Or even more interesting when was the last time you sold one?
As head (and only) researcher here at Lisleman’s Institute for Better Postings, I decided to travel back in time a little. Think back when the frenzy sweeping the nation (just picture this huge broom sweeping off dust bunnies driven by some OCD lady) was :
Do you remember buying your first beanie baby?
I’m not a beanie baby trader but I have two former collectors in my family.
My older sister is a beanie baby junkie. I asked her these questions just recently. It was only a few years ago that she spotted one in a gift shop that she just had to get for a grandchild. She has about a hundred stored neatly in boxes in her garage.
The other family member is our youngest, now adult, daughter. She has a plastic bin of them.
I recall telling our daughter during her beanie baby craze that they are only worth anything when you sell them. Now that’s not totally true. The pleasure of looking at one on your shelf, night stand, wherever I imagine is worth something. Many people buy knickknacks for their homes and even office cubicles. Extreme knickknacking can result in a knickknackatory.
The creator of beanie babies, Ty Warner, (recently beaned in court by the Feds over a tax issue) was from Chicagoland. Our family happens to know a lady who became very wealthy by starting (and selling it off) a beanie babies magazine. She lives in a nice big house not too far from here. You can tell when something has become very lucrative, the criminals show up. Smuggled counterfeit beanie babies became an issue for US customs back then.
So ok they were fun and inexpensive but like so many fads your window for money making was limited and required a bit of luck. Investing in beanie babies was not a sound retirement plan. Also, I would not want to be sitting in prison because of beanie babies smuggling. I would probably make up a different more exciting crime to tell fellow inmates.
So knick knack paddy whack leave this dog a bone (a comment).
As head (and only) researcher here at Lisleman’s Institute for Better Postings, I decided to travel back in time a little. Think back when the frenzy sweeping the nation (just picture this huge broom sweeping off dust bunnies driven by some OCD lady) was :
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| AKA Sizzle the Bear |
Beanie Babies
Do you remember buying your first beanie baby?
I’m not a beanie baby trader but I have two former collectors in my family.
My older sister is a beanie baby junkie. I asked her these questions just recently. It was only a few years ago that she spotted one in a gift shop that she just had to get for a grandchild. She has about a hundred stored neatly in boxes in her garage.
The other family member is our youngest, now adult, daughter. She has a plastic bin of them.
I recall telling our daughter during her beanie baby craze that they are only worth anything when you sell them. Now that’s not totally true. The pleasure of looking at one on your shelf, night stand, wherever I imagine is worth something. Many people buy knickknacks for their homes and even office cubicles. Extreme knickknacking can result in a knickknackatory.
The creator of beanie babies, Ty Warner, (recently beaned in court by the Feds over a tax issue) was from Chicagoland. Our family happens to know a lady who became very wealthy by starting (and selling it off) a beanie babies magazine. She lives in a nice big house not too far from here. You can tell when something has become very lucrative, the criminals show up. Smuggled counterfeit beanie babies became an issue for US customs back then.
So ok they were fun and inexpensive but like so many fads your window for money making was limited and required a bit of luck. Investing in beanie babies was not a sound retirement plan. Also, I would not want to be sitting in prison because of beanie babies smuggling. I would probably make up a different more exciting crime to tell fellow inmates.
So knick knack paddy whack leave this dog a bone (a comment).
12 comments:
You only mentioned one spin off industry, the magazine. How about the plastic tub industry, and the shelving industry. I wonder if the folks the beanies are being saved for will ever understand the initial craze, and why they should not pull off a leg or an arm.
I don't know if I understand the initial craze. I guess these mass craze things have been going on for a long time. Yes I guess there were other spin offs. thanks
Never, for me. Although I was given a couple as gifts, they just weren't my thing.
I have a couple... and I do still love them... they are cute and squishy.
Sx
A few as gifts are nice but I'm with you on this. Not worth collecting. thanks
I seldom use the word cute but you are right. They created some fun shapes and colors. thanks
somehow that craze never touched us, sugar and for that, i am truly glad! xoxoxox
Never got into that craze. I remember how people would flock to stores when a new one would come out.
I think our daughter thought she would "cash in big" one day. thanks
My neighbor bought a half gross of them and has been giving them out on Halloween for 10 years
That is an interesting Halloween treat. thanks
It's funny how a simple little idea can spiral out of control. There were people spending money they couldn't afford to spend and calling it an investment over Beanie Babies of all things. You just had to know that anything in mass production isn't really going to get crazy valuable long term. I think people needed to know when to get out.
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