It seems like there was no end to magazines about Beanie Babies this year, but Beans!, which debuted this summer, managed to set itself apart from the pack.

In the magazine's first issue, Tuff Stuff Publications president Frank Finn told readers that Beans! would be different in several ways. Unlike other trader magazines, Tuff Stuff prides itself on not buying, selling or trading Beanie Babies, and touts that its prices are the most trustworthy. But don't think this means Beans! doesn't know what it's talking about. Tuff Stuff has been in the price guide business for 14 years, producing guides for collectors of sports trading cards, autographs, sports memorabilia, entertainment trading cards, collectible sports figures, action figures and other items.

Beans! exhaustive price guides include the details that make all the difference in a Beanie Baby's value. As Finn said, "As dedicated collectors know, the value of many Beanie Babies depends on which variation of the product you've got, which generation hang tag it has, and other factors." No wonder you need details to keep up with this ever-changing market!

Departments include a Beanbag Bulletin, Wanna-Beans ("Beanbag Characters We'd Like To See"), Ask The Expert, collector profiles and news of upcoming Beanie Baby events. The first issue featured a story on the Beanie Baby's meteoric rise to become the country's hottest collectible, and how collectors can use the Internet to their advantage. The magazine's classifieds and advertiser index also help collectors do business.

The sheer number of titles about Beanie Babies launched this year says something about this growing and profitable market. As Finn put it, "It's a global community and we couldn't resist joining the party!"