one thing for the toy to entertain their two year old, but now toys are available that, for example, improve a child’s color recognition and spatial reasoning - which leads us to the second factor. More and more manufacturers are looking into ways to innovatively and effectively package a learning experience into a fun time.

Because such items have proven to be immensely popular, we have asked our specialists to assemble a top ten list of the best ‘educational toys’ on the market, from pattern cards and puzzles to science kits.

10. Step2 - Art Master Activity Desk - $79.99
9. K's Kids - K's Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set - $34.99
8. LeapFrog - Leapster 2 Learning System - $76.99
7. Step2 - Easel For Two with Foam Magnets - $49.99
6. Learning Resources - Pretend and Play Calculator Cash Register - $29.99
5. Fascinations - World Alive Butterfly Kit - $29.99
4. Superstructs - Wacky Machines Building 175 Piece Set - $59.99
3. Lisa LeLeu - Diggity the Dog Puppet Show Book - $24.99
2. KidKraft - Silver Retro Kitchen - $1501.

1. Fractiles - Large and Fridge Fractiles Set - $33.99

10 Best Canine Costumes for a Howling Halloween

In the past year or two, canine costumes have become as much a part of Halloween as the jack-o-lantern, haunted houses, cobwebs, and candy bars. On October 31st, you’re just as likely to see a dog dressed as a pirate or princess as you are a carved pumpkin. In fact, our specialist over at AllPetFurniture.com – the dog and cat-centric e-boutique of online retailer CSN Stores – is tracking a significant spike in sales in the apparel category and is attributing this to our recently added pet costumes. I asked our experts to select their favorites, and they recommended the following new, anticipated top-sellers. Check out our complete selection of costumes here.


10. Anit Accessories - Chef Dog Costume - $21.95

9. Puppe Love – Barkenstein Dog Costume - $21.95

8. Anit Accessories – Lederhosen Dog Costume - $23.95

7. Canine Styles - Tennis Dress in Navy Nautical - $26.99

6. Puppe Love – Shiny Clown Dog Costume - $21.95

5. Anit Accessories - Pirate Dog Costume - $21.95

4. Puppe Love – Killer Whale Dog Costume - $23.95

3. Puppe Love – Lady Butterfly Dog Costume - $21.95

2. Anit Accessories – Matador Dog Costume - $23.95

1. Puppe Love - Taco Dog Costume - $21.95

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month

To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the many important charities that need funding, CSNStores.com is now offering a number of items from brands that donate a certain percentage of sales during October to a Breast Cancer cause. This Mobile Edge – Women’s Komen Laptop Tote in Black Microfiber with Pink Trim is a new addition to the Caring Case Collection. This attractive fashion accessory is also very functional, offering pockets to organize your work and give your laptop optimum protection. Mobile Edge donates 10 percent of this tote's retail price to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, so it is also a great way to help those in need.

Other items include the J Fit - Pink Mini Elliptical with Handles, an affordable way to work out whenever and wherever. It’s compact and lightweight enough to use at home or the office, and includes handles with heart rate monitor sensors. Part of the J Fit Hope Series, five percent of your order is donated to preventing Breast Cancer and finding a cure.



Finally, for commuters or Moms constantly in the car running errands, there's the Farberware – Susan G. Komen Pink Ribbon Everyday Stainless Steel Mug. A donation is made to the Komen Foundation for each mug sold -- to help eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Any of these items would be perfect gifts to show your support for people battling breast cancer, as well as their family members. Researchers and the rest of the medical community have made incredible strides in the past few decades, but constant funding is necessary to find a cure.

CSN Stores & the Associated Press Extend Outdoor Living Beyond Summer Well Into Autumn

Yes, in most parts of North America, life has become cooler and more crisp with the occasional warm autumn day. But given what CSN Stores' Trend Spotters have found, people all over the U.S. and Canada are doing their best to extend the summer -- or at least outdoor living -- in the fall.

This article, which cites CSN as a source, was issued by the AP over a month ago and it is still appearing in print and online in a variety of forms.

The latest version just landed in The Toronto Star, Canada's largest newspaper and on yourhome.ca, a popular news site. This article featured PatioHeatersAndMore.com, one of 200+ CSN Stores sites, along with one of our very elegant fire pits. Click here to see the entire story.

To determine how you can extend your time outside in style, click here to check out our impressive selection of fire pits, patio heaters and more.

