February 1 - 29, 2000

February 29th
Happy 'Leap' Day

... (Non Beanie/Collectible News ... Treasured Pals!)
I just have to share this with you ... Today I received a copy of a catalog of newly introduced 'ornaments' in the UK.  They are called Treasured Pals and come in the form of Ornaments, Key rings and Money boxes.

Each Treasured Pal is made of resin and is approximately 2 inches in height. They are boxed, come with a heart neck tied tag, with their own birthday. Each one is limited to around 5,000 worldwide.

They are very detailed and well made.  (I have the "chicken"; she is too cute!!!) View the catalog pages below:

Treasured Pals ... Page 1
Treasured Pals ... Page 2
Treasured Pals ... Page 3
Treasured Pals ... Page 4
Treasured Pals ... Page 5

... Ty Retailer reports ...
The March Ty order (quantity limitations) are listed below (orders may be entered by retailers on 3/1 at 7 am CST):

Beanie Buddies - 6 pcs. per design per location
Jumbo & X-Large Buddy styles - 1 piece per design per location
Large Buddy styles - 2 pcs. per design per location
Attic Treasures - 24 pcs. per design per location
Baby Ty - 4 pcs. per design per location
Ty Classics Unlimited
Beanie Babies 2000 - 36 pcs. per design per location

Note: The style descriptions for Beanie Babies will be available at 7 AM CST on March 1st! ....... Beanie Kids are not mentioned in March ordering or limits.

... MetaExchange Prices
Bryan (from Bryan's Beanie Den) contacted me in regards to a Beanie Buddy and Beanie Kid price guide (with MetaExchange prices). It's quite an interesting set-up! You can check it out at the following links:

Buddy Price Guide:
http://members.dencity.com/brysbeanden/budprices.html
Beanie Kids Price Guide:
http://members.dencity.com/brysbeanden/kidprices.html

... TBB's in the UK
It's time for the UK McDonald's Teenie Beanie Baby promo, according to Wongo's Beanie Station. This is the second TBB promo for the UK, which officially begins this Friday, March 3rd. The site has a scan of a promotional poster showing which ones will be available in the UK.
Click Here To View Poster

... Thanks to Beanieholics for bringing this to our attention!

February 28th

... Nameless Dotty Hang Tag version
Below is a scan of the "nameless" Dotty Beanie Buddy hang tag mentioned earlier in the news.

... Thanks again, Bubba!

... Just a quick note ...
My mail server has been up and down all morning. To those of you who have submitted contest entries or tried to get in touch with me, I WILL respond, as soon as the server is back up and running. Thank you for your patience! (At least I can still keep updating the news .... as it happens! :)

... Buddy Variations? A Japanese Exclusive Beanie Baby?
It appears there's a lot of talk about Beanie Buddy variations recently showing up. My advice ... if you are going to bid on a auction for something that has not been 'confirmed', be careful. (Of course, that really goes without saying!) There are reports floating around on the internet, as well as some 'rumors' from various Beanie sources that I visited over the weekend, of a Red Digger Buddy (versus the orange official version); an updated version of Lizzy (the black/blue version vs the official ty-dyed version); etc. (I do know for a fact that there IS a nameless Dotty Buddy available; and LB Peanut with two different tail lengths does exist ... a comparison picture can be viewed on Ms Janie's site here. It is very rare to find an error of any sort with a Beanie Buddy, unlike the many variations of certain Beanie Babies. But it can and does happen. Just remember, buyer - beware!

... I am also uncertain how and where it all started, as various reports are out, that there is a Japanese (exclusive Beanie Baby?) bear named Sakura. A news media in Japan has reported information that Ty will introduce a "stuffed toy bear in Japan under the name 'Sakura' in March. It can be read at http://home.kyodo.co.jp/cgi-bin/kws.concisestory?id=20000225835

... I don't recall an official announcement on the Ty website of a Germania Beanie Buddy! Quite interesting, to say the least! I wouldn't expect either of those to enter my collection! (Wonder what my husband would say if I asked for a roundtrip ticket to Japan via Germany? It probably wouldn't be "roundtrip" LOL)!

