Ganz sends Webkinz to Toys 'R' Us
By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 4/8/2009 8:47:00 AM
WAYNE, N.J.—Toys “R” Us today officially announced the debut of Ganz’s Webkinz plush at its toy stores and website, and the pending debut of the virtual world-enhanced plush line at its Babies “R” Us stores next month.
Toys/Babies “R” Us stores and Toysrus.com will carry the following Webkinz characters: American Golden Retriever, Blue Whale, Caramel Lion, Chimpanzee, Cotton Candy Bunny, Domino Cat, Duck, Eagle, Emperor Dragon, Grey Owl, Groundhog, Irish Setter, Key Lime Dinosaur, Lamb, Mountain Goat, Orca Whale, Spotted Dinosaur and Spotted Turtle.
“The introduction of Webkinz reinforces our status as the ultimate shopping destination for kids and furthers our specialist position by offering the best and broadest assortment of products that kids crave,” the company said in a statement.
Toys “R” Us will support the introduction of Webkinz with print promotions and special, free-standing Webkinz fixtures in stores. The retailer’s April 10 circular will officially announce the arrival of Webkinz at its stores to consumers.
The move follows a meteoric rise for the plush line that sparked a frenzy of virual world-enhanced playthings from other toymakers seeking to replicate the line's success with plugged-in kids. More recently, the line has been the focus of ire from some retailers, with a class action suit brought against Ganz by several specialty stores currently winding its way through the court system over the gift company's sales practices.
Webkinz World grows
In other Webkinz news, Ganz last week said its Webkinz World website opened a new area, The Caring Valley, for which it has begun selling specially-tagged Webkinz Caring Valley pets that offer exclusive access to that area of the virtual world.
Webkinz World members who activate their Caring Valley feature code will receive four virtual saplings to plant in the sections of their choice within The Caring Valley. After all 4 saplings are ‘planted’, members receive a customizable Enchanted Tree to plant in their Webkinz World yard. Every month, a different Caring Valley pet will be available and a new virtual Enchanted Tree will be created. Members will also receive bonus KinzCash and a virtual exclusive item for their Webkinz World pet’s room.
Each section of The Caring Valley introduces members to various child-focused charities and contains a link allowing members to vice the charity’s own website. Charities featured in the initial sections of the site include Make-a-Wish Foundation, Free the Children, Save a Child’s Heart, Sick Kids Foundation and UNICEF.
Ganz’s Webkinz Foundation will donate $1,000,000 to child-focused charities.
So Ganz has broken another promise to the specialty retailers who helped make Webkinz a success.
This isn't news...
Retailer - 2009-04-09 15:26:00 EDT
This isn't news...
Webkinz forced us to take products that did not sell.
Then forced us to buy more of it.
Then shipped only the items that did not sell.
Then shipped everyone all of their shipments at once.
Then sold to Walgreens, then Wal-Mart and now Toys R Us.
I will never buy another item from Ganz.
Mary - 2009-04-08 22:11:00 EDT
Then forced us to buy more of it.
Then shipped only the items that did not sell.
Then shipped everyone all of their shipments at once.
Then sold to Walgreens, then Wal-Mart and now Toys R Us.
I will never buy another item from Ganz.
As a small specialty shop... this stinks! We have a policy where we don't carry items that can be easily found in big box stores.... this will be the end of the line for us and Webkinz...
Julie Hubbard - 2009-04-08 14:25:00 EDT
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