Toys bring out creativity and encourage the use of imagination. Although there are lots of different toys available now then when I was a kid, some of the old toys are still hanging around. Walking through the toy aisles in a store can bring back fun childhood memories of toys that may be long gone, or may still be around but look a little bit different now.
Playing with toys provides many benefits to children. These benefits include building social skills, teaching patience, boosting imagination and creativity, enhancing fine motor skills, enhancing thinking and language skills, and more.
According to kidscareclub.com, infants love toys that can be reached for, held, shaken, and make noise. For toddlers, toys that teach balance and coordination, as well as themed toys such as puzzles are a fun addition. For 2+ years, toys that encourage pretend play spark imagination, these include dolls and strollers, toy kitchen items, etc. As children grow, there are more and more different kinds of toys that can be introduced to them.
I thought it would be fun to take a look at the history of some classic toys that I’m sure you’ll recognize!
Silly Putty – A stretchy pink glob that comes in a plastic egg. Invented by General Electric engineer James Wright who was trying to create an inexpensive substitute for synthetic rubber.
Super Soaker – A high-powered water gun that claimed to be able to shoot water up to 50 feet away. Invented by nuclear engineer and part-time inventor Lonnie Johnson. He had an accident with a heat pump that sprang a leak shooting a blast of water across the room. This prompted him to invent the super soaker toy.
Play-Doh – A molding toy that feels like a cross between clay and bread dough. Invented by Kutol Products, an industrial cleaning product company. Kutol Products was losing market for its non-toxic clay-like compound used to clean coal dust off of wallpaper. The company owner’s sister-in-law tested the clay-like compound as a molding toy with her nursery school class and Play-Doh was invented!
Slinky – A bouncy spring coil famous for “walking” downward. Invented by mechanical engineer Richard James while attempting to come up with an instrument to stabilize naval ships during World War II.
Magic 8 Ball – A pool ball-shaped fortune telling toy. Invented by Albert Carter, son of a Cincinnati clairvoyant.
According to Circana, dollar sales of toys declined 8% in 2023, but the toy industry overall has experienced a $5.7 billion increase in sales since 2019.
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NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
We have a new series coming to the NCP Blog: our NCP Spotlight on States! Last month, we sent a survey to panel members asking questions about where they live and their shopping habits. Lifestyles can vary depending on where you live, and we want to learn more about these differences among our panel members- and we thought you might be interested in them, too!
Starting next week, we hope to highlight one or two states each month. We’ll share fun facts about the state, such as their state symbol, state bird, or how many people live there. And, we’ll include information provided by our panel members!
Some of the questions we asked in the survey included:
-How long have you been a National Consumer Panel member?
-Do you have children?
-What type of store do you shop in the most?
-Do you shop alone or with others?
-How often do you use self-checkout?
-What outdoor activities do you enjoy the most?
-What specific place or tourist attraction would you recommend in your state?
In future blogs, you’ll learn more about your fellow panel members across the U.S., along with interesting information about the states they live in.
What state would you like to learn more about first? Do you think the shopping habits and lifestyles of panel members in different states will vary much? Leave a comment and let us know!
We hope you’ll enjoy this new series on the NCP blog, and that you’ll learn some interesting things about your fellow panel members and where they live. Stay tuned for the first state spotlight!
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NCP In The Know: Spring Cleaning
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
NCP panel members.. hold onto your brooms and dustpans! We’ve conducted an enlightening survey on the ins and outs of spring cleaning, and the results are in. From the frequency of cleaning to the use of scented products, get ready to dive into the sparkling world of tidying up!
Why do people like to take on “spring cleaning?” There are a lot of reasons; here are the top three reasons panel members reported:
– To declutter and organize
– To make the home feel and smell fresh
– To create a healthy living environment
Of the panel members who responded to the survey, the majority-37%- do not have a specific spring cleaning tradition. 32% of respondents take part in spring cleaning every year, while 31% of you sometimes participate.
Many of you spend time throughout the year cleaning and organizing, not just during the spring season. According to our survey, 55% of respondents declutter and organize their home occasionally through the year. Another 27% frequently declutter; while 17% rarely spend time on this activity. A tiny percentage- 1%- never declutter or organize.
