On 21st March 2001 the following notice appeared on Ty's main website page:
"The People's Beanie, April 1, 2001, www.ty.com, Be Here!"
As usual speculation started immediately. But there wasn't long to wait!
April 1st came and the following post was on the Ty website:
"The People's
Beanie"
"Now it's your turn to design a Beanie Baby"
Click here to get started!
The People's Beanie was to be a knock-out contest - just like all those reality TV shows! The first round was to decided the choices - and thereafter Beanies would be voted out of the contest until just one remained (similar to popular game-shows like Survivor and Big Brother).
The contest started with visitors to the site being asked to design the nine finalists. Choices could be made from new-face bears or pot-bellied bears - eight colours and eight bow styles in any combination - and then a choice from one of 20 names.
April 13 saw the announcement of the contestants:
Baby, Charmer, Classy, Dreamer, Fancy, Gem, Razzle, Shimmer and Winner.
These were all to be eliminated one by one until the winner was selected. The page showing the contestants would give a message as the mouse 'rolled over' each bear urging voters to choose them.
The first Beanie voted off was Baby on 15th April, followed by Dreamer on 17th April, Razzel on the 19th and Shimmer on 21st. Winner was voted off on the 23rd followed by Charmer on the 25th and Gem on 27th. This left Fancy and Classy head to head in the final.
April 30 saw the end of voting by this stage voters had been asked to choose a poem and a birthday for the People's Beanie.
Classy was officially introduced to the world on 23 July 2001... and retired less than two months later.
Classy was given a special hang tag - with
the words 'People's Beanie' - and proved to be a popular choice.
BACK ROW (L-R) - Gem, Razzle, Shimmer and Winner