Squishmallows are a relatively new and incredibly popular brand of stuffed toy that became a worldwide phenomenon in 2020. These comforting plush toys brought happiness to kids and adults alike during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people were struggling with feeling isolated and alone. Squishmallows can be purchased at various retailers throughout the United States and other countries as well as through online platforms and individual resellers.
With hundreds of different Squishmallows available to choose from, buyers enjoy collecting these adorable plush toys and searching for rare or limited edition ones. Not only do they come in a range of sizes and shapes, but they also have different textures and colors. Each Squishmallow comes with a unique name and background history so people can learn all about their stuffed toy.
The popularity of Squishmallows has been compared to the Beanie Baby trend of the 1990s when collectors were paying significant amounts of money to purchase the plush toys. Both products had a variety of stuffed toys that were personalized with names, creating a connection between the purchaser and the toy. In a time when many people are suffering from depression, anxiety, and loneliness, this huggable, soft toy has become a source of pleasure and comfort.
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Where Can I Find Squishmallows?
With a steady surge of people wanting to buy these toys, it can sometimes be hard to find them, particularly when they are first released or if they are rare editions. There are two main ways that people can purchase new Squishmallows: from a store’s physical location or from an online retailer. They can also be bought from resellers, though they are not considered new at that point which can affect their value.
Squishmallows can be found at retailers throughout the United States like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Claire’s, and GameStop. The nice thing about purchasing from a store is that you know you will be getting an authentic product and not a knock-off. Unfortunately, there is often a shortage of Squishmallows available in stores and you won’t know which ones are on the shelf until you get there. Buying from a brick and mortar store can also mean having to line up in advance if you want to get your hands on one of these toys.
Online retailers like Amazon are another great option for buying Squishmallows. When purchasing online, you can easily search by name, size, price, or any other criteria to find the toy you would like. Buying from Amazon can be hit or miss in terms of authenticity–while buying directly from Amazon is usually a safe bet, there is a huge presence of third-party sellers on the platform whose products are not always genuine Squishmallows.
What are Squishmallows?
Squishmallows were created by Kelly Toy Holdings in 2017 and were inspired by similar Japanese plush toys. Founder of the company Jonathan Kelly said that he wanted to create something that had the same kawaii feeling as many Japanese items. The name of the toys is based on the idea that they are soft like a marshmallow and meant to be hugged–or squished. Squishmallows range in size, shape, color, and texture–there is a large variety of themes including animals, foods, dinosaurs, magical creatures, and more.
There are over 800 different characters in the Squishmallow product line, with each one having its own unique name and backstory. The smallest and more common Squishmallows are just a few inches tall and may be sold for as little as $5-10, while larger or limited edition toys can be over $100. Resellers often drastically increase the price of hard-to-find characters, with some selling for over $1,000.
Squishmallow characters include animals like sharks, turtles, blue jays, and cows. There are also mythical and imaginative creatures like unicorns, caticorns, bigfoot, and mermaids. Another category of this stuffed toy includes foods like ice cream sundae, cinnamon roll, hamburger, and candy corn.
What is So Special About Squishmallows?
People love Squishmallows because they are a fun, joyful, and comforting toy that provides them with a sense of happiness. Squishmallows are also popular because of the almost endless variety of products to choose from, making these a big hit with collectors who call themselves the Squishmallow Squad. With so many different types available, it is easy for people to find one of the stuffed toys that they like–there really is something for everyone.
Squishmallows are special because you can often find one that matches your name–for example, there is Lucille the Seal, Dustin the Dalmation, and Abby the Octopus. Children absolutely love having a stuffed toy that shares their name and this personalized touch makes them that much more appealing. Some people choose to get one that has the same name as their pet or as a loved one.
Another aspect of the Squishmallows that makes them so addictive is that they are constantly coming out with new characters. It is fun to watch and see what kind of new animals or other types are released. And for many people, the hunt for the Squishmallows is just part of the fun, whether this means lining up at stores or browsing Ebay.
Why are Squishmallows So Hard to Find?
Squishmallows can be difficult to find in part due to the fact that the demand is far greater than the supply available. When these stuffed toys hit the shelves, they are often sold out within hours, with people lining up ahead of time in many cases. If and when the demand for these toys declines, it will be easier to find Squishmallows in stores and to order online.
There is also an issue with resellers buying large quantities of the toys all at once in hopes of making a profit from them. Whereas individuals may only buy one or two of the toys at a time, resellers will sometimes buy dozens if there are no limits in place by the retailer. Unfortunately, this leaves fewer Squishmallows available for people who can’t afford to pay increased prices that resellers are able to list them at.
Another reason these plush toys can be hard to find is that some of the characters are limited edition or exclusive versions. These toys are only produced in a limited quantity, so they are rare and in higher demand which makes them difficult to track down and more expensive. Some Squishmallows, like the Valentine Squad, are only released once and once they are sold out can only be purchased through resellers.
What is the Most Popular Squishmallow?
The two best-selling Squishmallows are Brina the Pink Big Foot and Benny the Brown Bigfoot with Fuzzy Ears. Many of the popular plush toys are from their food line, including Bernardo the Burrito, Carl the Brown Hamburger, and Clara the Ice Cream Sundae. Other favorites include Tex the Yellow Taco and Sinclair the Avocado Toast.
A lot of the best-selling Squishmallows are mythical or make-believe characters. Some top choices include Will the Multi-Colored Green Dragon, Dexter the Green Dragon with Yellow Horns, and Esmina the Fairy. Other popular options are Ilene the Pink Unicorn with Rainbow Bangs, Silvia the Purple Rainbow Unicorn, and Ben the Teal Dino with Blue Spikes.
The animal collection also includes a lot of best-selling Squishmallows. Some popular options are Babs the Blue and White Blue Jay, Lucia the Pink Lemur, Tracey the Black and White Zebra with Pink Mane, and Dustin the Black and White Dalmatian. Other top choices include Bruce the Brown Walrus, Henry the Green Turtle, and Cookie the Pink Flamingo.
What Size is the Biggest Squishmallow?
Squishmallows come in several different sizes but the biggest one is 24 inches or 2 feet tall. Since they are the largest version, they tend to be the most expensive kind aside from rare or limited edition ones. Not every Squishmallow is available in the largest size–in fact, there are only a dozen offered.
The only 24-inch toy that was released in Squishmallows’ first year is Piper the Pink Penguin, the eighth Squishmallow ever created. 24-inch toys from 2019 include Zobey the Aqua Octopus, Teddy the Black Boston Terrier, and Nathan the Tan Tabby Cat. The remainder of this size Squishmallows were released in 2020.
Large, two-foot Squishmallows from 2020 include Benny the Brown Bigfoot with Fuzzy Ears and Brina the Pink Bigfoot. There is also Dustin the White Dalmatian with White Belly, Melani the Sky Blue Fox with Gold Shimmer Ears, and Zaylee the White Bigfoot with Rainbow Fuzzy Ears. Olga the Teal Octopus is the most recent large Squishmallow to be released in November 2020.
Final Thoughts on Squishmallows
Squishmallows have become an incredibly popular toy since 2017 and the demand for them only increased during the lockdown and Covid-19 pandemic. The appeal of Squishmallows relates to their happy, joyful characters, the ability to choose from hundreds of characters, and their comforting, soft materials. You can find Squishmallows at a variety of stores and online retailers as well as third-party platforms and resellers.
