SNEAK PEEK: Teen Retailer Five Below Unveils Top 10 Holiday Gifts for $1 to $5

PHILADELPHIA--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Five Below, the extreme-value retailer for teens and preteens, is kicking off the holiday shopping season today by revealing the 2011 Top 10 Holiday Gifts for $1 to $5. Full of popular yet unique gift ideas at jaw-dropping prices, the list will guide countless gift-givers to the trendiest items teens will be putting on their wish lists this holiday season.

“Even receiving a duplicate figurine is exciting because teens can use it as collateral to trade with friends for the item that completes their collection.”

“We monitor teen and tween trends 365 days a year, and the holidays are the perfect time for us to share that insight with shoppers struggling to buy the perfect gift for the teens on their list,” says Tom Vellios, co-founder and CEO of Five Below. “Our Top 10 roundup includes all the tech and fashion accessories, toys, games, and sports merchandise teens want at a price point that gels with shoppers’ budgets.”

According to BIGresearch’s BIGinsight, 38.5 percent of U.S. adult shoppers are looking to cut back on holiday spending this year. Five Below’s $1 to $5 pricing will help keep holiday spending low and holiday cheer high.

Five Below’s 2011 Top 10 Holiday Gifts for $1 to $5 include:

1.	$3 I-Touch Glove, electro-conductive fibers enable wearers to use a touchscreen device
2.	$2-$3 feather fashions, a craze that includes hair extensions, headbands, earrings, and more
3.	$3-$5 Angry Birds branded posters, backpack clips, and “finger flingers”
4.	$2-$3.99 nail trends, including Jinx polish strips and crackle lacquer in metallic hues
5.	$5 U-Build Hasbro games, a new twist on classic titles like Monopoly and Battleship
6.	$2.99 mini collectables, including LEGO® minifigures and pencil-topping surprise packs
7.	$5 personal electronic accessories, including iPad, eReader, iPod, and cell phone cases; laptop sleeves; and headphones
8.	$5 critter hats, knitted animal-face hats similar to those seen on the runway during Fashion Week
9.	$5 plush products, led by best-sellers Blankets Buddies, Snuggle Pillows and Ty Beanie Boos and Beanie Ballz
10.	$5 professional sports team merchandise, including collectable gnomes, holiday ornaments, hats, and stockings for NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA teams

Vellios notes that these top gifts correlate with three main product trends Five Below has identified this year for the teen and tween demographic:

• Go mobile, get moving. “Everything is mobile these days, and gifts must follow suit,” confirms Vellios. Whether it’s a phone, mp3 player, or tablet, teens want to protect their mobile devices with cases that allow them to express their personal style.
• Complete the collection. From figurines to sports team merchandise, kids love to see their collections grow. “For this age group, it’s all about the thrill of the hunt,” Vellios explains. “Even receiving a duplicate figurine is exciting because teens can use it as collateral to trade with friends for the item that completes their collection.”
• Comfort is everything. “Think soft, plush, and cute, and you’re on the right track to gifts teens will love,” says Vellios. In addition to warm slippers and cozy blankets, Five Below is seeing the cozy trend carry over into fashion. For example, girls want lightweight feather earrings, soft pashmina scarves, and cushioned ballet flats to pair with jeggings.

“We anticipate making a big splash this season with our holiday lineup, especially in the new markets, such as Chicago, Detroit, and Staten Island, in which we debuted this past year,” says David Schlessinger, co-founder of Five Below. “Busy families love coming to Five Below to cross items off their shopping lists because our buyers do the bargain hunting for them. We’re happy to lift the stress off of parents’ shoulders and provide a shopping environment that’s affordable, fun, and stocked with great gifts.”

Photos of the 2011 Top 10 and other gifts priced $1 to $5 can be found in Five Below’s 2011 Holiday Gift Guide and Holiday Look Book. High-resolution images and samples are available upon request.

Five Below co-founders Tom Vellios and David Schlessinger are available to discuss these top gifts and holiday trends projections.

About Five Below, Inc.

Five Below is the leading retailer of trend-right, extreme-value merchandise to the teen and pre-teen market. Five Below’s dynamic assortment of merchandise offers everything from trend-right fashion accessories to the latest DVDs, iPod accessories and more—all for $1 to $5. Five Below was founded in 2002 by David Schlessinger, founder of Zany Brainy and Tom Vellios, former CEO of Zany Brainy. Five Below is based in Philadelphia, Pa.