August 1997
Yes, Beanie Babies are the hottest thing in toys right
now, with mothers clambering over each other to get the latest ones for
their children---or themselves. Which is it? WHO exactly is collecting these
bean bag plush toys with such zeal, and WHY? Many toy collectors are dumbfounded
at the appeal of these little toys, which often seem to be little more than
the junk toys given away at carnivals as prizes. Nonetheless, the sales
of Beanie Babies are tremendous and undisputable. Recent long lines
at McDonald's restaurants around the country attest to their
huge popularity as families (largely mothers and children) waited long hours
simply to buy numerous "Happy Meals" so as to get
the toys inside (a boon for McDonald's which has been suffering from otherwise
overall sagging sales lately).
Beanie Babies began as little trinkets to be given to children and
family members for birthdays, etc. and grew in popularity over the last
few years to become today's "must have" toy for many (much as
the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Cabbage Patch Kids
dolls were in years past). Many of today's Beanie Babies buyers
are reacting to this recent toy craze with an almost blind buying "lust"
(much to the delight of the toy's maker, Ty Inc.. of Oakbrook,
IL), and buying up numerous copies of each one as they come out. Clearly,
such individuals do not intend to give them all away to family members,
but rather to turn around , take advantage of a current consumer craze,
and make a fast buck.
For months now, newspapers have been carrying ads for various Beanie
Babies, with sellers asking as much as $1000 for a single one! While
undoubtedly some such high-dollar sales have occurred, the passion to pay
$200 to $1000 for these little plush toys is clearly limited. Such prices
strike most as simply ridiculous and represent a dangerous "herd"
mentality of overwrought consumerism. It appears some sort of backlash is
inevitable, as those who horded multiple copies of certain Beanies, and
those who paid exorbitant sums for one (only to see their child quickly
lose interest in the toy) may begin to question the fiscal wisdom of their
actions.
Certainly, the likelihood for a truly enduring popularity of Beanie
Babies is highly questionable. (Few people after all, are clambering
over each other to pay $1000 for Cabbage Patch dolls these days.) Of
course, it is impossible to predict another person's passion for a certain
toy. And while it is difficult for many to fathom the Beanie Babies
craze, it is equally hard for others to understand the appeal of Barbies,
or GIJoes. So, how the Beanie Babies craze will
end up? It could continue to boom forever, or it could quickly turn to bust
if public perceptions of the toys continue to change. Stay tuned toy fans!
We'll keep you posted.
Mattel has announced it is launching a new club for Barbie
fans called The Mattel Barbie Collectors Club. The cost of
membership fee is a whopping $39.99 plus $5.99 for shipping but includes
a membership card, 4 issues of The Barbie Insider, a binder,
a poster, a "collecting guide," and a Barbie Millicent Roberts
outfit called "Date at Eight." To join, contact the Mattel Barbie
Collector's Club, P.O. Box 182229, Chattanooga, TN 37422-2229, or call 1-800-491-7503.
The sequel to Toy Story is currently under production and will be available
as a direct-to-video movie soon. Both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have agreed
to provide their voice talents for the movie, though no word yet on whether
the supporting cast members (Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Annie Potts
as Little Bo Peep, etc.) will return.
That's right. Due to your many requests and inquiries, we will soon be
offereing classic comics for sale too. We'll be adding this new section
to our website sometime in mid August, so keep tuned to this web address!
Upcoming 12" GIJoe releases include a female helicopter pilot, a
General Patton, a General Eisenhower, a Belgian Commando and a Medal of
Honor Winner. Release dates for the Generals have been set at early August,
with the others as of yet undetermined. Stay tuned for updates on their
release.