Silly Bandz

Silly Bandz is the name of a brand of silicone rubber bands, in many different forms ( creatures, objects, letters) are produced. The bands are designed as toys as well as exchange and collectible for kids and can be worn as bracelets.

Silly Bandz were in the United States in November 2008 by BCP Imports ( Brainchild Products) placed on the market. Among other names ( Zanybandz, Googly Bands, Bandz Funky, Trendy Bandyz ) distribute various other manufacturers since quite similar products. Silly Bandz and other brands such as Crazy Bandz are now also available in Germany.

Product Concept and History

The toys are produced in a variety of designs, shapes and colors. It can be used as an ordinary elastic band. American children wear on the wrist often many bands simultaneously and swap them with other children like collecting cards and other collectibles.

The business idea goes back to Robert J. Croak, who looked around 2007 at a trade show in China rubber bands shaped like animals. The Japanese manufacturer of these bands had already been awarded a design prize and drove them to a limited extent since 2002 in the USA. Croak had the idea to create the tapes in a large number of shapes and colors, and offer them to children who collect them and would replace like Pokémon cards. In the summer of 2008 he began the tapes on its website to advertise on Facebook and on YouTube. In this way he could be product - a " fad " - very successfully placed on the market. In the U.S., the tapes in bags are traded with 24 pieces for about $ 4.95.

In many American schools, the bands are now banned because they distract the children from school.