Each year, Hallmark releases holiday ornaments in stages, first in July, then in October and November.

For the July release, customers lined up outside Scott's Hallmark at Tanglewood Mall, said Karen Carlin, a saleswoman.

This year, Hallmark offered 240 holiday ornaments, most priced from $10 to $25.

Many sell out.

By Thanksgiving, Scott's Hallmark had sold out of its supply of a Lucille Ball ornament, a waving white snowman and a tiny red pedal car shaped like a 1964 Ford Mustang.

It's not just women, Carlin said. Men buy the motorcycles, the trains, the Hot Wheels ornaments and the athletes. In 2004, the miniature Michael Vick ornament was hot, she said.

— Joe Eaton