Sept 30th

... Snowboy Buddies in "Fives"
MBBBW reports: "A reliable source who is a retailer recently confirmed a rumor from the Cyberboard that while most Beanie Buddies are shipped in sets of six to a box, because of its unusual size the Snowboy Beanie Buddy will be shipped in sets of five to a box. This may mean that Snowboy will be harder to find than the others at least in the beginning."

**.... An added note: Beaniemom reports: "A Ty retailer shares . . . Ty is shipping only 5 Snowy to each store instead of 6. Snowy is so large, Ty can only get 5 in a box. His name is Snowy the snowboy. The Ty invoices and packing slips say Snowy. Also the Ty Customer Service representative called it Snowy. When I asked why she called it Snowy, she said that the Ty catalog was a misprint and his name was "Snowy."

*** Attention Readers: If you have purchased a "Snowy/Snowboy", can you please send me an email, and preferably a tag scan. (Any information you can share would be appreciated !)

... Beanies Then and Now
Ms. Janie is writing a new article called "Beanies Then And Now". In preparation for the article, she is interested in what collectors have to say about the Beanie Baby market. Click here to participate in the article by answering a few questions, if you are interested!

... Collectibles by the Sea '99 Show...
If you live anywhere near South Carolina, you will definitely want to visit "The Second Annual 'Show and Sell' Collectibles by the Sea" Show! Featured will be dolls, bears, Beanies, figurines, die-cast, Disney, sports cards, action figures, lots of Christmas decs and ideas, and much much more. This is a Show you won't want to miss!!! It will be located at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, November 6-7, 1999. Click here for all the details!

... Blue Face Spangles in the News again!
"Smart Collecting believes a shipment of blue-faced Spangle Beanie Babies were stolen from a Chicago warehouse. "Ty, Inc. claims not to have shipped any "legitimate" shipments of the Blue Spangle to Ty accounts," explains Peggy who received this information directly from a Ty Sales rep. All auctions (except for pre-sale) for a blue-face Spangle Beanie have been once again removed from eBay. According to Peggy, the blue-face Spangle Beanie is not scheduled to be shipped to Ty accounts until October or November." (Read the entire article here.)

... Andre Mouchard of The Orange County Register (Calif) writes an article about the pending retirement of Beanie Babies. Although it really doesn't convey a very positive outlook, it is quite interesting to read (with a discussion of the value of Beanies in the marketplace, etc). Read Last Act of the Beanies here.

... Beloved Beanie Babies are Everywhere ...
"All of the 200-odd little stuffed Beanie Babies introduced by Ty Inc. since 1993 will supposedly be "retired" by year's end, according to the company. Since we didn't know they had jobs, we went looking for information about them on the Web." Read the entire article submitted by The Wichita Eagle.

... Gift Show in Osaka, Japan
Today, the Gift Show opens with Ty Japan expecting to attend. Birdl@nd reports that there are a few retailers in the Osaka area, and new accounts are to be made at the Show as well.

... Mattel Inc. to Sponsor 2002 Winter Olympics stuffed animals
A rabbit named Powder, a coyote named Copper and a bear called Coal are the new mascots for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The names were revealed just a day after the Salt Lake Organizing Committee announced that toy maker Mattel Inc. would make stuffed versions of the mascots in a deal guaranteed to generate at least $1 million. The stuffed animals will go on sale as early as this holiday season in Utah for $10 to $40. Click here to read the story.

... Britannia Beanie Buddy!
When you take a look at this picture of Britannia, you'll definitely love this Buddy! The inside hang tag reads:
Britannia the Beanie Baby was the first international bear to have an embroidered flag rather than a patch!
View the pic at http://www.beanbagworld.net/images/news/britbuddy.jpg

... The Cubs vs the Pirates
Along with the chance to see Sammy Sosa, the crowds also received a special commemorative Millennium Beanie Babie. The announcer thanked Ty for another wonderful Beanie promo. (Note: Ms. Janie will soon have pictures posted for you to view).

... BBOC Receives over 100,000 Clubby Buddy Orders
According to a Smart Collecting Member in Wisconsin, confirmation numbers from the Beanie Babies Official Club are now over 100,000 which is a clear indication of just how many orders have already been placed. Gold and Platinum card members were able to begin ordering Clubby Buddies on August 9, 1999. Based on the 8-12 week delivery time indicated, collectors may begin to receive their Clubby Buddies as early as October 4, 1999. Collectors have until November 15, 1999 to order their Clubby Buddies. To order yours, call the BBOC at 1-800-750-1101.

