Webkinz Latest kid craze

Cuddly critters with an online alter-ego on their way to becoming the 21st century Cabbage Patch Kids

It won't trigger allergies, gnaw at the couch or leave furballs behind.

But it will take some luck -- and an Internet connection -- to find this perfect pet.

Meet the Webkinz, a menagerie of cuddly critters, each with their own online alter-ego, who've got the playground set chomping at the bit to bring home the year's latest toy sensation.

The Webkinz -- 8 1/2-inch or 6 1/2-inch plush pals retailing for between $8 to $12 -- are stuffed animals with a twist: Each arrives home with a "secret code" that when typed into www.webkinz.com unleashes a virtual world where leopards feast on "garlicky gazelle gumbo," webkinz dogs unwind in "bark-o-loungers" and monkeys sip on "jungalicious banana shakes."

"I sleep with her in my bed every night," said Ashley Lizzi, holding tight to Princess, an ordinary stuffed frog who, when transformed into her digital self, struts around in a bikini and shades, dressed for success by her 4-year-old caretaker with a few mouse clicks and some help from mom.


EXCLUSIVE ADDRESSES

Problem is, retailers can't keep them on the shelves. And Webkinz can't be bought in national chains either. These creatures of habit are exclusive to small gift boutiques and card shops. They're a little picky that way. ( You can also get them from this site)

Twenty-seven borough retailers carry Webkinz, according to their Web site.

Laura Walsh, owner of Checkerbells, an eclectic gift shop in West Brighton, estimates she receives 20 to 25 calls a day looking for the vast zoo of Webkinz and Lil' Kinz, which includes cats, dogs, bunnys, tigers, unicorns, cows, pandas and lions.

Ms. Walsh placed her first order in August after a parent pointed her toward the interactive Web site. At first, she said, sales were slow.

"It was not so quick in the beginning," she said. "Then people started getting interested and asking me about them. When did it get crazy? I am going to say in December. I didn't expect it to be so big."


SOARING DEMAND

Webkinz haven't quite hit epic Cabbage Patch Kid or Tickle Me Elmo proportions, but the buzz is getting louder. Ganz, the Ontario-based, privately held family business that manufactures the toy, doesn't release sales figures but a December article in Playthings, an industry magazine, said 700,000 members and 1.5 million pets are registered on the Web site.

Ganz spokeswoman Susan McVeigh said the company is doing its best to keep up with product orders.

"The huge surge in demand has taken a lot of our time and resources to deal with, and we are doing everything we can to satisfy it," she told the Advance via e-mail. "We are working very hard in every aspect of our business to support our retailers."

Ashley and big sis Brianna, 7, are two of the lucky ones. They received their Webkinz for Easter from an Eltingville neighbor, who scored four in Brooklyn.

When they first logged on with mom, Tracey, they were able to print out a birth certificate and learn more about their pet. Brianna's horse -- named after her sister -- likes pretzels, is best buds with an elephant and thinks "going on a vacation is the best."

After being led through a tutorial, they were ready to build Internet homes for their pets. In addition to creating rooms, they are also responsible for feeding, bathing and giving lots of TLC as monitored by the Hungry, Happy, Healthy meters.

To get all that going, each kid starts with $2,000 in KinzCash, virtual money that allows them to keep the on-line version of their pets in the lifestyles to which they are accustomed: Hot tubs, hamburgers, tutus, baggy jeans and wallpapered bedrooms with the latest in creature-comfort gadgets.

Brianna fed her horse a $12 hamburger and bought it sunglasses, a groovy hearts swimsuit and a ballerina bed. By the time she was finished, Brianna had $628 left in her KinzCash account.


BUILDING BANK ACCOUNTS

To rack up more cash, kids can solve math problems, answer questions about social studies, play games and sell unwanted goods, eBay-style.

"It's educational," Mrs. Lizzi said as she helped her girls navigate the Web site. "It has games and teaches them how to take care of something. It teaches them math because they have a set amount of money so they have to know what they are spending and how to earn more. Plus, it comes with a doll they can sleep with."

Like typical kids, Brianna and Ashley want to collect them all.

After Brianna set her horse up in style, Ashley visited her frog's on-line pad. It was time for Princess to take a bath in her porcelain tub, complete with gold faucets.

"Clean her all up," Brianna told her sister. "I want to see her sparkling."

"She's tired," Ashley said. "Get her in bed."

With that Princess, curled up in her lily pad water bed, dreaming of the "buggy jelly" that might come tomorrow.

[via] latest kids craze: Webkinz