Wattlie™, the Australian exclusive Beanie Baby bear released by Ty Australia on the 22nd February, is set to send collectors into a frenzy of excitement. Already retailers around Australia have been inundated with calls and emails from collectors wanting to buy the $AUS 12.95 bear.

Wattlie™, aptly named, as the Australian national flower the Wattle is featured on its left chest, will be released in limited numbers making it highly desirable by collectors around the world, all keen to add value to their current Beanie Baby collections. Wattlie™ is being released as part of an Asia-Pacific Exclusive Flower Collection, which includes a set of six country exclusive bears. The other five countries being released include Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand.

It is estimated that Wattlie™ could reach an asking price of hundreds of dollars by the time a collector walks out the door. Already Internet auction site www.ebay.com.au has bids for Wattlie™ $AUS 130 and bids for the set of six $AUS750.

It is timely that Wattlie™ is being released now with the patriotism of Australians high from celebrating the Centenary of Federation last year and Australia Day on 26 January (Wattie's™ birthday) this year.

To make it easier for the collectors in each of the countries involved to collect the entire Asia-Pacific Flower Collection, Ty will make available very limited numbers of the other Exclusive bears in the initial release so they can buy in sets.

Wattlie™ is available from Granny May's, Cardeaux, Rip It Up, What's New and selected toy and gift stores nationally for $AUS12.95.

For more information on the country exclusives being released visit www.ty.com.au or www.grannymays.com * www.cardeaux.com.au * www.whatsnew.com.au