Latest news with #Squishmallows-owner
Business Insider
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I flew to Omaha to cover Warren Buffett's annual meeting. I didn't know I'd witness history being made.
Buffett's revelation that he plans to resign as Berkshire's CEO at the end of this year was the headline of my trip. But I also saw rare treasures, spoke to people from all walks of life, visited storied locations, and discovered how Buffett and his businesses pervade almost every part of Omaha. I took a connecting flight from Chicago to Omaha and arrived late on Thursday of the welcome ads on the airport's wall requested visitors to "check your SPACs, Crypto, and EBITDA at the gate" — a nod to Buffett and his late business partner Charlie Munger's disdain for risky, speculative, and volatile called the proliferation of special-purpose acquisition vehicles, or SPACs, a "moral failing," dismissed bitcoin as "stupid" and "evil" as well as "rat poison." He also described earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization as "bullshit earnings." The influx of thousands of Berkshire shareholders to Omaha each year spells opportunity for many local Hudson News store in the airport had several areas dedicated to Berkshire books and other financial titles, including "Poor Charlie's Almanack" and "Buffett & Munger Unscripted."Another airport eatery had a See's Candies stall and a sign from Berkshire welcoming its shareholders.I took a taxi to the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Omaha. There was a banner in front of the hotel welcoming Berkshire shareholders, and a similar display outside the elevators on my floor. This was my third annual meeting, and I'm always interested to see how it changes to reflect the deals that Buffett conglomerate added Squishmallows-owner Jazwares to its exhibitors after acquiring the toy company's parent, Alleghany, in was one of the biggest exhibitors at Berkshire's shareholder shopping day this year, with myriad displays and interactive took full ownership of Pilot Travel Centers at the start of 2024. Pilot employees were selling coffee outside the meeting venue, the CHI Health Center. Inside, the company offered everything from Berkshire Blend coffee to T-shirts with Buffett quotes. Wan Xue, or "Cathy," 33, from China, was first in line to get her shareholder pass on Friday. She told me she'd purchased 11 books on this trip already, and planned to buy planned to see everything related to Buffett that she could, and had already visited his birthplace and school as well as Berkshire headquarters, she said. Veteran investors including billionaire Mario Gabelli and Buffett's former financial assistant, Tracy Britt Cool, spoke at conferences on Friday, the day before Buffett's Q& manager Chris Bloomstran said at the Gabelli Funds conference that tariffs, trade wars, recessions, depressions, and other crises were "net good for Berkshire" as they created buying opportunities. "Bring on a little pain," he added.I asked Gabelli straight after the conference how he felt about owning Berkshire stock given the current market shrugged off any concerns, saying he first met Buffett more than 50 years ago at Columbia Business School, and has only ever sold Berkshire to stop his portfolio becoming too her company Kanbrick's conference, Britt Cool shared a memorable piece of advice from Buffett about long-term, responsible management: "Think about this business as if it's your family's only asset and you cannot sell it for 50 years." After Buffett shocked the world with his retirement plan, I left the press area and spoke to several dumbstruck things calmed down, I took a taxi to Nebraska Furniture Mart for the shareholder picnic, and saw "Mrs B's Clearance & Outlet," named after the remarkable lady who built NFM and sold it to was a photo of Buffett's face on the front door. NFM stocked Buffett T-shirts and other merchandise, and featured an entire See's Candies concession. Shareholders took the news of Buffett's exit in good spirits. At the picnic in NFM's parking lot, there was live music, bocce, barbecue, drinks, and lots of people laughing, taking photos, playing games, or McColgan, 31, a Stanford graduate student, told me he was "somewhat relieved" that Buffett had announced his resignation, as "it would have been a shock to the world" if he'd died while still CEO. The finishers' medals were satisfyingly heavy. I liked the look, feel, and weight of my finishers' rest area after the race was well set up with breakfast burritos, Dairy Queen ice cream, and energy drinks at the