I think I missed the memo! What is the hype around ‘Jellycat’?

[TimeForRest]

I've just seen a FB post where a poster has spent £180 on Jellycat ‘cheeses’?

My local gift shop sells them too.

I don't get it, what have I missed?

I have several of their plants, a large Christmas tree and one of the toilet rolls ..

I have a few of the patisserie items. And one of the big plants in my home office. They're cute and a bit of fun.

I like them. We have a few but any more and it might be a bit odd. We have the loo roll one!

They'll probably be worth something one day. I've just gone through my old toys at my parents house and found an 80s toy that's rare and going for £300 on Ebay.

I got my first (and only) Jellycat as a little girl. I’m in my 30’s now so this would have been one of their early offerings. My mum bought us up on her own so we got a gift at Christmas and on our birthday, there wasn’t money for anything else understandably.

One day, we went to Cliveden a National Trust property with my nan and great aunt, on the way out, my great aunt insisted I chose something from the gift shop. I chose a Jellycat pig. He meant the world to me and I treasured him. Fast forward to the birth of my kids, I got them all jellycat’s over the years. I suppose in my head I wanted to emulate the joy I got from Riff Ruff pig, although I know they’ll never get that feeling as like most kids these days, they have more than I ever had, but my twin girls in particular adore their jellycats (and have nabbed their brothers). I enjoy seeing all the hype but will be glad when it dies down. Never in all my years have a had to keep refreshing a page to get my daughter the one she wanted for her birthday before it sold out. For me, the hype takes away a bit of the nostalgia.

Photo of Riff Ruff pig for cuteness 🐷 (I wish the price sticker was still on the label, I’d love to know how much he cost)!

I don’t get they hype, it’s just a teddy.

That said DD keeps hinting for one (although I notice won’t spend her own saved up money on it) so will consider one for Christmas if she is still wanting one by then.

Currently cuddled up with my jellycat right now! I just find it soft and comforting. I’ve got a caterpillar and it tucks into my neck which I like for some reason. He’s also very cute and I just like it! One of my friends has a fruit bowl collection which is cute.

😔 my image is under review for some reason. @mnhq free the pig 🐷

I think they were just quite cute and soft bunnies for kids that became trendy and so the price went up lots. And then they introduced the quirkier stuff and it's just continued. I don't know a lot about it but I think it's sort of hooked into the Japanese/ Asian kawaii trend.

I have the tennis ball, chocolate eclair, pain au chocolat, croissant, carrot, peanut, broccoli, leek, aubergine, beetroot, bok Choi , kale, sweetcorn, leek, peas, avocado (2 different types). Ahem I’m 58. Can’t help myself.

I was given as a birthday present one of (I think) the original Jellycat cushions about 30 years ago by my friend who went on to be a real fan. She bought it for me because I liked cats! The cushion is still on my sofa and still going strong 💕

Naaah, that’s the thing, no way would I find that cute! ( unless of course you are teasing).

I can appreciate them as a ‘new baby, first soft toy’ gift. Lovely to be given something branded and reading on here, of quality.

They've been popular for around 15 years. I think it's actually declined a bit - you don't see the same amount of children with the obligatory favourite jellycat bunny now. They used to be popular because of quality but there's a lot more similar alternatives now.
The novelty vegetable toys etc were a very smart business move to get attention back on them.

The animals are amazingly soft and cute (DD has a big collection including her first ever soft pink bunny which is now like an old dishrag) but I wouldn’t waste cash on the silly burgers and veg ones.

I had to Google those Labubu things. So hideous I'm almost cross that you exposed me to them!

What do you do with them? Are they cuddled in bed or on display?

Well, you’ll notice I said cute “ in someone’s loo” not in mine!!

It’s not something I’d have for myself, but I wasn’t teasing in the sense that I’d think they were quite fun - in someone else’s home! I did think they looked quite funny stacked up like that though hate to think what a stack of three actually cost.

i did like the Christmas tree but if I remember right it was over £100
I have heard of ram raiders who stole a load of them and several people done for shoplifting them
I agree they are odd

If they were in bed DH would move out. On a shelf on display.

they're nice <shrug>

i have 2, one i bought, one was a birthday gift.

but i have loads of plushies, some in my bed.. i use the Ikea Shark as an extra pillow, and have a weighted one i cuddle.

Just because you don't get it/don't like them doesn't mean no-one else can.

And it’s perfectly harmless in the scheme of things.

I can’t see why it should bother people.

The comforters and soft animals make lovely presents for babies. They're expensive but they're beautiful toys.

The novelty designs are clearly aimed at adults and have a price tag to match. I don't get the appeal but of all the things people could be spending their money on this has got to be one of the most harmless.

I compared the craze to Beanie Babies too in my head!

I think they are cute and people like them but I don't get the hype and find cuddly toys a pain to clean around.

I didn’t know what they were for a long time either. My child had taken a little bit of pocket money to town and spotted one of their dragon plushies in the window of a shop and wanted to get it. I naively said you can only get it if it’s no more than £10, asked the shop assistant the price and when they said £59 my mouth dropped open, I couldn’t believe it.

I think they are cute, but the price is ridiculous. There is a real contrast in the world - a cost of living crisis where people are struggling with basic costs and then the flip side - people spending 100s of £££ on jellycat plushies because social media has told them everybody else has got them! The world is bonkers.

Quite honestly I find things like non-essential cosmetic surgery a more baffling expenditure of adult money.

I think people just find them amusing and it’s all pretty innocent really.

I watched a documentary about those dolls that look like real babies and thought that was a bit bizarre because the owners take them for walks and things. And the I thought well I guess they could be into hard core porn and there are probably worse knock-on consequences from that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have bought my daughter a couple but because they have been things related to her. For example she likes avocado themed things so I bought her an avocado Oodie and an avocado Jellycat.