We've just finished ours, so everything is very fresh in my mind (and my lower back too...lol...).
I used several different avenues this year. As a base company, I used Kids Go Shopping. I found their items to be very fair in pricing, very nice items that weren't just pieces of junk. As a matter of fact, the merchandise was really very nice. Of course, we didn't get the Hope Diamond for a quarter, but what we did get was wonderful. It is always nice that I didn't have to pay for anything I didn't sell, didn't have to pay freight, and if it was broke or got broke, I just sent it back. Customer service was also provided and they shipped overnight. I also used Oriental Trading for some of the items, as I felt that there weren't enough quarter items (KGS only provided one item for less than .25 and I have always felt that even the poorest shopper should have at least a few choices). So from OT I ordered rainbow tattoo bracelets (.09 cents each - sold em for .25 - sold 1 gross in two days), mini backscratchers (.08 cents each - sold em for a quarter - still have lots left, but sold lots too), regular 16 inch backscratchers (.25 each - sold em for .75 and have 25 left - started with 288 of em - worked great as gifts for Dad, Grandpa and Uncles), but by far, the best item was the long stemmed red or white rose candles. They aren't scented. They come in red or white. They cost us .50 each. We sold them for $2.00 each. We sold about 100 of them. They are very pretty, easy to display, easy to hawk, etc. They really provided us with a win-win product. Of course, OT does not pay freight, does not provide a service for returns or overnight shipping without cost to me, etc. I also had a wholesaler help me out by providing me with items left over from catalog sale prizes. I didn't have to pay freight, but only because she drove it down to me herself from Vegas. I was also unable to get any items not previously ordered in advance, so when the cell phone buddies ran out, they ran out...
If I had to single out the best stuff, it would be (not necessarily in order)
1. Long stemmed rose candles (Oriental Trader)
2. Cell Phone Buddies (wholesaler)
3. Spongebob/Patrick/Squidword plushes (KGS)
4. Sticky Slinkers (KGS) (those things you throw at the wall and they slowly climb down the wall)
5. Glass Chess Sets (KGS)
6. Sports Bears (wholesaler)
And the 5 worst:
1. Full size footballs (KGS)
2. Pen/Pencil Set (KGS)
3. Mini Book Light (wholesaler)
4. Dog/Cat toys (KGS)
5. Sports Cups (KGS)