Mar 5, 2012

Aurora Releases New YooHoo & Friends for 2012

Leading toy and gift manufacturer Aurora World Inc. (www.auroragift.com) debuted a variety of new YooHoo & Friends for its best selling plush animal line at New York’s International Toy Fair last month. Aurora released the original YooHoo & Friends collection in 2006 and has sold more than 14 million pieces around the world since. An assortment based on colors of the rainbow, eight new YooHoo & Friends “WannaBes,” a keychain set with eight greetings, three extra large YooHoos, and a pink gorilla and camel join the line. The free, interactive entertainment website www.yoohoofriends.com complements the line which is based on animals from around the world (many of which are endangered).

“We have had massive success with this brand in the specialty market,” says Michael Kessler, SVP of sales and marketing. “More than 13,000 YooHoo & Friends units are purchased every day. The new styles were created based on feedback from our Facebook fans and collectors worldwide. They appeal to both boys and girls, ages three and up, as well as tweens and collectors of all ages. Aurora is committed to the YooHoo & Friends brand for years to come.”

YooHoo & Friends “Colors of the Rainbow” (5″, MSRP: $9) is an eight-color assortment featuring rainbow inspired tails and a light up rainbow embroidered on the chest. Seven styles include a color of the rainbow while an eighth features all the rainbow colors. Each piece includes a tag describing the specific color’s attributes (i.e.: blue is a soothing, relaxing color). While most YooHoo & Friends animals are five and eight inches, retailers can make a statement with three different extra large YooHoo & Friends. Available in pink, blue and “Pammee” styles, each features the big plastic eyes and fluffy tails for which the brand is known (16″, MSRP: $40). “The ‘WannaBes’ (5″, MSRP: $9) are funny YooHoo & Friends dressed as other animals. They are some of the most popular items in the line,” says Kessler. “For 2012, we’ve added jungle and domestic/barnyard assortments including a giraffe, elephant, lion, tiger, horse, cow, cat and dog.”

“Keychains fly off the rack at retail because kids and collectors love attaching the YooHoo & Friends to book bags, purses, totes and key rings,” says Kessler. Each of the new keychain styles (3″, MSRP: $4.50) feature a YooHoo & Friends animal holding a message such as the peace sign, “xoxo” and Happy Birthday. “Others include ‘get well soon,’ ‘congrats,’ ‘you rock’ and ‘best friends.'”

Kessler says that due to popular demand, Aurora added a pink gorilla and camel to the YooHoo & Friends line. Each is available in five and eight inches and makes a sound when squeezed (MSRP: $7 and $13 respectively).

For more information about Aurora, please visit http://www.auroragift.com, email info@auroragift.com or call 888-287-6722. Shop Aurora online at http://shop.auroragift.com or at more than 25,000 retail outlets worldwide. Find Aurora on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/auroraworld. YooHoo & Friends is online at http://yoohoofriends.com, on www.facebook.com/yoohoofanpage or via Twitter: @yoohoofriends.

About Aurora
Aurora World, Inc. (www.auroragift.com) 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.