... Just a little "Doodle" commentary :) Stay tuned for more news! Those new Beanies should be announced by Ty VERY soon!!!

...
Ms Janie has now posted Part 3 of her trip to the New York Toy Fair. It can be read by clicking on the following link:
http://www.msjanie.com/articles/newyork3.html

February 27th

... Catching up on the news, etc!
As some of you were aware, I 'escaped' for the weekend, and enjoyed a couple of days of some much needed R & R. (Although, as usual, it's always good to be back home!) I will continuously update the news throughout the day, sort through the emails, and respond to all the contest entries. So all of you that have submitted over the last couple of days ... a confirmation WILL follow! Thank you for your patience! I DO have lots of news to tell you as well ! So check back ! :)

... Nameless Dotty Buddy?
I have received reports that a couple of UK Ty retailers have received shipments of the new Buddies this week. After viewing the shipments, it has been stated that they have "nameless Dotty Buddies" (no name appears in the hang tag). This sounds like the situation with Scorch/Dragon, as no name appeared on the hang tag as well. If anyone is aware of this in the US, please email me at dmh13@alltel.net or send me a scanned pic of the tag. Might be an interesting one to keep your eyes open for!

(Thanks for the info, Bubba! :)

... Beanie Situation in the UK
The following email was sent to me:

==========================================================
Shops in the UK seem to be getting orders through now pretty fast, with turnaround of orders taking approximately 3 days instead of over a month last year, which shows that stock levels in UK Warehouses must be pretty high.

The shops seem to have a lot of "Shelf Sitters" at the moment, which consist mainly of the last batch of releases, Slowpoke, Sheets, etc.  But in some areas the bears which used to be on the multibuy system are now being placed on shelves as normal beanies, such as Groovy, Holiday 99 and Wallace.  Blue Faced Spangles are also turning up in stores and are becoming readily available to collectors.  Some shops are selling off Beanies at reduced costs, for as low as £2 in some shops.

The new Buddies have also made an appearance, now priced at £11.99, again the "Shelf Sitters" are noticeable, Eucalyptus, Lips, Congo etc.  Bears seem to be the main attraction, along with Bronty and Dragon/Scorch.

Baby Ty too have hit the stores, they look to be going along the lines of Pillow Pals and not drawing any attention from collectors.

... from "OBLIVION !!"

(Thanks for the info! :)
==========================================================

February 25th

... A meeting with Ty Warner
A secondary dealer met and chatted with Ty Warner at the New York Toy Fair. His story and comments can be read on Beanie Mom's site by clicking here.

... More Buddy pics
You may also be interested in viewing a comparison of the two Kicks Buddies mentioned earlier in the news, as well as a pic of a pastel vs regular Peace Buddy. Visit Beaniemom's site to take a peek!

February 24th

... Kicks Buddy (a second version?)
A Smart Collecting member reported that they purchased a Kicks Buddy at their local TY dealer ... and were told that it has a different material. Another member reported that they saw a Kicks Buddy with blue highlights on the tip of the green fabric at their local Ty dealer.  Upon further research, it appears there is an auction for this "Second Version", with a pic included in the auction description. To view, Go to Auction.

... Dragon Buddy Now Has a Name! 
A reader from New York has also reported to Smart Collecting that the Dragon Buddy now has a name!  "I was on a trip to Maryland earlier this week and was able to find the Dragon buddy," she explains. "He now is named Scorch inside the heart tag. He was previously called only the dragon."

... Birmingham (UK) Trade Show Daily News
Beanieholics obtained a copy of a story that appeared in the Birmingham (UK) Trade Show Daily News about the debut of Beanie Kids last month. Click here to read the article.

