Flopadoodles by Gund are a line of floppy soft characters with distinctive European styling and coloring. All 12 characters feature long limbs with oversized hands and feet, including Cagney the Lion, Corey the Giraffe, Corbin the Mouse, Jaden the Zebra, Fiddle the Cow, Emmit the Pig, Griffin the Elephant, Gipper the Frog, Brock the Teddy Bear, Bunky the Bunny, Avery the Dog and Kaden the Kitten.
With a GUND Piggybackpack, kids can take their favorite characters everywhere. Piggybackpacks are the most "huggable" backpacks around. Available in three adorable styles: Manni, an award winning bear, Mambo the monkey and Timber, a brown, silky bear. All three piggybackpacks feature adjustable back straps and easy-to-open touch and close fasteners.
BabyGund has taken its “My First” collection and translated the bears into Spanish. There is the “Es Una Niña” pink bear (It’s a girl) and the “Es Un Niño” light blue bear (It’s a boy). Each bear comes adorned with a matching pink or blue ribbon and comes in 8.5”, 15” and 26” sizes.
This soft velour plush rattle puppy comes with brightly colored paws and ears and stitched facial features. - Toys2Wish4.com says “Pupps has become an instant success!” and sold out of this item in May 2005. - This company’s 100-year history attests to its belief in the best materials and the best craftsmen for each and every product, including Pupps. - Pupps received rave reviews from reviewers on Epinions.com.
Comfy Cozy Spunky Puppy is a wonderful snuggletime friend just waiting to be loved. Comfy Cozy Spunky Puppy has plush, baby blue and white fur on top and soft velour underneath. Each paw on the underside has a silky pad and the head doubles as a pillow, filled with soft stuffing and perfect for naptime. The approximate size is 24 inches and its surface is washable. Gund is a good seller for tiny tots at the Village Toy Shoppe in New Britain, Pa., said sales associate Sally Seeton. The plush blankets were a special favorite at Randall S. W. Toyes and Giftes in Pittsburgh, said manager Jack Lewis.
Expanding upon the already successful babyGUND brand, babyGUND Nursery line explodes onto the scene with pale colors of pink, blue and yellow. The Bear Tales Collection offers exciting new nursery décor products for the infant and preschool child and is sure to add that special touch to any baby’s room.
The Tiny Treasures Playset provides hours of fun to young girls ages 2 to 5 years of age. The Tiny Treasures playset is designed to teach children to role-play and to encourage the use of their imaginations by generating stories about their play. The individual pieces in the set help develop hand-eye coordination — bassinette with zipper, baby doll, bear that rattles, bottle that crinkles and baby blanket. The playset is surface washable and available in either pink or purple.
Made of comforting fabrics and textures, Gund Comfy Cozy 24" blankets are available in various styles and colors. They feature satin paw pads and are machine washable. A 12" size ($12.00) is also available. — When asked for the best-selling classic toy in her store, Diana Gisolfu, co-owner of Sisters Kids in Springfield, Mass., replied, “Gund Comfy Cozies. We’re an authorized dealer because we sell so many of these. It’s like a blanket with a head on it. It attracts the grandmothers market.” — “People just love plush from Gund,” was the simple but enthusiastic response from Debbie Wurzburger, owner of Toy Chest in Pikesville, Md. — Gund plush was specified as a big seller by eight of 57 retailers surveyed by TDmonthly.
This soft, cuddly bear has a stitched cinnamon brown nose and comes with a plaid neck ribbon. It's not hard to figure out why kids want to hug this classic teddy. It's soft, cute and a favorite in Gund's popular line of plush bears. — “Gund is our big one. It's a great company to work with,” noted Jean Oliveira, store manager at Henry Bears Park in Brookline, Mass. — “Plush products are doing very well. Gund Teddy Bears: They're well made, imaginative and traditional. They're the teddy bears our customers like,” said Sallie Scott, owner of The Learning Tree in Missoula, Mont. — According to a November 2005 Gund press release, “The American Brands Council has named Gund ... as one of America’s favorite brands.”
