Summary Box: As holidays near, cute and collectible reign among toys

Summary Box: The quest for hot holiday toys

TOY SEASON: The holiday season is crucial for toy makers, which can make up to half of their annual revenue during the fourth quarter.

CUTE AND COLLECTIBLE: Blip Toys’ Squinkies, tiny figures that fit inside a toy dispensing machines and come in 16 packs for $10; Mattel Inc.’s $12.99 Sing-a-ma-jigs, colorful plush dolls that harmonize; Spinmaster’s $5.99 Zoobles, brightly patterned creatures that fold up into a ball but pop open when placed on top of a magnetized stand.

OUTLOOK: BMO Capital Markets analyst Gerrick Johnson expects toy sales to rise 2 percent for the year.