... Not a whole lot of "Beanie news" the last couple of days! It seems a lot of people are out searching for the "newbies". I spotted the first newbie Beanie Baby (Chipper) and a new Buddy (Spinner) yesterday. The "price" didn't suit well with me ... holding on to that patience, as they should be more available soon! (The rest of my day involved the weekend "norm" - cleaning the house. What happened to the maid??? :)

... Ty Warner listed on Forbes Richest Americans List
"Forbes Magazine's" new list of the 400 richest Americans has Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates as #1, with a net worth of $85 billion, up from last year's at $59 billion. Microsoft's co-founder, Paul Allen, came in as #2, with a net worth of $40 billion. Ty Warner made the list at #33, listed at $5 billion. You can check out the complete list here.

... Expect More Ty Accounts to Close
"Ty Sales Reps have been instructed to close down 20% of the existing Ty accounts and that they are being monitored closely to make sure that they are not selling out the back door or charging elevated prices", reports Peggy who recently had the good fortunate of talking with a Ty Sales Rep when visiting her local store. "Ty does not disallow the practice of "bundling"--making you buy other Ty products to get the latest and greatest, but that he recommends NOT doing that because it makes the consumer mad, causing the consumer to write letters of complaint to Ty, Inc," Peggy explains. "Any Ty account wanting to keep their account might not wish to have a lot of complaints in their files at Ty. This appears to be a very sensitive time. To increase demand they must decrease supply!"

... Celebrity Bear Retirements
JC Bears has announced they will be releasing 10 new Celebrity Bears in November and December. Effective today, the following are now retired: Stars #3, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22 and 23. Celebrity Bears will be in New York City this weekend at the National Merchandise Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center to unveil the new Nov/Dec releases. Also on display will be the new Oct releases ... the Oz Bears !
Click Here For Link To Celebrity Bears

... Newbies in Japan
Birdl@nd reports of a poll taken of newbies in Japan. This is the result:
1. 1999 Holiday Bear
2. Wallace
3. The End Bear

... Ty Beanie Babies vs. Holy Bears Religious Bears
Update: Another wire story on the lawsuit in the Illinois federal court filed by Ty Inc.^® against HolyBears Inc. ... >>> HolyBears^™ Rob LeClair states they are not profitable and is hoping dealers and collectors will organize a "defense fund." ... Read more about it here!

You can also view readers' inputs and post your opinion by going to MBBBW Message Board.

... First UK Beanie Auction
This weekend is the first UK Beanie Auction. The auction is being held at Stratford Racecourse in Warwickshire, England, on Saturday, September 25, 1999. Viewing starts at 2.00 pm, with the auction starting at 6.00 pm. Entry is free. Over 200 Beanies have been entered so far, including items like Nana, Slither, and Humphrey (apparently mint) and also a tagless Web. Peter Draper, of "Bean Mania Magazine", will be on hand to help with authentication. There is also a Beanie fair at the same venue on the following day.

... All the current and retired Beanie Buddies (including the recently announced "September Buddies") are now listed on the Ty site. Check out the official list with pics here - Ty's Beanie Buddies!
... Note: You can also read the history of Beanie Buddies and a complete list, with style numbers, introduction dates, and the current status by clicking on the "Beanie Buddies button" on my main page or by clicking here.

... Kellogg to Dish Up Mini Beanie Babies for Kids ...
Update: The Chicago Tribute story posted has been found to be an incorrect report, concerning the co-promotion with Ty Inc. and has been removed from this site. Meghan, a spokesperson at Kellogg, has stated the article in the Chicago Tribune about a Kellogg and Ty partnership is not in fact true. They will have mini-bean bag toys in their cereal boxes sometime near January, however the co-promotion is not with Ty Inc. A spokesperson at Ty Inc. also confirmed the news article was untrue. (Reported by MBBBW).

... Ty, Inc. Sues Holy Bears
"Using teddy bears to help spread the Word of God apparently does not sit well with the maker of Beanie Babies™ products. Ty, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against HolyBears, Inc. asking for all HolyBears™ teddy bears to be "impounded for destruction." Click here to read the article!

