The Rise of Squishmallows
Image Courtesy: TODAY
You’ve seen them everywhere. In your local Walmart, Target, or CVS. Maybe you’ve gotten ads for them online or seen them in TikToks. If you’re reading this from your bed, there could be one next to you right now. Simply put, Squishmallows are everywhere. We all know what they are and we’ve all at least considered buying one. Some of us have fallen victim to the charm of Squishmallows and begun a collection. Something about these stuffed animals has gained them levels of popularity that are practically unrivaled by other stuffed animal brands that have come before them.
Getting their start in 2017, Squishmallows did not become the sought-after toy that they are now until 2020. Thanks to the pandemic, their popularity grew exponentially, largely due to people posting about them on social media apps such as TikTok. As more people saw the videos of these squishy stuffed animals, more people had to buy them, thus producing more videos for people to see. While 2020 was the peak of their popularity, there is no doubt that Squishmallows remain relevant and heavily desired by both kids and adults alike. As of today, more than 100 million Squishmallows have been sold, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
Image Courtesy: Nebraska News
Squishmallows have arguably one of the simplest designs of any line of stuffed animals. All of them keep the same consistent shape, with two black dots as the eyes. This formula makes it rather easy to slap the Squishmallow design onto any animal or character. There is not a creature that exists that cannot be molded into the Squishmallow form. This consistent look makes it easy to collect these stuffed animals. It becomes very simple to have a put-together aesthetic when lining up all of the Squishmallows in a collection. The visual is simple but remains extremely cute. The beady black eyes are impossible to say no to in the store.
An additional fun touch that Squishmallows have is their names and descriptions for every animal. Each toy has its own name and back story included in its tag when they’re purchased. The stories are often humorous, discussing the animal’s hobbies or dreams for the future. I mean, how can you say no to Sigzby the Black Panther, who enjoys “rock climbing, making origami, or practicing her ballet moves!” These backstories give each of the animals their own personality and only add to their enticement.
Squishmallows have grown so much as a brand that they’ve done collaborations with large companies including Disney, Sanrio, and Pokemon! Rapunzel, Pompompurrin, Pikachu, and many other well-known characters can be bought in spherical Squishmallow form. These collaborations have helped Squishmallows to thrive and retain its fame. People who had never considered buying a Squishmallow before might because one of their favorite characters has been put on the design. It is a process that is beneficial to both parties.
Image Courtesy: Hip2Save
Squishmallows have been a popular part of the internet since 2020. Some designs have become so popular online that they sell for upwards of $2,000! While some do not understand the hype behind these squishy animals, it is clear that they aren’t going anywhere.
Strike Out,
Writer: Dana Liberto
Editor: Addy Crosby
Tallahassee