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Article Archive: Dolls
Mattel News 1/20/2023
Mattel donates 2,000 Barbies, toys to Cook Children’s hospital, honoring Athena Strand   bookmark_border   share   more_vert NRF News Play, purpose and platforms: Mattel wins the game...

1/11/2023



Barbie Doll: Trip to Space
    Barbie is embarking on her first mission to space in the doll’s 63-year...

4/1/2022



Doll Play Prompts Children to Talk About Others’ Thoughts And Emotions
Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced that Barbie and a team of neuroscientists at Cardiff University have released the latest findings from a multi-year study exploring the short and long-term developmental impacts of doll play. In the study’s second year, researchers investigated the importance of what kids say while they play...

2/1/2022



Barbie & Fashion House Balmain Collab: Ready Wear and Accessories Exclusive NFTs
 Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announces the launch of a  partnership between the Barbie brand and French fashion label, Balmain. Developed as a celebration of both Barbie and Balmain’s combined impact on fashion and greater culture, the two brands are launching a new global ready-to-wear fashion and accessories collection. The...

1/13/2022



Holiday Gift and Enjoy the Experience at Build-A-Bear Workshop or Take Advantage of Convenient Onlin
The Beary Merry Festivities continue at Build-A-Bear Workshop®! From children's gifts and décor items to pop culture favorites and collector's items, there's a furry friend waiting for everyone. Celebrate the season and start a new family holiday tradition by visiting a Build-A-Bear Workshop to make personalized "gifts with heart" or, check off everyone on your list in a few easy clicks with ready-to-love gifts from our online Giftshop at buildabear.com! Give the gift of FUN this holiday season! Whether you're looking to continue holiday traditions, or create a new one, by visiting Build-A-Bear in person or online, Build-A-Bear gift cards are the perfect gift for everyone on your list!...

12/1/2021



Most Popular Holiday Toys of 2021 (DEC 15th)
As you’re planning for your final holiday orders, take a look at some of the toys that largely define the toy market today. In the Holiday Toy list represented below, you’ll find our editors top picks with links to buy them on Amazon. Fisher-Price...

12/1/2021



Just Dutch US Partners with Nordstrom to Bring Miffy to Holiday Pop-In@Nordstrom Shops in Select Sto
This holiday season, Just Dutch US, the delightful children’s toy brand, is bringing its award-winning Miffy Collection to select Nordstrom locations across the US and Canada. Pop-In@Nordstrom locations will feature Just Dutch’s back-to-basics, hand woven plush inspired by Miffy, the world-renowned bunny created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna. From plush...

12/1/2021



Mattel and MGM to Develop Polly Pocket Action Motion Picture: Lena Dunham
“Polly Pocket was responsible for countless hours of childhood escapism for me – Polly gave me a tiny world of magic and autonomy to narrate, so it's pretty poetic to be tackling these same ideas now as a director collaborating with the brilliant Lily Collins, Robbie Brenner, Mattel and MGM. I'm so thrilled to bring to bear both my love of this historic property and also my deep-seated belief that young women need smart playful films that speak to them without condescension,” said Dunham...

7/1/2021



Toys in the News 05/04/2021
Activision has denied claims that Crash Bandicoot 4 studio Toys For Bob has suffered layoffs, and said it will continue to support the platformer alongside its new role on Call of Duty...

5/1/2021



American Girl Celebrates 35 Years of Making Herstory and Empowering Girls
American Girl, a cornerstone in the Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) portfolio of purposeful brands, kicks off its yearlong 35th birthday celebration with the reintroduction of its original historical characters—Samantha Parkington™, Kirsten Larson™, Molly McIntire™, Felicity Merriman™, Addy Walker™, and Josefina Montoya™. Since 1986, the cherished brand known for helping girls grow up with confidence and character, has created engaging heroines who have transported millions of girls back in time—from 1774 to 1944—through books and stories teaching courage, compassion, confidence, and resilience. Now, these same characters are about to inspire a new generation to make their own positive mark on the world...

