September 2004 News Archives

September 30, 2004
TY POST ABOUT REINTRODUCTION OF CURE
Please welcome again - CURE
Ty Warner (Sep 29, 2004, 01:15 PM)
Message Id: 843301
Ty Warner writes: As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer awareness month. I introduced CURE last year and with your help we raised 1 million dollars for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Your support was so overwhelming that I felt CURE should be re-introduced for this worthy cause. Please help me welcome again . . . CURE. VIEW MESSAGE AND REPLIES HERE

OCTOBER INTRODUCTIONS
http://www.ty.com/Oct2004_Intro
JINGLE BEANIES: 2003 Holiday Teddy, Melton, Rudy, Star, Toboggan
BEANIE BABIES: 2004 Holiday Teddy, Bixby, Crinkles, Cutesy, Diggs, Dotson, Fleur, Hawthorne, Kringle, Lani, Laptop, Moosletoe, Sleighbelle (green with gold antlers), Sleighbelle (white with silver antlers), Stockings
TY CLASSIC: Dancer, Kodi, Merry, Mootina
BEANIE BUDDIES: 2003 Holiday Teddy, Demure, Roxie
PLUFFIES: Goodies, Windchill

My comments: Is it just me or are some of these names cheesy? LOL Windchill is a great compliment to the adorable Melton Pluffie! WTG Ty!! What do you think? Lisa@planetbeans.com

September 29, 2004
SORRY FOR THE NEWS DELAY
I had a computer virus that I had to get rid of this morning then out to volunteer at my son's school. As you can see, there isn't much to share. If you have news please share. Lisa@planetbeans.com

DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE
If you have something of interest to share please send to Lisa@planetbeans.com.

Bye-bye, Beanie Babies
I thought this might be the last column I write for The Herald.

You see, I'm moving. I am staying in Monterey, but I'm downsizing from a house to an apartment. Imagine, an almost septuagenarian in a bachelor pad. As my son said: "You should get a water bed -- just make sure it comes equipped with a short-wave radio. If you can't get yourself out of the bed you can call John Kerry to come and rescue you in a Swift Boat." This is the son who is now out of my will.

So I am divesting myself of things. In the process of preparing for a garage sale, I thought I had unearthed unexpected wealth. I found my wife's collection of Beanie Babies. I knew she was buying them when they were popular, but didn't know she cornered the market on the wee critters. I also found a Beanie Baby book, along with the stuffed toys. It listed the purchase price of each animal, its date of birth, how many were made, its present worth, and its expected value in 2008. Each Beanie had the requisite ear tag, many of them encased in tag protectors. A friend helped me catalog them.

"Look," she said excitedly, "Derby the Horse is worth $2,000 -- and you have two of them! You also have a Righty and a Lefty at about $1,500 each. Oh, and does your Quacker have wings?"

"Does your Quacker have wings?" is not a question one usually hears from an attractive lady. What if I said, apropos to nothing: "My Quacker has wings." I may have gotten my face slapped.

WTC medallion has coin's look, not value
The image of the World Trade Center below the words "One Dollar" gleams on one side.

On the other side, the Freedom Tower stretches into the sky within view of the Statue of Liberty and next to the words "In God We Trust."

But the medallion being sold for $19.95 by the National Collector's Mint Inc. of Port Chester won't buy a cup of coffee or a fast-food cheeseburger because it's not recognized as money.

The company is drawing criticism from the U.S. Mint and some coin experts, who say the inscriptions and advertising for the piece are misleading.

The company, which defends its marketing practices, says on its Web site the piece is "a legally authorized government issue silver dollar." The ad says the government in question is the government of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

"It's not really a coin," he said. "There's no legal tender basis for it. Technically, a coin is legal tender."

"There are a lot of things, from Beanie Babies to coins, where the only thing that's rare is finding somebody five years later who wants to buy it from you," he said. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Strange Sightings at World's Largest Garage Sale
A bounty of oddities
The price was right on Ken Brown's Zenith laptop. Anyone with $3 dollars burning a hole in their pocket could have walked away with it, and bought an additional keyboard for 50 cents.

A garage sale is a way of displaying the obsolete and passé without shame. Baskets of Ty Beanie Babies, the epitome of a red-hot fad gone cold, were being sold in one building. Nearby, gasket sets, repair manuals and air filters for 1960s Ford trucks proudly covered three tables.

September 26, 2004
DONATING BEANIES
Gwyn writes: “Hi Lisa, Doubtless you've heard about the horrible tragedy when the school in Beslan, Russia was taken hostage. One of my students has been collecting toys to send to the traumatized child survivors. This isn't an official or large-scale operation, but I gave her two large shopping bags of Beanies, in hopes that the kids there can snuggle a Peace bear and get a little comfort. Best always, Gwyn in Fairfax”

This is a wonderful gesture! If you have donated to a worthy cause and would like to share your story email me at Lisa@planetbeans.com.

Collectibles, like the Barbie Doll, have generated millions for decades
It's the good, the fad and the old dependables. They each were the collectible item to have. The collectible item you must have.

Hula hoops, pet rocks and mood rings had their days. But as popular as they were, no one had a collection of those fad items. One, or at the most two, of each was enough.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Pokémon cards, Beanie Babies, Pogs, Batman cards and scores of other once scalding-hot, collect and/or trade items.

"Everybody jumps on hot items, like Beanie Babies and then they fall," Miller said. "You have got to know what you are doing to turn it into a good investment."

NEW CHERISH WEBSITE
Sue writes: "I would be grateful if you could pass this news on to your readers.

I am excited to share with you the news that CHERISH has 'moved house' to a new website at www.cherishonline.co.uk!

Please visit the website and bookmark the new address.

You will see that CHERISH has gone PINK for October,
which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

There will be several fundraising events to raise money for breast cancer research undertaken by Cancer Research UK, which spends more than any other UK charity on research into breast cancer.

Pink auctions will be held as well as the sale of some special items direct from the website.

