Plenty of people are feeling less than cheerful this holiday season thanks to the slumping economy. Performance artist/crafter Stacy McQueen has responded with a gift that doesn't ask recipients to turn their frowns upside down -- but probably will anyway.
Grumps™ (which carry the tagline "We may be cute but we don't have to be happy about it") are "green" handmade toys made from recycled materials. Not only are they easy on the environment, this month they will have the power to put smiles on the faces of the displaced and dispossessed this season, as McQueen will be putting a percentage of her profits toward The Los Angeles Mission [www.losangelesmission.org]
"It's a scary time right now," McQueen says. "For some people, it's much more than being grumpy. They've lost their homes, their jobs, everything. And it seemed right that Grumps could help them, even in some small way."
When the economy began to slump earlier this year, McQueen noticed an uptick in interest in her Grumps. "Everyone has a story about who they're giving their Grump to," she says. "Yes, some people buy them for themselves, but increasingly they're buying them for their mom who's in debt or their friend who lost their house. A Grump acknowledges how they're feeling but cheers them up at the same time. It's a more personal, more connected gift to give right now. I mean, you can't hug a TiVo, especially if it's in the process of being repossessed."
Grumps, which have caught the attention of celebrities including Criminal Minds' Kirsten Vangsness, are catching on after just one year in the marketplace, much to McQueen's delight. "People just seem to relate to them," McQueen says. "I love the reactions. They immediately start laughing, and they want to share that with someone else. Who would have thought something so grumpy could make people this happy?" The retail range for Grumps is $15 to $42.
To schedule an interview or personal appearance with Stacy McQueen, please contact Liane at Ellis Starr Public Relations at 818-424-1081 or ellisstarrPR@
Find out more about Grumps at www.getgrumpy.blogspot.com
