# Candy Mascot Teddy Bears Medicom's New Peko-Chan Teddy Bear is Perfect for Valentine's Day By Madison Mackay | Published 2018-01-25 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pekochan-teddy-bear References: [hypekids](https://hypekids.com/2018/1/bearbrick-medicom-peko-chan-milky-release-date) & [family-town.jp](http://www.family-town.jp/) Toy company [Medicom](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blazeradorned-bear-figure) released a new Peko-Chan [Teddy Bear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentines-day-gift-guide), an over-sized art toy for children. Peko-chan is the mascot for Fujiya, a chain of confectionary stores and restaurants. The mascot is a little girl with pigtails (licking her lips) and is a popular Japanese marketing icon. These life-sized dolls can be seen nationwide standing in front of the brand's retail stores. Inspired by this character, Medicom created a new bear with a familiar face and well-known smile. This bear is covered in blue and pink hearts and is available just in time for Valentine's Day. The Peko-Chan teddy bear will be sold as a set which will include one small bear and one extra large bear. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.3/10 - Popularity: 19% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Life-sized Mascot Dolls:** The creation of life-sized mascot dolls inspired by popular marketing icons presents opportunities for businesses to capitalize on merchandise and brand recognition. - **Art Toys for Children:** The release of over-sized art toys for children opens up opportunities for businesses to tap into the growing market of collectible toys and provide unique and creative play experiences. - **Holiday-themed Merchandise:** The introduction of holiday-themed merchandise like the Peko-Chan Teddy Bear presents opportunities for businesses to target seasonal consumer demands and boost sales during festive periods. ### Where This Applies - **Toy Manufacturing:** The toy manufacturing industry can leverage the trend of creating life-sized mascot dolls and over-sized art toys to diversify their product offerings and attract a broader range of customers. - **Confectionery Retail:** Confectionery retailers, like Fujiya, can explore the opportunity of partnering with toy companies to create merchandise featuring their popular mascots, enhancing brand loyalty and driving customer engagement. - **Retail and E-commerce:** The retail and e-commerce industry can benefit from the trend of holiday-themed merchandise by offering exclusive limited-edition products that tap into the excitement and traditions associated with special occasions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Collaborative Bear-Themed Valentine's Gifts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitkat-x-afternoon-tea.md) - [Man-Sized Cuddly Teddy Bears](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loving-bear-puffy.md) - [Giftable Flower-Themed Bears](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/furever-flower-shoppe.md) - [Marshmallow-Inspired Plush Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peeps-and-sanrio.md) - [Scented Marshmallow Plushies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/make-your-own-peeps.md) - [Luxury Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/red-velvet-sparkle-buildabear-collectible.md) - [Blazer-Adorned Bear Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blazeradorned-bear-figure.md) - [Fluffy Plush Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urupocha-chan.md) - [Plush Toy Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urupochachan.md)