Thanks for reading - we look forward to your first visit to the new www.cherishonline.co.uk site! Best wishes, Sue

NOTE: Be sure to check out the new CHARITY bear Sue has up for sale on her site.

PICTURES OF OHIO
Thanks to Donna for sharing her pictures. http://www.planetbeans.com/DonnasOHIO.htm

September 25, 2004
Ty Warner Purchases Esteemed Five-Diamond Los Cabos Resort
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso Becomes Newest Addition to Ty Warner's Unique Collection of International Destinations

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2004--Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, LLC announced today the purchase of the acclaimed Las Ventanas al Paraiso Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico. Ty Warner purchased Las Ventanas from Dallas-based JTL Capital, LLC, with the seller being represented by Secured Capital and the buyer by Solid Rock Advisors.

The Las Ventanas al Paraiso joins Ty Warner's distinctive collection of individually unique and upscale destinations including the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California and the Kona Village Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii.

According to Ty Warner, the goal as the new owner is to extend and enhance the incredible beauty and amenities that define Las Ventanas today.

"Anyone who has had the great privilege of experiencing Las Ventanas would likely say that it's impossible to improve upon perfection," said Ty Warner. "We look forward to continuing the resort's tremendous legacy and reputation, and perhaps achieving the impossible by bringing Las Ventanas to a greater level of distinction worthy of a six star classification." Ty Warner believes the essential component to achieving that goal is in Rosewood Hotels and Resort's continued operation of the resort. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Beanie Babies headed to new owners in Iraq
SCOTTSDALE - Alison Goulder, 13, started collecting Beanie Babies when she was 7 years old.

Like many toys that were once popular, the Beanie Babies ended up being neglected in a closet in the Goulders' Scottsdale home.

This summer, Alison read in a magazine about the law firm Greenberg Traurig's Operation Grateful, an effort to send care packages to the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany. It mentioned that U.S. troops were asking for Beanie Babies to give to Iraqi children.

The Scottsdale girl knew instantly there was something she could do to help and decided to donate her Beanie Baby collection. She did a search on the Internet for the international law firm and found its Phoenix office.

She and her sister Jenna, 11, and brother Greg, 10, looked through their closets and found about 80 Beanie Babies, Alison said.

"Then we challenged other family and friends to donate," she said.

Alison collected about 150 stuffed critters to send to the children of Iraq. The employees at Greenberg Traurig in Phoenix decided to match Alison's donation to bring her total to 300 Beanie Babies. The toys will be sent to Washington, D.C., to be included in the company's care packages. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

NEW RELEASES PICTURED
Cindy's Beans has pictures of the upcoming holiday releases. http://www.cindysbeans.com/

September 24, 2004
ASK TY
Q: Do you keep a journal, like the Info Beanie? (submitted by Skittlez)
A: I certainly do. In fact, I currently have 6 journals that I work from ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

Forbes list full of Pritzkers
The breaking up of the family fortune has knocked Robert A. and Thomas Pritzker off the top of the list of Illinois' richest men but sprinkled Pritzkers throughout the latest Forbes tally of the 400 wealthiest Americans.

"We haven't seen a family dominate like this since we had 20 or so duPonts in the early 1980s,'' said Forbes magazine senior editor Peter Newcomb.

The state's big-bucks leader is now Ty Warner, who built an empire on Beanie Babies toys and added to it with real estate investments such as the Four Seasons hotel in New York. Warner actually saw his fortune drop $1 billion from last year's Forbes list. He's now worth $5 billion, good for No. 34 nationwide. VIEW LISTING HERE

FORBES RICHEST
#34, Warner, H Ty
Net Worth: $5.0 billion
Source: Manufacturing, Beanie Babies
Self made

Age: 60
Marital Status: single
Hometown: Chicago , IL
Undergraduate: Kalamazoo College, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Kalamazoo College dropout took job selling stuffed toys. Quit to bum around Italy. Returned home, began designing own line of stuffed Himalayan cats, other animals before creating Beanie Babies: understuffed toy animals affordably priced for the allowance set. Limited production runs spawned frenzied buying by adults who drove prices up to $12,000. Mania finally subsiding: toymaker's sales off sharply from their high, but Ty Inc. still immensely profitable. Reinvesting in real estate. Four Seasons hotels in New York City, Santa Barbara; Kona Village resort in Hawaii. VIEW PICTURE & INFO HERE

Over $95,000 donated to St. Jude by Wings Across Tennessee
Tennessee members of the Gold Wing Road Riders' Association made their annual 500-mile ride to make donations to St. Jude Children's' Research Hospital in Memphis on Sept. 18.

The trip marked the ninth time that motorcycle riders throughout Tennessee participated in the Wings Across Tennessee event. Rider's spirits were not dampened by the severe weather that Hurricane Ivan brought into the region, but, unfortunately, many riders who planned to make the trip backed out or opted to take a four-wheel vehicle with doors and a roof. The appeal of wind in the face isn't as great when rain and tropical depression wind speeds mix.

"There was also 54 handmade quilts given, 615 ball hats, and over $4,000 beanie babies given to the children," he added.

Wings Across Tennessee is the effort of the Tennessee GoldWing Road Riders Association Chapters doing benefits throughout the year to get donations for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Some of the benefits the chapters do are poker runs, bike shows, golf tournaments and even pace laps at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In 2003, the event raised $85,000 for the hospital. Chapter C started the event in 1996 with only a $5,000 donation. The charity ride has now spread across the entire state and even has a southern Tennessee route that meets the Northeast riders along the way. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

September 23, 2004
Bears warm hearts in Jackson County
JACKSON COUNTY - The teddy bears are coming by the dozens to disaster victims across the county - and they are bringing the kind of comfort that comes only from fuzz and stuffing.

"One child just hugged that bear like you've given him a golden horse or something," said Ruthie Huey, an American Red Cross volunteer from Moss Point.

