Elf Magic Elves Get Some Luggage!

I love the whole concept behind the Elf Magic Elves. Last year, thousands of Elves visited kids in their homes and even more Elves are expected to travel from the North Pole in 2010. Now the Elves travel will be more comfortable than ever in their brand new suitcases.

Here’s a little back story on the elves:

The Elf Magic tradition, which began more than 50 years ago in the childhood home of Elf Magic’s Chief Elf Officer, Piper Worthington, brings magical elves into children’s homes during the Christmas season. It’s been a retail success since Worthington started the business 20 years ago.

So, how does this whole Elf thing work? It’s such a fun and creative idea:

It begins when a child writes a letter to Santa asking for an elf to come visit. The child then leaves out the elves’ favorite snack, crackers and ice water, to lure the elf to visit. Then, a 10-inch plush elf magically appears in the child’s home between Thanksgiving and the days leading up to Christmas. Each elf arrives with magic North Pole snowflakes that, when dusted on the elf at bedtime, allow the elf to magically come to life. The elves are very playful and curious at night and embark on all kinds of adventures, known as elfcapades, which include toilet papering the Christmas tree, cleaning the dishes or hiding in the freezer because the cold temperature reminded them of their North Pole home. When the child awakes, they are surprised and delighted to see the evidence of the elf’s playful late night adventures and cannot wait to see where the elf might be hiding.

How fun is that? See below for more information on the Elves and where to purchase the new suitcases….

Retail stores enter the picture as a sort of travel agent for the elves. Since much of the success and excitement of Elf Magic is attributed to the mystery surrounding the elves’ appearance, stores can’t just sell the plush elves. Instead, they sell elf “travel tickets” from the North Pole, which can be purchased by the parents. Stores sneakily give parents the elf so they can concoct a fun way for the elves to appear after the child writes to Santa asking for an Elf visitor. Stores also sell elf accessories including Magical Reindeer, and elf outfits, also known as “elfits.” Elf Magic also offers Elf Magic Memories, a keepsake journal to chronicle holiday memories, as well as Elf Magic ornaments to decorate your tree.

New for 2010, parents will be able to purchase from ASTRA retailers an elf suitcase. The suitcase contains everything an elf needs to ensure a comfortable stay and safe return to the North Pole. The suitcase, which comes with a luggage tag and passport, will retail for $24 and clearly doubles as a mobile elf playhouse. Inside the suitcase, children will find a closet to hang “elfits,” a window seat for the elf to sit and a pouch filled with stickers for the suitcase and passport! The suitcase provides a huge enhancement for play value and will greatly expand the possibilities for retail sales.

Stores will also be offered the North Pole Award Winning Book/DVD combo set, “Elf Magic, The Story of a Timeless Christmas Tradition.” The book is beautifully illustrated in watercolor and comes with a fully animated DVD that includes four new Elf Magic sing-along songs, adding to the Elf Magic tradition.

All Elf Magic elves are picked up by Santa on Christmas Eve to help him deliver toys, and then return to the North Pole to start preparations for the next Christmas. A child’s elf always “magically” returns each year to help celebrate Christmas, as long as the child writes to Santa asking for their elf to visit.

Source & Image: Press release