Nov 25, 2009 11:03 pm US/Central
Forget Tickle Me Elmo, This Year It's Zhu Zhu Pet
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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This year, all the hype surrounds a robotic hamster. The Zhu Zhu Pet.
CBS
Around this time every year, the buzz begins about a hot new toy. Such as, the Cabbage Patch doll or Tickle Me Elmo.
This year, all the hype surrounds a robotic hamster. The Zhu Zhu Pet. It's a hamster that can run all over the place and price point seems to be playing a big role. It costs less than $10. Making it almost impossible to find.
This holiday, Jakk Netland is stuck in her own hamster wheel.
"This is my third to come and find a zhu zhu hamster," she said.
Netland is on a mission to find Mr. Squiggles, Pipsqueak, or Num Nums for her little boy. At the Target store in St. Louis Park there were some Zhu Zhu Pets earlier this week. They sold out in 20 minutes.
Toy retailers like Creative Kidstuff have already noticed the recession playing a role in holiday shopping. It focuses on specialty gifts that are just as unique as each child is.
They say family games seem to be big this year.
"I have seen people being a lot more careful I would say that really looking for the perfect gift for their child," Happi Olson, Creative Kidstuff said.
As for, Netland she thinks she might end up turning to the Internet for help.
"I'm probably going to end up going on eBay and buying one because it's probably less hassle," she said.
They are much more expensive online. Zhu Zhu Pets are going for as much as $50 on eBay or Amazon.com.
The small St. Louis company with the idea behind the Zhu Zhu Pet is expected to rake in $50 million this year.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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