Berkshire Hathaway Energy booth for was fun to tear off a tab from my race bib and exchange it for a Pilot hot chocolate too. Buffett's retirement was front-page news on Sunday. The magnitude of what I'd witnessed became clearer after I saw Buffett on the front page of his hometown paper in my hotel's lobby on bought the Omaha World-Herald for $150 million (and took on its $50 million of debt) in late 2011. He sold his newspapers, which also included The Buffalo News, to Lee Enterprises for $140 million in 2020. People were still processing Buffett's bombshell. After a shower back at the hotel, I took a Lime scooter to Markel's brunch at the Omaha Marriott, down the road from where Buffett held his Q& of the second floor was packed with people wearing Berkshire merch they'd purchased over the previous two days, from hats and windbreakers to polo shirts and Sowah, 30, a venture capitalist from New York City, told me that Buffett's casual manner caught him off guard."I wasn't expecting it," he said. "And he just said it so nonchalantly that it was like, 'Oh, wait, what? You're retiring.'" Speaking in the hallway outside Markel's shareholder meeting, Martin Wiegand, 67, told me he's attended more than 30 Berkshire meetings and has owned the stock for about 40 said his father was a school friend of Buffett, and his parents attended Berkshire meetings told me he wants Buffett to continue talking after his deputy, Greg Abel, takes over as CEO in the new year."I hope he doesn't drop the mic and walk off the stage, never to be heard from again," Wiegand said. "I hope he teaches a Coursera course — some sort of a podcast is too much to ask," he continued, adding that he'd like Buffett to keep doing media appearances."Warren Buffett's the moral authority of finance in America," he said. "And I think he proved yesterday he's still the sharpest man in the room at 94." There was time for one final story from Omaha on my trip home. I thought my Berkshire experience was over when I boarded a flight to New York City early Monday my seatmates, Aidan Sims and John Di Bella, were two finance majors from NYC who'd also made the trip to see Buffett said he had a date to a formal on Friday night, but managed to make it to Omaha in time to watch Buffett's bombshell Bella told me how he spent the night outside to get good seats for the Q&A. He played poker on the street, vaulted up the arena's steps once the doors opened, and scored selfies with Apple CEO Tim Cook and former Secretary of State Hillary chance encounter cemented Omaha in my memory as a magical place to meet fascinating people, hear wild stories, visit historic locations, and, just maybe, have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trucker hats, squishy toys, and copious candy: Weird and wonderful finds at Warren Buffett's 'Bazaar of Bargains'
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway hosted a shareholder shopping day as part of its annual meeting. See's Candies, Squishmallows-owner Jazwares, and truck-stop chain Pilot were among the brands there. One shopper was carting two dozen plush toys, while another two had a massive haul. Warren Buffett's shareholders have traveled from far and wide to hear him speak this weekend — and to scoop up their own deals at Berkshire Hathaway's "Bazaar of Bargains." Around two dozen of Buffett's businesses — including See's Candies, Squishmallows-owner Jazwares, and truck-stop chain Pilot Flying J — set up shop on Friday and Saturday in the CHI Health Center, the venue for his annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Business Insider scoured the wares on offer and interviewed shoppers about their hauls. Scroll down for a photographic tour of the event. Shoppers arrived early to skip the lines. Friday's shareholder shopping day only began at 12 p.m., but people were already lining up to collect their entry passes and waiting for the doors to open before 8 a.m. Once attendees were allowed inside, there was a huge rush to buy golf-themed Squishmallows in the likeness of Buffett, his late business partner Charlie Munger, and a caddy character named Omaha. Within moments of the event's start, people were lugging around huge Squishmallows bags filled with the trio, as well as Pikachu and other cuddly critters. They couldn't resist the photo ops. Shareholders waited patiently to have their photo taken with various cardboard cutouts of Buffett around the room. They also posed for pictures under the welcome sign and took selfies with giant mascots for Geico, Oriental Trading, and Squishmallows. Squishmallows were hot