| It has been a while since the last toy craze, I believe it | | | | will not want to give up the subscription and most |
| was the Tickle Me Elmo toy that sparked the last one. | | | | parents will comply. The second ingenious marketing |
| Before that the Beanie Babies craze was in full swing | | | | strategy is the fact that all Webkinz are retired after a |
| and collecting was fun and often quite lucrative. The | | | | certain time. This creates a huge demand, and a |
| newest is the Webkinz craze. It is hard to predict how | | | | scramble to get that particular toy. This drives the price |
| long the Webkinz craze will continue. The Beanie | | | | of the toy through the roof, check out some of the |
| Babies craze seemed to bottom out overnight, leaving | | | | high prices on Ebay if you want to see just how much |
| serious investment collectors holding a lot of toys that | | | | they are going for. We may be in for some bloody |
| were suddenly not worth a hill of beans. | | | | battles among parents as they fight for that elusive |
| Since these stuffed toys also offer a one year | | | | toy which is, of course, the only one their child thinks |
| membership to each child that registers a new | | | | they need. |
| Webkinz or Lil'Kinz toy on the Webkinz website, their | | | | Not only are kids of elementary school age crazy |
| popularity may hang tough in the long run. The | | | | about Webkinz, but more often kids in their teens are |
| Webkinz site promises to add new and exciting | | | | into these cuddly stuffed toys with a virtual side. Right |
| activities on a regular basis. I believe if they do keep | | | | now the Webkinz Clydesdale is not readily available, |
| the website interesting, the Webkinz craze will last a | | | | not because he is retired, but because his debut has |
| good, long time. One thing is for certain, kids need a | | | | been delayed. This also causes a scramble and a |
| stimulating reason to continue on with an activity, most | | | | flood of pre-orders to assure the ownership of the toy. |
| of them have a shorter attention span. | | | | I think that Webkinz are a great toy for kids, not only |
| The Webkinz website offers many different activities | | | | does it teach responsibility, but it will allow younger |
| for kids, and a chance to earn KinzCash that is used | | | | children to learn how to use a computer and the |
| to keep their virtual pet happy and healthy by | | | | internet. In this information age, it is essential to know |
| purchasing different items for them at the Webkinz | | | | these things to eventually get a decent job and a |
| store. I believe the KinzCash can be used to purchase | | | | head-start couldn't hurt. |
| other Webkinz at the store. Any child with access to a | | | | Many parents have voiced a concern over letting their |
| home computer is a likely candidate to be a Webkinz | | | | children participate in an online chat. The Webkinz |
| pet owner. This is the reason I believe the Webkinz | | | | website has strict precautions in place when it comes |
| craze will last longer than the toy manias of the past. I | | | | to that. Younger children are not allowed to type an |
| think the Webkinz craze could last quite a few years. | | | | answer in chat, they need to choose one of 900 |
| Ganz, the makers of Webkinz, have very clever | | | | pre-designed phrases in a drop down menu. No |
| marketing strategies in place. First of all the idea that a | | | | personal identification is asked for, so there is no way |
| subscription to the website will only last one year, and | | | | to find out anything about another. Older children are |
| then another Webkinz must be registered, which will | | | | allowed to type when chatting, but must use those |
| extend the subscription for another year, and so on. | | | | words that are predetermined in the website dictionary. |
| This assures future sales of the toy because the child | | | | |