Kmart's 'Fun Ambassador,' Rico Rodriguez, Reveals Hottest Must-Have Toys for the Holiday Season

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kick-starting the 2011 holiday shopping season, Kmart today unveiled its third annual Fab 15 toy list with the help of child star Rico Rodriguez. Serving as the retailer's official "Fun Ambassador," Rodriguez's mission this holiday season is to ensure a letdown-proof Christmas by helping parents identify hot toys that will be at the top of everyone's holiday list and will make kids smile from ear to ear.

Once again, Rodriguez brought his perfect sense of comedic timing to a "behind-the-scenes investigation" to show that all of the Fab 15 toys are 100 percent smile guaranteed. His intrepid reporting is documented in a series of humorous videos that are posted at www.kmart.com/fab15 for the whole family to enjoy together.

"As a kid, there's no greater excitement than to get to 'test' the toys that everyone will be talking about—and that's what I get to do as Kmart's 'Fun Ambassador,'" said Rodriguez. "We played hard to narrow down the list to the top 15 toys on the market. Our goal was to make sure each entry on the list will bring a smile to every kid's face on Christmas morning. You can take it from me when I say: Mission accomplished!"

The Fab 15 list features the hottest toys of the season from top brands including Hasbro, Mattel and Fisher Price, as well as popular characters that kids know and love like Barbie, Dora, Elmo and more.  

"Brands have told us that being chosen for our Fab 15 creates an increased demand for the toys on the list," said Hugo Malan, SVP and president, fitness, sporting goods and toys. "And customers are thrilled that we're helping them identify the toys that will be the next holiday craze. The Fab 15 list makes everyone happy."

Kmart designed this year's Fab 15 list for kids of all ages at affordable prices parents will appreciate.

Kmart's Fab 15 Toy List

1. Let's Rock Elmo
2. Fijit
3. I am T-Pain Microphone
4. Barbie Designable Hair Extensions and Doll
5. Lite Sprites Lite Wand, Prisma and Pod
6. Redakai Championship Battle Tin
7. FurReal Friends Cookie My Playful Pup
8. Nerf Vortex Nitron Blaster
9. Mini Lalaloopsy Treehouse Playset
10. WWE Colossal Crashdown Arena
11. Transformers Mechtech Ultimate Optimus Prime
12. LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet
13. Lazer Stunt Chaser R/C Vehicle
14. Simon Flash
15. Dora Fiesta Favorites Kitchen

To help customers plan ahead, Kmart reveals its list of hot toys early so that shoppers can take advantage of Kmart's layaway plan, allowing shoppers to secure the top holiday gifts now before they are sold out later in the season. Kmart's layaway plan can also help reduce stress by letting parents shop early and get the best value.

"We know the holidays can be hectic and stressful, especially when it comes to shopping for kids," said Malan. "The Fab 15 list helps shoppers find the season's most popular toys at a great value. Plus, with Rico's smile of approval, we know kids everywhere are going to go nuts over all of the toys on the list."

Kmart is also encouraging kids to share which specific toys on this year's Fab 15 list will make them smile the most. Starting today and continuing throughout the holiday season, families are invited to visit Kmart.com/fab15 to vote for their kids' favorite Fab 15 toy. For every vote submitted, participants will be entered for a chance to win one of the Fab 15 toys, which will be given away every day. Plus, they'll be registered to win the grand prize—a $15,000 toy shopping spree at Kmart!

Starting today, customers can shop for any of the items on the Fab 15 list, either at their local Kmart store nationwide or online at www.kmart.com. All the toys featured on this year's Kmart Fab 15 list range from $29.99 to $99.99.

For more information, visit www.kmart.com/fab15throughout the holiday season to see how the Fab 15 "Smile Guarantee" affects kids everywhere.    

No purchase necessary. To enter, go to www.kmart.com/fab15. Sweepstakes ends 11/5/11. Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older at the time of entry. A total of forty-seven (47) Daily Prizes and one (1) Grand Prize will be awarded. Total approximate retail value of all prizes: $17,240. Odds of winning a prize depend upon the number of entries received. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules at www.kmart.com/fab15. Sponsor: Sears Holdings Management Corporation, 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179.

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, County Living and Route 66. For more information, visit the company's website at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

SOURCE Kmart