My kids are Webkinz addicts, plain and simple.

For those of you who don’t have kids, or have been living under a rock for the past two years, Webkinz are little plush toys which come with a code attached to them so you can go online to the Webkinz site and register the pet adoption, then you can play online with your toy.  If you have mulitples, they can play together.

Basically, they’ve created a kids version of “Second Life” only this works, and it’s wholly based upon your purchase of the product.  These guys really get marketing, too.  The regular (Big Kinz) in the lingo, is sold at a $20 price point, while they have a “little kinz” product that sells for just under $10 which is frankly about the point at which I think it’s easier to give in than to fight with my kid.  Additionally, there are trading cards, clothes, etc.

So I know I’m going to get my pocket picked when I am conned into taking the kids to a Webkinz outlet.  Needless to say, when they told me there was a “Webkinz Extravaganza” at the Paperstore in Millbury this weekend, I got a cold shiver down my spine.  “Great, a sales event for kids.  Can’t I just go to the dentist instead?”  I thought.

Well, I was dead wrong.  These guys did their event just right.  Plenty of give aways, fun, games, trivia, and a killer scavenger hunt.  The kids had a great time, right up to the point that I had to drag them out to get to our hair cut appointments.  To emphasize what a great job they did on the event,  I took them back yesterday to finish the scavenger hunt.

By going the extra mile, Paperstore really did a great service to the kids and parents.  They also managed to get me throughout their entire store with the scavenger hunt.  I really want a set of their martini glasses…