Friday, February 12, 1999
Even UCLA isn’t immune to craze
surrounding popular Beanie Babies
ASUCLA: Since adding stuffed toy to inventory, store has
brought
in $18,000 in unexpected revenue
By Karen Thompson
Daily Bruin Contributor
From Pinky the flamingo to Scorch the dragon, the Beanie Baby
craze has arrived at Papercuts in Ackerman Student Union, drawing
crowds as well as unanticipated revenue for the Associated Students
of UCLA (ASUCLA).
Papercuts has sold 3,800 Beanie Babies since November, when the
toys were added to the inventory, according to Jan Gruwich,
director of the supply division for the students’ association.
"They’ve been extremely popular," Gruwich said. "This number is
very unusual for stuffed animal sales."
Sales of the toys, which are priced at $6.99 a piece, created
unexpectedly high revenues for Papercuts in November. According to
ASUCLA Finance Director Rich Delia, Papercuts brought in $18,000
more than expected because of Beanie Baby sales.
However, the success of Beanie Babies is a mystery to some
people.
"I think they’re overrated. There’s too much hype with the
plastic tag protectors and on-line auctions," said Lisa Davies, a
third-year psychology student.
Many of the small, bean-filled animals have become collectors’
items since Ty released its first line in 1994. The auction prices
of some types have risen to several thousand dollars.
Papercuts is a recent participant in an industry that has
developed around the collection of Beanie Babies. Hundreds of web
sites exist, besides Ty’s official Beanie Baby site, which includes
mug shots of each animal and a virtual e-mail diary of Valentina
the bear.
"I’m buying them for my mother," said second-year undeclared
student Tammy Low as she waited to purchase a buffalo called Roam.
"I think it’s nuts, but my mother is a school teacher (who) started
collecting them because kids started giving them to her."
Papercuts receives daily calls from customers about which Beanie
Babies are in stock and when new shipments will arrive, according
to Gruwich.
Ty’s shipments of the toys are sporadic, making it difficult to
predict when the next one will arrive or which Beanie Babies will
be included, Gruwich said.
"If we put the new ones out in the morning, they’re usually gone
by the end of the day," she said.
There are over 300 Beanie Baby models in circulation, but
Papercuts’ shelves only carry about 10 styles.
Each Beanie Baby comes with a name and rhyming poem.
"I think it’s kind of stupid," said second-year biochemistry
student Steve Fink, as he waited in line at Papercuts.
"I’m getting this one for my friend. It’s a good friend
gift."
No matter what people’s opinions of the toys may be, there won’t
be any complaints about the craze from ASUCLA.
"Beanie Babies have been very successful here," Gruwich said.
"I’m not surprised. I know people are really into it."PATIL
ARMENIAN/Daily Bruin
Unexpectedly high sales of Beanie Babies at Papercuts in
Ackerman Student Union have boosted revenues for ASUCLA.
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