Since Hurricane Ivan made landfall last week, the American Red Cross has passed out teddy bears to disaster victims in South Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The Southeast Mississippi Chapter of the Red Cross ran out of bears within days of Ivan's landfall, but volunteers are expecting dozens more to arrive soon.

"We often just give the bears out to kids that are a little bit blue (after a disaster)," Disaster Public Affairs Volunteer Winnie Romeril said. "The bears have become a staple we put on the disaster trucks now."

Ty Corp. donated thousands of its 12-inch Beanie Baby bears from 2001 until 2004 to the Red Cross. Those bears are soft brown with ribbons and a special tag designating them as Red Cross disaster bears. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT SO MANY RELEASES
Dotti writes: “Hi, Lisa! I absolutely agree with you about there being too many beanies released by Ty for us to keep up with. Particularly since many of them are exclusives and can only be obtained by EBay auction which drives the price up and entails shipping and handling costs as well. I know I personally bought all of the beanies of late which had flooded the market. And now at the rate they are being introduced, it is becoming too costly. His Ty Trade beanies have increased in number too. And it bothers me to know that there are beanies out there that I cannot obtain. What's the answer? I do not know! Dotti”

September 22, 2004
NOT MUCH NEWS TO SPEAK OF…
If you have something of interest to share please send to Lisa@planetbeans.com.

"I LOVE" ASIAN PACIFIC RUMORS
Treat this as a rumor until it's verified. It looks like Ty is going crazy with the "I LOVE" Bears. Perhaps there will end up being an "I LOVE" bear for everything. Whatever happened to the "QUARTERLY" releases? In my opinion, there are just too many releases for your average collector to try and obtain. What are your thoughts?

Get ready for "I love " Asian set of six bears.......
88_beanie_bears (Sep 21, 2004, 03:52 PM)
Message Id: 837664
88_beanie_bears writes: Its confirmed they are on the way .... VERY good sources : ) 88_beanies
VIEW CYBERBOARD POSTING & REPLIES HERE

NINA, PINTA, SANTA MARIA ARRIVE
Linda writes: "Hi Lisa! Received my Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria bears today, only 10 days after ordering. They are packaged together in a sealed plastic bag. Also I got Ratso and I love Texas at a flea market yesterday (Sunday) I live in Pa. My birthday is in 2 days but I got my gifts early! Linda"

Kucinich’s presidential campaign hawks memorabilia on eBay
The quixotic presidential campaign of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has taken to unloading its leftover memorabilia — autographed, mind you — on eBay. And why not? Apparently, people will pay good money for this stuff.

The four items, grouped under the seller name “kucinich_winddown,” range from a plush Beanie Baby doll to a seed packet to two passes to the Democratic National Convention. Each listing notes that it was paid for by Kucinich for President Inc. and that “funds paid for this item will be counted as a political contribution to Kucinich for President, Inc., and thus are subject to contribution limits and FEC reporting requirements.” A spokesman said the auctions will help retire the campaign’s $170,000 debt.

The Beanie Baby listing explains that “Dennis’s scheduling coordinator, Amy, asked the candidate to sign a small piece of white fabric with a blue marker which she then carefully sewed to the side of this red, white and blue ‘Lefty’ donkey.” As of yesterday, 21 bidders had raised the price to $255. The novelty seed packet, which Kucinich produced for distribution in Iowa, had attracted 13 bidders. It was selling for $106. And the two convention passes were selling for $90 and $81. All items end Thursday. Happy bidding. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

September 20, 2004
TY NEWSFLASH
In response to the devastating hurricane season, the American Red Cross has mobilized the largest feeding and sheltering effort in response to a natural disaster in its 123-year history. Using resources from our Disaster Relief Fund we have activated thousands of volunteers and emergency supplies throughout Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and the Gulf Coast states. Donating to the Disaster Relief Fund will help the victims of the recent hurricanes and thousands of other disasters we respond to across the country each year.
http://www.redcross.org/email/angels/raf_angels_1.asp?ref=TY_home

TORONTO NOW LISTED
I for one am so glad that Canada has another Beanie from their 4 tradeshows and I do how that there is eventually an "I LOVE" Canada Beanie. :o) I've updated the 2004 Ty Show Schedule with the last Beanie. http://www.planetbeans.com/TYSHOWSHEDULE.htm

MY TURN ‘Lady’ finds loving home
Many of you are familiar with Jodi Olesen through the ‘Thank You Bear raffles’ I’ve run here at Planet beans. She is a remarkable lady who continues to do so much for unwanted and sick animals. Jodi has written a story for her local paper and although this isn’t ‘Beanie’ related, it’s a story of compassion that deserves to be shared. VIEW STORY HERE

September 19, 2004
Venerable Happy Meal changes in adapting to health-conscious times
If you're a kid, have kids or are a kid at heart chances are you have had or wanted something that comes in a Happy Meal. Whether it is the food or the toys, the iconic status of McDonald's Happy Meal has only grown since they were first offered 25 years ago. However, some things have changed.

McDonald's recently began offering healthier food items. Today's children have the choice of chocolate milk, white milk and apple juice instead of soda, and Apple Dippers instead of the traditional french fries.

Jim Byrd, who together with his brother Darrell Byrd owns all three McDonald's restaurants in Collierville, opened their first McDonald's in Memphis in 1989. Jim said the Collierville locations have seen a lot of people order the new Happy Meal choices but many more children stay loyal to the basic hamburger, fries and soft drink.

This summer McDonald's recognized the Happy Meal's quarter-century anniversary with a commemorative set of one the most popular Happy Meal toys -- Ty's Teenie Beanie Babies. Jim can always tell when the toy in the Happy Meal is a hit. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

FABULOUS FINDS
Have you been lucky enough to find a rare or older Beanie at a garage sale or elsewhere? Please share your stories. Lisa@planetbeans.com

TORONTO BEAR
Bean Watcher writes: "There is a report of a new trade show bear appearing at the Toronto Gift Show. The new bear is reportedly called "I Love Toronto." Also, be sure to read the show report on the Bean Watcher site." http://beanwatcher.com

September 18, 2004
SPECIAL THANK YOU
I’d like to thank Suzi for helping me with updating the style numbers throughout the Beanie Information Pages. She sent me quite a few that I was missing and it’s much appreciated. If you find you have info that I don’t yet have listed please email me at Lisa@planetbeans.com

Following her heart
Pastor leaves business world to lead Unity Church

The Rev. Darlene Strickland hasn't exactly taken the most direct path to her present ministry.

