Sasha and Malia Obama Beanie Babies Renamed
Cecilia Biemann — February 5, 2009 — Social Good
References: limelife
It seems Ty Inc.’s idea of naming one of their new beanie babies ‘Marvelous Mailia’ wasn’t so marvelous after all. And the sweet profits they had no doubt hoped for from sales of their ‘Sweet Sasha’ doll will no longer be possible now that they have received orders from Washington to rename the first family inspired plushies.
Ty Inc. claimed that their dolls had nothing to do with the Obama girls, but Michelle Obama dug her heels in on the issue.
The doll’s names have now been changed to ‘Marvelous Mariah’ and ‘Sweet Sydney’, and Ty Inc. has announced that the profits of the dolls sold under the original names will be donated to charity.
Ty Inc. claimed that their dolls had nothing to do with the Obama girls, but Michelle Obama dug her heels in on the issue.
The doll’s names have now been changed to ‘Marvelous Mariah’ and ‘Sweet Sydney’, and Ty Inc. has announced that the profits of the dolls sold under the original names will be donated to charity.
Trend Themes
1. Ethical Marketing - The renaming of the Obama girls-inspired plushies demonstrates the value of ethical marketing and avoiding any controversy that could negatively affect a brand's image.
2. Celebrity-inspired Merchandise - The craze for celebrity-inspired merchandise is on the rise, which presents an opportunity for companies to develop unique products that capture the attention of fans.
3. Social Activism - The involvement of the first lady in requesting the renaming of the dolls highlights the importance of social activism in driving meaningful change.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Industry - The Toy Industry can benefit from the trend of celebrity-inspired merchandise by creating unique products that capture the attention of fans and generate significant revenue.
2. Charity Industry - The involvement of Ty Inc. to donate part of profits from the sales of these dolls to charity presents a great opportunity for the charity industry to generate funding for various causes.
3. Marketing Industry - The incident demonstrates the value of ethical marketing practices to avoid any controversy that could negatively affect a brand's image, indicating an opportunity for the marketing industry to develop strategies that uphold ethical principles.
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