Latest news with #softtoys
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Royal children's favourite Jellycat sparks fury by culling 100 loyal independent retailers as part of 'brand elevation strategy'
It is the viral British plushie brand which has won the hearts of the royal family 's youngest generation - as well as proving a magnet for thieves. Prince William has described Jellycat's sought-after soft toys are his children's 'currency', while rare designs can sell for thousands of pounds online. But the London-based brand's decision to ban around 100 independent retailers from stocking the toys threatens to damage its cuddly reputation, according to marketing experts. Among stockists who have been told Jellycat will no longer supply them is children's clothing shop Puddleducks. It has been trading for 34 years in the village of Diggle near Oldham, selling a Jellycat range for almost two decades. Owner Alison McCabe regularly places orders with the firm worth thousands of pounds, with the brand representing nearly one-third of its sales. So she was shocked to receive an email from Jellycat containing details of what it described as 'the next stage in our brand elevation strategy'. To provide a 'great experience' for 'every customer' the firm's email said it would now be working with 'over 1,200 independent retailers across the UK'. Devastatingly it went on: 'Sadly, we're not able to extend this support to everyone.' The firm said it understood the decision to end its relationship with Puddleducks would be 'disappointing news' but that it was 'final and not open to negotiation.' 'I couldn't believe what I was reading,' Ms McCabe told the Daily Mail. 'We've stocked Jellycat for 19 years, before all the hype started - I just thought they were really nice products. 'So it really hurts to be told we're not good enough for them any more. 'There's been no communication at all. 'If Jellycat wanted us to display the toys in a different way we could have had a conversation. 'Instead it's just "thank you and goodbye" - it's ridiculous. 'It's small retailers like this which have got Jellycat where they are now.' In total Jellycat has pulled the plug on around one in 12 stockists. They also include Bo Peep Boutique in Lincoln, which said on social media it was given 'no ifs or buts, no guidance, no reasons'. Meanwhile Rumours gift shop in Whitby, North Yorkshire announced the 'sad news' on Facebook. 'This is obviously extremely disappointing, having supported the company for over two decades, since they first started up,' it wrote. 'It's a sad day that we can no longer be referred to as "The Jellycat Shop".' As the resulting backlash spread through social media – where Jellycat has a strong presence – the firm responded to a string of negative ratings on Trustpilot by suspending reviews on the site. Professor Anthony Patterson, from Lancaster University Management School's department of marketing, said Jellycat's decision to slash its stockists was 'a clever way to maintain exclusivity' - but risked leading to 'customer frustration'. 'The real casualties here are the independent retailers who've faithfully stocked Jellycat for years, building customer relationships around the brand, only to find themselves suddenly cut loose in favour of "selective partnerships",' he added. 'For smaller toy shops that relied heavily on Jellycat sales, losing such a significant revenue stream could be the difference between staying open and closing their doors permanently.' Influencer marketing consultant Scott Guthrie said Jellycat would enjoy higher profit margins by directing more customers online - but risked damaging its brand. 'Jellycat toy sales have surged in part thanks to the sense of community it has fostered, including Gen Z posting TikToks of their collections and love for the brand,' he said. 'The break with stockists - many who have long supported the brand - may negatively impact this sense of community, with a potential knock-on effect of denting Jellycat's brand equity.' Jellycat insists it is a 'big supporter' of small businesses and stresses that 1,200 independent stores will continue stocking its toys. Initially it said they had been 'carefully' selected for the 'amazing in-store experience that they lovingly create', while saying it wished the shops on which it had pulled the plug 'all the best for the future'. However as the furore escalated, it yesterday shifted its position on the cull, saying: 'We are very sorry about this and the hurt it has caused for those retailers and their customers.' But it insisted cutting around 100 stockists would help it 'give better service' to those that survived the cutback, and therefore help customers. 'We are also increasing supply as fast as we can without compromising our high quality and production standards,' it added in a statement.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Labubus might be sold out but these Jelly Cat bag charms are just as cute (and you can buy them now)
