Lean, mean
beanie fiends
New, un-stuffed pets
Cherie Chun
take on the cuter
beanbag counterparts
Star-Bulletin"Mean" doesn't describe a new breed of beanbag creatures as much as the word "gross." They're Meanies, and they're exactly the opposite of those cute and cuddly Beanie Babies. The Meanies -- with their nose-picking, upchucking habits -- are made to disgust.
"We wanted to gear something toward boys which is gross and edgy," said Lance Kushner, senior vice president of sales for New York-based Idea Factory that manufactures Meanies. "We meant it as a joke."
Joke or not, Meanies have gained popularity since the first 12 -- including Peter Gotta Peagull and Bart the Elephart -- were introduced in October. Kushner said Meanies such as Splat the Roadkill Kat are trading for $60 to $80 on the Internet, and that http://www.meanies.com, their Web site, gets 40,000 hits a night."They're totally gross and disgusting ... That's what attracts a lot of people" said Brian Ganutan, manager of the Ala Moana Center Sweet Factory, which has carried the $5.95 Meanies since May.
Amy Naula of Aloha Tower Marketplace's Sweet Factory said Lucky the Rabbit -- with a missing foot -- sold out in a day.
"I like that they're real unusual, and some of them remind me of my friends," said Martha Kawasaki, 13, who has 14 Beanie Babies. She was holding a generously spotted Meanie called Chicken Pox. A third series, the Infamous Meanies, parodies celebrities: Mike Bison has an ear in his mouth, and Bull Clinton wears underwear below his knees.
These will reach Hawaii stores in about three weeks. More Infamous Meanies to be released in about six weeks are Spike Flea, Jerry Stinger and Lionardo Decapitated.Meanies can be found at Sweet Factory stores, Video Scene in Mililani and WH Smith in the Best Western Plaza. Teeny Weenie Meanies keychains will be available for $2.49 at 7-Eleven stores in mid-July. For information, call (800) 683-7625.
