Finding Popularity with all Ages

Fads and Fashions

The original Beanie Babies were first introduced in 1993 by the Toy Company Ty, Inc. Soon, the beanie babies became one of the biggest-selling toys of the 1990s. Each of the Beanie Babies came with a heart-shaped tag that had the animal’s name, a short poem, and a birthday. The toys were very popular with children. Because the value soon began to rise, adults often collected them. It was hard for stores to keep Beanie Babies in stock and customers lined up outside to wait when new shipments of the toys were due. Almost a hundred million Beanie Babies were sold in 1996. By 1997, there were over 181 different Beanie Babies. Even though the retail price was usually about $5 to $7, collectors have paid up to $13,000 for rare Beanies. Custom beanies have been released for sporting events, to commemorate the flags of certain countries, and to immortalize celebrities like Princess Diana. During the 1990s, Beanie Babies were listed as one of the most sought-after Christmas toys by several stores.