... New Beanie Babies
We all know they're coming ... 20 of them! Our patience is a virtue, as we await the announcement on the Ty website. But I do anticipate it to be VERY SOON! Keep watching! (I hope they'll be easier to find than the new Buddies ... I have YET to see one on a store shelf here!)

February 23rd

... Beanie Kid Pics
Beanie Mom has been lucky enough to obtain 8 of the 9 Beanie Kids released, and has taken pics of them to share with us. To take a look at her Kids Photo Gallery, go to http://www.beaniemom.com/beaniekids2.html. (You can get a good idea of the actual size of them.) My goodness, I really do resemble Precious on an early morning rise! :)

February 21st

... Beanie Kids in the News
Smart Collecting reports that the highest amount paid on eBay for a Beanie Kid is Precious (at $153.50). Second place was between Ginger and Angel, which sold for a high bid of $128. (It doesn't surprise me that the girl Beanie Kids seem to be more popular... my personal favorite is Angel. :)

... New York Toy Fair news
Ms Janie has now posted Part 2 of her journey to New York and the Toy Fair. It can be viewed at
http://www.msjanie.com/articles/newyork_2.html
For those of you who missed part one, it can be viewed at
http://www.msjanie.com/articles/newyork_1.html

... Contest Update
The contest is moving right along ... you guys are great! The rules are being followed to a tee!!! Just remember ... you are only allowed one entry per day per person. Your pets can NOT be included (nice try)!

... and thanks for all the votes/support in the "unannounced prize" Contest Drawing as well. As I said before, I don't intend to have the #1 website; I do have the #1 friends and fans. That's the most important! :)

February 19th

... News from the New York Toy Fair
As you may remember from earlier news, Ms Janie and Beanie Mom visited the Toy Fair in New York this week. The articles they have written are quite interesting. (Part 1 of 3 in the series is posted on Ms Janie's site, complete with pictures of Sally Winey and more.)

... I agree with Ms Janie, as I would miss the sunrise/sunset we so enjoy here. Wonder if she's ready for another taxi ride? :)

Here's Ms.Janie's Story
Here's Beanie Mom's Story

February 18th

...
The Contest seems to be running along quite smoothly. I am trying my best to personally respond to each entry, to check for the accuracy of the answers. (I am trying to catch up with office work, and am still recuperating, so please be patient.) As you are probably aware, all 10 Beanies have now been posted. (Occasionally a Beanie will be reposted in case you missed one. All 10 will be posted at least one more time before the Contest ends.) Please remember, though, you are allowed only one entry per day per person! The more often you enter will obviously increase your chances of winning!!! Good luck to everyone! :)

... Ty owns new Beanie Kids domains
MBBBW reports that Ty now owns the domains beaniekids.org and beaniekids.net.  Both domains were registered on January 6, 2000.  (The Skansen Giftware company in Australia already owns the domain beaniekids.com.)

February 17th

... Cyrk Agrees to Pay $216,000 for Late Delivery of Beanie Babies
Bloomberg News
Feb 17 2000 9:05PM ET
Washington, Feb. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Cyrk Inc., which markets a membership organization called the Beanie Babies Official Club, has agreed to pay a $216,000 civil penalty for failing to promptly deliver ordered toys. The Federal Trade Commission charged Gloucester, Massachusetts-based Cyrk with violating a mail order rule that requires a merchant to ship a product by the time set in its advertisements, or to give customers a chance to agree to a delay or cancel their order for a refund.
http://gte.snap.com/main/finance/news/story/0,234,gte-77652090,00.html

... Thanks to Ms Janie for sharing this information with us.

Note: She has just returned from the New York Toy Fair and should be posting pictures of New York and the Fair tomorrow ... (of course, no pictures of Beanie Babies were allowed) .... you might want to check them out! Sounds like she had a great time!