5/1/2021



LOL Surprise™ Is Bringing Dancing, Fierce Fashions And Dolls To Roblox
LOL Surprise is moving into the Roblox world, bringing their fierce fashions, surprises and outrageous personalities to game play! The 'LOL Surprise™ Official Party,' a kid-safe digital game is available today on Roblox and is the first world of dolls to bring global, renowned and popular gaming influencers into the experience playing directly with fans! MGA Entertainment, Inc. (MGAE), one of the largest privately-owned global toy companies, worked with go-to source for kidtech solutions, SuperAwesome to bring this one-of-a-kind, global game play experience to fans before it opened to the general public...

4/1/2021



Betty Crocker with Barbie Dream Gap Project to Empower Girls
Driven by the belief that the kitchen is the original lab, where culinary science and personal expression fuel confidence and creativity in all makers, Betty Crocker introduces the BettyLab. Through this platform, Betty Crocker, along with a number of innovative partners, will offer resources, ideas and inspiration for people to learn and explore in their own kitchens. For its first initiative, Betty Crocker is partnering with Barbie and the brand’s Dream Gap Project initiative, another cultural icon that shares a commitment to helping children reach for the stars...

3/1/2021



Barbie Toy Sales Surge as New Content is Released on Netflix, The NPD Group Says
The second-season Netflix (NFLX) release of “Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures” in March 2020, and the movie, “Barbie Princess Adventure,” in September 2020, have lifted the number of hours watched of all Barbie releases on Netflix through September. Toy sales have followed suit, as sales of the Barbie property has trended similarly to the rise in time spent watching Barbie titles, according to The NPD Group...

11/1/2020



MGA Entertainment Showcases Fall Products
It has been an incredibly challenging year for kids, and the MGAE Team is focused on delivering products now through the holidays that bring smiles and laughter to kids around the world. -- Isaac Larian...

8/1/2020



MGA Entertainment foiled a counterfeiter’s attempt to export fake L.O.L Surprise! products
MGA Entertainment foiled a counterfeiter’s attempt to export fake L.O.L Surprise! products from the port in Shenzhen, China...

8/1/2020



Most searched products Aug 09 - Aug 15, 2020
Most searched products Aug 09 - Aug 15, 2020: The top-performing products in Search: Mattel Barbie (Dolls)   Second most searched products Aug 09 - Aug 15, 2020: Funko POP! (Action & Toy Figures)  ...

8/1/2020



Mattel’s Barbie Sales Rebound -- Disney Related Sales Drop
SOURCE Mattel, Inc.Third Quarter Highlights[1]- Worldwide net sales flat as reported, and up 2% in constant currency; worldwide gross sales flat as reported, and up 1% in constant currency.- Fisher-Price® worldwide gross sales up 6% as reported, and up 8% in constant currency; Wheels worldwide gross sales up 6%...

9/1/2016



Toys to Talk About: Dolls
Dolls are a classic for a reason. Check out some of the latest additions to the category...

2/1/2016



Why Mattel's new Barbies are good for girls
Mattel's latest line of barbies is making a splash, and it's easy to see why...

2/1/2016



Toys to Talk About: Dolls
These cute dolls are worth a second look...

11/1/2015



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
From dolls that walk to dolls that talk, they're classic toys for a reason...

7/1/2015



2014 Holiday Preview: Dolls, Plush & Puppets, Infant & Toddler, Electronics and Play Houses
Summer vacation may be in full swing, but in retailers' minds winter break is right around the corner...

7/1/2014



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
When TDmonthly interviewed retailers about their best-selling dolls in a June 2014 survey, several mentioned Groovy Girls from Manhattan Toy, which are celebrating their "Sweet 16" this year...

7/1/2014



Are Fashion Dolls Old Hat?
Fashion Dolls have dominated the U.S. doll market since Barbie came onto the scene back in 1959 and they have reigned pretty much without challenge since then...

6/1/2014



TDmonthly 2014 Top Toy Debut Award Winners: Dolls, Plush and Collectibles
The following outstanding toys have been nominated for Top Toy Debut Awards based on editorial review and retailer feedback...

