About Russ Baby Gifts

Russ Berrie has manufactured baby toys since 1964.

Russ Baby Gifts is part of Russ Berrie & Co. Russ Berrie sells various merchandise including the iconic Troll doll that made a splash in the 1990s, as well as coffee mugs, greeting cards, figurines and home accessories. The Russ Baby Gift product line specializes in plush toys designed specifically for infants and babies.

History

Russ Berrie started the company bearing his name to sell impulse gifts, items shoppers noticed in a store and purchased on a whim. He created his first toy, the "Fuzzie Wuzzie" in 1964, but it wasn't until after the company began trading stock publicly in the mid-1970s that it began to experience significant growth. By 1983 the company's revenues surpassed $100 million. Fads in the toy industry, such as the Troll doll, boosted sales again in the 1990s. By the early 2000's Russ Berrie & Co. had numerous subsidiaries all over the world.

Other Russ Products

The company makes thousands of products in addition to baby gifts. Some examples of award-winning gifts for older babies and toddlers include talking stuffed toys and specialty plush items. Russ introduced Shining Stars interactive plush in 2007. In 2009, the company introduced its interactive Corduroy Bear toy. The bear's design is inspired by a children's book of the same name by Don Freeman. Russ also makes baby toys that produce sound, including a stuffed kitten that emits a soft meow when it is touched.

Baby Products

The Russ Baby Gift line offers four categories of products - baby accessories, teddy bears, stuffed animals and booties. Teddy bears are small enough to fit into the arms of infant. The fuzzy friends are available in pastel blues and pinks. The stuffed animals are similarly designed with light colors and small bodies. Booties are modeling after the stuffed animal collection, complete with animal heads adorning the toes. The accessories are geared toward the parents of an infant with a porcelain jar intended for baby's first curl. Noah's Ark theme picture frames are in keeping with the animal leitmotif of the line, as are the blankets sporting a teddy bear head as decoration.

Where to Find Russ Baby Gifts

You can purchase Russ Baby Gifts through its website at russbabygifts.net. The products also are available at various major retailers, including JC Penny, Hallmark, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Target. You should search the toy's tag for a Russ logo, the name Russ in red lettering with a butterfly perched atop the letter 'u.' This will help you determine whether you're purchasing a genuine Russ product.

References

• Russ Baby Gifts
• Russ Berrie Foundation: Story
• Reference for Business: History for Russ Berrie and Company Inc.
• Gift Shopping Magazine: Russ Berrie U.S. Gift Inc. Introduces Over 600 New Products
• Creative Properties: Corduroy™ Plush by Russ Berrie Wins Prestigious All-Star Award -- Toy Wishes Magazine Gives Award to Creative Properties Brand
• Russ Berrie