Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
Squishmallows: Collectible Toy of the Future Lori Verderame
Don’t know which contemporary toy is the best one Adults collect them too. In fact, I was interviewed to buy for everybody on your list this holiday season? about appraising collectible Squishmallows recently, While many toys make great gifts, some toys will be and the 20-something reporter admitted that she and collectibles of the future. her friends are wild about collecting the cuddly creature What is my pick for the holiday toy of choice in toys, too. That didn’t surprise me, as young adults are 2021? Squishmallows. enthusiastic plush-toy collectors for many reasons, one I think these soft, plush toys with cutesy and of which is that the age group grew up with the 1990s culturally significant names, complex backstories, and collectible-toy crazes. strong designs — and that second for cuddly pillows Kellytoy, the California plush-toy manufacturer that — are highly collectible and will hold their value with makes and markets Squishmallows, enjoys widespread collectors for the long term. interest and sales: more than 55 million have been sold Squishmallows are to the 2020s what Beanie Babies to date. were to the 1990s. The complete Squishmallows Squad includes more Squishmallows are not only the next big toy craze, than 800 plush characters in various sizes. The toys they are the current big toy craze. Only a few years are simple in their design and feature colorful and since their introduction in the autumn of 2017, the textural attributes that make the them attractive to the Photo credit: Staff of www.DrLoriV.com collectible Squishmallows toys in their many versions collecting public. Squishmallows are made from superSquishmallow plush toy, Rocio the have achieved the type of widespread interest that was soft spandex EF and polyester stuffing. Each toy is dinosaur, Prehistoric Squad, collector enjoyed by Boyd’s Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Ty washable. No. 680. Inc. Beanie Babies. Collectors look for some of the same elements in a Squishmallows are organized and marketed differently from most plush Squishmallow as they did in Ty Inc. Beanies Babies. Tags are important to toys. For example, Squishmallows debuted in thematic squads, like the Fantasy authentication and value, since there are fakes out there trying to imitate the Squad, Prehistoric Squad, Buddy Squad, etc., with certain items included toys. within a category or squad. To an appraiser and market analyst like me, Squishmallows have all the stuff Each Squishmallow has its own character name; “squishdate,” which is that will make them a mainstay in the collectible-toy market for many years to likened to a birthdate; collector number; character backstory; and, of course, come. Get yours now while you can. All the kids and adults on your holiday the all-important printed tag. shopping list will thank you for it. The fun plush toys are available in four sizes — 5, 8, 12, and 16 inches tall — and range in price from approximately $5 to $20 each. The cost is attractive Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide and appears on The Curse of Oak Island to all ages. Kids can afford their low price in order to make additions to their on History channel. Visit drloriv.com, youtube.com/drloriv, or call (888) 431-1010. Squishmallows collections.
Booming Voice
Remotely Unsuccessful Bill Levine
My three closest former officemates from the 501 building and I recently met for our first get-together dinner meeting post-COVID. We have kept in touch, even though two of my friends retired in 2007, seven years before my final logoff. We passed around the annals of the old office coffee club, which included fake bios for members emphasizing their java creds, mixed with real newspaper articles about the club’s charitable donations to Globe Santa. To this pleasant memory above, I want to add stats from a March 2021 Society for Human
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December 2021
50plus LIFE
Resource Management (shrm.org) piece that listed what remote employees missed most: • 61% – In-person workplace conversations • 42% – The regular and daily structure of reporting to a worksite • 40% – Lunches and happy hours with colleagues • 37% – Reduced interruptions by kids during the workday www.50plusLifePA.com
