This article will tear down the inner workings of the Beanie hobby and address issues that normally would be difficult, if not impossible to discuss.

The article will be published in two parts. The first part will feature comments from myself as well as from prominent web master's. The second part will include comments from collectors.

Beanies have come full circle and the history has been exciting, frustrating, difficult and even nerve racking.
In order to totally understand what has happened to this hobby, we need to face a few hard truths.

1998 was a banner year for Beanies.
Ty successfully continued to capture the kid in all of us.
Retailers were excited about being able to move product as fast as it hit the shelves and collectors enjoyed the hunt!
Ty had us wowed by the likes of the BBOC and Clubby and kept those announcements, retirements and new releases coming faster than we could keep up with.
Ty giveaways were used at many sporting events, which brought a new meaning to the word collectible.
Ty continued to vigorously protect their copyrights and trademarks, which at times confused many.
Ty offered (footprints in the sand) silly diary messages, which would keep us on our toes, and announcements that would flabbergast us!
Teenie Beanies were not only sought after but were considered to be highly collectible.
At times, one would think that Ty was in competition with Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. He kept hitting home runs that would leave us breathless.

1999 - What a difference a year makes!
Although Ty Beanies are still considered collectible, the market has experienced a turnaround.
Many would lead you to believe that all fingers point to Ty.
Although Ty should be responsible for some of the blame, they are not alone!

In order to write this article fairly, both sides must be addressed. Hopefully, I will be able to address the necessary issues without offending anyone.

Ty's unwillingness to communicate has frustrated many!
Collectors blame Ty for not keeping them abreast of their future plans. News reports have hampered this situation by reporting that the end is near!
Collectors who do not have Internet access can only believe what they hear! Sadly, they are not hearing the truth. Instead, they are being confused by what some may refer to as a mistake that can backfire.
Collectors who have been involved with this hobby have a sense of knowledge that this is not the end, but instead a New Beginning!
Unfortunately, new collectors are confused by false rumors and Ty's warning not to listen to rumors.
They are totally consumed by reports that indicate Beanies are over!
Secondary markets are scrambling to unload product, old collectors are taking a wait and see approach and new collectors are dumfounded.

Has Ty's latest announcement started to backfire or is it another ingenious marketing ploy?
This can be debated for days.
Many feel the announcement has already had an enormous affect on the market.
Realistically, I believe the timing was wrong!
The market had been experiencing difficulties and this announcement only added fuel to the fire.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me explain!
Fuel to the fire can be interpreted in several ways.

Ty's announcement convinced collectors to complete their collections before the December 31st retirement.
Many would thank Ty for giving them notice of this retirement and for shipping on a timely basis for them to complete their task.
Others feel that it has only cast doubt upon the future of Beanies.
It would be safe to say that Ty's last announcement could easily be the most misunderstood words ever issued from Ty.

My concerns are as follows:

I am concerned about the amount of e-mail I receive from collectors of other countries. These collectors are not as fickle as we are. (I mean that in a good way!)
Here in the US, we can be swept off our feet and show loyalty towards a product we believe in, while other cultures will not tolerate game-playing and what some would refer to as manipulation.

These countries have watched Americans enjoy their Beanies. They now have access too more information which shows a slowdown or possibly the end. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out what may happen next! They are already starting to rethink their position as collectors.

Ty's competition has hampered their ability to focus on their product.
Many blame Ty for their repeated lawsuits, but truly do not understand the law.
In order for a company to protect their copyrights and trademarks, the law clearly states they must be proactive in protecting their rights.
I truly believe that Ty has the right to question any design that resembles their own. The object is to focus on their protection rights without airing their dirty laundry to collectors.
Unfortunately, bad press and unprofessional comments have forced them to address these situations openly.
I personally feel that this Company needs to start using their own words and stop others from putting words into their mouths.
Many Companies experience lawsuits on a regularly basis, the difference being that they are (internal) Company matters and not public matters.
Ty's collectors have become so consumed by their products that they thrive on any news regarding Ty.
In some cases, collectors have more say so over Ty than Ty itself!

Many, wonder why Ty would not just sell their product to any store that desires to be a Ty account holder.
As collectors, this would be the ultimate in being able to obtain what we wish for. As a business this could be the kiss of death. Please allow me to elaborate.
In order to make a product more desirable, one must not make it too obtainable.
Example - My husband and I own a small business. We inquired about carrying a particular line of product in our store. We were told the following.
Sorry Charlie! There is a store less than 5 miles away that carries our product line. If we sell our line to you, we would not only be jeopardizing our relationship with our retailers we would also have an abundance of our product too close in range. We reserve the right to pick and choose where our products are sold and therefore can not service your needs at this time.

My first reaction was disbelief. I could not imagine a Company turning down any business.
After giving the matter some more thought, I finally came to the following conclusion.
Not only did this company have the right to do what they did, they were smart in doing so. They had already established a long-term relationship with another business, which just so happened to be my competition. Why would they want to destroy that relationship by just allowing me to carry their products? I also viewed it as them doing me a favor. Now, I am forced to seek a different manufacturer, which hopefully, in turn will allow my customers more choices.

My point is this.
Ty has limited his accounts. This proves to me that they are secure knowing that they have the ability to continue to be the # 1 bean bag manufacturer in the world. It also proves that he wants his products to remain collectible and obtainable at the same time. How can you fault him for this?

The secondary market has always been a tough issue.
Many believe that Ty supports this market by some of the things they do. Ty's release of the Ty Employee bear and the Billion Dollar bear convince many that Ty is in favor of this market.
Others believe Ty is desperately trying to close down the secondary market.
Regardless of what you think, the bottom line is this.
The secondary market gets blamed for everything!
Let's face it, if it weren't for Ty retailers Backdooring to these markets, they would not exist.
Secondary market deals are business people seeking an opportunity to enrich their lives.
The choice is yours, you either buy from this market or walk away. It's that simply.

Collectors seem to overlook the obvious.

The Ty Company has not been recognized for their accomplishments.
While the media continually focuses on Ty's negative side, they appear to have a problem addressing Ty's admirable qualities.
Ty has contributed to many worthwhile charities and has sponsored many events, which included children.
Ty has always manufactured their product to be collected by children. Adults who have taken this toy away from the kids should not ridicule Ty.
Ty does not openly seek adults to purchase their toys. They simply manufacture the items and market them to be sold.
Maybe collectors should consider the manufacturers side before posting negative comments?
I'm not saying Ty is invincible, or indestructible, but should they be blamed for all that goes wrong in our Collectible World?

Ty has vigorously tried to deal with backdooring of their products. They have tried to address the concerns of their collectors. Although many of us feel they need to do a better job of it, who's to say that they won't?
The bottom line is, they still maintain a quality product that is reasonably priced.
Ty has tried to remain fair by offering priority accounts status to all account holders. It is the decision of the retailer to choose their standing with Ty.
Although Ty still manages to receive an abundance of FREE publicity, sometimes it can be very damaging.
Rumors can be viewed as fun and give all of us something to speculate about, but they also can damage a company's reputation and product.
Ty needs to work with people who support them. Loyalty works both ways. Ty has many web sites that support them and collectors that are waiting for their word that this hobby will continue. Loyalty in this case, may be a treasure in disguise.
Seize the opportunity and silence your critics.

Ms. Janie

Copyright 2004 All rights reserved.