Squishmallow Guide | Graphic by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
Squishmallows took the world by storm in 2017. They gained popularity in 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic and became a phenomenon. They are produced by a company called Kellytoys, and the company itself has an interesting history.
History of Kellytoys
The company Kellytoys was founded in 1986 by Jonathan Kelly with the purpose of creating toys for claw machines. Majority of their catalog is licensed claw machines and fair toys prior to Squismallows. Besides Squishmallows, Kellytoys is known for early 1990s Sonic and Mario plushes.
Founder Jonathan Kelly came up with the idea of the toys after a vacation to Japan. He noticed how attached the masses were to cute and soft plushies, and he took that and created the Squishmallows.
For many, Squishmallows seemed to appear out of nowhere during the pandemic and take over, but they have been around for far longer than that.
History of Squishmallows
Squishmallows debuted in 2017. They began like most Kellytoys stuffies—as claw machine prizes and amusement park/fair prizes. They stayed this way until Kellytoys was bought out by the company Jazwares.
After the purchase from Jazwares, Squishmallows were able to spread to many retailers, like Walgreens and Five Below. They did not reach their peak until the pandemic.
In 2022, Squishmallows won several awards and spread from there. Now featuring apparel, accessories, cosmetics and more, Squishmallows are now an empire worth several million dollars. Although they are mainly a toy for children, they became a huge item for college-age students. With thousands of those students amassing HUGE collections, the Squishmallow craze is often compared to the Beanie Baby Boom of the mid-1990s.
Each Squishmallow is different, and they all have their own names and hobbies. Some of them are pretty cute.
Squish Lore
There are full pieces of lore when it comes to Squishmallows. With over 800 different Squishes, there is bound to be some fun lore. Here are some of the best examples.
Cam the Cat
Cameron the Cat is special. He was the first Squishmallow ever sold and a part of the first eight. Here is his tag (the thing that houses all of their stories):
“If you’re looking for a feline friend, Cameron’s your cat. He loves to jump in and out of boxes, build forts with his friends, Hoot and Wendy, and use his skateboard to get around town. Cam also loves going to the beach to take cat naps with his friends but is always up for an adventure! One day for his birthday on December 18, he wants to take a trip around the world! But for right now, he's set his eye on learning a new hobby—sailing!”
Archie the Axolotl
Archie is considered very special because he is the first and only squish to be deaf. In his bio, he is described as using a type of sign language called Squishmallow Sign. But that is not all there is to him. He is also a soccer player who hopes to go to the Squishmallow Cup. Here is his bio:
“Have you met Archie? This shy Mallow has a special talent—he talks with his hands! Archie loves to play soccer and even started a club for ‘Mallows to play and learn Sign. Someday, you might see him play in the ‘Mallows Cup!”
Bimbi the Clown
Not only was Bimbi the first ever clown in the line (a highly-requested Squish in the community), but they also use they/them pronouns and are canonically non-binary. They also are amazing tap dancers. Here is their bio:
“Bimbi graduates from clown academy this year! Bimbi is so excited to be a professional clown. They're perfecting a comedy routine so they can start working right away. Not only does Bimbi have perfect comedic timing, they're also a talented tap dancer!”
Starting a collection
I have personal experience with Squishmallows, as I am currently sitting on a collection of 80. The main stores that I go to when looking for Squishmallows are Five Below and Walgreens.
Prices have gone up slightly due to inflation and popularity, but you can find Squishmallows virtually anywhere now. Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, Box Lunch, Paper Store, Hot Topic—all of these stores have amazing little guys. Facebook groups are also a good option to buy and sell them, but you run the risk of paying higher prices.
What is most important when it comes to a Squish collection is to know what you want. Figure out specific ones you want or vibes for your collections. Make a list of Squishes you want. I ended up with 80 because I went crazy during the pandemic. If you plan what you want, you will not go crazy (resist the Squish).
Conclusion
There is an entire world that was created with these toys. They all have their own backgrounds, and this attracts people to them. Anyone can find a Squishmallow that is similar to them (or at least has their name). From claw machines to clothes, these little guys may be here to stay due to their relatability.
