When the Tickle Me Elmo Toy Craze Led to a Trampling

Introduction

• In 1996, the Tickle Me Elmo doll became extremely popular, leading to a toy craze.
• The popularity of the doll exceeded the supply available in stores.

The Frenzy

• Shoppers flooded stores to purchase the Tickle Me Elmo.
• The demand was much stronger than anticipated by manufacturers.
• Elmo dolls quickly sold out, making it difficult for parents to buy one.

Incident at Fredericton Walmart

• A significant incident occurred at a Fredericton Walmart where a crowd of about 300 people lined up for 48 available Elmo dolls.
• Someone yelled, "There's the Elmos!" leading to a rush that resulted in a store clerk, Robert Waller, being trampled.
• Waller was hospitalized for treatment due to the incident.

Supply and Demand

• 150,000 Elmo dolls were made available in Canada during the holiday season.
• The limited supply led to some individuals selling the dolls at inflated prices.
• Classified ads showed Elmos being resold for $500 to $1,000, significantly higher than the store price of $35.

Media Coverage

• The event was covered by CBC’s Jeffrey Kofman on The National.
• The Elmo toy craze was described as "Tickle Me Elmo hysteria" gripping North America.

Legacy

• The Tickle Me Elmo craze is a part of toy history, often compared to other toy crazes like the Cabbage Patch doll craze of 1983.

Conclusion

• The Tickle Me Elmo craze illustrates the impact of limited supply on consumer behavior and the lengths to which people will go to obtain popular items during the holiday season.