7 Finds for a Feel-Good Fall Season

Fall festivities are all about creating memories with family and friends, beautiful backyard foliage, warm beverages, sports games, and other energizing experiences.

To help jump start your fall season in style, CSN Stores has compiled a list of 7 Finds for a Feel-Good Fall Season. We combed our 200+ sites and 1 million+ products in search of the most cozy, cool, useful, festive and all around ‘make you feel warm inside’ finds to get you through the fall season and beyond. Take a look:

1. Verilux HappyLite Sunshine Simulator

2. GustBuster Classic Umbrella and Canine Styles Madison Plaid Dog Rain Slicker

3. Back to Basics Aluminum Stove Top Popcorn Popper

4. Paderno World Cuisine Apple Peeler with Cup

5. Menu Pernille Vea Love Thermos Cups (set of 4)

6. PowerWasher 1300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer

7. Baseline Collection of Comfortable Team Sofas, Recliners, Futons Covers, Ottomans, and Chairs

Thanks for reading, and have a fantastic fall season! =)

CSN Stores’ Chairman Steven Conine Makes Boston’s 40 Under 40 List For 2009

Steven Conine, co-founder and chairman of CSN Stores, was honored last night by the Boston Business Journal as one of Boston’s Top 40 Under 40. Conine, who started CSN Stores with Cornell classmate and current CSN Stores CEO Niraj Shah in 2002, is also the company’s Chief Technology Officer. Congratulations Steve!

Top Ten Tailgating Tools and Gadgets

Though football season pretty much signals the end to productive Saturdays and Sundays, there’s still one place where effort and dedication on the weekends ring true – and that’s in stadium parking lots across the country. From September through January, fans gather around their cars, trucks, and solo cups before games to prepare themselves for three plus hours of cheering and jeering. For most tailgaters, it’s all about a few burgers and beers with close friends. For others, it’s about establishing yourself as a grilling God and entertaining the entire lot.

That’s why CSN Stores has something for every kind of tailgater, from foldable grills to portable smokers and steak brands to fire pits. Take a look at our Trailblazing Tailgating Essentials List:

10. Fire Sense - HotSpot Notebook Charcoal Grill - $25
9. Texas Irons – Steak Brands - $23.70
8. Creative Cooling – University CS Cooler - $129
7. Crown Verity - 36" Tailgate Grill - $4,788
6. Hammaka - Aluminum Hammock Chairs w/ Trailer Hitch Stand - $319.97
5. GOODHOPE Bags - Travelwell Padded Portable Chair - $28.99
4. Libbey - Tailgate Drinkware Set - $26.99
3. TPI - Portable Construction Site / Utility 13,648 BTU Fan Forced Heater - $115.50
2. Coleman - Pack-Away Table Set for 4 - $94.99
1. Masterbuilt - The Grizzly Cub Portable Fire Pit and Grill - $89.99

New Trends in Flooring, by FlooringSelect.com

The Cork Floor:
Cork is emerging as the popular new flooring option for ’09 and beyond. A natural insulator, cork is ideal for basements and breezy rooms. The material is also water and bug resistant and its soft surface provides extra give, making it perfect for highly trafficked areas. Though not a traditional choice for bathrooms, its barefoot-friendly feel and moisture resistant makeup are two reasons why cork flooring is popping up in bathrooms across the country.” (Check out FlooringSelect’s wide selection of cork flooring).
Distressed Flooring:
Hand-scraped, distressed flooring is thriving as homeowners look to give new, modern homes a more classic and traditional look and feel. Also, because distressed flooring will help maintain the ‘aged appeal’ of a room, “this style has proven an essential part of ‘old home’ renovations.” (Browse BR-111 for distressed hardwood samples).
Brazilian Cherry and Other Exotic Woods:
As the variety of flooring continues to grow, new styles and colors start to materialize. For ’09 and ’10, Brazilian Cherry is proving to be the trendy choice for designers and renovators. Other exotic woods, such as Beaujiais Cherry and Tiete Chestnut, are gaining recognition amongst homeowners, too. (Mohawk Flooring offers a variety of Brazilian Cherry options).
The Bamboo Revolution:
As homeowners explore new ways to go green, bamboo flooring has become the eco-friendly choice for flooring. Bamboo is considered one of the planet’s fastest-growing plants and, when cut correctly, doesn’t need to be replanted; it will simply regenerate. Due to the increased popularity of this material, manufacturers have also worked to ensure that bamboo is just as appealing as hardwood. (Shaw Hardwood is a leader in bamboo flooring).