GUND’s first-ever animated plush toy moves his mouth and head as he reads the classic Christmas poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in its entirety. The bear is dressed for the season and holds a plush-covered green book bearing the poem’s title. He is easily activated with the touch of the “on-off” switch on his paw, measures 16.5” tall, and comes with three replaceable AA batteries. When switched “off,” he returns to the sitting position. Launch date: June 2006.
Kids can go hog-wild with Arnold the Snoring Pig, a cute, quirky companion sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Arnold’s oversized snout, curly pink tail and sleepy expression make him a cheerful gift for animal lovers of all ages. Press Arnold’s hoof and the 16” snuggly swine comes to life, moving his ears, mouth and body as he happily snores the day away. Arnold includes 3 AA batteries. “Like all GUNDFun characters, Arnold stands apart from other animated plush because of the quality of his design – his movements are impressively fluid, and he is still a soft, huggable companion,” GUND Marketing & Licensing Manager Shallu Chhabra told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2007.
Super-soft and oh so huggable, 16” Snugapuff is a unique, pillow-like plush pal with a satin back and fluffy front. The sweet and snuggly companion is available in five cuddly characters: purple elephant; cream-toned lamb; pink pig; blue puppy; and brown bear. “Snugapuff is unique because it is both a pillow and a plush companion. The front is made of our softest plush and the back is a satiny, touchable fabric that kids love,” said Shallu Chhabra, marketing and licensing manager for GUND. Launch date: January 2007.
Part of the My First Plush collection from Gund, the My First Teddy is a super-soft plush classic bear that has wide-set ears, a rounded belly and a sweet, smiling expression. It comes in blue and pink, as well as in small, medium, large and super-large sizes. It also comes with a plush rattle. — “We sell Baby Gund, which is good for infants,” said Paula Hall, manager of Rabbit in the Moon in Louisville, Ky. — Of the four retailers who told TDmonthly they sell Baby Gund, two said they sold at least 30 units a month, while the other two reported they sold about six per month. — “My First Teddy is a wonderful item because it is both a toy and a keepsake. Little ones love the soft, huggable plush and, as they get older, the bear holds many warm and happy memories,” said Shallu Chhabra, marketing and licensing manager for Gund.
A vibrant, multicolored caterpillar with tiny red antennae, this educational plush pal’s rainbow-hued segments are accented with embroidered numbers and letters. Two of the numbers flip up to reveal mirror accents, while two of the letters double as pockets; one pocket holds a friendly, rattling bee and the other, a crinkly purple flower. The Activity Toy’s green tail tinkles and the head rattles. It is suitable for ages 6 months and up. Launch date: January 2007. — Gund products were listed as best sellers by Joe Berardoni, Sr., at Pun’s Toy Store in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in October 2008. “It’s the name that everyone knows and trusts when it comes to plush products,” he said. “They have everything from new baby through childhood (and beyond).” Awards: 1997 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Classic Award Winner.
This super-cute six piece play set includes a 10” baby doll, a soap that rattles, a ducky that squeaks, a shampoo bottle that crinkles, a removable diaper with a touch and close fastener, and a hooded ducky towel. Launch date: January 2007.
Paxton, at 14.5” tall, features cuddly, toffee-toned fur and warm brown eyes. He has fully jointed arms and legs for a timeless quality, and a cream-colored ribbon around his neck to accentuate his happy smile. Paxton was awarded a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: January 2007.
A beloved babyGUND character, Spunky is a floppy-eared pup made sweeter by the spot of white fur surrounding his right eye. The tan-colored, 8” plush plays “Rock a Bye Baby” as he moves his head to the music. This product received a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: January 2007. — Baby Gund is the No. 2-best-selling plush for Co-owner Fred Rosenberg of On the Park in Kingwood, Texas, he said in spring 2007.
Everyone's favorite monsters are graduating, too. The 5" plush version of Elmo, wearing black cap with gold tassel and triumphantly clutching his ribbon-tied parchment, will delight graduates of all ages. Elmo doesn't graduate alone, however. He's accompanied in this Gund line by long-time pals Big Bird and Cookie Monster. It's celebration time as this class of Sesame Street graduates moves on to bigger and better things, like the arms of an adoring child. Launch Date: Fall 2006 — "Gund is our best seller [in plush]. We have the Sesame Street line that does well," said Michelle Beyer, owner of Clever Kids in Rochester, MN, when discussing store sales with TDmonthly in the spring of 2007.