5/1/2014



Madame Alexander Doll Lovers Share Their Stories
At the 111th American International Toy Fair, held February 15-19, 2014 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, the Madame Alexander Booth held a special "Share Your Story Day" to celebrate the role their dolls have played in the lives of girls and women for almost 90 years...

3/1/2014



Mattel(R) Unveils 2014 Toy Portfolio for Pre-School, Boys and Girls Brands at New York International
This week, at the New York International Toy Fair, leading toymaker Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) will showcase its new toy lineup for power-house brands Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends®, Hot Wheels®, Barbie®, Monster High® and newcomer, Ever After High®...

2/1/2014



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
In a June 2013 survey about best-selling dolls, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine that Manhattan Toy and Corolle were their top brands...

7/1/2013



Q&A with Gloria Mecca for Heavenly Hug Dolls
It's easy for some people to brush off toys as mere entertainment. But as those of us in the industry know, and as any child (or adult!) with a beloved teddy bear or doll can tell you, for so many people toys are more than just a product to be pushed...

4/1/2013



Two single brand toy retailers – one success, one failure
Two companies entered the retail market with a single toy brand – American Girl and Build-A-Bear. And this is just about where the similarities end...

4/1/2013



TDmonthly's Toy Fair Videos: Dolls, Plush, and Figures
TDmonthly Magazine was at Toy Fair, scouting out the newest toys and hottest trends of 2013. Our videographer captured these new toys on tape, so that retailers who couldn't visit their booths can still get a taste of what these new toys have to offer...

3/1/2013



TDmonthly Seal of Approval - Dolls & Plush
See the TDmonthly Seal of Approval winners for the Dolls / Plush Toy category...

1/1/2013



Adora Dolls Unveils New Look and Products For 2013
Adora, a leading manufacturer of award-winning dolls, plush toys, and play accessories is launching an "all new" Adora for 2013. Adora has infused its brand with a new identity, packaging, website, and a wide assortment of products and price points for children of all ages...

12/1/2012



Paradise Galleries to Participate in 2012 Walk for Alzheimer's
California-based designer, developer, and marketer of award-winning dolls, Paradise Galleries, announced today they are beginning to gather a team of doll lovers to participate in the 2012 Walk for Alzheimer's in Dana Point, California on October 6, 2012...

9/1/2012



Dolls and Doll Houses
Take a look at these recently added specialty and mass-market dolls and doll houses...

7/1/2012



TDmonthly Top Toy Award Winners July 2012
TDmonthly Magazine is excited to announce our TDmonthly Top Toy Award winners for July 2012. We've selected these toys to feature to our 14,600 retailer subscribers for a number of reasons, including their top quality, high play value, and/or status as a proven best seller...

7/1/2012



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
For the sixth year in a row, specialty store owners have named COROLLE DOLLS' Calin as their best selling doll, followed by Groovy Girls from MANHATTAN TOY...

7/1/2012



ASTRA's Best Toys For Kids Nominees - Pretend - Doll Play
Take a closer look at ASTRA's Best Toys For Kids Nominees in the Pretend - Doll Play category...

6/1/2012



Dolls
See these recent Specialty and Mass-Market Dolls...

8/1/2011



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
When TDmonthly interviewed 14 retailers in early Summer 2011 about their best-selling doll, a whopping 71% of them named Corolle Dolls as their best-selling brand...

7/1/2011



The Battle Over Bratz
Now that MGA has full control of the Bratz brand again, CEO Isaac Larian is ready to get back in the game...

4/1/2011



Celebrating Twenty Years of IDEX
For twenty years, IDEX has brought together artists, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and collectors for one glorious week at the end of January...

3/1/2011



Barbie Poses Moral Doll-Emma
Last issue, we learned that high-fashion womenswear designers are lining up to dress Barbie – that universal beacon of over-the-top womanhood. Although the high-priced celebrity-designer dolls are meant for adults, is that who’s buying them?...

12/1/2010



Summary of Online Toy Reviews
TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching...