As a business professional, she started out in the computer field and later worked in sales and marketing for two major toy companies.

Her early experiences in Raleigh's Unity churches eventually led to her decision to leave the corporate world -- and the sales and marketing of Beanie Babies -- behind.

"I just reached a point where I started to question everything. I decided to let everything go and pursue that dream (of ministry)," she says.

Not that the Beanie Baby job, which lasted two years, didn't have its advantages.

"I was the most popular aunt you could ever imagine," she says. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Beds racing for the cause of Claus
The 88 teams pushing beds down Aspen Avenue this weekend won't be motivated just by competitive spirit; they are also running to get toys to children.

Last year, the Flagstaff Community Bed Race Extravaganza raised more than $30,000 to benefit the local Toys for Tots organization.

The need for toys at Christmas has grown each year since 1997 and has accelerated since 9/11, in part because of the growing needs of military families whose loved ones are serving overseas.

All of the money raised from the bed race will go for toys. Each child in need will be amply supplied with appropriate toys.

"They get a big bag and that bag has five or six items, depending on age and gender," he said. "A 5-year-old boy might get a soccer ball, a baseball, a stuffed animal, a coloring book, playing cards, and there might be a big Tonka truck in there. Last year we gave away 600 pairs of roller skates. One year a company donated several hundred basketballs. Last year, we had three packing barrels full of Beanie Babies that someone donated to us."

To bring in even more money, the bed race schedule of events has expanded to include a plethora of events: a coronation for king and queen, a pancake breakfast, the parade of bed, a special racer's concert, 5- and 10-K runs, a classic car show and even the second annual Collegiate Bath Tub Races. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

September 17, 2004
ASK TY
Q: Mr. Warner, do you think we might see a 'Quote of the Day' posted by you? (submitted by ~*Cuddles*~)
A: Yes, I will post a couple quotes for you. Here's one of my favorite quotes from Thomas Jefferson to get us started: "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." http://www.ty.com/askty_home

September 16, 2004
SOMETHING WORTH SHARING
The daughter of one of my dearest friends is running in an upcoming marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Please help her out if you can! Every little bit helps. :o)

Jen writes: “Hi Lisa ~ Could you please let Planet Beans know that I’m running a marathon (26.2 miles) for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on October 24 and I only need $682 more in donations to meet my fundraising goal! I can accept donations online through October 7 at my site: www.teamintraining.org/participant/watkins-195652.

September 15, 2004
CANADA SHOW RELEASES CLARIFIED
Nora writes: “Hi Lisa, I was in a store here in Edmonton today and while I was talking to the owner about receiving any more Discover beanies he stated that he was told by the TY rep (this afternoon) that only Discover was being released at the show in Vancouver and Toronto-same as Edmonton and Montreal. The Ty rep also said that there would be no repeat orders until all the orders were in from the shows, after that if there are any Discover beanies left available they wil be shipped out first to high volume customers and then to others. I hope that this helps, Nora”

Ty Show Schedule updated: http://www.planetbeans.com/TYSHOWSHEDULE.htm

WASHINGTON ARRIVES
Nancy writes: “Hi Lisa, I found my I Love Washington bear at Hallmark in Spokane, Washington this afternoon. I'm still a beginner with my digital camera and tried several times to get the color to come out true, but with no luck. The beanie is actually more of a teal blue/green than the turquoise that it seems to show here. All I know is I was happy to get one! Nancy” VIEW PICTURE HERE

AG woman honored for JoyFull Bags contribution
Lee turns tragic accident into a 'high-class operation' of aid
ARROYO GRANDE -- Sandra Lee knows all too well what it's like to have everything that's familiar taken away in the blink of an eye.

Ten years ago, the former San Jose resident and mother of two lost her oldest son, Zac, then 19 years old, to a skateboarding accident.

"It was really hard to go on," Lee, an Arroyo Grande resident for the past few years, said about her son's sudden death. "Nothing made sense anymore."

Although Lee's life was abruptly turned upside down with Zac's death, when the single mother moved to San Luis Obispo County six years ago, she channeled her grief into making a positive difference in the lives of local children who are going through traumatic experiences -- abuse, neglect, homelessness.

Now, those efforts have been recognized by the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club, which presented her with the organization's first-ever Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Lee started JoyFull Bags four and a half years ago as a way to provide a little comfort to children who are taken out of their homes by Child Welfare Services for various reasons, because she knows the pain and loss they're feeling.

"Just imagine what it's like for a 5-year-old child who's just been taken away from (his) parents," Lee said. "I'm advocating for these kids at the most raw moment of their little lives ... at this very moment that this horrid thing is happening to them. I've turned my pain into passion."

