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Library/Product/Zhu Zhu Pets
Grade B17 sourcesHIS-01355

Zhu Zhu Pets

Product · 2009 · Notable

48Editable slideCertificate

Cepia's $10 robotic hamsters sold out as holiday shoppers turned to resellers.

Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters on colored blocks
Cepia LLC
A black-and-blue Zhu Zhu hamster, 2011
Shoot for the Stars / Wikimedia Commons
A Zhu Zhu Pets hamster beside its toy car
The Christian Science Monitor
Zhu Zhu Pets playset tubes, from the commercial
Cepia LLC

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagion35Breadth60VelocityNo data yetLongevityNo data yet48

Numbers

Peak proxy date
Week of Nov 29, 2009
May 2009 to Week of Nov 29, 2009
Platforms
4
Started on Retail
Origin
Mixed
Toys & collectibles

Mechanics

  • Underdog
  • Platform jump
  • Sell-out loopPrimary
  • Resale market
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

Phoenix store tests preceded a nationwide launch backed by cable ads and gifted blogger reviews. Holiday shortages fed resale coverage. GoodGuide's antimony allegation spread in December; CPSC found the toy compliant and GoodGuide corrected its comparison.

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

Google searchesFeb ’09JunSepDecFeb ’10JunApr ’11NovJan ’13DecFeb ’15MayPeak proxyRetailOpen webTVPress
RetailOpen webTVPress

12 more events on this chart

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Timeline (15)

  1. May 2009

    Cepia LLC seed · May 2009

    Cepia tested its robotic hamsters in Phoenix stores before the nationwide launch.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. Cepia / Arizona Diamondbacks owner response · May 31 ’09

    Cepia promoted the hamsters at Chase Field with masks for the first 5,000 children.[1]

  3. August 2009

    Cepia LLC owner response · Aug 2009

    Cepia rolled the toys out nationwide in August; TV ads and blogger parties supported the launch.[2][3]

  1. platform jump · Aug 30 ’09

  2. press · Nov 20 ’09

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Toys & collectibles
Region
US
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.