... Ty Terms and Conditions for Canadian Dealers
A Smart Collecting member has sent in some highlights from the Ty Canada Terms and Conditions agreement, which is effective February 1st. Part of it entitles Ty to cancel orders or terminate accounts for any Retailer engaged in "ratio" selling (ie - one bear with the purchase of 5 commons. Retailers are also prohibited from ... reselling the product outside the retail establishment; selling the product over the internet or mail order; or knowingly selling to secondary market dealers. The article can be read in its entirety on the Smart Collecting website.

February 16th

... Ty® Classic
Duster found a new home today - the Doodle household! Actually, in case you aren't aware, Duster is a (llapsa aphsa) Ty® Classic, but very similar to our own dog. Does look a bit real, huh? ... Our dog is white, with a tan ear, though ... hence the name "Tanner" :) And yes, he thinks Duster was brought home for HIM!

... Ty Newsflash!
The following Newsflash was posted on Ty's website today:

Ty's commitment has always been to make the finest plush in the world "affordable"

Ty therefore recommends the following suggested retail pricing:

http://www.ty.com/announcements/pricing_newsflash.html

...
This morning, the CBS Early Show (broadcast from New York) showed some interactive toys that were introduced at the American International Toy Fair (which Ty attended). Since no cameras have been allowed, the toys were brought into the studio. (Of course, NO Ty Beanies, but quite interesting just the same.) Some of the toys they showed included a new Alian Furby, "Milo" (an artificial intelligence robot) as well as "Poochy" (a dog robot), "Me and My Shadow" (a dog that responds to voice recognition and obeys on command), "Miracle Baby" (an interative doll that moves and responds to you), and a Barbie doll (with a bendable waist). It was quite apparent that new technology interactive toys are becoming more popular! (I did note that all these toys were less than $100). BUT .... still anxious to see those new Beanies! :)

February 15th

... Contest
11:40 pm ... You might want to check the Contest Page, if you haven't done so! Beanie #10 is now posted! (In case you missed a couple, they WILL all be randomly posted again ... just keep checking back!) Have fun and good luck!

... Beanie Kids Tag Scans
If you're interested in viewing the hang tag and tush tag of a Beanie Kid, Beaniemom has them posted on her site.

She is off to the Toy Fair, as is Ms Janie ... it will be interesting to see what they have to say upon their return!

... Beanie Kids Updated on Ty's site!
Ty has finally updated the Beanie Kids portion of the website. You can now view each picture individually, along with their birthdate, picture, and poem. Click here to view ... (Don't they kind of grow on you after a while ? :)

I've created a new page as well ... Click Here to read about Beanie Kids on this site.

... Beanie Kids stories!
If you're interested in reading how the Beanie Kids 'captured' the eyes (and hands) of many at a few retail stores over the weekend, SmartCollecting has posted some stories, as well as a nice close-up of ... Chipper! Click here to read them.

... Beanie Baby orders
All Ty dealers attending the show can order at the Show.  Other Ty dealers will be able to place their orders for 36 of each of the twenty new Beanie Babies beginning in March.

.... as reported by Smart Collecting

February 14th
Happy Valentines' Day !

... Beanie Kids will NOT be limited!
Ms Janie has posted a retailer's conversation with Ty Warner at the recent Show, in which it is stated that Beanie Kids will NOT be as limited as we once thought. It's quite interesting ... you can read the article at http://www.msjanie.com/news_pic/paul_ty.html.

February 13th

... 20 New Beanie Babies!
Ty has announced the next set of Beanie Babies at the American International Toy Fair in New York today. There are 20 new styles, although they are unnamed and tagless (only prototypes) at the Show. Smart Collecting has been given a brief description:

• Bears
  1. Ty 2000 Signature Bear (red emblem, gold ribbon)
  2. White Bear with silver stars, gold ribbon
  3. White Bear with gold wings and halo
  4. White Polar Bear with black paws

• Dogs
  5. German shepherd, gray and brown
  6. Jack Russell terrier, brown and tan with short fur

• Bunnies
  7. Yellow bunny, (sits like Hope), eyes closed
  8. Purple bunny, (sits like Hope), eyes open

