# Convertible Travel Buddies Zoobies By Bianca | Published 2008-01-31 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zoobies References: [trendhunter](http://www.trendhunter.com/bianca) & [zoobiepets](http://www.zoobiepets.com/) The day the cardboard box arrived in the mail, I couldn’t have been more excited. I scanned over the sender label and was thrilled to see that my first [Zoobie](http://www.zoobiepets.com)had arrived in the mail! Zoobies, for those who don't know, are [convertible stuffed animals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transformers-reversible-plushies) that come in a selection of critters inspired by an African safari. No, I’m not a little kid, but I sure can get excited like one. I ripped open the lid and pulled out the green critter. My Zoobie was Kojo the Croc. I wasn’t expecting it to be so soft, but the [plushy fur](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urupocha-chan) of my alligator was too soft not to cuddle. I ran into the next room where my roommates were saying, “What? What?” and decided I would let them witness the first unraveling. I opened the two Velcro fasteners on either side of his belly and his round body flattened out. Next, I unzipped the pouch at the back, and tugged at his insides. A second later, I was holding my Zoobie by his head and a fleece blanket cascaded to the floor. Too cute! Since they no longer offer complimentary blankets on airplanes in economy, his head would double as the [perfect pillow](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squishpillow-by-original-squishmallows) I decided, and he would become my new travel companion. This site is really cute too, complete with a funky African beat. All the little details make for a fun experience; discontinued items such as the antelope, are labeled "extinct" and each critter comes with information and photo views on it from different perspectives. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.9/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 83% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Convertible Stuffed Animals:** The popularity of Zoobies demonstrates a market for stuffed animals that double as travel accessories, opening up opportunities for the creation of new designs and features. - **Eco-friendly Travel Products:** Zoobies’ use of sustainable materials such as soy-based fabrics and packaging creates an opportunity for similar eco-friendly travel products in the market. - **Personalized Travel Accessories:** Zoobies’ critters come with information and photo views from different perspectives, creating an opportunity for personalized travel accessories tailored to individual preferences. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Industry:** The success of Zoobies demonstrates the potential for convertible stuffed animals as a new sub-category in the toy industry. - **Travel Industry:** Zoobies’ popularity as a travel companion presents an opportunity for the creation of similar multi-functional travel products. - **Eco-friendly Product Industry:** Zoobies’ use of sustainable materials and packaging opens up the market for eco-friendly travel products beyond stuffed animals. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Long-Haul Flight Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/my-travel-buddy.md) - [Sensory Plush Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mooshmoosh.md) - [Animal-Tracking Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fahlo.md) - [Multipurpose Children's Pillows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kid-cubes.md) - [Recordable Stuffed Animals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dubido-factory.md) - [Pump-Up Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-biggies.md) - [Travel-Optimized Baby Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stokke.md) - [Anthropomorphic Cup Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amusesable-coffee.md) - [Comforting Plush Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cloudheads.md)