When it comes to holiday shopping, sales at Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) usually provide an excellent gauge of product popularity. After all, Wal-Mart is the nation's largest retailer and if there is a potential must-have gift of the season, you can look to the retailer to see just how popular it really is.Although the Nintendo Wii continues to be the hot gift this season, there's a surprising player in town that is seeing just as much success. Well, on a limited-availability scale, anyway. The "Talking Jesus Messenger of Faith" doll has sold out at all 600 Wal-Mart locations where it was available.
The company behind the doll, one2believe of California, says that the doll won't be restocked before Christmas. The company probably did not imagine the immense popularity of the doll when it allotted inventory to 600 Wal-Mart locations. The holiday gift is on Target's (NYSE: TGT) website as well.
Or it was -- it's sold out there too. In other words, the Talking Jesus is no longer available at the highest-profile retailer outlets, whether brick-and-mortar or online. One2believe's press release about the toy's shortage asked if there were any doubters "who wondered if a 12-inch tall talking Jesus doll that speaks Bible stories and scripture would sell well." Question answered. Do parents want alternatives in the toy aisles of the nation's retailers this year? According to sales figures of the Talking Jesus, that answer would have to be yes.
Best & Worst in Money 2008: Most shocking financial collapse
Global Q&A: A rocky road, but profits ahead
Could oil go as low as $40?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-11-2007 @ 11:06PM
Brockage said...
A definite improvement over the white bread Barbie and Ken.
12-12-2007 @ 4:54PM
heavenwoman said...
Jesus Christ is the One and Only GOD! He is Alive! He is the One One Who Can Forgive People for their sin-the bad things people do that displease God-and Save them from their Sin!
Amen! He is Almighty, Everlasting, Savior,Redeemer, Lord, Messiah, the Prince of Peace and He is the Great I AM! He is merciful, loving, compassionate,gracious, righteous, good, great, forgiving,all knowing, all powerful,and a Friend indeeed! He is the Creator, Provider,Rose of Sharon, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The same yesterday, today, and forever,Governor, Judge,The Alpha and Omega ("meaning the beginning and the end"), Wonderful Counselor,and The King of Kings!
12-14-2007 @ 6:40PM
Fisher said...
Not all of the WalMart stores carried the doll, and we are in the Bibile Belt.
I tried in August at the WM in Fayetteville, right next door to WM offices(Bentonville), it was sold out then.
12-20-2007 @ 11:38PM
crunner said...
Companies are not meant to be "non-demonational"! Most are made up of either share holders or family-owned. Each have the right to choose how they would like to advertise! I applaud Walmart for coming back to Christmas! Let me ask all of you this? If your agnostic or atheist and I'm primarily talking to this group, why do you care if we throw Christmas out there in to the ads? What??? Are we beleivers and Christians going to convert you to our faith??? Really??? From what? Your faith??? Your beleif??? If you're right, then who cares??? We all return to dirt! If we're right, then may God have mercy on you! Otherwise, go away! 80% of the US are Christian, 15% have no beilief, and five percent make up Muslim, Buddhism, and one percent are Jewish. And I gather that barely one percent of the 15% are the ones making all the noise! We are an "In God We Trust" nation. If you dont like it, then there are rafts waiting on the beaches of Florida that were once a one way ticket ready to sail out. Stay true to your beleifs and laugh your way all the way to...well, whereever it is you go to band together!