There have been many stuffed animal trends in past years, including Beanie Boos, Squishmellows, weighted plushies and more. One of the more well-known and trending stuffed animals is the British company Jellycat. The Hiller Staff is here to pitch in their suggested favorites from the brand and their personal opinions on this popular Gen-Z collector’s item!
In 1999, William and Thomas Gatacre founded this brand to create exceptional, high-quality stuffed toys. Their major breakthrough came when the Gatacre brothers released their Bashful Bunny line. Since then, they’ve expanded what they offer, including a wide variety of plush toys for both children and adults alike. Jellycat has been celebrated for their eccentric seasonal collections, releasing their most popular and in demand items around Halloween and Christmas.
Media Editor and Arts and Entertainment Editor Katherine Drezewski is an avid collector of Jellycats and enjoys looking at all of the new releases.
“I have the Halloween Skeleton Bob, the Snow Dragon, a lamb and others. Those ones are my favorites though,” she recalls.
Jellycat does not have any stand-alone stores; instead, they have spaces inside select department stores in Birmingham and Manchester, U.K. In the U.S., they have shop-in-shop locations, including one in a Nordstrom in Chicago that offers a range of their plush toys and accessories. New York City provides one of the more unique experiences with Jellycat, featuring a “Jellycat Diner” that has exclusive NYC Jellycats. The Birmingham location also has exclusive stuffed animals that highlight iconic U.K. animals and foods.
Additionally, collectors can usually find Jellycats in gift shops, independent toy stores and book shops. The Heinz History Center and Posman Bookstore in the Strip District of Pittsburgh are both places to find Jellycats locally. The brand is known for how selective they are about which stores their products are sold in.
Another controversial topic surrounding Jellycat is their pricing. A small Jellycat ranges from $15-25, while larger Jellycats can range from $45-65. The reason for this pricing is due to its premium materials and high demand for the products.
Staff Writer Annabella Andretti comments, “I think they are good quality, but $50 for a stuffed animal is absurd. $25-30 is reasonable to me.”
If people don’t like the prices of the Jellycats, there are many cheaper alternatives! Brands like Mon Ami, Wild Republic and Aurora offer similar animal, food and plant companions.
Drezewski stresses, “I think Jellycats are very fun and special to collect. However, I think it’s important to branch out to other companies because they need love too.”
No matter the opinion, Jellycat is always on top of the different trends and knows what their consumers want. They announce new releases often, usually during different seasons and for national holidays. Shop us.jellycat.com to discover all that this unique brand has to offer!