These are the top five areas of the home that are given the highest priority when spring cleaning, according to our panel members:
– Bedroom
– Kitchen
– Living Room
– Yard/deck/patio
– Garage
When spring cleaning, 80% of respondents focus on specific areas or rooms only, while 18% of you tackle the entire home.
Most of you seem to have a routine that works for you, as 48% of respondents expect to clean and organize the same as you did in previous years. Only 8% of respondents expect to clean less, while 44% of you expect to clean more.
But, at least you have help! At least, most of you do. According to the survey, 44% of respondents have other household members help with spring cleaning tasks. As for the rest of you, 19% indicated they live alone, while 37% of panel members don’t have help from other family members.
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NCP In the News: What Kitchen Appliances Do You Use?
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
Kitchen appliances have exploded in popularity the past few years, with new gadgets showing up on store shelves all the time. Most homes have basic large appliances in the kitchen like refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers. But an increasing number of consumers are buying smaller countertop items to save time and inspire creativity while cooking.
In my household, we’ve always had a microwave oven, blender, and coffeemaker. Through the years, we’ve added things like a panini machine, a rice cooker, and even a countertop ice maker- which comes in handy during the summer when hosting backyard gatherings.
Circana reported that while sales of small kitchen appliances are projected to decline by 4-5% throughout 2024, purchases of these items is still higher than it was before the pandemic began in 2020.
Recently, we asked our Facebook followers: “What small kitchen appliance do you use the most?” We received a large number of comments on this post, and the answers didn’t surprise us at all.
The most common responses included:
– Coffeemaker
– Microwave
– Toaster
– Air fryer
Other items frequently used by panel members included electric kettles, can openers, blenders, hand mixers, rice cookers, and slow cookers.
According to Circana, the top five appliances used for in-home dinner occasions are the stovetop, microwave, oven, oil or air fryer, and grill. That probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to most people, as most of these have been around for many years. But, new items are constantly competing for countertop space, and regularly-used appliances like microwaves are frequently upgraded and improved with new features.
Just when I think I’ve seen every type of kitchen appliance or gadget, I spot another one online or on a store shelf that I’ve never seen before! Some of the more interesting appliances I’ve spotted recently include:
– S’mores maker
– Breakfast sandwich maker
– Donut maker
– Mini waffle makers that create different shapes like hearts, dinosaurs, etc
– Grilled cheese sandwich toaster
Niche kitchen gadgets are fun, especially to give as gifts, but if you’ve ever walked through a thrift or secondhand store, you’re likely to see a lot of these items on the shelves. They’re fun for parties and special events, but often take up a lot of space and are difficult to store. And if they aren’t used very often, it may not make sense to keep them.
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NCP In the News: It’s All In the Stars
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
One star, two stars, three stars, oh my! Now that you can find reviews for almost everything online, how much do you rely on them?
I have to admit, I read reviews a lot, especially if I’m struggling to decide whether to purchase a particular item or not. I rely mostly on reviews when making a big purchase such as a refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, etc., and even when planning a vacation. They also come in handy when searching for a new restaurant to try.
So, what exactly is an online review? Basically, it’s an evaluation shared by a customer based on their experience with a product, service, or their overall customer experience.
As we know, reviews expand from products to all types of services. From hotels to restaurants, and painters to plumbers, you can always find peoples’ opinions and experiences about all kinds of products and services.
Reviews can be as influential as a recommendation from a family member or friend (sometimes even more influential). Think about the last time you made a big purchase or chose a new service provider. Chances are you read the reviews about that product or company.
Check out these interesting stats about online reviews from LinkedIn.
95% of consumers read online reviews before buying a product
89% of consumers make an effort to read reviews before buying products online
94% say bad reviews have made them avoid a business
97% read reviews for local businesses
81% of consumers say they are likely to check Google reviews first
74% of consumers say that reviews increase their trust in a company
Reviews are a vital indicator of a company’s online credibility, and directly influence purchasing decisions in a major way.