... Ms. Janie Interviews Birdl@nd
Ms. Janie has interviewed the owners of the Birdl@nd Japanese website. It's quite an interesting article .... Click here to read the Interview!

... Ty Reps Taking Orders for 2nd Ed., Series IV BBOC Cards
BeanieMom reports that orders may be placed beginning tomorrow for Series IV BBOC cards. It is anticipated that these cards should start arriving in retail stores in late Oct/early Nov - just in time for that special Christmas gift!

... More poems!
It appears that have been some discrepancies over poems and birthdays for the recently announced new Beanie Babies. It was first rumored that 2,000 Ty2K bears were autographed by Ty Warner himself and an incorrect poem accompanied it. According to MBBBW, the correct Ty2K poem is:

According to the Ty website, Ty 2K's birthday is 12/31/99. However, the hang tag birthday reads 1/1/2000 !

It was also reported that Wallace's birthday is 6/24/99, however the hang tag reportedly reads 1/25/99

... Blue Faced Spangles "in the news" again!
It was earlier reported that Ty pulled auctions for the blue faced Spangle on eBay. Reports were that "Ty has not even released this project, and therefore any item now in the hands of the public is either counterfeit, or has been stolen from their company."

Spangle the BEANIE BABY
is the first Beanie to feature
two distinct patterned fabrics
and three different head colors!

... Beanie Buddy Tags ...
MBBBW has supplied the following information regarding the Beanie Buddy tag info:

Amber: "Ty had looked after two orphaned cats and had called them Amber and Silver"

Fetch: "Fetch the Beanie Baby was introduced in May of 1998 and was retired in December of 1998 when he was less than one year old!"

Peace: "Peace the BEANIE BABY was the first Beanie Baby with an embroidered emblem. This Ty-dye technique on a soft toy is the first in the world!"

Pumkin': "Pumkin' the Beanie Baby was the first Beanie to represent a vegetable!"

Spangle: "Spangle the BEANIE BABY is the first Beanie to feature two distinct patterned fabrics and three different head colors!"

Spinner: "Spinner the Beanie Baby was the second spider to be made by Ty. The attention to detail includes a tiger striped body and red eyes!"

... Noah's Ark (with Beanies) ...
As listed below, the bids continue to rise for the "494 Beanies in Noah's Ark"! Last check - $63,100 with 57 bids = reserve not yet met, with 5 days, 14 hours left! ! Click here to check out the auction!!!

... Noah's Ark Beanie Baby Collection on Ebay Auction!
What a gorgeous sight! A hand-made cedar and oak ark, with Beanies by the pair! The collection includes two Ty #1 Bears and two Billionaire Bears, as well as two of all 247 Beanie Babies ever produced. Also included are two BBOC Platinum Kits signed by Ty (as seen on the Rosie O'Donnell Show in March). This is probably the most magnificent Beanie Baby collection in the whole world! (Currently the bid is at $45,300 with 30 bids placed). Click here to check out the auction!!!

... MBBBW Exclusive: More Details on Billionaire 2T
MBBBW has provided us with new details on the Ty® Picnic held on Sept. 12, 1999 and the Wednesday distribution of Billionaire 2T bear to Ty employees! Click here to read the complete story! (You can see a pic of the bear, as well as the tags!)

... New Releases are Showing Up!
The newest releases are supposedly debuting at several retail stores now. The poems and birthdays for a few are noted below:

Slowpoke
Birthday: May 20, 1999
Look up in the sky to the top of the tree
What in the world is that you see?
A little sloth as sweet as can be
Marching on leaves very slowly!
©1999 Ty Inc

Wallace
Birthdate: June 24, 1999
Castles rise from misty glens
Shielding bands of warrior men
Wearing tartan of their clan
Red, green, and a little tan!
©1999 Ty Inc.

Scaly
Birthdate: February 9, 1999
I love to lie, basking in the sun
Living in the desert sure is fun
Climbing up cactus, avoiding a spike
I'm the Beanie you're sure to like!
©1999 Ty Inc.

Chipper
Birthdate: April 21, 1999
I'm quick, I'm fast, I don't make a peep
But I love to snuggle when I sleep
Take me along when you go play
And I'll make sure you have a nice day!
©1999 Ty Inc.

