Bob Solomon, chairman and chief dream officer of Woodland Hills, CA-based Applause, LLC, one of the leading gift companies in the world, surrounds himself with a menagerie of Dream Pets, the 50s phenom that was reintroduced this year by the company's R. Dakin division. The first one million Dream Pets hit U.S. shores today on their way to specialty stores such as Hallmark and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

March 2004 -- They're here!! Make room next to your most prized possessions... the first million Dream Pets will find their homes at specialty and gift stores nationwide on March 15th. The arrival of the hand crafted, collectible velveteen funsters from R. Dakin & Company, signals the re-launch of the vintage Dream Pets line after nearly 50 years. Welcome back Dream Pets - we've missed you!

By the end of March, the first 24 critters - from Tabasco the Bull and Lucy Lamb to Mimi Octopus and Honolulu Harry -- that comprise the initial 21st Century Dream Pets collection will be available at Hallmark, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and specialty gift and retail stores nationwide. Created from the original artwork and design samples, the first 24 Dream Pets to be released were selected from among the 2,000 sawdust-filled Pets in the Dakin archives.

Originally manufactured from 1957 through the early 1980's, each new Dream Pet will be an exact replica of its ancestor, right down to the hang tag which includes its original name, stock number and date of birth. And, each Dream Pet will be hand finished and individually numbered.

With the re-introduction of this classic line of personality-filled funsters this month, Dream Pets will once again find a place in the hearts of lovers, friends, collectors, nostalgia buffs and gift-givers worldwide.

"I know that our Dream Pets will find a place in so many hearts just as they have in mine," said Bob Solomon, chairman and chief dream officer of Applause, "Phenomenon's happen because they're supposed to, not because they are planned."

"Among the community of Dream Pets," Solomon continued, "I'm sure that everyone will find a Dream Pet that they will want to call their own, because the Pets are so much more than stuffed animals - like all of us, they're individuals."

"We introduced the Dream Pets website (www.dreampets.com) last month," said Solomon, "And it amazes and delights me that in such a short amount of time, over a half a million Dream Pet fans have visited the site to check in with us and learn more about the Pets," he concluded.

The new Dream Pets collection is available exclusively at gift and specialty stores nationwide and retails for approximately $7.99 each. For more information on Dream Pets or to find your Dream Pet, visit www.dreampets.com.

DREAM PETS® is a registered trademark of R. Dakin & Company, a Division of Applause, LLC. The DREAM PETS logo, the individual character names and the character images are trademarks of R. Dakin & Company. (c) R. Dakin & Company 2004. All Rights Reserved.