Reviews are important as consumers depend on reviews to make, what they hope to be, the right decisions.
With lots of scams going on these days, we also have to be aware of fake/scam reviews.
According to the BBB, there are ways to recognize if a review could be fake:
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NCP In the News: St. Patrick’s Day Fun
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
Sunday, March 17th, is St. Patrick’s Day, a fun holiday that my family enjoys – and you don’t even have to be Irish to celebrate!
As I’ve mentioned in years past, I like to prepare a couple of traditional St. Patrick’s Day foods, which are usually corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread. We all wear something green and usually hang out with family and friends. There may even be some adult beverages involved (did someone say green beer, lol).
According to the National Retail Federation’s annual St. Patrick’s Day survey, consumers plan to spend a record $7.2 billion (an average of $44.40 per person) on the holiday this year. Top spending categories are food and beverages.
A record 62% or 162 million Americans are planning to celebrate.
What do some of those celebration plans include?
82% will wear green
29% will make a special dinner
26% will decorate their home or office
27% will attend a party at a bar/restaurant
16% will attend a private party
15% will attend a parade
12% will host a party
Different cities have their own St. Patrick’s Day traditions. Chicago, for example, is known for dyeing the Chicago River green. Other cities might be known for their parades, pageants and/or pub crawls. According to WalletHub, here are some of the top cities for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations based on their rich traditions of tasty and affordable food, safe conditions to celebrate, and good weather.(See the full article for a list of all the cities.)
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NCP In the News: Nuts About Nuts
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
There are so many different varieties of nuts and so many different ways to use them. They’re great for snacking, can be added to salads for that extra crunch, can be used in cooking and baking, and even made into a variety of nut milks and nut butters.
I’m not a big fan of walnuts or Brazil nuts, but I like all of the other popular types! Once in a while, I’ll buy a large container of mixed nuts (peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, etc.), so I can have a variety on hand for snacking. But, my usual go-to nuts are almonds and cashews. They make an excellent snack for me, especially in the late afternoon when I get a little hungry and need some added energy!
Let’s take a look at some of the more popular types of nuts as shared by finedininglovers.com:
Walnuts – a great source of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals, they’re also rich in antioxidants. They add extra crunch to sweet and savory dishes.
Hazelnuts – Very popular in baking and confectionery. Loaded with nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds and healthy fats.
Cashews – Commonly eaten on their own as snacks, used in recipes, or processed into cashew milk, cheese, and butter.
Macadamia – Highly nutritious chickpea-sized nuts known for their sweet buttery flavor and creamy texture.
Pistachios – Packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber and protective antioxidants. Often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and salted.
Peanuts – Rich in healthy unsaturated fats and fiber. A popular ingredient in many dishes and among different cultures around the world. Peanut sauces, peanut butter, granola and trail mix are among some of the more common uses.
Almonds – Often eaten roasted or raw. Produce both oil and milk and commonly used in confectionery and baking. High-fat, but mostly in the form of monounsaturated fat.
Nuts are a nutritious food, they contain many of the vitamins and minerals the body needs. They’re one of the main sources of ALA omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts are largely composed of fats, however, the fats in nuts are almost entirely unsaturated, which means they leave you feeling more satisfied after eating. Nuts are a good source of Vitamin E, as well as folic acid, magnesium, potassium and calcium.
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NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
The New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, Best Companies Group and Rochester Business Journal have named National Consumer Panel as one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York.
Best Companies to Work for in New York identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in New York in three categories: small companies (15-99 employees), medium companies (100-249 employees) and large companies (250 or more employees). To be considered, companies must have at least 15 full-time or part-time employees working in New York; be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity; be a publicly or privately held business; have a facility in the state of New York and be in business a minimum of one year.
Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.
There were two parts used to determine the rankings. The first consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices and demographics, worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience, which consisted of 75 percent of the total. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings.
A listing of winners is below. The final rankings will be announced at the April 19 awards ceremony.
“The 2023 Best Companies to Work for in New York know that the people in their organizations are the key to their success. The companies foster a positive environment for innovative teams to thrive,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media. “We are pleased to join our partners, the New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Best Companies Group, in honoring these businesses.”