The End
All good things come to an end
It's been fun for everyone
Peace and hope are never gone
Love you all and say, "So long!"
©1999 Ty Inc.
Note: Where the birthday goes there is a dash, dot, dash, dot, dash.

Groovy
Birthdate: January 10, 1999
Wearing Colors of the Rainbow
Making friends wherever I go
Take me with you, don't let me stay
I need your love all night and day!
©1999 Ty Inc.

1999 Holiday Teddy
Birthdate: December 25, 1999
Peace on Earth as the holidays grow near
The season is all about giving good cheer
With love and joy in your hearts
Lets all be friends as the century starts!
©1999 Ty Inc.

Honks
Birthdate: March 11, 1999
Honks the goose likes to fly away
South for Winter he will stay
When Spring comes back, North he will fly
And swim in ponds and lakes nearby!
©1999 Ty Inc.

(Thanks to MBBBW for the info. Please note the poems' accuracy has not been verified and is subject to change. )

... Updated List
All the current Beanies (including the newest releases) are now listed on Ty's Current List, except Slowpoke was a little too pokey to make the list! So, print out the list, put on your 'scouting' shoes, and get busy ! The newbies should be showing up soon! (Note: You can also get a current list of the Beanie Babies and Buddies on this site by clicking here.)

... New Plush Bears
Ty has posted pictures of "the three bears". They can be viewed at the following:
Bluebeary
Purplebeary
Butterbeary

... Finally - New Pictures posted by Ty !
Well, the Ty website finally has pictures of all the newest releases! How Cute !!!! (Take a look at the Beanie Buddy 'Snowboy'! It isn't 'Snowball', as everyone speculated. This is a first ... A Beanie Buddy without a matching Beanie Baby!!!) Click here to see the new pictures !!!

... Sept Newbies ... Ty® Europe
According to a copy of the Ty Europe Limited revised shipping policy for September 1999 posted on Beanies UK, only retailers who attended the Ty Booth at the recent Birmingham NEC Tradeshow will be able to order the Sept Beanie Babies, Buddies and Attic Treasures.
GO TO POLICY here.

... Counterfeit Beanies!
I have come across an article which may be of interest to collectors on how to spot and avoid counterfeit Beanie Babies. Check out .... How to Spot a Fake Beanie Baby.

Authorities urged nearly 2 million people to evacuate coastal areas stretching from
Florida to North Carolina today as Hurricane Floyd, one of the most powerful
and biggest storms to ever threaten the United States, roared through the Bahamas.

... It's almost Contest Time!
Due to the approaching hurricane, (we're in North Carolina), I have delayed the contest, but hope to have it up and running within the next couple of days ! .... So keep watching ... it won't be long now. (In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the track of this fierce storm!)

... Ty Policy Notice ...
A retailer provided Ms. Janie with the following:
Ty Inc. Corporate Policy

... Billionaire Bear #2 !!!
MBBBW reports:
"Ty Inc.® hosted their annual family employee picnic in Suburban Chicago on Sunday, September 12. The day started out sunny and in the low 70's. Although a light drizzle appeared in the early afternoon, spirits were not dampened. Security was reportedly tight as all attendees were required to wear color-coded wristbands as identifiers.

Employees were presented with a special Beanie bear, Billionaire #2, cranberry in color with a double $$ embroidered in gold on its chest. Each hang tag was individually signed with a gold ink pen by Ty Warner.

The original BillionaireT Bear was given at last year's employee picnic and currently has a market value of anywhere between $1500-$3000.

Billionaire #2 was on auction at eBay earlier today, however was closed
with no known reason."

