Why are Slumberkins so expensive?
An in-depth look at the high price of Slumberkins stuffed animals
Slumberkins are a popular brand of therapeutic stuffed animals meant to help children develop emotional skills. However, at $34-$38 per plush toy, they don’t come cheap. Here’s an in-depth look at why Slumberkins command such a high price compared to regular stuffed animals.
The therapeutic design of Slumberkins
Unlike regular stuffed animals that are just for play, Slumberkins are specifically designed by child psychologists and educators to teach feelings and coping strategies. Each Slumberkin represents an emotion or life skill children need help navigating. For example:
- The “Worrywart” wart hog helps children manage anxiety.
- The “Calms” snail teaches relaxation and mindfulness.
- The “Bold” lion builds confidence and bravery.
Creating these unique therapeutic personalities requires extensive research and development by experts. This specialized design work contributes to the higher production costs.
High-quality materials
Slumberkins are made from premium quality materials designed to withstand repeated loving by children.
- The plush exterior fabric is soft yet durable. It meets Oeko-Tex safety standards.
- The stuffing is hypoallergenic and retains its shape over years of use.
- The embroidered faces are intricately detailed and attached securely.
- The handcrafted accessories like Worrywart’s quilt or Calms’ shell are made to last.
The better materials and construction result in a higher retail price but also a longer lifespan compared to cheaper stuffed animals.
Educational resources included
Every Slumberkin comes with a storybook and activity guide to help parents reinforce the emotional lessons. These therapeutic resources are researched and written by child development experts.
For example, the “Left and Right” Slumberkins about facing problems come with a 30-page illustrated storybook and 15 activity cards. This educational content adds value that accounts for some of the higher price.
Made in small batches
Slumberkins are produced in small batches in their Los Angeles factory rather than mass-produced overseas. This allows for more quality control but increases labor costs.
The limited production quantities also make Slumberkins a more exclusive product compared to mass-market stuffed animals. Their scarcity commands higher prices.
Charitable initiatives
Slumberkins partners with child psychologists to donate plush toys to children in foster care and advocacy programs. These charitable initiatives further raise the brand’s production costs.
However, the donations also increase Slumberkins’ value as customers feel good knowing they supported a worthy cause. This allows the brand to justify higher retail prices.
Innovative brand marketing
Slumberkins invests heavily in innovative emotional intelligence marketing strategies across social media, child educators, and parenting influencers.
This brand marketing is more expensive than traditional toy company ads. But it’s effective at convincing parents that Slumberkins are premium therapeutic products rather than just ordinary stuffed animals.
Low retail competition
There are few direct competitors in the therapeutic toy space. This lack of competition allows Slumberkins to price their products higher.
If more retailers offered similar emotional intelligence plush toys, Slumberkins may have to lower prices to compete. But currently they dominate this niche market.
High demand despite higher prices
Ultimately, Slumberkins can command premium prices because parents continue to buy them. The unique therapeutic benefits, quality, and emotional marketing drive strong demand.
As long as parents see value in the Slumberkins’ higher prices, the brand has no incentive to lower their profit margins by cutting costs. If demand falters, the prices may drop.
So in summary, from the research-backed design to the charitable donations and innovative marketing, Slumberkins add value unlike regular stuffed animals. This value-driven pricing strategy allows them to price high while parents remain willing to pay a premium for the emotional benefits to their children.