| Who would have guessed back in 1996 that Tickle Me | | | | to be in the right place at the right time." |
| Elmo, a newly released plush toy, would become the | | | | 10. The vibrating feature of Elmo uses a larger version |
| hot new sales sensation that Christmas? He was | | | | of the vibration motor found in cell phones and game |
| "just" a funny little bundle of red fur who laughed | | | | controllers. |
| hysterically when you tickled him. And yet since that | | | | 11. In 1997 three new Tickle Me dolls were released: |
| time Tickle Me Elmo and his successors have topped | | | | Tickle Me Ernie, Tickle Me Big Bird, and Tickle Me |
| the sales charts for several Christmas seasons. | | | | Cookie Monster. None of them have matched the |
| This year promises to be another hot sales year for | | | | mysterious success of Elmo. |
| the Elmo line of plush dolls with the introduction of Elmo | | | | 12. In 2001 a "surprise edition" of Tickle Me Elmo was |
| Live! by Fisher Price. Some stores are currently limiting | | | | released as part of a contest. On January 9, 2002 five |
| the quantity you can buy in anticipation of hot sales | | | | of the dolls stopped laughing. They then announced to |
| numbers. Here are 19 fun facts about the sales | | | | their owners that the owners had won a prize, the |
| sensation started by the little red guy who laughs. | | | | largest being a staggering $200,000. |
| 1. Tyco introduced Tickle Me Elmo into the United | | | | 13. The TMX - meaning either Tickle Me Extreme or |
| States markets in 1996. By Christmas Elmo had | | | | Tickle Me Ten (where "X" is the Roman numeral 10) -- |
| become a sales phenomenon. | | | | was released as part of a 10th anniversary |
| 2. Elmo saw a jump in sales after Rosie O'Donnell | | | | commemoration of the first doll. TMX Elmo expanded |
| featured the doll on an episode of her show in | | | | Elmo's laughing behaviors to include rolling around on |
| October of 1996. Whenever a guest said the word | | | | the floor and smashing his fist on the ground. |
| "wall," Rosie threw a doll into the audience. | | | | 14. In a well-executed marketing promotion, the |
| 3. A similar jump in sales occurred that same year | | | | manufacturer built excitement for the TMX by |
| after Bryant Gumbel held a doll during most of an | | | | shrouding TMX Elmo in secrecy prior to its release. |
| episode of the Today Show. | | | | People who reviewed the product prior to its release |
| 4. The day after Thanksgiving of 1996 Tickle Me Elmo | | | | were required to sign confidentiality agreements that |
| sold out in 2 hours in most stores throughout the | | | | prevented them from disclosing details about the doll |
| country. | | | | early. |
| 5. Tyco originally expected 400,000 Elmos to sell that | | | | 15. The TMX Elmo marketing promotion included |
| first year. They easily sold that many and were unable | | | | pre-release sales of the doll. Amazon took more |
| to meet demand through Christmas despite their | | | | presale orders than it could fulfill. |
| continued urgent manufacture of the doll. | | | | 16. The full look of the TMX doll was first revealed on |
| 6. The shortage in supplies drove some parents in | | | | ABC's Good Morning America. |
| North America to extreme measures. Parents actually | | | | 17. The box for TMX Elmo hid the doll from view until it |
| fought each other in stores over the doll. | | | | was purchased. A "preview flap" on the box only let |
| 7. Prices shot up with classified ads in some | | | | you see Elmo's eyes, and he said, "Ah, ah, ah, ah! No |
| newspapers advertising the toy for hundreds of | | | | peeking!" |
| dollars. One report claims that the $28.99 toy sold for | | | | 18. A 2007 version of the doll featured hidden |
| as much as $1500. | | | | messages that Elmo would only say if you did just the |
| 8. Several stories of injuries around the nation were | | | | right things to the doll. Rhyming clues on the |
| reported. For example, on December 14, 1996 at a | | | | manufacturer's web site helped consumers figure out |
| Wal-mart in Fredericton, New Brunswick a crowd | | | | how to trigger the special messages. |
| injured a clerk when they spotted him holding one of | | | | 19. The 2008 version of the doll is called Elmo Live! He |
| the last dolls in stock. | | | | features a whole new set of actions and sounds, |
| 9. The New York Daily News reported an unusual | | | | making him the most advanced version of the popular |
| story. John Gotti, Jr., son of the reputed mob boss, | | | | Elmo dolls. Sales of Elmo Live! are expected to be |
| purchased a case of Tickle Me Elmos at a store in | | | | brisk for the 2008 Christmas season. With the |
| Queens, New York several weeks after the doll had | | | | economic difficulties we are having this year it will be |
| sold out. Store officials said Gotti "was just fortunate | | | | interesting to see how well Elmo Live! sells. |