I'm not sure what's in the air, but it seems that adults right now are obsessing over, well - soft toys. If you've been on the internet at any time over the past two months, it's likely you've come across Labubus, a hyped-up collectable created by Hong Kong-based artist, Kasing Lung. The cute yet somewhat creepy-looking collectibles have been around since 2015, though they recently boomed in popularity thanks, in part, to ex-Love Island star Olivia Attwod's obsession with the toy. With many choosing to sport Labubus on their designer bags and using the collectible as a fashion accessory, the internet has officially gone Labubu crazy, with some resellers asking for as much as £350 for the rarer versions (which retail anywhere between £17.50 to £30). If you've finally seen the light and want a Labubu to call your own, you might have missed the boat (unless you want to spend hundreds on a resale platform). Though counterfeit versions of the figures are readily available, authorised sellers such as Popmart, Harrods and Selfridges have had to temporarily pause in-store sales of Labubus following safety concerns after fights broke out in-store (yes, really). Not to worry, though, if you need your collectible fix or want to accessorize your bag with an equally as cute toy, we've got good news - Jellycat has a wide-range of adorable bag charms and accessories, so you can bedazzle your bags until your heart's content. From adorable croissants to Clyde the cheeky capybara, here's the Jellycat bag charms we're adding to cart ASAP - and you should, too, if you want to fill the Labubu-shaped hole in your life. Run, don't walk! Jellycat Amuseable Pretzel Charm Plush Keyring Another food-inspired design that we can't get enough of, this playful pretzel charm is ideal for girls on the go. The silver-tone claw clip means that the character is ready to be clipped on to your favourite bag, purse or set of keys, and the playful design will delight your inner child. So much cuter than a Labubu. £23 Shop Jellycat Amuseables Banana Bag Who needs practicality when the bag is this cute? The perfect option for storing your smaller must-haves (lipgloss, check, keys, check), this Banana Bag will soon become an unlikely favourite within your handbag collection. Sure to add a whimsical touch to any outfit, this playful design will certainly turn heads - and we're obsessed. £29.99 Shop Jellycat Amuseables Storm Cloud Bag A must-have for fashion lovers, this storm cloud bag is the perfect combination of fashionable and cute. Large enough to fit your phone and a few other small essentials, this design boasts a sad looking rain cloud that's sure to brighten up your day (pun intended). £29.95 Shop Jellycat Bartholomew Bear Soft Woven Tote Bag Take your Jellycat obsession one step further with this super sweet tote bag - large enough to fit all of your day-to-day essentials (including a 13 or 14 inch laptop - because who said you can't wear a Jellycat bag to the office?). Hand wash-friendly for easy maintenance, with easy-to-carry top handles, this might just be the it-girl bag of the season! £75 Shop Jellycat Amuseable Avocado Bag Charm Another firm favourite from the Amuseable collection, this charm is perfect for the avocado lovers amongst you. With a smiling face and bold green hue, this cheeky chap will make a welcome addition to any bag or set of keys (and you definitely won't lose the latter again). £23 Shop Jellycat Bartholomew Bear Bag Charm If you can't get your hands on a Labubu, this Bartholomew Bear bag charm is the next best thing (in fact, we think it might be even cuter). With soft, honey brown fur, this charm strikes the perfect balance between chic and playful - and customers have rated it '10/10 for cuteness and quality'. £23 Shop
News.com.au
17-06-2025
- News.com.au
Thief steals hundreds of dollars worth of toys by shoving them down her pants
CCTV footage showed the shocking moment a brazen thief steals around $800 worth of Jellycats by stuffing them down her pants. The huge haul of Jellycat soft toys was taken from St Peter's Garden Centre, south west of Birmingham, England, after a woman stuffed a 'significant amount' of the stock into her trousers and bags. Footage filmed on June 7, 2025, showed a woman helping herself to items as she walked through the store, casually adjusting her pants as she went. Jellycats are uniquely shaped soft toys that are hugely popular right now, thanks to their quirky designs and super-soft material. Over the past year, the brand has experienced significant growth in popularity. William Blake, managing director of St Peter's Garden Centre, said: 'We were deeply disappointed by the incident, where a significant amount of stock – over $800 worth of Jellycat toys – was stolen from our store. 'As an independent, family-run business, every loss impacts not just our shelves but the hardworking team behind the scenes. 'Our staff work tirelessly to create a warm and welcoming environment for all visitors, and it's disheartening when that is taken advantage of. 'We're co-operating fully with local authorities and we'd like to thank our customers for the response to the video and all their continued support.' West Mercia Police said: 'We received a report of theft from St Peter's Garden Centre on June 11. 'Inquiries are ongoing.' In Australia, stores such as David Jones stock Jellycats, with the department store seeing a massive uptick in sales in previous years. 'We've seen strong demand for the brand and an increase in sales in not only their iconic bunny which they are best known for but also more niche/unique styles,' a David Jones spokesperson told last month. 'There has also been a noticeable shift in the consumer who is buying this product, traditionally bought for children we have seen demand from Gen Z thanks to social media driving the trend among this group.' It comes as Aussies have gone wild for the Labubu craze, a furry plushie featuring a bizarre grin and sharp teeth. Designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the product is sold by Chinese toy company Pop Mart following a collaboration with Lung on his story series book The Monsters, released in 2015. While the Labubu hit the market in Asia in 2019, the toy only took off after Blackpink's Lisa, a popular K-pop singer, was spotted with a $32 keychain-version of the doll attached to her handbag in April 2024. And in just 12 months, the whole world has become hooked, including Aussies.
