Background
The Office Cronies collection is the first series of plush characters from the aptly named company - nottaTOY. Behind the line is a group of “four keyboard-clicking, chair-spinning, cube-wall-staring schleps just like you. All of that pent up frustration had to go somewhere.”
And that’s the inspiration for the Office Cronies line. There are currently five plush characters available (one additional design yet to be released). They are all based on various personalities from the stereotypical office environment.
Bottleneck uses “humor to channel your rage at that person in the office that lives to get in the way of progress.”
Captain Obvious is “the guy in the office that drops a big "duh" bomb on a frighteningly regular basis.”
Empty Suit is the office boss man.
Fridge Raider is “the sneaky bugger that swipes all the good stuff out of the fridge in the office break room.”
And Mean Admin says, “I only smile for executives. Ask and you shall not receive. Order your own office supplies!”
Packaging
The line is packaged in a clear plastic polybag (basically for protection). Each character has a unique tag that features an illustration of the attached personality as well as background information on the line and the “employee”.
The Figures
All of the characters in the Office Cronies line measure in at different heights and widths. Bottleneck is 10” tall by 5.5” wide and features a “fetching hourglass figure”. Captain Obvious stands 10” tall by 7” wide and is dressed in a superhero outfit (green cape, Speedo and an O logo on his chest). Empty Suit is about 10” tall by 10” wide and is a blank white character inside of a nice gray suit (with a stylish red tie).
Fridge Raider is 9” tall by 13” wide (to the ends of the arms). He’s wearing a pirate-y eye patch, a huge smile and is carrying a coworker’s lunch and soda. Mean Admin is the tallest of the line at 11” tall and 5.5” wide. She’s sporting a big frown, a furrowed brow, and devil horns.
All of the figures are made of “durable nonwoven material”. Each has a patch on its back that states the plush’s name as well as a character-specific quote. And below that patch is an embroidered Cronies logo.
Our Opinion
Having worked in an office environment for nearly 9 years, there’s a special place in my heart for any toy that pokes a shot at office politics or cubicle life. But I’m wondering if the comical appeal of these characters will only make sense to collectors who have had a similar experience. Possibly. But since a good deal of collectors can relate to these unique personalities, the Office Cronies should have a decent following.
As far as the actual plushies…nottaTOY has gone for a very durable material with tightly stuffed insides. This allows the pieces to stand, but it also means that they’ve lost any real cuddliness.
Quality-wise, the Cronies line is well-stitched, features a number of embroidered areas (logo, eyebrow, lines on teeth, etc) and has dual button eyes that give the characters a retro-style feel. And while I think that some people might not like including a patch that features the name of the figure as well as a quote, I think it’s great idea.
There will be some folks who might not “get” these stereotypical office personalities, but those who do should get a kick out of this hilarious plush line.
For wholesale inquiries, contact DKE Toys.
You can pick one up at the following:
nottaTOY.com: $20.00 ea.
Office Cronies Grades:
Quality: 8/10
Stitching: 8/10
Tag Design: 9/10
Softness: 5/10
Hype: 8/10
Fun Factor: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Bottleneck: 8.6/10
Captain Obvious: 9.1/10
Empty Suit: 8.4/10
Fridge Raider: 9.0/10
Mean Admin: 8.8/10
