Sep 23, 2009

Aurora Vigorously Marketing Top Selling YooHoo & Friends Line; Expands Presence Via Social Web

Pico Rivera, CA – If Facebook were a country, it would be the fourth largest between the United States and Indonesia. By 2010, Generation Y will outnumber Baby Boomers and 96 percent of them have joined a social network. These are just two stats from Socialnomics.net that underscore the importance of social media presence for leading businesses such as Aurora World Inc. (AuroraGift.com).

Aurora’s popular YooHoo & Friends have made their way onto the web via Facebook; Twitter; MySpace; a WordPress blog and Flickr, not to mention the increasingly popular online interactive virtual world www.yoohoofriends.com. Via this site, the company launched a “Colors of YooHoo” coloring contest where entrants take their shot at winning entire lines of plush YooHoo & Friends toys and other fun prizes.

“We’ve experienced a cultural shift, and it is imperative that brands go directly to the consumer as people search for products online and off less and less,” says Michael Kessler SVP of Sales at Aurora. “While less than 15 percent of consumers trust advertisements, more than three quarters trust peer recommendations for purchasing decisions. We believe in the Aurora brand, and our retail customers who are increasingly joining the online community will appreciate our existing presence here.”

What’s so popular about the company’s YooHoo web site? Besides being free, and not having to worry about activation codes, families are encouraged to learn more about the YooHoo & Friends characters that are based on endangered animals in their natural habitats from all over the world. Site users can play games, download wallpapers, calendars and icons, watch previews for the upcoming YooHoo animations, adopt and raise YooHoo & Friends, and learn about each endangered animal. The YooHoo & Friends story is set in a forest called Yootopia, which features the “Tree of Life.” Kids join YooHoo & Friends on magical journeys as they travel around the world to find the lost seeds from the Tree of Life. Each story will also encourage parents and their children to value friendship, harmony, honesty and courage.

Aurora’s plush YooHoo & Friends toys have become the number one seller thanks to big eyes and long fluffy tails, the keys to the plush line’s success. The furry, loveable YooHoo & Friends line features animals like the Sugar Glider, Panda, Penguin and Lesser Panda (8″ MSRP $12.99, w/ sound). These cuddly plush characters make a unique and funny sound when you squeeze their tummies. The YooHoo Pet Carrier (8″ MSRP $11.99) includes a YooHoo (with sound). The signature long, furry, multi-colored YooHoo tail fits through an opening in each Pet Carrier. Several new YooHoo & Friends debuted for 2010, Valentine’s and Easter, including the YooHoo “WannaBes” (dressed as other animals i.e.: pig, frog, etc).

A recent report from Universal McCann refers to the Internet based communities surrounding brands as the driving force behind an “Influence Economy.” Kessler says, “Leading companies like Aurora thrive in this environment and that’s why we chose to engage consumers and fans via social media in this so called ‘era of influence.'” The study also found that consumers in Brazil, South Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, India, Pakistan and China are leading the charge.

Aurora is committed to providing a safe Internet environment for kids and will never distribute personal information to third parties. For more information, please visit http://www.yoohoofriends.com, email info@auroragift.com or call 888-287-6722.

About Aurora
Aurora World, Inc. (www.auroragift.com) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of affordable, high quality toys and gifts. Aurora’s name reflects its growing influence in the worldwide marketplace, as well as its international manufacturing, R&D and distribution resources. Low prices, high quality and extreme variety are hallmarks of Aurora’s success. Founded in 1992, the U.S. company has ascended quickly to become the respected leader in the world’s plush and gift industry. The company sells its products via a wide variety of retailers including major zoos (a fast growing market), high-end toy stores such as Learning Express, top gift chains such as Hallmark, Claire’s and Cracker Barrel, as well as hospital gift shops, fine florists, candy stores and gift/stationery stores worldwide.