BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 17 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart plans to test-market biblical action figures in U.S. stores as a "faith-based" alternative to toys tied to commercial movies, video games and TV.
The toys -- ranging from a talking 12-inch Jesus doll to 3-inch figurines depicting Moses and the Ten Plagues of Egypt -- will be available in about 425 of Wal-Mart's 3,376 stores in 21 states, starting in mid-August, spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien told United Press International.
The test market, mostly in the South and Midwest, is "a bit smaller than usual" for a toy line, O'Brien said. "But this is an unusual product."
Toymaker One2believe, of Valencia, Calif. -- which developed the Tales of Glory products with Wal-Mart -- said on its Web site the six-month test-run represented "a huge opportunity" for Christians to show they were "truly concerned about the toys that our children play with."
The company, whose founder, David Socha, is Roman Catholic, called on Christians to show they wanted "more God-honoring options available" in children's toys.
O'Brien told UPI the Bentonville, Ark., retailer planned to watch sales "with interest," but she would not speculate on the product's future after its run ends in January.