The JoyFull Bags project provides the county's less-fortunate children with a cloth tote bag filled to the brim with items of comfort and necessity. In addition to a handmade quilt, the bags include pens, pencils, crayons or felt-tipped markers (depending on the receiving child's age), a pocket folder and paper, snack foods, three stuffed animals -- one usually a Beanie Baby -- and bubbles. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

September 14, 2004
Thanks to Brenda for letting me know the following:
BOSTON - SOLD OUT
http://www.ty.com/Boston_soldout

STATE BEARS QUESTION
Nancy writes: “Hi Lisa, I'm glad you found an I Love Georgia bear since you live in Georgia. I did find the I Love Seattle bear on Friday and the girl at Hallmark said the I Love Washington bear should be there soon. I am only buying the bears for Washington. Guess I will just keep calling away this week and making a pest of myself. :-) I can understand the I Love Washington bear being blue for perhaps being on the Pacific Ocean, but I still haven't figured out the significance of I Love Seattle being red. Let's see...the Seattle Seahawks wear dark blue, the Seattle Mariners wear dark blue, the Seattle Sonics wear green, the University of Washington Huskies wear purple, the weather is always grey, Microsoft is located there....lots of green $$ :-) and the poem refers to "The Emerald City." I must be missing something. I'm from the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington where it is all flat, hot and dusty. Ha!Ha! Maybe that's why I can't figure out "red"? Can any of your other readers tell me? Nancy”

Donna writes: “Hi Lisa, Remind Nancy, who inquires as to why I love Seattle is red, think APPLES! I do realize the apples are not grown in Seattle but most of the rest of the state. It's as though the Seattle and Washington State bear colors were switched at birth. Donna”

CANADA SHOW RELEASES
Can anyone verify that Discover was also released as the show exclusive for the Vancouver show? I wanted to update the show schedule with current info: http://www.planetbeans.com/TYSHOWSHEDULE.htm

September 13, 2004
OCTOBER RELEASES
This information was posted on the Cyberboard a few days ago and I forgot to share it with you.
Rumored October 2004 Ty Store release...
Ratzo 2007 (Sep 10, 2004, 04:39 PM)
Message Id: 828753
Ratzo 2007 writes: I don't know the validity of this one either. As I said in my other post you'll see below, wait and let it pan out. I thought I'd give the heads up if there is any truth to it.

This would be to replace Ty 2K and Millennium, as the next millenium bear. Notice the spelling error to include Ty's name in "tyme" instead of "time."
VIEW POSTING AND REPLIES HERE

Rumor alert... October 2004 releases.
Ratzo 2007 (Sep 10, 2004, 04:38 PM)
Message Id: 828749
Ratzo 2007 writes: This is a rumored list, take nothing seriously please until we get closer to next month.

I just received a list of next month's releases for Beanie Babies and Pluffies. You should realize that I am just giving the heads up, that I am not preaching this as gospel right now. As you know, October is the next big quarterly release.

BEANIE BABIES:
2004 Holiday Teddy the holiday bear
Aye-Yi-Yi the ringtailed lemur (aye-aye)
Calypso the Calico cat
Enigma the camel
Impy the elf
Jangle the Christmas cat (remember the Jingle Beanie? This is the large one)
Joy the Christmas bear (Hallmark)
Lex the Learning Express bear
Love the Christmas bear (Hallmark)
Old Timer the Cracker Barrel bear
Peace the Christmas bear (Hallmark)
Rattle the rattlesnake
Rosie the red/apricot Poodle
Shalom the Chanukah bear
Slash the swordfish
Testudo the terrapin (UMD exclusive?)
Yule the Christmas Dalmatian (looks like Wynter Classic)

OBSERVATIONS OF GEORGIA
I was at Hallmark yesterday and they had GEORGIA in stock. The bear in the store was a lavender color. The picture posted on Ty.com is showing a blue bear. Has anyone found the GEORGIA bear yet and if so... what color is yours? Lisa@planetbeans.com

September 12, 2004
ORDERING PIPPO AT HARRODS
Rose writes: “Hi Lisa Ordered my bear from Harrods Got the bill already on my master card ,so I know I will be getting them,cost me $ 30.00 Canadian each so that is not bad, would have cost me more to buy in the US what with the exchange. Thanks Rose”

Sal writes: “They have a regular Ty tag with poem in Italian.They also have a Harrods Tag and a 3rd heart shaped tag in 4 languages.I have over 2000 Ty beanie babies and this is my favorite one.I feel that Harrods must of made a mistake putting Pippo on online sales for a very short time. Sal”

Diddl, a mouse, his girlfriend, Diddlina, their stuffed toy friends and a host of products from greeting cards to jewelry to soap can be found in a 2,100-square-foot warehouse in Middletown. Maryland entrepreneur Robert Steele has opened the sole Diddl distribution center for North and South America.

Depesche officials don't expect Diddl to be the next Pokémon in America any time soon.

"Because we don't do advertising we build the business slowly," Graulich said. "It is not overhyped."

Beanie Babies were not sold in mass market retail stores and they were sold in limited editions, making them collectible.

NOTE: Will they release Discover at this show as they did with the other 2 gift shows in Canada. Why wouldn't Canada get a different Beanie for each of it's shows like the shows in the U.S.?!

September 11, 2004
BOSTON IS NOW LISTED
http://www.ty.com/3_detail?id=4763

ORDERING PIPPO AT HARRODS
Salvatore writes: "On 9/08/04 I ordered 4 Ty Italian beanie bears from Harrods on line.It did not say ty beanie baby bears.The picture of Pippo I saw had a black nose in the add that was there on Harrods on line for less then 2 days.On 9/10/04 I got an e-mail saying that they would be delivered in 2-3 days.I e-mailed them and asked wht kind of bear I was receiving.They sent me back an e-mail saying that I would receive my order in 2-3 days again.I can only hope that it is Pippo the Ty beanie baby.Maybe it will be made special for Harrods with a black nose.Maybe Ty will sign them."

Families Mark Third Anniversary of 9/11
NEW YORK - With quavering voices, parents and grandparents of those killed at the World Trade Center slowly read the names of the victims early Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the attacks that brought down the twin towers.

Moments of silence were observed at 8:46 and 9:03 a.m., the times two planes slammed into the trade center towers on Sept. 11, 2001, and at 9:59 to mark the fall of the south tower. Another was planned for 10:29, when the north tower collapsed.

