Silly Bandz Success Anything But Silly

(CBS)  Silly Bandz are silicone bracelets that come in dozens of different shapes, from tree frogs to dolphins to geckos. They're hugely popular with kids, reports CBS News senior business correspondent Anthony Mason, and at about $5 for a pack, stores can't keep them in stock.

"Does everybody in school have them?" Mason asked a group of kids.

"Oh yeah!" the kids yelled.

"There was this one girl who started wearing them and like next day everyone had them going up their arms," said one kid.

Silly Bandz Sell Out!
Silly Bandz, Web Extra Video

Across the country, a new arms race is on. Some kids say they have more than 100 each. Others tell stories about friends wearing so many that they've had circulation trouble.

"My friend lost her circulation," said a girl named Claire. "She lost her circulation and her wrist was hanging."

Kids also say the Sillz Bandz are valuable.

They're especially valuable to Robert Croak. He's the rubber band man who came up with the idea after seeing a similar product designed for Japanese offices. His business has grown 10 times in the past six months.

"Every time we think we've got a handle on it, it just keeps growing," said Croak.

A year ago Croak was shipping 20 boxes a day from his Toledo, Ohio, company. Now it's up to 1,500. That's millions of Silly Bandz every week.

"I definitely feel like I'm one of the luckiest guys alive," said Croak. "That's for sure."

He's done it without advertising. The buzz on Silly Bandz is spreading over the Internet. The Silly Bandz Facebook page now has 166,000 friends.

"And let's face it. In a tough economy, any parent can afford to spend $5 to get their kid something they really want," said Croak.

When kids were asked what they'd say to the man who invented Silly Bandz, the answer was quick.

"You're awesome."

A fortune from fancy rubber bands. There's nothing silly about that.

[Miranda333]

I think it all hype and will die down eventually and then resurface in 5 or 10 years with a new name. I'm amazed at what simple things kids go ga-ga for, from a colored shaped rubber band to high tech playstation games,go figure?? and music to go with the bands??http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bljmW8VmBls a rap by The Knarly Project about Silly Bandzjust wait for the sitcom!

[coolsillybandz]

buycoolsillybandz.com site has a massive news feed for silly bandz in the news, media and the stuff thats for sale. My kids check it all the time to see what's up with the latest craze.

[paperandpolkadots]

We are an online children's boutique - http://www.paperandpolkadots.com - and we currently sell Silly Bandz. We think they are a great product & lots of fun for kids to collect, trade & just have fun with. It's not often that a product creates this much "crazyness"! There are definately worse things a kid could spend their money on or collect, so don't be silly!

[snoopy2216]

This fad has been around for years.
Have never heard of a lawsuit.
This time it will last for a couple
of months maybe and the kids will change
to something else. Just like the japanese
erasers that fad has definitely slowed down
you see those all over the place now!

[FaithBands]

It?s so interesting how this fad exploded like it did. We created Faith Bands?inspirational bandz based on Bible stories and biblical themes. We currently have 14 different sets of inspirational Faith Bands (and have over 20 new sets in production). We also have over 30 sets of general market bands (animal shapes, automobiles, etc.) because the demand is so great. We?re constantly adding more unique bandz designs to our already rare inventory.

We created these bandz as a way for people to share their faith. Swanson Christian Products?the company that created Faith Bands?has been in business for over 75 years as a Christian product wholesale distributor.

For more information about our Faith Bands, visit FaithBands.org. For more information on Swanson Christian Products, visit SwansonInc.com.

[pragmatist1]

Profit by a thoughtless business owner offering something that is a potential health risk for stupid kids without any viable parental guidance. I love the description of the one girl about her friend putting these up her arm, cutting off the circulation and the hand hanging. Do these kids realize how dangerous too many of these on the arm can be by cutting off circulation? Who is in charge here anyway? Obviously not the parents who let their indulged kids get whatever they want, and whenever they want it.

[gruven13777]

Makes one wonder how much the company paid CBS to run this ad.

[barbaram99]

I have to say it is really dumb..It is not worth it and the colours catch the eyes of the girls and they want to fit in..The gangage is never brought up..I guess their parents don't member the rules of don't wear rubber bands when they were told they cut in to the skin..

[newsterI]

Others tell stories about friends wearing so many that they've had circulation trouble.

"My friend lost her circulation," said a girl named Claire. "She lost her circulation and her wrist was hanging."

Oh joy, can't wait to read about the first multi million dollar LAWSUIT for injury because some moron kid who can't tell coolaid from drain cleaner because both are green... putting 500 of these on his or her arms to be a bad azz, and then winding up with both arms amputated due to gangrene.