The Discerning Mum: Kmart Endless Days of Play and Giveaway

What an amazing morning I've had. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to receive an invite to Kmart's new toy launch and media event. Luckily it was today (Thursday) because it is the one day I have free to do stuff like this. And the best part is that I get to share some of the booty with you guys!

The Event

This morning Kmart hosted an event  for bloggers and other media at the Southland Kmart store in Melbourne.  It was a well organised event with velvet curtains hiding all the cool stuff which was slowly revealed over the next couple of hours. Tracey Spicer was the MC and it is a launch for their new Toy range.

John Gualtieri General Manager-General Merchandise and Nicole Szujda the head of the Toys department (How AWESOME would that job be. Her kids must be stokked!) were there to answer questions and present their new approach to dealing with the mid year toy sales and christmas laybys. I don't know about you guys but I've always found the whole layby process to be way too much trouble. When I want something and if I can afford I buy it. Saving a couple of bucks by putting it aside during a sale runs the risk of it being cheaper during the next lot of sales and I lose out. Altogether too much hassle.

Apparently the good folks at Kmart thought the same so they have made it so that their prices are as low as they can make them all year round and not inflated so that they can reduce them during sale times. Great move and something I have repeatedly told any department store who's sent me a survey form to fill out. I HATE HATE HATE buying something and finding that it has become cheaper a week later. Apparently, sometimes they do listen.

The media release sheet which came in our door pack included heaps of statistics from their research and surveys of over a 1000 parents (mainly mums we're told). This immediately caught my interest as numbers are fascinating. No doubt The1337Dad will be scrutinizing these numbers in greater detail as he does with all statistics (He is the kind of person who argues with commercials who claim that their product is 95% better....He demands their standards of measurement be disclosed)

In Summary:

94% of Australians (I would have said those surveyed rather than such gross over generalization given the demographic they were checking) said they would prefer low prices each and every day rather than inflated prices to allow for discounts and sales periods. 

HERE HERE! This is exactly why some stores like David Jones and Myer will never get my $$ on RRP items. I've seen how much they slash their prices during a sale. I would rather wait or do without.

3/4 of Australians (again the generalization) gave said that value for money is still the most important factor when shopping

 I really wonder what the last 1/4 could consider to be more important than this.

64% of Aussies (now we're on the 3rd stat we are not just general but familiar) expect better value from bricks and mortar retailers because of the value now available online. 

Somewhat agree. I think its been hard on the bricks and mortar shops because of the high AUD. I am personally a big fan of shopping online when the exchange rates were up and definitely won't complain about getting better value for my dollar. I just hope the stores don't change their tune as the dollar continues to correct itself. They have made special mention that prices are compared internationally not just locally so it's nice to see that Kmart is aware that people will go to international sites like Amazon and eBay to search for a better bargain.

The Big Reveal

What we (and I mean the kids who were along for the event as well) were waiting for most of all was to see the new toys! What would they bring? Would they be cheap knick knacky stuff you get at thrift stores or good proper toys which could stand up to a good natured battering with a wooden hammer. A magician and a fairy princess danced around a velvet curtain and voila! Kids paradise! (With accompanying squeals gasps from the little people in the room)

Turns out there is some pretty awesome stuff here. Not cheap knock offs of Barbie and FisherPrice. But real wooden play kitchens, an Interactive Pony, walking puppies, pillow pets, kids costumes, science kits (including fingerprint detectors, microscopes, telescopes, chemistry sets, spy kits), paints, crayons,  cars, tracks, dolls, skates...etc

Then the big news! Every kid was allowed to take 2 toys! This was accompanied by small little groans by us parents who had not brought our kids but then they said.... "And those of you who didn't bring your kids can pick up 2 toys to bring home for them." Squeeee!!!!!!!!

But now the hard part.... what could I take home to The Little Man from this Mecca of toys..This place that even I was having a hard time navigating. To be completely honest I had been ogling the huge boxes of science kits with hundreds of pieces ($6-$39), also the Interactive pony ($39) which stood over knee high and made the most realistic movements. But these were obviously unsuitable for The Little Man. Then I saw the section that he would undoubtedly head for. The Cars. 

I've haven't mentioned it in this blog previously but The Little Man said "Cars" before he first uttered the word "Mummy" It is the first thing he says in the morning when he wakes up and also the last thing he says at night before he sleeps, clutching his chosen car that he's taken to bed. The Little Man loves his cars. So even though here I was able to take any item (of possibly higher value) I picked out a Die cast model of an Audi R8 ($12). A car I knew he doesn't yet own. The guy in the car racer suit was kind enough to pose with it for me so I could tell The Little Man that a racer had given it to him. Then something else caught my eye. A  motorized Dino assault course ($35) with jungle tracks for 4 wheel drive cars and tunnels where dinosaurs can jump out and scare explorers. Cars tracks and dinosaurs. What else could a little boy want. 

Then I spot the lovely Nicole who was walking by and I cheekily ask her if they would sponsor a prize for a lucky little boy and little girl of you guys (my cherished readers) She fantastically obliged. So I spent another 10 mins wandering the shelves to find the perfect toys for a little boy or girl. I was too late to pick up one of the Interactive Ponies ( $39) which every little girl there must have grabbed. Also I was by myself and after picking up the stuff for the little man didn't think I'd be able to manage the wooden dolls house ($69). I considered the 3 pack princess costume box for the girls and the 3 pack scary costume box for the boys ($25 each) but those were very age specific. 

Then a massive box caught my eye. It was a huge toy pirate battle ship with treasure chests and pirate figurines ($35). It looked amazing. And it was the last box which evidently meant that it was almost as popular with the boys as the pony was with the girls. 

Around the corner where the Pony was were also a bunch of walking pets. And I saw the fluffiest cutest little puppy with a pink bow in it's hair ($20). The one they had out of the box was yapping and walking alongside a little girl who was playing with it. I wanted one...umm for you guys of course (*eyedarts*) 

And so this was my haul from the event. 2 car toys for My Little Man and 2 giveaway prizes for you guys. They also served a light lunch in cute blue and pink tin lunch boxes which you got to take home with you. I got a blue one with dinosaurs.

 The new product range will be advertised on TV from tomorrow (Friday 14th June) night. And available in stores from the weekend. So check it out if you can. In the meantime. You can win your little boy or little girl one these toys I managed to snag for you guys at the event. Shipping is on me :-)

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