This year's must have toyfor Christmas is definitely the Zhu Zhu Pets. These are a squad of five different motorized hamsters featuring artifical intelligence. Each one has their own distinct personality and character traits and they interact with their environment and the children playing with them. Toys R Us decided not to include them in their 2009 Christmas catalog - because demand is so high.
Mr. Squiggles, Chunk, Patches, Num Nums and Pipsqueak are the names of the five hamsters. As well as the hamsters, a wide range of toys and accessories - which can be connected in a variety of different configurations - are available to stretch the children's imaginations.
Children, both boys and girls, between the ages of 4 and 10 are the target group for these toys. As they contain moving parts and batteries, they are not suitable for very small children.
Cepia, the manufacturers, are St. Louis based, and were established in 2004. They launched the Zhu Zhu Pets in August 2009 and have shipped six million units since then. A further six million sales are expected between now and Christmas. Currently, the shelf life of a Zhu Zhu hamster is - on average - less than three minutes.
Demand is outstripping supply right now and prices are beginning to creep upwards - for both the hamsters and their accessories. Sellers on eBay are already cashing in and you can expect to see more of this the closer we get to Christmas.
Cepia are predicting sales of between $ 300 and $ 400 million over the next twelve months. This will be from not only the Zhu Zhu hamsters - they intend to expand their range to include hedgehogs, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. Presumably any small, cute and furry woodland animal which children would find appealing could make it onto their list in future. - 31409
Mr. Squiggles, Chunk, Patches, Num Nums and Pipsqueak are the names of the five hamsters. As well as the hamsters, a wide range of toys and accessories - which can be connected in a variety of different configurations - are available to stretch the children's imaginations.
Children, both boys and girls, between the ages of 4 and 10 are the target group for these toys. As they contain moving parts and batteries, they are not suitable for very small children.
Cepia, the manufacturers, are St. Louis based, and were established in 2004. They launched the Zhu Zhu Pets in August 2009 and have shipped six million units since then. A further six million sales are expected between now and Christmas. Currently, the shelf life of a Zhu Zhu hamster is - on average - less than three minutes.
Demand is outstripping supply right now and prices are beginning to creep upwards - for both the hamsters and their accessories. Sellers on eBay are already cashing in and you can expect to see more of this the closer we get to Christmas.
Cepia are predicting sales of between $ 300 and $ 400 million over the next twelve months. This will be from not only the Zhu Zhu hamsters - they intend to expand their range to include hedgehogs, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. Presumably any small, cute and furry woodland animal which children would find appealing could make it onto their list in future. - 31409
About the Author:
Want to find out more about the Zhu Zhu Pets, then visit Harold Peterson's site on Zhu Zhu Hamsters and find out where you can still find them.