... Cyberboard User IDs for Ty Inc.®
There have been several fictitious postings, assumably from Ty, on the Ty Talk Cyberboard recently. Be wary of what you read! ... MBBBW reports:
"From an old post on the Ty® Talk Cyberboard mentioning the only valid user IDs used by Ty Warner and his staff: Ty Warner writes:
" 'I use the User ID of "Ty Warner". My staff will use the User ID's of *Ty* or Ty Inc. I hope that clears things up. As a side note, the Ty Inc. ID usually appears as "~ Ty Inc ~". A Ty spokesperson confirms that these are still the only valid IDs used by Ty. Recent questionable posts shortly removed included IDs such as "Ty*Warner", "Ty_Warner", "Your Friends at Ty", and other variations. Also be wary of any posts claiming to be Mary Beth or any other well known person without substantial proof that it is really them. User ID's that contain inappropriate names are immediately blocked from the board, however it does not stop them from coming up with a new e-mail address to use on the board.' "

... New Tush Tag Pictures
It was earlier reported that a new tush tag was found on the most recent releases displayed at the UK Trade Show. The tags have changed from a ribbon-loop to a single swatch of material, with the Ty hologram logo on one site (and text on the other). MMBBW reports that some of these new tags are also appearing on some of the current styles as well. Click here to see the new tush tags.

... Birdl@nd reports ... "Attic Treasures will come soon" in Japan
Some Attic Treasures expected to show up in Japan are: Bonnie, Cawley, Checkers, Cody, Eve, Georgette, Gordon, Hearley, Isabella , Purrcy, Radcliffe, Ramsey, Samuel, and Tyrone. The site also mentions that new shipment of Beanie Buddies are arriving at retailers (including Twigs!)

... Perhaps a clue !
Are Beanie Babies coming to an end? Remember, Ty just stated that all Beanies would be retired on December 31, 1999 .... he did NOT mention that new releases would not be forthcoming in 2000! Many articles have been written with various opinions on this subject. It's been on the National and Local TV news, National and Local newspapers, etc. Perhaps the best clue so far is right under our nose. Take a look at Millennium's poem:

... Hot Off the Press ...
Beaniemom reports ... "PEOPLE MAGAZINE DOUBLE ISSUE... JUST HIT THE SHELVES.... HUGE SPREAD ON TY WARNER. THE HISTORY OF BEANIES.... PLUS LOTS OF PHOTOS... FIRST PHOTOS SINCE 1993.... THOUGHT YOU MIGHT FIND IT INTERESTING."

... Blue Face Spangle in Big Demand!
It appears that the blue face Spangle is very rare, perhaps more so than the white face (and definitely the pink). Three EBay auctions for the Blue Face Spangle ended yesterday. Six buyers won auctions in a Dutch auction for $138; the other auctions closed at $122.50 and $123.71.

... Les Fox writes, "The End of Beanie Babies? I Don't Think So!"
The writer of the "Beanie Baby Handbooks", Les Fox, has posted an interesting article on the Bookazon website, saying .... "Is Ty, Inc. nuts? Why would they suddenly abandon the most successful lone of low-priced kid (and adult) toy and collector's items in the past 20 years? Is December 31, 1999 really the end of Beanie Babies? I doubt it." .... He and Sue have a great track record with accurate predictions ..... you can read the article here.

... Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Well, "Celebrity Bears", that is..... There are five new Celebrity Bears coming in October. Called Oz Bears, there are Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Wicked Witch. There are only a limited amount of each bear made. (They are nice, I must say!!! ... in addition to the fact that I love the Wizard of Oz!)
Click Here to view pictures of these bears, # 41 - 45, on the Celebrity Bear website.

... Britannia Beanie Buddy ...
It has been reported that only 4 of the Britannia Beanie Buddies will be shipped to accounts in the U.K. each month.

Thanks for the info, Christian and Dave ...
Guess that one will be impossible to get now, unless you are willing to spend big bucks.
(Wonder what the limitations are with the Maple Beanie Buddy in Canada ???)

... Removal of Pictures
Ty has asked for the removal of the recently displayed pictures on Wongo's Beanie Station ! At least we got a quick "sneak peek". Expect to see them on the Ty site soon!

... Ty Notice !!!
Have you read the Y2K Compliance notice recently on Ty's website? Definitely interesting! Click here to read it!

... Contest Winner!
The winner of the contest for the "Chip Trio" has been contacted, but confirmation has not yet been received... perhaps enjoying a long Labor Day weekend. As soon as it is received, the name will be posted! Thanks to all who entered; the response was terrific ! The next contest, to start in just a few days, is one you definitely won't want to miss! Two prizes, two winners - and you WILL like it, I'm sure! Check back soon for your chance to win!

