CUSTOMERS FLIP OVER NEW TOYS AT MCDONALD'S : HOTTER THAN HAMBURGERS.Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Daily News Staff Writer Teenie Beanie Babies Sources: A Beanie Baby is a stuffed animal made by Ty Inc. Ty was founded by Ty Warner who promoted the line in specialty stores and gift shops. The Ty company's famous special "posable lining" is understuffed with plastic pellets (or "beans") rather than stuffing are putting a golden glow golden glow: see black-eyed Susan. on McDonald's Corp. restaurants in places besides the company's trademark arches. Like the cash registers, for instance. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based chain introduced the beanbag bean·bag n. 1. A small bag filled with dried beans and used for throwing in games. 2. A small folded bag filled with lead pellets, used as ammunition in a stun gun. 3. toys Friday as part of a nationwide campaign to boost Happy Meal sales. The beanbags have been flying out of stores ever since, officials said Tuesday. McDonald's, in its largest toy promotion ever, bought about 100 million of the dolls for its five-week campaign. But the company will be lucky to see supplies last until month's end, just 2-1/2 weeks after the promotion began. And Ken Lopaty, who along with his son and brother own five McDonald's franchises in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , couldn't be happier. ``It's unbelievable,'' he said of customer reaction. ``We're giving away more of these than the Dalmatians and that was probably a record.'' Lopaty said the Teenie Beanie Babies have helped franchisees' bottom line and increased goodwill with customers, which can translate into future sales. ``It's been good for business. The kids love them and the parents love them because they are making their kids happy,'' Lopaty said. How good? Lopaty expects his Happy Meal sales to double during the promotion. Ironically for Lopaty, his business is booming thanks to a toy he wasn't thrilled thrill v. thrilled, thrill·ing, thrills v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. 2. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. about initially. In fact, up until a few months ago, he had never heard of Beanie Babies. Then his wife returned from a trip to Chicago with several of the dolls, telling him the toys were a hot property. Lopaty wasn't too impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: . ``I said, `Wow, they look like beanbags,' '' he recalled. ``The next thing I know we've got them in McDonald's, everybody knows what they are and wants them.'' Lopaty's granddaughter even dropped by the office Tuesday wondering if she could score a few more of the dolls, given her family connections. That's been the response nationwide, McDonald's officials said. ``This promotion has exceeded all of our expectations,'' said company spokeswoman Lisa Howard This article is about the actress. For the reporter, see Lisa Howard (reporter). Lisa Howard (born November 24, 1963 in London, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian television actress. She is most notable for her role as Lili Marquette in the series and her role as Dr. . ``The response is more overwhelming than we could have ever predicted.'' She expects the national supply to be exhausted by April 25; so far there are no plans to extend the promotion. They toys are free if customers buy a Happy Meal for $1.99. Or they can be bought for $1.49 with the purchase of an Extra Value Meal. Demand has been so high that on Friday McDonald's recommended a limit of 10 dolls per customer. McDonald's - which produced the toys itself under a license agreement with toy maker Ty Inc., also of Oak Brook - made 10 different animals. Originally, McDonald's planned to introduce two each week until supplies were exhausted, but demand was overwhelming. The original, full-scale versions hit the market in 1994 with names like Squealer the Pig and Kip kip 1 n. pl. kip See Table at currency. [Thai.] kip 2 n. 1. the Cat. Sales took off this year. There are more than 100 Beanie Babies on the market, with a suggested retail price of $5. George Rosenbaum, chief executive of Leo Leo, in astronomy Leo [Lat.,=the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. J. Shapiro & Associates Inc., a Chicago-based market research firm, expects this promotion will be a cash cow Cash Cow 1. One of the four categories (quadrants) in the BCG growth-share matrix that represents the division within a company that has a large market share within a mature industry. 2. for McDonald's. A key part of the strategy is linking the doll's purchase to a meal, because profit margins are typically larger on drinks and potato items than on sandwiches. And the potential exists to recycle re·cy·cle tr.v. re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling, re·cy·cles 1. To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment. 2. To start a different cycle in. 3. a. the campaign because there is an endless supply of characters. ``They are going to get a very, very substantial impact from this,'' he said. How much of an impact? ``I've heard reports of people coming in and ordering several dozen of the Teenie Beanie Babies and saying hold the hamburger, hold the drinks and hold the potatoes,'' Rosenbaum said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (Color) No caption (Teenie Beanie Baby) |
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