The Ooshie Craze: A Wild Ride for Aussie Parents and Their Kids
The Disney Ooshie promotion at Woolworths and Big W has sparked a frenzy among Aussie parents and their kids, with a collector culture emerging around the small, rubber toys. The craze has taken on a life of its own, dominating online marketplaces, sparking bidding wars, and even leading to school bans. What started as a simple collaboration between a supermarket chain and a showbiz corporation has now become a full-blown phenomenon, with people going to great lengths to complete their collections.
One of the most striking aspects of the Ooshie craze is the sense of community it has created. Ree Towers, a 34-year-old mum from Newcastle, has been collecting with her two kids and has even devoted an entire day to Ooshie swapping with people she met online. She describes the excitement of opening packets and the thrill of finding the one character you need. The Ooshie community has brought people together, with people connecting and trading to complete their collections.
However, the Ooshie craze has also led to some wild behavior. Shelby Rhian, whose family has completed their collections, initially refused to participate in the craze but eventually caved after her kids picked up on the hype at school. She even posted a video on TikTok of a letterbox drop-off, captioned 'POV: You spend your day Ooshie dealing for your kids cos it is that serious.' The lengths people are going to to make their kids happy are remarkable, with some even returning to school to swap Ooshies.
The Ooshie craze has also sparked memories of collecting fads from the past, such as stickers, Pokemon cards, and Tazos. The supermarket chain has responded to the demand by setting up swap meets for families to attend stores and make trades. An event last weekend sent so many Aussies scrambling that a second event has been organized this weekend. Brumbies Bakery in Moorooka, Queensland, has also set up an honesty counter where youngsters can take an Ooshie on the condition that they leave one behind.
The Ooshie craze has not been without its controversies, however. One incident involved an eBay listing for a rare flocked Bullseye Ooshie, which was initially listed for an excessive price of $32,100. A winning bid of $100,000,019.15 was made, but the sale ended in farce, with the seller ending up with nothing. The rare collectables are still regularly appearing on online marketplaces at hugely inflated prices. The craze has also created havoc on playgrounds, with some schools opting to ban Ooshies to quell fighting, arguments, and thefts.
Despite the controversies, the Ooshie promotion has captured the imagination of many Aussies. The supermarket giant has warned that supplies will likely run out by this weekend, and the promotion ends on August 25. The Ooshie craze has brought out the community spirit, with people connecting and trading to complete their collections. It has also sparked a sense of nostalgia for the collecting fads of the past, with people reminiscing about their misspent youths trading stickers and Pokemon cards.
In conclusion, the Ooshie craze has become a wild ride for Aussie parents and their kids, with a collector culture emerging around the small, rubber toys. The craze has brought people together, sparked bidding wars, and even led to school bans. It has also created a sense of nostalgia for the collecting fads of the past. The Ooshie promotion has captured the imagination of many Aussies, and the supermarket giant has warned that supplies will likely run out by this weekend. The Ooshie craze is a fascinating phenomenon that has taken on a life of its own, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the coming weeks and months.
