Zhu Zhu Pets – Range Set To Expand
There’s not much doubt that Zhu Zhu Pets – the family of five robotic hamsters which feature artificial intelligence which allows them to interact with children and their environment – are the must have toy for Christmas 2009. Demand is currently so high that Toys R Us have, quite deliberately, not included them in their new Xmas 2009 catalog so as to avoid disappointing prospective buyers.
The Zhu Zhu hamsters are Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, Patches, Pipsqueak and Chunk. In addition to the hamsters themselves there is a wide range of toys and accessories available which can be used in a variety of different ways and which allows the children to use their imagination.
The Zhu Zhu pets are aimed at children in the age range of 4 to 10 years old and appeal to both boys and girls. They are not suitable for very small children due to the fact that they contain both moving parts and batteries.
Cepia, the manufacturers, were founded in 2004 and are based in St. Louis. Since the Zhu Zhu Pets launched in August of 2009, six million units have been shipped. An additional six million unit sales are forecast between now and Christmas 2009. At the moment, the hamsters and their accessories are spending less than three minutes, on average, sitting on the shelf before being bought. It seems reasonable to conclude that demand is extremely high.
Prices are rising, both for the hamsters and the accompanying accessories, and you can already find them on eBay at prices higher than retail. Prices will probably increase the closer we get to Christmas.
Cepia are predicting sales of between $ 300 and $ 400 million over the next twelve months. This will be from not only the Zhu Zhu hamsters – they intend to expand their range to include hedgehogs, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. Presumably any small, cute and furry woodland animal which children would find appealing could make it onto their list in future.
Tags: games, gifts, go go hamsters, go go pets, toys, zhu zhu hamsters, zhu zhu pets