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Library/Product/Webkinz
Grade B15 sourcesHIS-01354

Webkinz

Product · 2005 · Notable

43Editable slideCertificate

Webkinz shortages accompanied a rise to 5.274 million monthly US visitors.

Webkinz Classic promotional artwork
Ganz
Webkinz plush pets
Ganz
Webkinz logo
Ganz

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagion65Breadth20VelocityNo data yetLongevityNo data yet43

Numbers

Milestone date
By end of 2007
Apr 29 ’05 to By end of 2007
Platforms
3
Started on Retail
Origin
Seeded
Toys & collectibles

Mechanics

  • Scarcity dropPrimary
  • Dupe economy
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Ganz paired plush pets with online codes, and shops ran short as traffic grew. Rival toy makers copied the model. Retailers alleged tied purchases, and a child advocacy group later sought an FTC investigation.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Google searchesJun ’04Oct ’05Feb ’07SepJun ’08Jul ’09Jul ’11Feb ’13Sep ’16Apr ’20Jun ’23Feb ’26MilestoneRetailOpen webPress
RetailOpen webPress

10 more events on this chart

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Timeline (13)

  1. April 2005

    Ganz seed · Apr 29 ’05

    Ganz launched plush pets whose codes unlocked virtual versions in Webkinz World.[1][2][3]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. August 2006

    Ganz / Susan McVeigh commercial · Aug 18 ’06

    Ganz said sales had passed one million toys after 14 months, with weekly totals above 10,000.[4]

  3. April 2007

    Specialty retailers interviewed by TDmonthly backlash · Apr 13 ’07

    Only one of nine retailers had Webkinz in stock; sellers alleged forced purchases of other Ganz goods.[5]

  1. commercial · By end of Jul 2007

  2. owner response · By end of Aug 2007

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Why it worked

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Origin
Seeded
Sector
Toys & collectibles
Region
CA
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

Product · Retail · 199648

Tamagotchi

Bandai; co-developed with WiZ

Bandai’s virtual pet reached 40 million reported sales after queues and school bans.

40M sold

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.