About TY
TY is the iconic American toy company behind Beanie Babies, founded in 1986 by Ty Warner in Chicago, Illinois. What began as a small operation making life-sized plush cats has grown into one of the world's most recognisable toy brands, responsible for what is still considered the most successful toy launch in United States history. Warner's vision was revolutionary: create a quality stuffed toy in the $5 range that children could afford to buy with their pocket money. The result was the Beanie Baby, a pocket-sized polyester plush toy loosely filled with PVC pellets. Launched at the 1993 New York Toy Fair and first sold in Chicago stores in 1994, the original nine Beanie Babies included Spot the Dog, Squealer the Pig, and Cubbie the Bear, each with their own name and poem. The Beanie Babies phenomenon became the world's first Internet sensation, with collectors trading and discussing rare pieces online. Warner's strategy of selling through small independent stores rather than major retailers, combined with deliberate scarcity through limited production and "retirements," drove unprecedented demand. By 1998, TY Inc. sales exceeded one billion dollars, with 250 million Teenie Beanie Babies sold through a McDonald's promotion alone. Today, TY continues to captivate new generations with products like the Mini Boos Collectibles and Beanie Boos, featuring the signature big sparkly eyes. UK shoppers can find TY products at supermarkets and toy stores nationwide. Grocefully helps compare prices across UK retailers to find the best deals on TY's adorable plush toys.