• Dinosaurs
  9. Pterodactyl, muticolored, huge wings

• Jungle
  10. Lion, orange & yellow oversized mane
  11. Kitten, cub (like Freckles but smaller)

• Reptiles
  12. Alligator, dark green with spikes

• Insects
  13. Dragon fly, green head with orange wings
  14. Bug with six legs, multicolored

• Mammals
  15. Lamb (like Ewey)
  16. Elephant, gray (small)
  17. Camel, hairy hump

• Birds
  18. Penguin, furry top on head

• Aquatic
  19. Eel, green and orange
  20. Squid, multicolored

February 12th

... Beanie Kids ... in the news!
As we all sit back (with patience) for the anticipated Ty announcement regarding new Beanie Babies (presumably tomorrow!), Beanie Kids have filled the latest Ty news in the interim. If you are interested in a general synopsis of the "Kids", I have created a new section (including individual names - with pictures, birthdates, poems, and descriptions). Click Here to read about Beanie Kids. (It can also be found by linking from the main page!)

... Thank You!
I can't "thank you" enough for all the thoughtful and caring emails everyone has sent. (I'm slowly catching up on all the responses! :) Thanks for your patience!) It just reconfirms what I've said before ... I do have the #1 friends and fans. My recovery (although a slow process) is moving right along ... YOU make everything seem so much better. Keep sharing the smiles; let your loved ones know every day how much you care :)

February 11th

... Ty Newsflash!

The Ty website has posted pictures of the Beanie Kids group.

Also .... in case you didn't notice, the following information is noted on the Beanie Kids page on Ty's site, along with their poems (individual photos can be viewed on the Ty Newsflash page http://www.ty.com/shared_i/bkgrpphoto.html by clicking on "next"):

Beanie Kids (names and birthdays):
Angel: March 29, 1994
Boomer: August 11, 1994
Chipper: July 20, 1997
Curly: March 2, 1997
Cutie: December 26, 1996
Ginger: June 12, 1992
Precious: May 15, 1993
Rascal: April 15, 1995
Tumbles: September 3, 1996
Click here to read their poems on the Ty site.

... I'm Back!!!
12:40 am ... My apologies for not updating the site over the last few days. An unexpected (and somewhat scary) trip to the hospital earlier this week kept me from any and all updates. (I just returned home this evening.) I will completely update it during the day today, with lots of interesting "new news". (The Ty news has been posted below). Thank you for your patience. :)

Note: A new Beanie IS now posted on the Contest Page. And .... all entries for the "unannounced prize" HAVE been received. You should receive a confirmation tomorrow, in response to the emails you have sent. Thank You so much for your kindness and support!

*************

February 10th
Peanut the elephant Buddy retired (assumably the light blue 'unannounced' Peanut Beanie Buddy retired as well):
http://www.ty.com/announcements/32chw90.html

Ty will officially announce the new Beanies this weekend at the New York Toy Fair.  I will definitely keep you posted on what's happening with the new Beanie line, so keep checking!

February 9th
Ty posted the following Newsflash:

NEWSFLASH

Beanie Kids™ have arrived!

Beanie Kids™ will be for sale in limited quantities
at the following locations this weekend!

http://www.ty.com/announcements/sp386.html

February 7th

... Ty Warner makes an Appearance
Reports are around that Ty Warner recently attended the Nuremberg Toy Fair in Germany. BeanieMom and Underground Bean have both received letters from readers that attended that Show. Interesting info can be found at both of the links below, including a Germania Buddy (German Exclusive) and new non-flake tush tags on the upcoming new Beanies (with details and pics on the Ty site this weekend).
Beanie Mom
Underground Bean

... No Osito Buddy on Canadian Order Forms!
It was reported earlier that Osito Buddy showed up on Canadian retailer order forms. However, Beanieholics received information from CND Beans N Collectibles that it was put there "by mistake, and that Ty Canada has said that Canadian retailers will NOT be able to order" this Buddy.
Click Here To Visit CDN Beans N Collectibles

February 5th

... "The Terminator" Contest
Want a chance to win a Maple and Britannia Beanie Buddy? Click here for all the details at Underground Bean.