commodities. "We bring the fun," Bret Ingraham, a senior director of public relations at Jazwares, told BI during a tour of the company's booth. Squishmallows is best known for its plush toys — Ingraham said they sell 1,000 an hour at the busiest times. But more recently, they've struck licensing deals to roll out building kits, cosmetics, electric toothbrushes, and more. The maker of plush toys has expanded into bedding. Squishmallows has also ventured into the bedding business by making its own pillows and pillowcases. Ingraham said the company makes Buffett more accessible to the masses, adding that it's "introducing a new generation to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway in a fun, cuddly, cute way." Bill Hughes was bringing home the Buffetts. Bill Hughes, 40, told BI he works at a financial advisory firm in Oklahoma. He was lining up to ship multiple massive bags of Squishmallows back home when BI caught up with him. Hughes told BI he'd purchased about 24 of the plush toys to bring to people he knows back home. He also scooped up a Buffett hat, a pair of gloves from Wells Lamont, and household goods from Pampered Chef. He estimated that he'd spent $1,200 in total that day. See's Candies' theme this year focused on the outdoors. See's Candies' booth had a camping theme and featured Buffett and cofounder Mary See across cardboard cutouts, box sleeves, and other displays. There was an exclusive "Berkshire Box" on sale that was filled with Toasted Marshmallow Scotchmallows. Other popular flavors, including Chocolate Walnut Fudge, were also on hand. See's brought close to 25,000 pounds of product to satisfy hungry shareholders. Leslie Horenstein, senior vice president and marketing chief for See's, told BI that the company had brought close to 25,000 pounds of product, or more than 41,000 units, to the meeting. Echoing Buffett's love of the brand for building an emotional connection with customers, she said that virtually every person she meets has some "association" with the brand, despite it not being nationwide. Oriental Trading had all sorts of Buffett and Munger knickknacks. Oriental Trading's booth had the widest variety of Buffett and Munger-themed items. They included rubber ducks, chocolate coins and bars, bobbleheads, plushes, T-shirts, socks, mugs, pins, figurines, and playing cards. One shopper said the experience was good value for time and money. Claudia and her daughter Miranda were surrounded by their shopping when they told BI they were visiting from Miami and came to the meeting every couple of years. Claudia said the prices, quality, and staff were "amazing." She'd purchased shoes from Brooks Running, clothes from Fruit of the Loom, candy from See's Candies, kitchenware from Pampered Chef, and bits and pieces from Oriental Trading. Miranda told BI that she loved spending time with her parents and had bought clothes, shoes, board games, and slime. Pilot also went big on Buffett-branded swag. Pilot's booth featured meeting-exclusive trucker hats, "Berkshire Blend" coffee, T-shirts emblazoned with Buffett quotes, co-branded boxes of See's, and Buffett-inspired fortune cookies and Yeti tumblers. A giant, red, Pilot-branded truck was also parked next to the stand with a cardboard cutout of Buffett in the driver's seat. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trucker hats, squishy toys, and copious candy: Weird and wonderful finds at Warren Buffett's 'Bazaar of Bargains'
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway hosted a shareholder shopping day as part of its annual meeting. See's Candies, Squishmallows-owner Jazwares, and truck-stop chain Pilot were among the brands there. One shopper was carting two dozen plush toys, while another two had a massive haul. Warren Buffett's shareholders have traveled from far and wide to hear him speak this weekend — and to scoop up their own deals at Berkshire Hathaway's "Bazaar of Bargains." Around two dozen of Buffett's businesses — including See's Candies, Squishmallows-owner Jazwares, and truck-stop chain Pilot Flying J — set up shop on Friday and Saturday in the CHI Health Center, the venue for his annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Business Insider scoured the wares on offer and interviewed shoppers about their hauls. Scroll down for a photographic tour of the event. Shoppers arrived early to skip the lines. Friday's shareholder shopping day only began at 12 p.m., but people were already lining up to collect their entry passes and waiting for the doors to open before 8 a.m. Once attendees were allowed inside, there