"Every day is hard, but this day is a little bit harder," said Nancy Brandemarti, who was attending the ground zero remembrance for the first time. "This day is just a day to think about him." VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

SEPTEMBER 11TH ~ PATRIOT DAY!
No matter how bad you want to forget it, you will always remember where you were on that day. You will always remember that day asking yourself "Please god, is this over yet?". You will always remember seeing 2, 110 story buildings crash to the ground knowing thousands were on the inside including rescuers. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

ASK TY
Q: What is the most touching moment you've had while creating Ty products? (submitted by cedjb)
A: I'd have to say the most touching moment of creating any product has to be after it's finished; when I get to see the smile it brings to a child's face. http://www.ty.com/askty_home

Is this how to remember Sept. 11?
The day set aside to mark the nation's losses on 9/11 now comes wrapped in red, white, blue - and green.

A snack-filled "Tower to Celebrate America." Greeting cards. Patriotic pillows. "Iced Cookies for America."

This can't be what President Bush had in mind in 2002, when he designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day, an annual day of remembrance.

"I don't want to see 9/11 become super-sale day or half-price day, okay?" fumed Bill Doyle of Staten Island, whose son, Joseph, was killed in the terrorist attacks. "Anyone who tries to profit off this is a little sad."

There's no shortage of retailers making a play for Patriot Day paydays, shamelessly linking their products to commemorate the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks.

At 1-800-FLOWERS.com, shoppers can order patriotic-themed floral arrangements and treats, such as the $49.99 "Tower to Celebrate America," which incorporates jellybeans, brownies and cookies.

Its "Flag Waving Grand Deluxe Snacks" urges people to "savor patriotic sour stars."

Hallmark offers many free Patriot Day-themed "E-Cards," and several traditional paper cards on its Web site, two with American flags on the cover.

Some victims' relatives questioned whether commerce should be so closely tied to an attack that, three years later, continues to stir emotions.

"I guess it's the American way," said Vincent Ragusa, whose firefighter son, Michael, was killed. "I'm not too keen on it, but it's just how people are."

Several commercial tie-ins to the tragedy have infuriated victims' relatives, but even marketing experts questioned the need for Patriot Day products.

"Were there Pearl Harbor cards?" said Hayes Roth, vice president of Landor Associates, a marketing and branding firm. "Maybe it's a New York perspective, but it's my sense that it commercializes something that is far too raw."

Trinket vendors quickly capitalized soon after the attacks, peddling tchotchkes that included Ground Zero T-shirts and caps. Major corporations such as Hallmark and Ty Inc. have joined in - albeit in a more subtle manner.

"We're doing it very quietly, with no advertising, no big signs - nothing like that all," said Rachel Bolton, a spokeswoman for Hallmark.

Ty, the Illinois company that made a mint on Beanie Babies, introduced Valor, a stuffed Eagle "born" on Sept. 11, 2003. An accompanying poem offers:

To honor all of those who serve
Patriot Day we do observe
For the bravery you've displayed
Your memory will never fade!

Valor has since been "retired," and is now worth twice its initial $5 price among collectors. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

September 9, 2004
DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
News is a bit slow right now. If you have something to share please send to Lisa@planetbeans.com with NEWS in the subject line.

Student-run gift shops prosper as they teach
When Jeramy Blocker became manager of the Morrill Hall gift shop in December, the only experience he had was a year of working sales at an electronics store.

Now, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior business administration major knows how to set up displays, take inventory, place orders, price products, hire and schedule a staff of four, file taxes, run board meetings and take full responsibility for the store’s performance.

Blocker also learned what it means to take risks – and how those risks could mean losing everything.

“This is for real,” he said. “If we mismanage a store, we don’t get paid. That keeps you on your toes.”

Unlike a larger business, Blocker said his staff could try ideas the same day they have them and see the results of those ideas – good or bad – in a few weeks. For example, when Beanie Babies stopped selling at Dinosaurs, Etc., Blocker lowered the price, and the toys quickly became bestsellers once again, he said – a simple concept of supply and demand. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Passing shot
New York -- Vendors in the official merchandise booths at the U.S. Open don't see much tennis, but do get a feel for what is going on.

One stationed inside the main gate told of the difference in lineups waiting to see Serena and Venus Williams on successive days last weekend. The sisters were autographing copies of their new book, How To Play Tennis. "For Serena," the vendor said, "the lineup went around to the Grandstand [about 90 metres]. For Venus, it only went back about 20 yards [about 18 metres]."

Two of the hottest items on site have been the tournament pin (sold out in three days) and a limited edition of 4,500 Beanie Baby U.S. Open bears going for $20 (U.S.) each. The bears have become collector's items to the point that any with a series number less than 2,000 are selling. Savvy buyers don't bite on any number higher.

Merchandise sales are at record levels in 2004, and sponsorships are also doing well. Display boards on the grounds read Men's doubles presented by George Foreman. The former heavyweight boxing champion is expected to appear at the tournament to promote his cooking grill. VIEW ARTICLE HERE

REMINDER: The next show on the 2004 schedule starts in Boston, MA on the 11th of September.

September 8, 2004
Victory, Grandmother, Grandfather Retire
http://www.tytrade.com/TyStore

Adriana shares the following interesting news article
Soft market gets upgraded
Retailers, consumers give plush 'buy' rating
It is safe to say that the economy was a little soft last year; ditto for consumer confidence and spending in general. But when it came to plush, retailers tell PLAYTHINGS that the only softness was in the cuddle factor. And given the tragedies of last September, sales of plush are on a continuing upward curve, they add.

Good thing we asked; industry numbers are not quite as comforting. According to the year-end report prepared for the Toy Industry Association by consultant NPD Group, plush sales dropped 13 percent last year compared with the year prior. The drop, however, might actually reflect a softening in sales of a 'phenomenon'—like Beanie Babies. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

HARRODS - OFFERS PIPPO BUDDY
You may have noticed the outline image of a Ty Beanie Bear on the bottom right of this page http://www.harrods.com/Cultures/en-US/GlobalHomePage.htm. I'm not able to get to the order page to get more info but the picture looks like a PIPPO BUDDY. Take a look and see what you think.

