Who in their right mind would spend good money for that cheap stuffed animal? I can hear myself saying those exact words not so many years ago.
It came as a real surprise to me when I found out that these animals (that did not really look quite right) had become the rage! Everyone was collecting and prices were soaring. I refused to allow myself to become a part of the beanie mania. I happened to be in a card store one day when a shipment came in. The clerk asked me if I wanted one of the bears that came in....well, I have never turned down the chance to purchase a bear. That was how it all started. I think that the bear's name was "Libearty".
It was soon after my first purchase that I found out that I was going to become a grandmother. That was the greatest excuse to start a collection of beanies (for the baby of course). I soon found out that beanies are like peanuts or potato chips...you just can't stop at one. For the next few years, collecting beanies became an obsession. The more that I had, the more I wanted. I would not settle for one of each or two...the more I could find the happier I was.
I soon found myself with all kinds of beanies and no place to store them. I realized that I would have to find a larger house or do something about my collection. I took an inventory of all of my beanies. Damn those things multiply like rabbits. I was amazed when the total hit 640. I knew then that some had to go. I turned to eBay to solve this problem for me. I was able to sell enough beanies to finance the new purchases coming out, but I still had so many beanies.
I carefully went through all the remaining beanies and picked out ONE of each and an additional one each of the bears (of course). That would be the basis of my beanie collection. I would try to keep getting only one of each new ones...two of the bears.
I had solved my problem of buying but I still had hundreds of beanies that needed new home. I found out that a "beanie show" was being held a few miles from where my sister lived. She also had a "yard sale" planned and I could unload a few beanies there.I figured that this would be an excellent opportunity to sell my remaining inventory and to visit family. I loaded up the old pick-up truck and headed for the big city.I was excited getting ready for the show. I sat up my display and waited for the public to be allowed in. The doors opened and hundreds, if not thousands, of people streamed through the doors. Adults were behaving like children and the children were acting like adults. People were actually fighting to get this beanie or that one. It was then that I realized that these people were obsessed. After the first few hours, the sales slowed down. I sold about half of what I brought and was very happy that I had done so well. I had managed to keep my sanity.
Shortly before the show was to end, little girl walked up to my table. I could see that she held a five dollar bill clinched in her hand. She asked me what she could buy and I pointed out all the items that were that price. Every time she said "no" and looked sad. She finally told me that she wanted a green bear. I was in a good mood and sold one to her for the money she held tight in her hand. She had a smile on her face that would like up the night sky. That was at that moment that I realized that beanies were meant for kids. It was the adults (me included) that were the cause of all the problems. I made it a point to try to make more children smile that day.
As I was packing up after the show ended, I was approached by a group representing some of the local hospitals. They were asking all the sellers if they would like to donate a beanie or two for the children in various hospitals. I told them that I would be glad to donate and to come back in a few minutes. I thought about the little girl with the five dollar bill...my heart melted.
I went through the boxes and picked out of few each of the dogs, cats, rabbits, and bears...the cute and cuddly ones. Then it dawned on me that boys don't always like cute. I put together a box of the sharks, spiders, tigers...the wild things. That day I ended up giving away about the same amount of beanies than I sold. I realized that the cost of the beanie is meaningless compared to the smile on a child face.
No matter what my feeling are about collecting beanies now, I have managed to "collect" a few beanie friends. The Chat board at eBay is a wonderful place to meet people from all over who share a common bond...BEANIE BABIES. All That Has Beans Is Not TY
I have not stopped collecting beanies but since I no longer feel that I must have dozens of each put out by TY, I have started getting beanies made by other manufacturers. I found Cola Cola beanies, Harley Davidson beanies, Limited Treasures, Hush Puppies (shoes), even Cherished Teddies beanies.
I have learned a valuable lesson. More is not better...more is simply more. I can collect only part of what is sold and be content.What Do You Do With 96 Orders Of McDonald's Fries?
Sometimes...most of the time...I get involved in something just for the thrill of victory. Such is the case with last year's McDonald's beanie promotion. I had managed to collect the first year's set with little problem. I found out how much the set was selling for and made it a point to try to collect enough the second time around to make some money. Each morning I drove to all the McDonalds in the nearby area (8 of them) and bought enough to receive a beanie and in the evening reversed the route and bought "Happy Meals". So many people were collecting the second series that I was able to get two or three different beanies a day. Within six days, I had eight complete sets of the beanies from McDonalds'. I would hold on to these sets and wait for the prices to go sky high.Well, I am still waiting. It is a good thing that I have six large dogs that like hamburgers...but what do I do with the fries?
Turn Out The Lights...The Party's Over
It is with mixed feelings that I join the rest of the world in saying goodbye to these small stuffed animals. I really don't know why TY chose to end their production but I do have my own opinions. I feel that retailers were too often selling products out the "back door" of their stores...it seems very strange that secondary markets had TY products available before most stores had them for retail. When home shopping stations were selling (and getting) inflated prices for beanies and TY was making only a bare minimum...wholesale minus cost...I think that, even I, would re-think my sales of a product.
It has been an exciting time...it has been a hectic time. It has been fun. Thank you TY for the memories..........
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