The winners will be honored April 19 at a celebration at the Hilton Albany, 40 Lodge Street in Albany. Registration and networking begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
Attendance is limited for this event. Honorees and sponsors get the first chance to secure tables. Sponsorship includes a table for guests, multimedia marketing and an ad in the awards publication, logo usage and more. To secure a sponsorship, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at [email protected]. The event hashtag is #BestCompaniesNY.
The top 25 companies in each category will be profiled in the awards publication, which will be distributed to the more than 10,000 members of the New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management.
For an updated listing of sponsors and more information about the event, visit RBJ.net/events/best-companies/. For more information about the Best Companies to Work for in New York program, visit bestcompaniesgroup.com/best-companies-to-work-for-in-new-york/.
About the New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management
The New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management promotes the education/professional development of members in New York State through support of SHRM services. The organization also creates value for and serves the interests of SHRM members and promotes the progress and presence of SHRM to the human resources community in New York State through programs, conferences and other activities. For more information, visit nys.shrm.org.
About Best Companies Group
Since 2004, Best Companies Group has specialized in identifying and recognizing great employers to work for. Best Companies Group is an independent research firm that ranks companies based on established research methodology. The surveys provide actionable, hard-to-obtain data that companies use to improve employee recruitment and retention. For more information, visit bestcompaniesgroup.com.
About the Rochester Business Journal
The Rochester Business Journal has served as the leading source of business news and information in Rochester, N.Y., for 36 years. In addition to its website, RBJ.net, and weekly print publication, the Rochester Business Journal publishes more than 25 special products a year including Book of Lists, Explore Greater Rochester, RBJ 75 and Schools Report Card. The Rochester Business Journal also hosts 11 annual events to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. Those events include Forty Under 40, Icon Honors, Women of Excellence and Reader Rankings. In addition, the Rochester Business Journal facilitates virtual panel discussions bringing local experts from the business community together to discuss current topics and trends. Its Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting, email marketing and more. The Rochester Business Journal and its sister publication, The Daily Record, which covers law and real estate in Western New York, are part of BridgeTower Media, the leading provider of B2B information, research, events and marketing solutions across more than 25 U.S. markets and industries.
Arnot Realty
Avail NYC
Belle Haven Investments
Brio Benefit Consulting
Bryx Inc.
Career Start
Center State CEO
ClearVision Optical
Coffey Modica O’Meara Capowski LLP
Cooley Group Inc.
Creative People
Davie Kaplan CPA PC
DUMAC Business Systems Inc.
ENALAS
Fullerton Beck LLP
Girl Scouts of Western New York
Heveron & Company CPAs
HOLT Architects P.C.
IBC Engineering P.C.
LMC Certified Public Accountants
LXP Industrial Trust
MiddleGround Capital
National Consumer Panel
Ordergroove
Pace Electronics
PTI Packaging Technologies & Inspection
Reliance Rx Specialty Pharmacy
Sholes & Miller, PLLC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law
St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union
Sturges Manufacturing Co. Inc.
T.P. & Partners
Vanteon Corporation
Yankwitt LLP
AIP Publishing LLC
AMA Group
Biz2Credit & Biz2X
Doyle Security Systems Inc.
Euclid Transactional LLC
Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
Genesee Regional Bank
The Hayner Hoyt Corporation
HR Works
HUNT-eas
The Inns of Aurora
Insero & Co. CPAs LLP
ITX
LBM Advantage
Lockard & Wechsler Direct
Myriad360
Nova Healthcare Administrators Inc.
Ocean Insight
Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions
Precision Optical Transceivers
RAND Engineering & Architecture DPC
RBT CPAs LLP
Sherwood Lumber
Transfinder Corporation
UPSCO Inc.
Utica First Insurance Company
Vigorito, Barker, Patterson Nichols and Porter
VIP Structures, Inc.
AAA Northeast
AmeriCU Credit Union
Anchin
Basis Technologies
Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Broadridge Financial Solutions
CDPHP
Center for Internet Security
CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc.
