Since its creation in 1961, Sophie la girafe has apparently sold more than 60 million copies worldwide.
In the program "La France bouge", Europe 1 looked at this timeless French success born at the foot of the Alps, which owes nothing to chance.
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The figures make you dizzy: exported to 85 countries, the legendary Sophie la girafe would have sold more than 60 million copies since its birth one day in May 1961. Before the 60th anniversary of this toy well known to young parents, Europe 1 retraced the stages of this never-denied success on the program
La France bouge
with Élisabeth Assayag and Emmanuel Duteil.
>> Find all the shows of La France bouge in replay and podcast here
It all started in Rumilly, in Haute-Savoie.
In this town of 15,000 inhabitants at the foot of the Alps, there are neither famous singers nor illustrious politicians.
No personality, except an exotic animal from the Giraffidae family whose name is not due to chance.
"Born May 25, 1961, Sophie la girafe went into production on Hagia Sophia," says Stéphanie Arnaud, deputy general manager of Vulli, the company that manufactures the giraffe.
The five senses involved
If the giraffe has not aged a bit, babies have not spared it: they walk it everywhere and above all, they eat it.
Its legs and neck are chewed all day long.
However, don't panic, because Sophie is made from the sap of the rubber tree and is therefore made of rubber.
The famous giraffe has a target, which are children between 0 and 18 months, for a very specific reason: "It was designed to awaken the five senses of the baby", explains the leader.
"The brown spots on his white body help to sweep the sight of the little one. Then there is his famous 'pouet pouet' which will awaken baby's hearing. To touch him, his big neck, his big paws and all the chewed parts will relieve baby during teething. Finally, the very special smell will stimulate baby's sense of smell, who will recognize Sophie the giraffe among all his other toys. "
As many Sophie as there are births
The company does not communicate on its sales figures, but it is a real French success.
It is also a global success, with 50% of turnover generated internationally.
The United States is the second largest toy market after France.
"There are personalities from all over the world who are offered Sophie la girafe such as Cara Delevingne, Elton John, Uma Thurman, Kim Kardashian or Sandra Bullock", relates Stéphanie Arnaud.
Today, a whole range of products has been developed around Sophie la girafe: play mats, bibs, rattles, bath towels.
And the craze is not fading.
As many Sophies are sold each year as there are births in France.