Details of some of our products
Can you believe that there once a world without Beanie Babies? Those pellet-filled plush animals have become part of people's lives. But the best-loved collectible in America didn't just happen overnight.
The Beanie Babies story begins with H. Ty Warner, a very private man. As a sales representative for Dakin Inc, in the 1970's, Warner's quirky style came to the fore, often dressing in a fur coat and top hat to meet potential clients and then took them for drives in a Rolls Royce.
Warner left Dakin in the early 1980's and spent serveral years traveling abroad. Upon his return, Warner had the idea to design his own line of plush toys. In 1986, he launched is own Company, Ty Inc., based in Oakbrook, Illinois.
The "Original Nine" Beanie Babies made their first public appearance at a trade show near Chicago late in 1993. Early in 1994, these "Original Nine" began appearing in small gift and speciality shops that also sold Ty's other plush. By June, Ty had introduced 25 more Beanie Babies, and people noticed.
But Beanie fever didn't set in until Ty Inc. began retiring Beanie Babies in 1995. Now, collectors who had enjoyed the pick of he litter had to scramble for har-to-find design and rate color variations to complete their colections and by the end of 1996, the craze was well underway.
Ty launched the official Beanie Babies web site ( www.ty.com ) in 1996.