The 15" Rigby, a cozy and classic Gund bear, features milk chocolate super-soft fur, a sophisticated brown-and-tan plaid ribbon, a soulful expression and a potbelly. He’s perfect for both cuddling and displaying. He also comes in a 24" version and weighs 1.1 lbs. Rigby is part of a Gund line of classic bears that also includes Fabian and Corin. The accompanying rocking chair is not included. — "If I had to pin it down, I'd say the brown classic teddy bear from Gund," said Andrew Lev, manager of Smart Kids Toys in Greenwich, Conn., about the best-selling plush item in his store. Twelve of 62 retailers TDmonthly spoke with in spring 2007 said Gund is among the most popular plush with their customers. — According to retailers, sales of Gund plush across the country range from a few units per month to about 200 per month. — “Great for kids and adults, Rigby's soft, long pile plush makes him the perfect bedtime companion, while his sophisticated cream and chocolate organza ribbon makes him a wonderful home décor piece,” pointed out Shallu Chhabra, marketing and licensing manager for Gund.
This 12”-tall fairy-in-training is a bright, bubbly character with a tendency for turning things into pumpkins with her training wand. She is made of soft-pink plush and features pigtails woven from pink and purple yarn, as well as white mesh wings and a dress of blue lilac. “She’s the newest character on Sesame Street and this is her first appearance as a plush pal,” Shallu Chhabra, marketing and licensing manager for GUND, told TDmonthly. “GUND has taken great care in adding lots of wonderful design details — including yarn and embroidery accents and shimmery fabrics — to make Abby especially suited to the specialty toy market.” Launch date: August 2007. — Gund’s Sesame Street characters and large puppets are best-selling items at Clever Kids in Rochester, Minn., according to Owner Michelle Beyer.
Girls will be tickled pink at the newest collection from GUNDKids®, the Twirly Girly™ collection is filled with whimsical, ballerina-inspired keepsakes perfect for tiny dancers. Twirly Girly Doll is a soft, snuggly friend sure to win over little hearts. Available in three styles, the golden-haired doll is outfitted in a pink body suit, tutu and ballet slippers. The 25" Twirly Girly Large Doll has a pocket-skirted tutu embroidered with the words "dream," "dance," and "twirl." — "Gund dancing dolls called Twirly Girls by Gunn," said Betsy Justings, owner of Betsy's On Ross in Auburn, Ala., when asked by TDmonthly about top-selling gift items for girls in her store.
Bouncing babes will fall in love with the 24" Tender Beginnings Comfy Cozy Giraffe. Made with GUND's softest, most huggable plush, this furry friend has a blanket body, soft pillow head and tiny giraffe tail. Comfy Cozy Giraffe comes in creamy yellow plush and is available with pink or blue accents and features a full satin bottom. The detail in features makes this Giraffe stand out as part of Gund's classic line of plush toy animals. — Gund Comfy Cozies are among the most popular baby items for customers of Learning Tree Toys in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The 26” plush moves his head and mouth as he sings “Jingle Bells” and wishes onlookers a very Merry Christmas. The battery-activated toy comes with an on and off switch on his hand.
The plush stands 14-1/2” tall and sounds “Hip Hop Jingle Bells” when the music note on his hand — an on and off switch — is pressed. The bear’s arms, hips, mouth and head move in unison with the music.
The pony is crafted of different pink calico patterns and corduroy accents. The pony also features a wide embroidered smile, aqua velour ears and a ruffled calico tail and head trim. An 8” style and a 22” style are also available. Launch date: January 2008. — The pony uses “colors and material that match with today’s fashion industry,” Gund Marketing and Licensing Manager Shallu Chhabra told TDmonthly. — “Stuffed animals by Gund — [we sell] three or less per month,” Tina, owner of Baby Furniture & Accessories in Albuquerque, N.M., told TDmonthly in March 2008, when asked which items sell best for infants and toddlers in her store. — Five percent of the 40 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 named Gund as the hottest manufacturer of baby products in their stores.