Consigli Construction
Edward Jones
Empower Federal Credit Union
First American Equipment Finance
Grassi & Co.
Horizon Corporations
Independent Health
Microchip Technology
MVP Health Care
Nascentia Health
NYCM Insurance
OneDigital
PKF O’Connor Davies LLP
The QCI Team of Wealth Enhancement Group
QuickChek
Strategic Financial Solutions
Terakeet
Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers
Urban Engineers of New York D.P.C.
Your Part-Time Controller LLC
Do you know anything about your heart health? Did you know that heart disease is a leading cause of death for people in the United States? There are several different types of heart conditions that are considered heart disease. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which affects blood flow to the heart.
Several members of my extended family have heart conditions, so this is a topic on my mind, and I discuss it with my doctor every year at my annual physical.
According to the CDC, around half of all people in the United States have at least one of three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or a smoking habit. In 2021, nearly 1 in every 5 deaths in our country was attributed to heart disease.
Along with these risk factors, there are other conditions and lifestyle choices that can put you at a higher risk for developing heart disease:
– Diabetes
– Obesity
– Unhealthy diet
– Physical inactivity
– Excessive use of alcohol
Fortunately, there things you can do to reduce your risk of developing heart disease- and changing your eating habits is a great place to start.
The Mayo Clinic recommends eight tips to help you get started on a heart-healthy diet. And, implementing these tips will likely help you be more healthier in other ways, too, not just your heart. Here are their suggestions:
1. Control your portion size. Have you noticed that portions in restaurants have become so large, it’s almost impossible to finish the plate? We probably all grew up listening to our parents tell us to clean our plates, but that’s not necessarily good advice! How much you eat can be just as important as what you eat, and controlling your portions at meals is a great place to start.
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits are great options to add to every meal. Canned fruits and vegetables are good choices, too- just make sure they are packed in juice or water and have limited amounts of sodium and added sugar.
3. Eat whole grains instead of refined grains. Choosing whole-wheat and whole-grain options for pasta, bread, and flour is better for your health than white, refined grains.
4. Limit unhealthy fats. Try to limit the amount of saturated and trans fat you eat to protect your heart. These fats lead to high blood cholesterol levels which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Fat can be confusing, though, because some fats are good for you. Choose monounsaturated fats, like olive oil or canola oil, or polyunsaturated fats, like those found in fish, nuts and seeds.
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NCP In The News: The Essence of Lemons
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
My family and I have always been big fans of lemons. When my kids were little, I would always bring cut up lemons on long car rides in case they got car sick and felt nauseous; eating lemons really helped them feel better (and probably distracted them from feeling sick, lol)!
I drink lemon water almost every day (and sometimes add mint or basil to it, yum!), and there’s hardly ever a time when I don’t have lemons in my home.
Are lemons a staple in your home? If so, what are some of the different ways you use lemons?
Lemons are among the world’s most popular citrus fruits. They grow on lemon trees which thrive in mild, warm climates. They’re a great source of vitamin C and fiber and contain many plant compounds, minerals, and essential oils.
The most common varieties of lemons you see in grocery stores are Eureka or Lisbon. These lemons are very similar, usually medium-sized, oval, bright yellow inside and out with few seeds and a tangy flavor. You may also find Meyer lemons in stores, although they are usually seasonal and available around the December to May timeframe. They’re smaller, sweeter and thinner-skinned than regular lemons and are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange.
Lemons will be their juiciest when stored at room temperature. If you plan to keep them longer than a few days, store them in a plastic bag in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. They can last for up to a month this way, but before juicing, let them warm to room temperature for best results.*
If you have lots of lemons and you’re not sure what to do with them, check out the variety of recipes from Williams Sonoma that use lemons, below is a list of some of them. They all sound so good.
Lemon Doughnuts
Meyer Lemon French Toast
Lemon Curd
Lemon Meringue Pie with Gingersnap Crust
Lemon Chiffon Pie
Lemon Risotto
Pork Chops With Meyer Lemon
Salmon With Lemon and Fennel
Lemon Verbena Lemonade
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NCP In The News: From Tap to Table
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!