There are no shortage of Pokemon toys in the world, but the Pokemon Build-A-Bear line has been getting a lot of attention over the past couple of years. The limited, online-exclusive stock and slow-but-steady additions to the collection make it exciting to watch and predict what Pokemon will come next. They come with unique outfits, sound chips, and occasionally even exclusive trading cards, which makes them even more fun.
The most recent Build-A-Bear release is Espeon, the Psychic-type Eeveelution. The Eeveelutions have always been some of the most popular Pokemon, so it's not a surprise that Pokemon fans of all ages are interested in the plush collection. There's definitely something special about the Build-A-Bear Pokemon, and the company is becoming one of the best options for high-quality Pokemon plushies.
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The Pokemon Company's relationship with Build-A-Bear Workshop has been active since 2015, and during that time Build-A-Bear has released many different collections. Most of them are online-only, but the toy company is always keeping things fresh and interesting by rotating through many different Pokemon.
There are a ton of Pokemon plushies out there, many of which are adorable, consistently available, and have a wider variety than what Build-A-Bear typically offers. A lot of these plushies can also claim to be high-quality. However, what sets the Build-A-Bear plushies apart is their customization options, accessories, dependability, and designs.
It's one thing to have a collection of Pokemon plushies, but the Build-A-Bear ones look like they belong together. The designs are sharp, accurate, and can come with customized outfits with a personalized fit and pattern for each Pokemon. Most of the Pokemon plushies also come with sound chips made specifically for Build-A-Bear toys. Other companies can't replicate the Build-A-Bear charm, especially the experience of getting to personally create them at storefronts.
Despite them being increasingly popular, Build-A-Bear releases limited quantities of Pokemon at a time. There are never more than a few available at once, which means that the discontinued Pokemon can become very valuable. The Eeveelutions seem to be the most popular and the most valuable, despite several being available on the site right now. The Pokemon collection is online-only, however, which adds to the exclusivity.
Other Pokemon that haven't been seen in a while, like the jumbo Snorlax Build-A-Bear, have sold on Ebay for high amounts – with one extreme case this July seeing a Snorlax sell for $450 USD. Psyduck, Vaporeon, Bulbasaur, Meowth, and other popular Pokemon aren't available anymore on the US site, making them collector's items. Some Pokemon come back in stock, but the plushies tend to sell out fast and restocks aren't guaranteed.
Anything that sells out quickly and is available in limited quantities automatically attracts collectors, and many Pokemon fans have showcased their collections on Reddit and Instagram. The popularity of Pokemon combined with the Build-A-Bear's positive and nostalgic reputation make for a combination that attracts fans of all ages.
Pokemon products in general are collectible, to the point of some fans fight over trading cards in stores. Thankfully, the plushies haven't reached that level (and they're online-only anyway), but the majority of The Pokemon Company's revenue comes from merchandise, not from games. Keeping the Build-A-Bear collaboration alive is profitable for both companies, and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
Pokemon isn't the only video game collab Build-A-Bear has done. More recently, Build-A-Bear released a small collection based on Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While some fans were disappointed that the collection only included Isabelle and Tom Nook as opposed to some of the more popular villagers, the Animal Crossing collection still sold out upon its initial release.
The collection expanded more recently to include K. K. Slider and is more readily available, but they're still popular. The customization options for both Pokemon and Animal Crossing are part of what sets these collections apart, but Animal Crossing does have a better overall selection of accessories and outfits. If Build-A-Bear decides to replicate the Pokemon format, fans might start seeing villagers become available for limited times.
The Animal Crossing collection might not have happened without the success of the Pokemon Build-A-Bear products setting the standard. Those are the only major video game collections currently active, but hopefully, there will be more video game Build-A-Bear collaborations in the future. Meanwhile, there are still plenty more Pokemon to be brought to life.
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