article_snippet.sent: The Beanie Babies were first introduced to the public in 1993, when creators Ty Warner Inc, which later became Ty Inc, launched The Beanie Babies original line consisting of just nine characters.
article_snippet.sent: Over the next few years however hundreds of different types of Beanie Baby were produced as the next few years however hundreds of different types of Beanie Baby gained in popularity.
article_snippet.sent: The Beanie Babies made an empire worth more than $6billion from the toys, boosted by the increase in people buying the toys as popular collectibles in 1995.
article_snippet.sent: At the peak of the collecting craze, many believed the designs which had been 'retired' would rise in value.
article_snippet.sent: the collecting craze however failed to last much longer than 1999.