Jul 7, 2010

Aurora Expands Best Selling YooHoo & Friends™ Plush Animal Line

Pico Rivera, CA – Toy and gift manufacturer Aurora World Inc. announced today the numerous additions to its best selling YooHoo & Friends™ plush animal line. Kids and collectors alike will appreciate the all-new styles including the inspirational Aspirations assortment, which joins the Halloween and Holiday/Winter themed YooHoo & Friends. The line includes over 100 styles – all of which are available at retail and online via Aurora’s e-commerce site.

“YooHoo & Friends is one of the hottest toy brands in the international marketplace,” says Michael Kessler, SVP of Sales at Aurora. “We will continue to aggressively market the brand which includes the brand new Fun Center accessories, and a 52-episode animated series starring Flavor Flav, expected for release in 2011.”

YooHoo & Friends Aspirations are available in four styles (five and eight inches, MSRP: $8.99; 15.99 respectively) and all make fun sounds when squeezed. Pammee™ the Fennec Fox is dressed as either a cheerleader or as a girl who’s ready to head to the party (she’s wearing a party hat and holds a cupcake). The other two YooHoo & Friends are pink and blue and dressed as a ballerina and soccer star respectively (the soccer star sports a jersey with #3 and holds a soccer ball).

New for Halloween are black cat and pumpkin “WannaBes” (YooHoo & Friends dressed up as other animals or characters). Kessler says, “Each bean filled plush animal is five inches in size and makes spooky witch or laugh sounds when squeezed (MSRP: $8.99).” Five inch YooHoo & Friends featuring orange or dark purple color themes round out the Halloween assortment (make sounds when squeezed; MSRP: $6.99). Joining the Wintertime YooHoo & Friends (5″, MSRP: $7.99), which are available in lavender, pink, turquoise and yellow and decked out in winter hats of matching colors, are two Holiday YooHoo & Friends (8″, MSRP: $13.99). Complete with candy cane color schemes, each makes a sound, and the candy cane embroidered on the tummy lights up when squeezed. Holiday Carolers are bean filled and available in four styles. Squeeze them to hear three Christmas songs including “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” There are five inch YooHoo & Friends dressed as Santa and Elf (MSRP: $8.99); squeeze their tummies to hear “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” respectively. Last but not least, YooHoo & Friends Greetings combines a greeting card and plush animal in one. “The Greetings assortment has been hot for our buyers year round. The holiday versions make great stocking stuffers and are a perfect gift for friends, family, classmates and colleagues,” says Kessler. Like its Valentine’s themed counterparts, Holiday “Greetings” (5″, MSRP: $5.99) feature YooHoo’s face popped through the front and its signature tail hanging out the back. Each dimensional card includes a removable plush animal, a “to and from” section and an area to inscribe a personal message. Sentiments include, “Love ‘N Peace,” “Merry Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad” and “Tis the Season.” YooHoo & Friends has a free, interactive virtual world at www.yoohoofriends.com and requires no activation code. At the web site, visitors can learn about real animals and their environments, play games, send e-cards, download wallpapers, calendars and coloring sheets, as well as adopt and raise YooHoo & Friends. YooHoo & Friends is immersed in social media as well, with its Facebook page, Twitter and a blog to name a few.

For more information, please visit http://www.auroragift.com, email info@auroragift.com or call 888-287-6722. Shop Aurora online at http://shop.auroragift.com or more than 25,000 retail outlets worldwide.

About Aurora
Aurora World, Inc. (www.auroragift.com), celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high quality, competitively priced plush toys and gifts. Aurora’s name reflects its extensive product lines and growing influence in the worldwide marketplace, as well as its international manufacturing, R&D and distribution resources. Founded in 1981, the Korean company with headquarters also in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, has ascended quickly to become a respected leader in the world’s toy and gift industry. Aurora created the international plush toy phenomenon – YooHoo & Friends™ – and its corresponding free, interactive web site (www.yoohoofriends.com), appealing to young children and tweens alike. The company sells its products via a wide variety of retailers including major zoos, high-end toy stores such as Learning Express, top gift chains such as Hallmark and Claire’s as well as hospital gift shops, fine florists, candy stores and gift/stationery stores worldwide.