Sue clears things up: Lisa, That has to be the giant Pippo that I was told about on Saturday - not on display (at the time) but it is on silent auction for charity. The order page says 'Pippo Beanie Baby' (£6.95) Sue

ORDERING PIPPO
Rose writes: "Hi Lisa called Harrod's this morning to order Pippo. They said that they have hundreds of orders for the bear. But they should be able to get mine out with in the next few days, I ordered 3 of them & will let you know how much compared to the US prices. I also asked about theI love bears & she said they should get them in the next few weeks. Thanks Rose"

Nancy writes: "I used Google to find a currency converter, so put in 20 pounds for shipping which would be $35.47US plus the $12.32 would make it $47.79 for one beanie. There was the option to put more than one in the cart, but still that's a lot of money. My friend had said she wanted one and I was going to get her one for her birthday next month. I think I'll pass! Doesn't really matter as when I just went back to check for sure on the shipping, it said "This Item Is Out of Stock." Oh well........... Nancy"

Denny writes: "Pippo is sold-out at Harrods! I went to the site to see what it would cost to order one and the site says THIS ITEM IS CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK. Sue, did you buy ALL of them? LOL Beanie Grins! Denny"

BOUNCING NEWSLETTERS
If you have cs.com or aol.com and haven't received your newsletters recently you have been bounced from the list. I have reactivated your subscriptions so hopefully you'll start receiving newsletters again. If you have questions email me at Lisa@planetbeans.com

PICTURES FROM THE NEC SHOW
http://www.bearsandbeans.co.uk/news/autumn2004/

A double surprise for mother and soldier
With months of saving and sorting behind her, Erin Deschamps of Everett knew it wouldn't be long before a big pallet loaded with care packages would be delivered to her son in Iraq.

Although Army National Guard Pfc. Chase Deschamps knew his mother was sending some care packages to him at Camp Anaconda, just north of Baghdad, she thought the 20-year-old would be flabbergasted when the pile of presents arrived.

A few weeks ago, with her care package project complete and wanting to unwind from the rigors of moving, Erin Deschamps went camping. But her trip was rained out, and she was welcomed home with a hug from her son's girlfriend, Tiffany Gariss, after she walked through her front door.

Something stirred behind her, and she turned to see her soldier son standing there.

Chase Deschamps breaks into a big grin when he thinks about the surprise visit home. His expression changes to a grateful yet almost speechless smile when he thinks about the care package project his mother and her co-workers tackled.

The care package project began after a friend heard that Erin Deschamps' son was leaving for Iraq, and a small group of co-workers started collecting items, from wet wipes, gum, decks of cards and candy for the soldiers, to Beanie Babies they could pass out to Iraqi children.

They packed dozens of care packages as the effort quickly snowballed. VIEW FULL STORY & PICTURE HERE NOTE: I bet you'll recognize the Beanies in the picture!

NOW LISTED
I've been wanting to update the latest 3 exclusives in the Beanie Info Pages and they have finally been added to the currents list at Ty.com. I've updated the Beanie Info Pages with this info: http://www.planetbeans.com/beanie_info.htm

September 6, 2004
WEBSITE WAS DOWN AGAIN…
Now it’s back up and hopefully will stay this way. I’m not sure how much damage the host company endured from Hurricane Frances so we’ll soon see if Planet Beans will remain online without going down again.

HARRODS - TO OFFER AN EXCLUSIVE BEANIE
You may have noticed the outline image of a Ty Beanie Bear on the bottom right of this page http://www.harrods.com/Cultures/en-US/GlobalHomePage.htm. The offer did say “You have to wait... From 6th September” now it says “You have to wait… Coming Soon. Stay tuned for this special Beanie to be offered sometime today. My guess is this is Pippo that was to be sold at Harrods.

Thought you'd make a fortune? Oh, `Baby'!: Once-hot Beanies a marked-down fad
Like Planet Hollywood and low-fat diets, Beanie Babies - those lovable, stuffed toys so popular back in the '90s - never really lived up to their promises.

Oh, that a Princess Di bear might fetch enough money to send junior to college. Or that Lizzy the Lizard could pay for that addition on the summer home, possibly financed by Peanut, the blue elephant.

"I can't even give them away,'' said Mark Rimbach, owner of about 40 Beanie Babies. In an effort to de-clutter, Rimbach is trying to hawk them on www.craigslist.org. Two weeks, no bites. And to think he imagined a life busy fending off desperate collectors, throwing thousands of dollars at him for just one plush baby.

"In '99, I sold about 30 of them at a yard sale and made, like, $500,'' said the 31-year-old Rimbach, who lives in Somerville. "People were crazy. Now, I just figure I can sell them or eventually give them to charity.''

Charity? What about making millions? What about sailing to the Keys on the money made from a retired Valentina?

"It's still an active community,'' said Barbara Crews, About.com's expert on collectibles. ``But it's not like it was five years ago. These Beanie Babies are being sold for pennies or quarters on the dollar.''

In fact, the only one who got rich off the craze was Beanie Babies founder H. Ty Warner. Warner, an unmarried 59-year-old and a bit of a recluse, started out as a salesman for stuffed animal giant Dakin. Thirty years and hundreds of millions of Beanie Babies later, he is ranked the 65th richest person on Earth by Forbes magazine, worth an estimated $6 billion. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Happy Happy 25th
HOW DID YOU spend your summer vacation? Chances are, there was a moment - perhaps during a midday drive along some gridlocked stretch of interstate - when the kids launched into their backseat chorus. "Puleeeaase, can we get a Happy Meal?" Don't deny it. No one under the age of 10 (not even the offspring of the most steadfast granola-eaters) is immune from the McDonald's siren song, at least not when a Happy Meal toy is involved.

