Source : Perth Now news
Move over Bertie Beetle, there’s a new show bag craze in town with three parcels of fun selling out in two days.
Lollies and chocolate have been overtaken in popularity by toys, with themed bags for viral squishies and dinosaurs alive among the most popular.
Kids have waited a year to get their hands on their show bags of choice and Winnie the Pooh and Stitch bags sold out in just two days. The new Highland Cow bags are also sold out.
Stallholders said the Stitch bags would be restocked when a new shipment arrives but were not so optimistic about the Winnie the Pooh collection.
And in further disappointment for some children, the brand new and highly anticipated $40 Squishy Things show bag never made it to Claremont Showground due to shipping delays.
The Perth Royal Show’s main show bag provider said several of the favourites were held up because of typhoons in Taiwan, which resulted in port closures.
“We experienced some minor shipping delay, which delayed the arrival of a few number of bags, squishies being one, yet this is relatively normal with international sea freight,” WA Show Bags director Jeremy Sims said.
“This year in particular, in between typhoons closing ports, transfer delays in Singapore — there is very limited direct sea freight China to Perth, most is transferred via Singapore with delays there compounding issues — and the price of fuel.
“Yet a few missing bags out of a range of 80-plus is not too bad.”
It was a bit of a surprise that on the second day of the show, they had already sold out.
For children desperate to get their hands on one, Mr Sims said any bags that didn’t make it in time would be available at future events WA Show Bags attends.
Some squishies-chasing showgoers got lucky through other providers, but Maylands resident Bec Hocking left disappointed on Sunday after hoping to pick up squishy bags for her niece and nephew.
“It was a bit of a surprise that on the second day of the show, they had already sold out,” she said.
“It’s not the show staff or supplier’s fault . . . some comments I’ve seen . . . have been that kids were devastated.”
Despite shiny new toys stealing some of the spotlight this year, those selling show bags say Bertie Beetle has retained its legacy as the most iconic and cheapest bag at just $5.
Crowds this year have been steady since Saturday’s AFL grand final caused a dip in the usual opening day attendance.
Some of the most popular events so far have been human cannonball David “The Bullet” Smith in the main arena, selfie time with adorable Highland Cows and exploring the yellow brick road for free goodies.
The show goes on for a further four days, ending on Saturday.
