Squishmallows. They have become one of, if not the most loved stuffed animals on the market. These plushies are round and made with velvety fabric. Depicting various species of animals and cartoon characters, each Squishmallow has its own backstory and birthday written on its tag.
What makes it so popular is the fact that it is reasonably priced and sold in many popular chain stores, for example, Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Five Below, TJ Maxx, Hallmark, Learning Express, and many more.
Another reason is because of its soothing appearance. James Zahn, editor-in-chief of the trade publication The Toy Book and senior editor at the Toy Insider stated, “There’s a real comfort in squishing them.” He also mentioned that kids who received these toys as gifts during the pandemic found them extremely calming.
However, these stuffed animals are not enjoyed by kids alone. In fact, adults are the ones driving most of the sales for the company Kellytoys, which owns Squishmallows.
These adults are part of a community made up of many collectors, operating mostly online. They communicate with each other via social media platforms, inform each other when valuable Squishmallows are dropped at local stores, and even arrange events where collectors show off and trade their plushies.
These collectors are extremely passionate about these stuffed animals, willing to wait outside a store for hours just to be able to snatch the one they want and pay hundreds of dollars for them.
Carter Kench, a 20-year-old content creator living in Los Angeles, said, “I feel like Indiana Jones every time I’m on the hunt (for Squishmallows).” He adds that “We want to collect as many as we can, but we also want to help everyone else collect the same thing.” His comment highlights the supportive and connective nature of this community.
Nick, a 27-year-old collector described the sensation of finding the Squishmallow he wanted as, “similar to the feeling of winning a slot machine. I try to ride that high because if the high goes away too quick…I’m at the store again two hours later looking for another one.”
Kench stated that the love the Squishmallow community shows toward the plushies is a “special love.”
The company Kellytoys has partnered with major brands such as Star Wars, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Godzilla, Disney, and Hershey’s, resulting in adorable Squishmallows, such as the Baby Yoda plush, the many variations of the Hello Kitty and friends plushies, the Mickey Mouse plushie, and more, further boosting its sales.
What started out as a simple, innocent squad of twelve Squishmallows evolved into something that not only provides comfort but also gives people a chance to connect and communicate with each other about something they truly love.
What makes it so popular is the fact that it is reasonably priced and sold in many popular chain stores, for example, Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Five Below, TJ Maxx, Hallmark, Learning Express, and many more.
Another reason is because of its soothing appearance. James Zahn, editor-in-chief of the trade publication The Toy Book and senior editor at the Toy Insider stated, “There’s a real comfort in squishing them.” He also mentioned that kids who received these toys as gifts during the pandemic found them extremely calming.
However, these stuffed animals are not enjoyed by kids alone. In fact, adults are the ones driving most of the sales for the company Kellytoys, which owns Squishmallows.
These adults are part of a community made up of many collectors, operating mostly online. They communicate with each other via social media platforms, inform each other when valuable Squishmallows are dropped at local stores, and even arrange events where collectors show off and trade their plushies.
These collectors are extremely passionate about these stuffed animals, willing to wait outside a store for hours just to be able to snatch the one they want and pay hundreds of dollars for them.
Carter Kench, a 20-year-old content creator living in Los Angeles, said, “I feel like Indiana Jones every time I’m on the hunt (for Squishmallows).” He adds that “We want to collect as many as we can, but we also want to help everyone else collect the same thing.” His comment highlights the supportive and connective nature of this community.
Nick, a 27-year-old collector described the sensation of finding the Squishmallow he wanted as, “similar to the feeling of winning a slot machine. I try to ride that high because if the high goes away too quick…I’m at the store again two hours later looking for another one.”
Kench stated that the love the Squishmallow community shows toward the plushies is a “special love.”
The company Kellytoys has partnered with major brands such as Star Wars, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Godzilla, Disney, and Hershey’s, resulting in adorable Squishmallows, such as the Baby Yoda plush, the many variations of the Hello Kitty and friends plushies, the Mickey Mouse plushie, and more, further boosting its sales.
What started out as a simple, innocent squad of twelve Squishmallows evolved into something that not only provides comfort but also gives people a chance to connect and communicate with each other about something they truly love.