... BeanFirst Interviews Beanies-UK
Will at BeanFirst recently interviewed Christian Bray and David Scraton of Beanies-UK. They have done an excellent job of keeping UK and US Beanie Baby collectors informed of the latest news. (They recently announced the news about the Britannia Beanie Buddy before the release by Ty.) ..... Click here to read the interview.

Needless to say, I am proud to be "twin-sited" with Beanies-UK, and cherish their friendship immensely! Thanks and keep up the good work, guys!

... Pictures of the new Beanies ...
'Wongo's Beanie Station' has posted picture of some of the new Beanies: TY2K, 1999 Bear, Slowpoke, Sheets, Scaly, Groovy, and "The End."
http://www.wongo.freeserve.co.uk/new_releases.htm

Update: Sept 6th - At the wishes of Ty, the pictures have been removed from their site.

... Birthdays reported on some of the new Beanies ...
Beaniemom reports the birthdays of the new Beanies are:

Scaly - Feb 9
Ty 2k - Jan 1
Sheets - Oct 31
Slowpoke - May 20
99 Teddy - Dec 25
Chipper - Apr 21
Honk - Mar 11
Wallace - Jan 25
Groovy - Jan 10
The End - no birthday

... Spangle Beanie Baby - First Red (Pink), then White, and Now Blue Face
Spangle's first appearance sported a pinkish face! Recent reports claimed findings of a white face. Now according to Beaniemom, several blue face Spangles have been spotted (in Chicago)!

... Another BIG Announcement?
Beanies-UK received a report stating: "I know from a 100% reliable source that something else will be announced (huge, very very good news) in October for the Millennium..."

... Descriptions of all the new Beanie Babies and Buddies!
Lemon Lainey has provided a description of what the newest releases look like~ They really do sound nice!

... Descriptions, pictures showing up of the newbies!
Seems the newest releases showed up at the recent show in the UK .... Elaine Smith, UK Staff Writer for MBBBWM, had fun seeing all the new Beanies, Buddies and Attic Treasures at the Autumn Fair at the NEC in Birmingham today!

... Press Coverage on Ty's BIG Announcement
Looking for that particular media coverage? Smart Collecting has a page with a variety of listings you can check out. Click here to read some of them.

... The history of Beanie Buddies!
What a big day!!! September 8, 1998! Wise the owl, in his diary on the Ty site, hinted at a new and exciting product forthcoming. Through his entire month as "InfoBeanie", we were led through Ty offices, etc. as the search continued for the hidden creatures. Hints were dropped almost every day, as we anxiously awaited what the BIG EVENT was going to be....and when! On September 30th, the answer was unveiled. A giant party, with the introduction of nine new original Beanie BUDDIES™ !!! --- Cranberry Teddy, Twigs, Beak, Rover, Royal Blue Elephant, Jake, Quackers, Humphrey, and Stretch. Identical (almost) to their counterpart Beanie Babies™, what an awesome new arrival!!!

I have continued to update a page on this site, with all the Buddy news, as it happens. It has now been updated, with the latest announcement of the 13 Buddies, their style numbers, etc. It is quite interesting how Beanie Buddies have unfolded. (I personally love them!). (Hmmm - perhaps Bean-E Buddies is on the horizon !!!) You can access the page from the main page (Beanie Buddies) or from here, go to Beanie Buddies.

... On the Horizon !!! Bean E Babies?
The latest Beanie news is flying faster than most can keep up with. Our local newspaper has an interesting article, as well as CNN (view the transcipt at CNN.com), The Washington Post newspaper (see below), etc. Many are reporting that the copyright on the name "Beanie Babies" per se has been denied; "Bean E Babies" looks to be on the horizon! Ty has trademarked many many variances on the "Bean E Babies" name, including "(Bean E Babies, Bean-E Babies), (Bean E Baby, Bean-E Baby), (Bean E Buddy, Bean-E Buddy), (Bean E Buddies, Bean-E Buddies), Bean E Bears, as well as E-Babies, E-Buddies, and many variances of the E-" listings! ..... I think you get the picture now!!! :)

... What do the Bears really look like?
As we all anxiously await for the pictures to show up on the Ty website of all the newest releases, Beaniemom has some additional information posted on her site:

"From Cindy. . .

