So, what is the latest craze sweeping the UK amongst children at the moment? Is it a Star Wars toy or something from War of the Worlds? Is it the new Monopoly, updated to include new London sites and streets? No, none of that…
The latest craze is the Scoubidou (pronounced Scooby-Doo).
What is a Scoubidou? They are multi-coloured thin plastic strings-like wires that children weave together to make necklaces, key-fobs, friendship bracelets and so on.
The size of the craze? I kid you not – it is enormous! They retail as cheap as 95p for a small bag of Scoubidous. Woolworths say that they are outselling PlayStation 2 stuff, Nintendo products and Star Wars light sabres by 2-1. They are outselling Batman products by 3-1.
And here’s the amazing thing about them – there has never been any advertising or marketing for the Scoubidou at all. None. Not a single advert anywhere. It is literally a product coming from the street – a consumer-product led by consumer demand.
Amanda Miles, 33, found them in France and decided to import some for her younger sister’s friends. She found a supplier in Holland, took a risk, and imported 100,000 packets. Now she sells 500,000 per week with even shops like Harrods, Argos and Hamleys using her business.
Scoubidous are amazing. Rebekah, our daughter, is addicted. She has switched off the game-cube and now spends her time on these things. It is great to see her developing a love for crafts and she is getting really advanced, making human beings, helicopters and all sorts. Even our two boys, Scott and Lee, are into the Scoubidou craze.
What is interesting, of course, is that the new craze amongst millennial children is one based around domesticity and creativity. We talk in our Mind the Gap presentations about the protected nature of our children and the importance of home and family life. I wonder if the Scoubidou craze is a natural extension of that through the enjoyment of a domestic craft.
6 months ago, our kids would spend the evening in the games room, away from me and Jo, on the gamecube or PlayStation. Now they are just as happy to sit with us while we catch up on Corrie or Eastenders (UK soaps) and they can watch TV with us, Scoubidou and chat.
Will a revival in knitting be next? If it means a return to “family time” but on their terms rather than ours, I am all for it…
How's This for the Latest Craze?
Steve, this is a revival alright. I remember scooby doo wire from my childhood! I don’t remember having any fancy spelling for it though :o)
And just as an FYI – knitting is already quite the popular trend and has been making a come back with hollywood stars!
Odd how the classics cycle back out of nowhere – take a look at the recent resurgance of our four green mates, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their hairy sensei, Splinter. I sat the other day with my six year old nephew who is raving over the same four amphibians I was so taken with fifteen years ago, marvelling at their enhanced animation (extreme makeovers allround), new theme tune and scarier enemies.
I would love to see them bring the ThunderCats back…
The same pattern is evident in music – HipHop superstars (like Nelly) remixing 80’s classics (thank goodness someone is doing something about 80’s music). And Millenials are soaking it up. Boy bands are doing the same thing, with 90% of their music being covers of their parents music. What a bonus! Sell good looking lads to the kids and the songs to their parents! It’s a win win situation.
Remember the Super Trump cards? Wouldn’t it be nice to find a way to initiate the trade of electronic Trumps by cellphone / email?
Here is my story from last Friday. My ten year old niece lives in White River. She told me the latest craze at her school is Scoo Bi Do ( or however you spell it). She could not find the material up there. ( Small town far from the madding crowd)
I had access to stock via one of my contracts. I promised to bring her stock to the airport last Friday as they flew off to Greece for a holiday. On Thursday night I called my brother and told him I could not make it to the airport. he said that was fine but what about my promise to his precious princess. He then arranged for a driver to drive across town, collect stock and make sure Jessica had her NEW CRAZE for her holiday. What dads will do for their kids and the power of a Craze.
No wonder children have such economic power.
When we were teenagers getting a scoopydoo bracelet from a cute guy could make your day. The colour make up was very important. But It proved a huge problem from the telephone company as a free supply of wire ment raiding the phone lines!!!
Yeah I recall that the bulk of my wire stock was obtained under shady circumstances… Lynda you make such a valid point about the economic onfluence of kids. Since becoming a father only four months ago, and finding that we’re socialising more and more with other young parents, I’m suddenly at places like Spur every Saturday evening! (I’d forgotten how awesome Spur onion rings were…)
But heck, I think Spur is getting it right. It is the (restaurant) venue of choice for parents with small kids, they provide live entertainment, PS2 booths (I know this because I spent the bulk of my evening wrestling a 5 year old for his console), and charge “normal” restaurant prices for everything.