Squishmallows have taken the world by storm. They are becoming increasingly more and more popular.
You can find Squishmallows online and in-store, but what about HomeGoods? Does HomeGoods sell Squishmallows?
Does HomeGoods Have Squishmallows?
The American HomeGoods chain of furnishings stores does not sell Squishmallows. The HomeGoods lines concentrate on furnishing, décor, and storage solutions. To this end, HomeGoods ‘toy’ products are décor based rather than play-based, and they don’t sell collectible toys, such as Squishmallows, at all.
This article explores the HomeGoods and Squishmallows query and looks at where you can buy your Squishmallows instead.
What Are Squishmallows?
Squishmallows are plush toys stuffed with super soft, marshmallow-like polyester fiber. They retail for between $2.99 to $59.99. There are also ‘collectible and rare’ Squishmallows, which are produced in smaller quantities and hold their value even with second-hand status.
There are 800 varieties of Squishmallow, including frogs and birds, leopards with pink spots and pug dogs dressed as astronauts. Sizes range from the 3-inch “Micromallows” to the extra-large 24-inch models. New Squishmallows are constantly being designed and launched, some in small quantities and with ‘numbered’ tags. These models are designed from the start to hold a collectible status.
The original Squishmallow stuffed toys were round and were launched in 2017 by Kelly Toys Holdings LLC. The original toys came in various colors, sizes, textures, and animal characters.
There are now over 1000 Squishmallow characters with unique names, features, and background stories. Collecting the different models became globally popular during the Covid 19 pandemic. During this time, collectors also began posting characters from their collections on social media, further increasing the toy’s popularity and the desire to ‘collect them all.
Squishmallows were originally sold through the KellyToys website but gradually moved to chain stores retail shelves, such as Walgreens, Costco, CVS, Walmart, Hallmark, and Target. However, not all large retail chains are well Squishmallows.
Some stores, such as Sam’s Club, instead sell their own version of the Squishmallow, known as the Member’s Mark Squishie Plush. These toys also come in a range of models.
Read: When Does HomeGoods Restock?
Where Can You Buy Squishmallows?
Squishmallows are now available all over the world. In the United States, they can be found in many large stores, such as Costco, CVS, Hot Topic, London Drugs, Five Below, GameStop, Walmart, and Hamrick’s. The higher-priced Squishmallows are sold at Hallmark, while the more cost-efficient Squishmallows are typically found at retail chains such as Costco, Target, and Walmart.
Historically, the demand for Squishmallows has outpaced supply, adding to the collecting frenzy and confusion about where the toys are available.
Squishmallow resellers also dominated outlets where the toys were available, often purchasing in such huge quantities that individual buyers continued to miss out. This caused serious angst in the ‘Squishmallow community,’ especially when resellers dramatically inflated the original prices.
Furthermore, several stores, such as Barnes & Noble, originally sold the toys but discontinued the Squishmallow lines for never revealed reasons.
Outlets for the original Squishmallows in the United States have included:
- Aahs! The Ultimate Gift Store (CA only)
- Albertsons
- American Eagle
- Amazon
- Boscov’s
- Books A Million
- Claire’s
- Costco
- CVS
- Five Below
- Fred Meyer
- GameStop
- Hallmark
- Harris Teeter
- Justice
- Kroger
- Learning Express
- Marshall’s
- Meijer
- Party City
- Roundy
- Santa Monica Pier, CA
- Shop TBS
- SeaWorld
- Sesame Street
- Smith’s
- Target
- TJ Maxx
- The Paper Store
- Toy City
- Toynk Toys
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Squishmallows Online
Read: Does Barnes & Noble Have Squishmallows?
Is There A Squishmallow App?
There is now a dedicated Squishmallow app called the Squish Alert. This app will notify you when different Squishmallow online retailers restock. The app was designed for and appeals to the diehard Squishmallow collector.
Available also is the SquadApp. This is an ‘unofficial’ app and collection tracker and is not associated with Kelly Toys in any way. There are over 4,000 Squishmallows in the associated database, with new Squishmallows added daily. With its search features, you use this app to manage your private collection of Squishmallows.
Are Squishmallows Still Popular?
The most recent Squishmallows badges are the Toy of the Year Award and The People’s Choice Award by The Toy Foundation for 2022.
The Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, known as the “Oscars” of the toy industry, are presented annually to the top toys and games of the year. The TOTY Award winner is determined by an expert panel based on TOTY votes, holiday sales, and media buzz. The People’s Choice award winners are determined by online consumer votes.
Due to the steady demand for the toy, Squishmallows are often sold by resellers at an increased price. The average resell price for a Squishmallow depends on the size, condition, and rarity of the specific item, and it is these features give the toy its collectible status.
Certain limited edition or high-demand Squishmallows are now sold by resellers and collectors for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Jack the Black Cat, for example, is now one of the rarest Squishmallows sold to date.
This Black Cat was introduced by Kelly Toys as a limited-edition stuffed animal online in 2020, and it sold out within two hours. Third-party websites, such as eBay host listings for Jack the Black Cat valued at nearly $2,000.
The Squishmallows line-up now has several characters that are non-binary, with the first character introduced in 2021. Consumer response was positive, and they quickly became sought after.
Since then, the company has continued adding to its non-binary characters and has also continued identifying more ways to respectfully represent the LGBTQ+ community in the Squishmallows line.
Read: Does Aldi Sell Squishmallows?
Summary
The Squishmallow continues to be one of the most successful toy designs ever launched, with supplies frequently running out as the toy gained collectible status and online identity.
Although the toys are simple in concept, their unique soft and squishy features have made them globally popular.
Squishmallow characters retain (and even increase) in value after they are purchased, and a Squishmallow collection that has been properly stored can be a valuable commodity.
Unfortunately, not all retail chain stores sell Squishmallows, and HomeGoods is one retail chain that does not (and has never) sold this toy.