I am a Ty dealer and was given the following descriptions of the new bears by the Ty rep on the phone when I ordered this morning:

Wallace: Scottish Bear - green with red scarf;
Groovy: Ty-dyed Bear;
Ty 2K - White Bear with confetti specks;
1999 Holiday Teddy - Blue Bear with white snowflakes and blue hat;
The End - Black Bear with "The End" written on chest.

I was also told that the summer exclusives could only be ordered by accounts who had previously ordered them at a trade show.

Finally, when I asked for clarification on the retiring of all Beanies, the rep had no further information.

... "The Great Beanie Brouhaha"
Washington Post Staff Writer, Ann Gerhart, has written an article ("The Great Beanie Brouhaha") you will find quite interesting. I suggest you read it yourself, instead of posting some of the highlights here !

... Source: The Washington Post, Thursday, Sept 2, 1999, Page C1
(Thanks so much for directing us to the info, Carolyn)

Note: I would like to personally thank everyone who has written in with "Beanie" news and information, especially over the last few days. By your sharing with me, it allows everyone to be aware of the latest 'happenings' in the news, through this site. I cannot unfortunately name each person individually, but a special thanks to JoAnne and Carolyn - who always seem to be "on top of things". Thanks, guys!!!!

... A description of the "New Bears" ...
MBBBW has obtained information from a Ty® source about what each bear in the new set looks like. Here's a brief description of the bears Ty Inc. released on August 31:
"Wallace^™"bear is a Scottish bear
"Groovy^™" bear is Ty-dyed
"Ty2K^™" is a confetti bear
"The End^™" is a black bear

"According to the Ty Rep we spoke with, the order form reps received contained no pictures. The order form contained another surprise as well -- the summer show exclusive Beanies^™, Buddies^™ and Pillow Pal® are now available from Reps. Ty had previously indicated those items would only be available for ordering at gift and specialty shows held throughout the summer."

... Ty Announces Beanie Baby Retirement Today
Although we know all Beanies will be retired by the end of the year, it appears that retirements, in the interim, will continue ... Loosy retired today! Click here to view Ty's official announcement!

Beanie Babies - 36 per style
Beanie Buddies - 6 per style
Pillow Pals - ordered in sets of 4
Attic Treasures - 24 per style

Summer Show Exclusives (certain retailers only):
Beanie Babies - 36 per style
Beanie Buddies - 6 per style
Pillow Pals - ordered in sets of 4

... In case you are wondering about the possibility of Beanies coming to an end with Ty's announcement yesterday, you might want to read an article by Jacqueline Greenwood, "Is This The End of Beanie Babies?" Click here to read the story.

... Ty's Latest Announcement: Was the HYPE worth the wait?
Once again, Ms. Janie has written an interesting article you may wish to read, including Ty's past history, the present, and some future predictions. Read her article here !l

... TODAY'S THE DAY ... THE COUNTDOWN !
4:00 pm EDT - FINALLY !! The announcement has been posted: (with an added note of all Beanies to retire, including the "Newbies" on Dec 31, 1999, at 11:59 pm !!!

**Beanie Babies™ (10)**
Chipper, chipmunk	Wallace, Bear
Scaly, lizard	Groovy, Bear
Slowpoke, sloth	Ty 2K, bear
Sheets, ghost	1999 Holiday Teddy, bear
Honks, goose	The End, black bear

**Beanie Buddies™ (13)**
Amber, cat	Gobbles, turkey
Silver, cat	Halo, bear
Snowboy, snowboy	Spangle, bear
Fetch, dog	Peace, bear
Slither, snake	Britannia, bear (UK Exclusive)
Spinner, spider	Maple, bear (Canada Exclusive)
Pumkin, pumpkin

**Attic Treasures (8)**
Tyra, bear	Cheri, poodle
Waddlesworth, penguin	Orion, bear
Spruce, bear	Bearkhardt, bear
Beargundy, bear	Gwyndolyn, bear

**Plush Bears (3)**
Bluebeary	Purplebeary
Butterbeary

Ty will give priority in shipping to accounts that follow our suggested guidelines:

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE:
On December 31, 1999 - 11:59p.m. (CST)
All Beanies will be retired...including the above

Aug/Sept Beanie Baby Retirements/Date Retired
.Canyon 8/16/99...
.Fortune 8/24/99..
.Wiser 8/27/99 ....
.Loosy 9/1/99 .....