was a huge rush to buy golf-themed Squishmallows in the likeness of Buffett, his late business partner Charlie Munger, and a caddy character named Omaha. Within moments of the event's start, people were lugging around huge Squishmallows bags filled with the trio, as well as Pikachu and other cuddly critters. They couldn't resist the photo ops. Shareholders waited patiently to have their photo taken with various cardboard cutouts of Buffett around the room. They also posed for pictures under the welcome sign and took selfies with giant mascots for Geico, Oriental Trading, and Squishmallows. Squishmallows were hot commodities. "We bring the fun," Bret Ingraham, a senior director of public relations at Jazwares, told BI during a tour of the company's booth. Squishmallows is best known for its plush toys — Ingraham said they sell 1,000 an hour at the busiest times. But more recently, they've struck licensing deals to roll out building kits, cosmetics, electric toothbrushes, and more. The maker of plush toys has expanded into bedding. Squishmallows has also ventured into the bedding business by making its own pillows and pillowcases. Ingraham said the company makes Buffett more accessible to the masses, adding that it's "introducing a new generation to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway in a fun, cuddly, cute way." Bill Hughes was bringing home the Buffetts. Bill Hughes, 40, told BI he works at a financial advisory firm in Oklahoma. He was lining up to ship multiple massive bags of Squishmallows back home when BI caught up with him. Hughes told BI he'd purchased about 24 of the plush toys to bring to people he knows back home. He also scooped up a Buffett hat, a pair of gloves from Wells Lamont, and household goods from Pampered Chef. He estimated that he'd spent $1,200 in total that day. See's Candies' theme this year focused on the outdoors. See's Candies' booth had a camping theme and featured Buffett and cofounder Mary See across cardboard cutouts, box sleeves, and other displays. There was an exclusive "Berkshire Box" on sale that was filled with Toasted Marshmallow Scotchmallows. Other popular flavors, including Chocolate Walnut Fudge, were also on hand. See's brought close to 25,000 pounds of product to satisfy hungry shareholders. Leslie Horenstein, senior vice president and marketing chief for See's, told BI that the company had brought close to 25,000 pounds of product, or more than 41,000 units, to the meeting. Echoing Buffett's love of the brand for building an emotional connection with customers, she said that virtually every person she meets has some "association" with the brand, despite it not being nationwide. Oriental Trading had all sorts of Buffett and Munger knickknacks. Oriental Trading's booth had the widest variety of Buffett and Munger-themed items. They included rubber ducks, chocolate coins and bars, bobbleheads, plushes, T-shirts, socks, mugs, pins, figurines, and playing cards. One shopper said the experience was good value for time and money. Claudia and her daughter Miranda were surrounded by their shopping when they told BI they were visiting from Miami and came to the meeting every couple of years. Claudia said the prices, quality, and staff were "amazing." She'd purchased shoes from Brooks Running, clothes from Fruit of the Loom, candy from See's Candies, kitchenware from Pampered Chef, and bits and pieces from Oriental Trading. Miranda told BI that she loved spending time with her parents and had bought clothes, shoes, board games, and slime. Pilot also went big on Buffett-branded swag. Pilot's booth featured meeting-exclusive trucker hats, "Berkshire Blend" coffee, T-shirts emblazoned with Buffett quotes, co-branded boxes of See's, and Buffett-inspired fortune cookies and Yeti tumblers. A giant, red, Pilot-branded truck was also parked next to the stand with a cardboard cutout of Buffett in the driver's seat. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
03-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Trucker hats, squishy toys, and copious candy: Weird and wonderful finds at Warren Buffett's 'Bazaar of Bargains'
