Webkinz, a stuffed animal and video game franchise founded in 2005, features stuffed animals with online counterparts for users to play with. Users must take care of their Webkinz like a pet, playing games to earn points to pay for housing, clothing, food and other activities. The more players interact with and take care of their Webkinz, the more successful they are in the game.
Similarly, consumers are noticing that caring for their gut health is impacting their overall well-being — no stuffed animals required.