South China Morning Post
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
‘Tabubu' Labubu toys by US tattoo artist take social media by storm
Ever since Lisa of K-pop girl group Blackpink posted her Labubu on Instagram in April 2024, there has been a global frenzy over the ugly-cute soft toys created by Hong Kong-born artist Lung Ka-sing a decade ago. Now, a new kind of Labubu is hitting the market. Tattoo artist Hunter Chao is adding his personal touch to these cuddly, sharp-toothed monsters and reselling them as 'Tabubu' toys. Chao, 27, who was born in the US state of California to Taiwanese parents, also posts Labubu content online, making unboxing videos in collaboration with mainland Chinese toy retailer Pop Mart A Tabubu by Hunter Chao. Photo: Hunter Chao Chao is no stranger to collectibles. In his teenage years, he would collect plush toys from claw machines. As an adult, he started collecting blind box figurines from Pop Mart, which has multiple physical locations in the United States.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- The Sun
Astonishing moment brazen thief stuffs £400 worth of Jellycats down her TROUSERS in shocking soft toy raid
CCTV FOOTAGE shows the shocking moment a brazen thief steals £400 worth of Jellycats by stuffing them down her trousers. The huge haul of Jellycat soft toys was taken from St Peter's Garden Centre, Worcester, after a woman stuffed a "significant amount" of the stock into her trousers and bags. 3 3 3 Footage filmed on June 7, 2025, shows a woman helping herself to items as she walks through the store, casually adjusting her trousers as she goes. Jellycats are uniquely shaped soft toys that are hugely popular right now, thanks to their quirky designs and super-soft material. Over the past year, the brand has experienced significant growth in popularity. William Blake, managing director of St Peter's Garden Centre, said: "We were deeply disappointed by the incident, where a significant amount of stock - over £400 worth of Jellycat toys - was stolen from our store. "As an independent, family-run business, every loss impacts not just our shelves but the hard-working team behind the scenes. "Our staff work tirelessly to create a warm and welcoming environment for all visitors, and it's disheartening when that is taken advantage of. "We're co-operating fully with local authorities and we'd like to thank our customers for the response to the video and all their continued support." West Mercia Police said: "We received a report of theft from St Peter's Garden Centre on Wednesday (11 June). "Enquiries are on-going." It comes after a brazen thief used a stolen van to smash through a shop wall and steal thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes and alcohol. Moment brazen thief rides on roof of white van to case out houses over wall - before hopping into garden Shocking footage shows the moment Kayne Palmer, 33, rams into Bestwood Hill Food and Wine in Nottingham using a stolen vehicle in October 2023. Stock and shelves fly across the room as the burglar reverses into the off license at speed. Brickwork continues to crumble around the van as Palmer nabs £8,000 worth of fags and booze. He can be seen on CCTV stuffing thousands of cigarettes into a bag before discovering it has a hole in the bottom. In a panic, Palmer then grabs a shopping basket which he uses to carry the stolen goods. He also swipes a till which he loads into the van before fleeing the scene. Palmer caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the shop and stole £7,897 of cigarettes and alcohol, as well as £3,239 of cash. The frightened shop owners were upstairs at the time of the ram raid and were woken by the loud bang of the van smashing into the store. They called the police but by the time they got downstairs the crook had gone. Hours before the 5am raid, Palmer broke into a nearby house and stole keys to the work van along with a handbag and bank card. He carried out a 24-hour crime spree less than a month later, successfully breaking into five houses and attempting to force his way into another. He was finally caught when officers spotted him fence-hopping over gardens following an afternoon break-in in Bestwood, Nottingham. Palmer admitted to a series of offences, including eight burglaries, multiple counts of dangerous driving, assault and driving while disqualified. He was jailed for seven years at Nottingham Crown Court last Friday and was banned from driving for five-and-a-half years.