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway hosted a shareholder shopping day as part of its annual meeting. See's Candies, Squishmallows-owner Jazwares, and truck-stop chain Pilot were among the brands there. One shopper was carting two dozen plush toys, while another two had a massive haul. Warren Buffett's shareholders have traveled from far and wide to hear him speak this weekend — and to scoop up their own deals at Berkshire Hathaway's " Bazaar of Bargains." Around two dozen of Buffett's businesses — including See's Candies, Squishmallows-owner Jazwares, and truck-stop chain Pilot Flying J — set up shop on Friday and Saturday in the CHI Health Center, the venue for his annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Business Insider scoured the wares on offer and interviewed shoppers about their hauls. Scroll down for a photographic tour of the event. Shoppers arrived early to skip the lines. Friday's shareholder shopping day only began at 12 p.m., but people were already lining up to collect their entry passes and waiting for the doors to open before 8 a.m. Once attendees were allowed inside, there was a huge rush to buy golf-themed Squishmallows in the likeness of Buffett, his late business partner Charlie Munger, and a caddy character named Omaha. Within moments of the event's start, people were lugging around huge Squishmallows bags filled with the trio, as well as Pikachu and other cuddly critters. They couldn't resist the photo ops. Shareholders waited patiently to have their photo taken with various cardboard cutouts of Buffett around the room. They also posed for pictures under the welcome sign and took selfies with giant mascots for Geico, Oriental Trading, and Squishmallows. Squishmallows were hot commodities. "We bring the fun," Bret Ingraham, a senior director of public relations at Jazwares, told BI during a tour of the company's booth. Squishmallows is best known for its plush toys — Ingraham said they sell 1,000 an hour at the busiest times. But more recently, they've struck licensing deals to roll out building kits, cosmetics, electric toothbrushes, and more. The maker of plush toys has expanded into bedding. Squishmallows has also ventured into the bedding business by making its own pillows and pillowcases. Ingraham said the company makes Buffett more accessible to the masses, adding that it's "introducing a new generation to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway in a fun, cuddly, cute way." Bill Hughes was bringing home the Buffetts. Bill Hughes, 40, told BI he works at a financial advisory firm in Oklahoma. He was lining up to ship multiple massive bags of Squishmallows back home when BI caught up with him. Hughes told BI he'd purchased about 24 of the plush toys to bring to people he knows back home. He also scooped up a Buffett hat, a pair of gloves from Wells Lamont, and household goods from Pampered Chef. He estimated that he'd spent $1,200 in total that day. See's Candies' theme this year focused on the outdoors. See's Candies' booth had a camping theme and featured Buffett and cofounder Mary See across cardboard cutouts, box sleeves, and other displays. There was an exclusive "Berkshire Box" on sale that was filled with Toasted Marshmallow Scotchmallows. Other popular flavors, including Chocolate Walnut Fudge, were also on hand. See's brought close to 25,000 pounds of product to satisfy hungry shareholders. Leslie Horenstein, senior vice president and marketing chief for See's, told BI that the company had brought close to 25,000 pounds of product, or more than 41,000 units, to the meeting. Echoing Buffett's love of the brand for building an emotional connection with customers, she said that virtually every person she meets has some "association" with the brand, despite it not being nationwide. Oriental Trading had all sorts of Buffett and Munger knickknacks. Oriental Trading's booth had the widest variety of Buffett and Munger-themed items. They included rubber ducks, chocolate coins and bars, bobbleheads, plushes, T-shirts, socks, mugs, pins, figurines, and playing cards. One shopper said the experience was good value for time and money. Claudia and her daughter Miranda were surrounded by their shopping when they told BI they were visiting from Miami and came to the meeting every couple of years. Claudia said the prices, quality, and staff were "amazing." She'd purchased shoes from Brooks Running, clothes from Fruit of the Loom, candy from See's Candies, kitchenware from Pampered Chef, and bits and pieces from Oriental Trading. Miranda told BI that she loved spending time with her parents and had bought clothes, shoes, board games, and slime. Pilot also went big on Buffett-branded swag. Pilot's booth featured meeting-exclusive trucker hats, "Berkshire Blend" coffee, T-shirts emblazoned with Buffett quotes, co-branded boxes of See's, and Buffett-inspired fortune cookies and Yeti tumblers. A giant, red, Pilot-branded truck was also parked next to the stand with a cardboard cutout of Buffett in the driver's seat.
