From the Southern United States all the way to the shores of the U.K., Silly Bandz have swept the globe in recent months. In a world where kids’ toys have progressively more advanced and technologically based, the beauty of Silly Bandz lie in their simplicity. Whereas most toy companies have huge development teams and research departments, Silly Bandz does one thing – and does it very well. Made of silicone, they form a specific shape when left alone, and can conform to wrists or ankles to be worn as bracelets. The shapes range from a sailboat, to a dinosaur, and even a cross. There are literally thousands to choose from. Kids, of course, love their versatility and simplicity. But how did this toy revolution start?
In 2002, a Japanese firm developed the concept that Silly Bandz would base its product off of. They were trying to make more reusable rubber bands for offices across the globe. But when Robert Croak saw them, he also saw their potential as a marketable kids’ toy. With their new purpose, the Silly Bandz made their entrance in the online market in late 2008. They gained popularity quickly, and soon made their way from online marketplaces to brick and mortar shops across America and eventually over to the United Kingdom. What’s more, it all happened in the span of about a year and a half. The success of Silly Bandz UK online and in physical stores is impressive by any business standards.
The reason for the immediate popularity of Silly Bandz, most agree, is twofold. First, they are extremely cheap to make, and very affordable online and on store shelves. A 24 pack of Silly Bandz, in the U.S., costs about $5. In a global economy as slow as today’s, any affordable toy is bound to gain some attention from parents. The second reason, simply put, is that kids really like Silly Bandz. The bracelet concept has been popular among kids ever since “Snap” bracelets almost a decade ago. In addition, the huge amount of shapes that Silly Bandz come in gives them a certain collectability. Kids trade and barter to try and get the largest, most varied Silly Bandz collection possible. For both the company who makes them and the kids who buy them, Silly Bandz have proven that sometimes simplest of ideas really do beat out flashiness and complexity.
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