Jellycat

Jellycat is a British soft toy and home décor company,^[1] known for its plush toys and collectibles. Founded by brothers Thomas and William Gatacre in London in 1999, the company expanded into Minneapolis in 2001, forming Jellycat Inc.^[2] While the company mostly sells soft toys, it also sells books, nursery items, bags and other accessories.^[3] Jellycat's products include traditional stuffed animals, such as bunnies and bears, alongside more whimsical lines like its Amuseables series, with quirky designs like smiling plants and foods.

Jellycat

Industry	Manufacturer and retailer
Genre	Home décor and toy manufacturer
Founded	1999
Founder	Thomas and William Gatacre
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Website	https://www.jellycat.com/

As of 2024 the longest serving design within the contemporary collection is the Slackajack Monkey with 21 years of production.^[4] In February 2024 Jellycat celebrated its 25th anniversary, where the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston hosted an anniversary party.^[5]

Popularity

Jellycat toys appeal to children but also adult collectors.^[6][7][8][9]

The soft toys' popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic has been compared to Squishmallows,^[8] which saw a similar increase in sales and notability in the same time period.^[7] Jellycat products have a strong social media presence, with the number of reported views on TikTok reaching several billion.^[6][9]

Jellycat won Earnshaw Magazine's Earnie Award in both 2015 and 2018, within the Toys category.^[10][11] The company received the Outstanding Achievement Award at The Greats Awards in 2020.^[12]

References

1. Brewer, Susan (2013-01-01). Famous Character Dolls. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84468-094-8. Archived from the original on 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
2. ""Making beautiful things that people remember": in conversation with William Gatacre, co-founder and MD at Jellycat - Fashion & Luxury, People, leadership & talent, Weekly Column Executive Search". The MBS Group. Archived from the original on 2023-09-01. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
3. Watts, Robert (2023-09-01). "Puppy love". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
4. "Do You Own The Most Popular Jellycat?". Elys Wimbledon. Archived from the original on 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
5. Gaikwad, Tanisha (2024-02-29). "ICA visitors celebrate 25 years of Jellycat toys". The Huntington News. Archived from the original on 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
6. Kemsley, Saskia (24 July 2023). "Best unique jellycats for all ages: Stuffed toys to brighten your day". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
7. Alcántara, Ann-Marie (2023-05-28). "Why Adults Are Snapping Up a Stuffed Toy Originally Meant for Babies". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
8. "Meet The Parents Secretly Obsessed With Jellycat Stuffies". Romper. 2021-11-07. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
9. Wilson-Beevers, Helen (3 March 2023). "Jellycat stuffed animals are still a top trend: Here's where to buy the popular kids' toys". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023. It's safe to say, the most recognisable soft toy brand name today is Jellycat, which was first established in 1999.
10. "EARNIE AWARD PAST WINNERS". Earnshaw's. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
11. "Toys: Jellycat". Earnshaw's Review. 102 (10): 20. 2018. ISSN 0161-2786.
12. "Jellycat's Co-Founder And MD Honoured At The Greats Awards". Archived from the original on 2023-09-01. Retrieved 2023-09-01.