HOW BEANIEWORLD BEGAN...

Beanie World is a family run business, based in Victoria, Australia.

The idea came about in 1999* where both the Beanie Kid product and a specific marketing opportunity were recognised and at the beginning of 2000 Beanie World was established.

With a unique mix of skills in marketing and managing behind this complex business (with it's ever-changing product range) our FUNdraisers for schools, clubs and organisations benefit ALL involved - kids (and adults!) get great, current toys (to play with or collect) and incentives, while the school or organisation benefits from every single Beanie Kid purchased during their FUNdraiser.

And no one gets fat from having to sell chocolates! Comment from schools repeatedly - "This is the easiest fundraiser we have ever done!"

* THE REAL BEGINNING: A TRUE STORY!

In 1999, at around the time of graduating high school, a young girl decided to purchase two Beanie Kids after seeing them in the shops. She wanted a small toy or two to take with her on her post-high school gap-year overseas. These two Beanie Kids went on all her travels and provided a little bit of home comfort when things got tough in a foreign country.

Little did she know that by bringing home a catalogue and marking off a few other ones she planned to purchase (the start of a small collection) that Beanie Kids would take over her home while she was away!

After she left, this young girl's mother began to collect the ones marked off on the catalogue - she missed her daughter and this was something new to do - and became aware that these toys were not only fun but collectibles with new models each month. When the young girl phoned home from so far away, she was told all about this new hobby which, fairly quickly over the year, developed into the thriving Beanie World FUNdraising business. Upon her return, she found her house literally overrun with Beanie Kids! Her parents (Allen & Judy) were now known as Mr & Mrs Beanie and were running successful FUNdraisers for schools through the Beanie World business.

Since then, the Beanie Kids have moved to their own premises where FUNdraising orders are packed and shipped. Mr Beanie (Allen) runs the show these days. And that young girl is a bit older now, helping out in Beanie World wherever possible and still, of course, continuing to collect Beanie Kids!

MRS BEANIE (Judy)

Unfortunately, Judy - the Mrs Beanie of the team - was taken from us before her time in 2007. We hope that her wonderful enthusiasm and memory will be perpetuated through Beanie World's success at spreading the joy these toys give to so many children and adults alike, around Australia and the rest of the world.