Trucker hats, squishy toys, and copious candy: Weird and wonderful finds at Warren Buffett’s ‘Bazaar of Bargains’

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.

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