Yes, it's all about the toys. This summer marks the 25th anniversary of the Happy Meal. It's more than a burger or chicken nuggets with fries and a drink. It's an American totem. With a toy. And not the cheap kind of trinket you get in a box of Cracker Jack, either. Often, they're battery-operated or wind-up or plush and collectible. Remember the Teenie Beanie Baby craze of the '90s? Customers were shelling out hundreds of dollars to buy Happy Meals during that promotion. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Geocaching takes treasure hunting to whole new level
Packing hand-held satellite receivers and a bag of knick-knacks, Dad and the Dynamic Duo ready themselves for another adventure.

Within minutes, members of the trio veer off a gravel path and into a mix of grass, sticks and spiny plants. Then, they precariously walk down a sloped hill covered with thick weeds and exposed tree roots.

All this for a goose Beanie Baby left behind at the Fox River Bluff Park in St. Charles in a Tupperware bowl that has traveled from Idaho.

This is what geocaching is all about for accountant George Malina and his sons, 11-year-old George Jr. and 10-year-old Collin or — as they are known to geocaching's online community — Dad and the Dynamic Duo.

They have located around 400 different cache sites in six states and two different countries.

"It's like a treasure hunt, hiking with a purpose," George Sr., who started geocaching in 2001, said recently as he and his sons set out to find three cache sites. "Our mission varies all the time." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

September 5, 2004
NEC SHOW NEWS
Hayley writes: “Hi everyone, I'm here at the NEC & first stop was the Ty stand. The new exclusives are 'I love England' which is white, 'I love Scotland' (navy blue) and 'I love Wales' (red). Thats all for now! Hayley” http://www.beanzaddiction.com

John shares a show report with Ms. Janie: “Hi Ms Janie, Hot news, I have just raced back from the Birmingham show here in the UK , 2 reasons ..firstly to bring you this news and secondly I spent too much money. The TY stand was buzzing even at 9am and we were surprised to see 3 UK exclusives. They are I love England, I love Scotland and you guessed it I love Wales. They are the same colours as the previous UK trios and are show exclusives with every retailer restricted to ordering 36.Our rep told me that six would be sent straight away and the rest within three weeks (we have heard this before with Jack and never did get our full order total). Are these going to be as good as Rose, Thistle & Dafodil?? I certainly think so. The other shock was retailers in the UK can order ole the bull.I checked his tag and the spelling is correct for the word nombre, so are the two versions? My rep said not but then what does he know eh lol. Pippo was not to be seen and therefore can only be bought in Italy or Harrods, I spoke to the Harrods toy Kingdom and was told there was only 3000 made worldwide and they had nearly sold there allotted amount. All of the Sept releases are adorable and they had a Halloween theme to the stand complete with ghostly sounds, alas I couldn’t get any photos not even with a camera phone as there were too many reps about. Best wishes from the UK John”

Thousands seek higher ground
TAMPA - Vicki Watts moved quickly as she swept her mother's photo albums, Beanie Babies and cat Max into her minivan.

"She was sure she wasn't going to (be able to) come home" after Hurricane Charley, said Watts, 45, standing at the door of her mother's manufactured home in South Tampa. "She's afraid she won't have anything to come home to this time." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

September 4, 2004
NO NEWS TO SPEAK OF…
If you have something of interest to share please send to Lisa@planetbeans.com.

BOUNCING NEWSLETTERS
If you have cs.com or aol.com and haven't received your newsletters recently you have been bounced from the list. I will reactivate your subscriptions so hopefully you'll start receiving newsletters again. If you have questions email me at Lisa@planetbeans.com

September 3, 2004
Introducing NAMI - WWF (Ty Store)
http://www.ty.com/Nami_intro
In support of World Wildlife Fund

IN THE PATH OF THE STORM
It looks like Hurricane Frances has weakened a bit but still proves to be a huge threat for many of you. May God keep you all safe.

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY TY
Here's hoping you have many reasons to smile today. Thank you for all you do for your collectors! You've helped many of us make lifelong friends that we wouldn't otherwise know if it weren't for collecting your products. I hope you can spend your birthday with some great friends and loved ones. :o)

THE ADORABLE POOKY
Are you able to locate Pooky and if so how much are you finding them for? Lisa@planetbeans.com

YOUR COMMENTS:
Laura writes: “Hi Lisa Thanks so much for your newsletter I really enjoy it. I found Pooky at 2 locations at a Hallmark it was $4.00 and at a Gags and Gifts it was $5.99-what a difference! Take care, Beaniefan2-Laura”

Shelly writes: “Lisa, Pooky at our Cracker Barrells are $3.99. I am in TN ( M'boro). Shelly”

Jacque writes: “Hi Lisa, I got mine for $3.00 each at "sweet moments" in Lynwood, Illinois. always $5.00 or less beanies, Jacque”

Daphne writes: “hi lisa i found pookie at my neighborhood gift store for $3.50 she is so cute, my daughter wanted her as that is what they call my youngest granddaughter.”

Pastor is bearer of a toy bonanza
These days, the Rev. Daniel Green is surrounded by bears.

"Over 700 bears have been donated," Port Hueneme First Assembly of God's pastor said. "I've even got a snake, dinosaur and some rabbits."

The bears have been rapidly multiplying and piling up in the church's fellowship hall since Green launched a July teddy bear drive to provide a huggable friend for young trauma victims.

A Thousand Oaks senior center gave 100 handmade bears, and the Ladies Guild of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 15. A Hueneme Bay couple donated their entire Beanie Baby collection of 150 bears. And a local car dealer has promised an entire truckload.

"My goal was 500. We well exceeded that," Green said. "It was supposed to be an annual drive, but they're still coming." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

September 2, 2004
ASK TY
Q: Will you ever answer all 4 questions we ask you in a week? (submitted by babyblue)
A: I certainly will . . . . that's one. How many states have I been to? I had to think a little on this one but I believe I have been to 47 states. Do I prefer warm or cold weather? My choice would be warm weather but I do like the changing of the seasons. What is my favorite color? The first color that comes to mind is . . . . Red ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

BEANIE CALENDAR UPDATED
To date there is only ONE date not represented with a Ty product: August 26</