Jellycat, a UK-based plush toy brand, has become hugely popular in China, especially among young adults seeking emotional comfort, driven by social media, limited-edition releases, and localization strategies. The brand's success reflects a broader trend of 'kidult' collectable toy markets in China and worldwide, amid economic challenges and changing adult consumer behaviors.
SpaceX's Crew-8 mission, including three American astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut, and a plush English Springer Spaniel as their zero-g indicator, continued a tradition of bringing symbolic toys to demonstrate microgravity in space. The chosen doll, a plush version of the family dog, was selected by the commander's children to represent the sacrifice children make when their parents serve away from home. This tradition began five years ago and has seen a total of 14 plush toys flown on Dragon spacecraft, including those from NASA crews and commercial missions. The Crew-8 members are expected to conduct scientific research aboard the International Space Station for the next six months.
Plush toy makers Build-A-Bear and Squishmallows are embroiled in a legal battle, with each suing the other over alleged copycat designs. Kelly Toys and Jazwares, the creators of Squishmallows, claim that Build-A-Bear's new "Skoosherz" line infringes on their trade dress rights, seeking damages and a sales stoppage. In response, Build-A-Bear filed a lawsuit asserting that Skoosherz does not violate Squishmallows' rights and that the claimed trade dress is unenforceable. The legal dispute highlights the competitive nature of the plush toy industry, with Squishmallows gaining immense popularity and celebrity endorsements.
Squishmallows has released their first-ever Advent calendar called Squishville, featuring 24 surprise items including two-inch plush toys with exclusive accessories. The calendar includes unique characters and a Pop Off Card for creating festive scenes. The cost varies on different websites, with prices ranging from $121.99 to $169.99. Squishmallows also offers Halloween-themed plush toys for spooky season. Similar to Beanie Babies, Squishmallows are cuddly plush toys with their own names and unique bios, available in various sizes.
Squishmallows, the popular plush toy line, has partnered with McDonald's to offer a Happy Meal promotion featuring exclusive and seasonal plush designs. The promotion will include 24 Squishmallows and special edition toys, with Universal Music Group curating playlists to define 14 of the Squishmallows' personalities. The promotion will launch this summer, but each participating McDonald's location will only have up to a dozen Squishmallows. In the meantime, fans can purchase popular full-size Squishmallows, including a Disney Mickey Mouse design and a 24-inch octopus pet bed.