February 4th

... Ty Newsflash!
6:45 pm - Ty has posted the following newsflash:

NEWSFLASH

Ty's commitment has always been to make the finest plush in the world "affordable"
Ty therefore recommends the following pricing to our retailers:

http://www.ty.com/announcements/price_newsflash.html

... An interesting thought?
Well, here's something maybe worth thinking about. Perhaps not, but still found it a bit interesting.

Did you know? ..... there are still 194 birthdays "untaken" by Beanie Babies. Wonder if Ty is going to try to fill up the calendar? :) The two months with the most "vacant" dates are June and July, with 20 still available. The Beanies with the most birthdays in one month are in February and April (including the 29th).

Just a little trivia fact! Isn't it amazing what one can do in their spare time. OK, time to get back to work now! :)

... Germania Buddy ???
The Der BB Spielplatz (German website) reports that they attended the Toy Faire In Nuremberg yesterday and visited the Ty stand. All the new Buddies, Attic, Baby Ty and Plush were there, as well as the Beanie Kids and Jumbo Buddies. They also report that Buddies Dotty, Osito, and Congo will not be coming to Germany. BUT, they will be getting a Germania Buddy! You can read the story (available in English) at http://www.bbspielplatz.de/news/2000/nurnberg.htm

... (Original source: MBBBW)

... Picture Time!
There are some great pictures posted on various websites of new Ty products. You can check out the following:

New Buddy scans:

• Beanieholics has pics of the Ty dinosaur family (Beanies and Buddies), a great comparison of the different size Hippies, and Osito, Ty2K, and Lips Buddies:
  Click Here For Ty Dinosaurs
  Click Here For Different Sized Hippies
  Click Here For Hippity, Osito And Ty2K
  Click Here For Lips And Bronty

• A Beaniemom reader has sent in pics showing a difference in the Silver cat Buddy - one handmade in China, the other in Korea:
  Click Here For Pictures

New Attics Pics:

• Maison D'Ours has a picture of three new Attic Treasures - Hayes, Harper and Carson.

February 2nd
Happy Groundhog Day

... Have you noticed?
Thanks to Kim, who pointed out the most recent change on the Ty website. It appears the hearts have changed now, and the product names are multi-colored. You can check it out on the Ty site here.

... February Ty Retail Order Limits
Beaniemom informs us of the following order limitations for February:

Beanie Buddies - 6 per style
Jumbo & X-Large Buddies - 1 per style
Large Buddies - 2 style
Attic Treasures - 12 per style
Baby Ty - 4 per style
Ty Classics - 12 per style

... Digger Buddy Pic
Ms. Janie's Collector's Studio offers a picture of Ty's Digger Crab Buddy at the following link: http://www.msjanie.com/news_pic/orange_crab.html.

... Buddy Tush Tag Info
It appears that all the ty-dyed Beanie Buddies have the "100% Ty-Dye Tylon" information noted on the tush tag. RandyandTheresa.com (Beanieholics) have posted a scan of the Groovy tag at http://www.randyandtheresa.com/Ty-dyetag.gif.

February 1st

... Ty Posts Newflash today!!!

NEWSFLASH

THEY'RE BACK!

Beanie Baby 2000 prototypes will be unveiled at the New York Toy Fair.
Ty authorized retailers will be able to place their March orders at that time.
You know what to expect... or do you?

http://www.ty.com/announcements/newsflash.html

Added Note:
The New York Toy Fair (The American Toy Fair International) will be held on February 13-17 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. It is the largest trade show in the Western Hemisphere, with over 1,600 manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sales agents from 30 countries. Approx 20,000 people attend.

For addtional information, go to http://www.toy-tma.org/AITF/index.html

See The Archived News Section for Previous Months