12/1/2010



Grownup Designers Snatch Barbies From Kids
At least since the 1980s, when outré designer Bob Mackie outfitted his first Barbies, dollmakers have enlisted couture designers to weave their talents around the most diminutive of mannequins...

11/1/2010



The Return of Bratz
Beginning with their launch in June 2001, Bratz dolls stormed into a market dominated by Barbie. By 2003, Barbie’s market share had dropped...

9/1/2010



Watch Toy Videos of the Day (9/20/10 - 9/24/10)
We want you to see the toys we see, so you can determine if they're right for your store! Check this space every weekday to see brief video clips of new and specialty products...

9/1/2010



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
A recent survey conducted by TDmonthly Magazine polled 43 retailers nationwide about the sales in their doll departments...

7/1/2010



Toy Videos of the Day: 6-29-10
We want you to see the toys we see, so you can determine if they're right for your store! Check this space every weekday to see brief video clips...

6/1/2010



Videos: Dolls Bask in the Spotlight
MGA Entertainment has launched a culturally diverse line of 18" dolls for the specialty market, and Ty Inc. has scaled down its doll designs with new Li'l Ones,...

6/1/2010



Barbie and Disney Princess Await Court’s Bratz Decision
Last August, TDmonthly looked at the two major new entrants in the doll market — Liv of Spin Master Toys and Moxie of MGA Entertainment — and speculated as to their survival chances...

5/1/2010



Holiday Preview: Dolls
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5/1/2010



Preview Toys for 4th Quarter
If you’re like most specialty retailers, you’ll wrap up your big holiday orders in late summer/early fall. To make sure you have the data you need...

5/1/2010



April's Toy Videos Build on Fun
This month, TDmonthly Magazine brings you videos from some of the leaders in the specialty toy industry...

4/1/2010



Summary of Online Toy Reviews
TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching...

3/1/2010



Dolls Show Their Dark Side at IDEX 2010
At the International Expo of Dolls show in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 28-31, Alice in Wonderland made an appearance at nearly every one-of-a-kind artist booth, it seemed...

3/1/2010



Toy Fair Preview 2010: Dolls
Preview Toy Fair 2010 exhibitors in the dolls category:Back to main article...

1/1/2010



Dolls, Plush & Puppets
Go back to main article: "Award-Winning Toys for a Hassle-Free Holiday"...

12/1/2009



Liv and Moxie Girlz Gang Up on Barbie
For decades, Mattel’s Barbie reigned supreme in the fashion doll world, until the saucy upstart Bratz from MGA Entertainment made its appearance in 2001 and challenged the queen...

8/1/2009



TDmonthly Goes Inside … Three Cheeky Monkeys, Los Angeles
Wallace Harvey bought Three Cheeky Monkeys in Los Angeles from the original owner seven years ago, after having worked as an employee in the store, he told TDmonthly Magazine...

8/1/2009



Reviving Doll Collecting Amid a Fading Generation
Old friends were reunited and new friends made over a mutual love for dolls during the 60th annual meeting of The United Federation of Doll Clubs and the Original Doll Artist Council of America convention held in Atlanta, Ga., the week of July 12...

8/1/2009



Hannah Montana and Princesses Reign
When 3-year-old Hailey Farrant of Beachwood, N.J., isn't dressing up herself, she's dressing up one of her dolls...

7/1/2009



Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
“All of a sudden, we've had a surge on dolls,” Bill Rayment, owner of Toy Crossing in Harbor Beach, Mich., told TDmonthly Magazine during a recent survey of 43 specialty toy stores...

7/1/2009



Global Green Pal Inspires Eco-Education
TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable learned there is a world of wonder down under as they traveled with Restoration Gallery’s Pink Coral Laurel, from the Global Green Pals line, in her pretty pink snorkel gear to Australia’s coral reef...

7/1/2009



My Best Sellers: At Once All Agog
Owner Candace Gooch of At Once All Agog in Limerick, Maine, encourages her customers to play with the toys in her store and experience their craftsmanship. Here are the items she told TDmonthly Magazine shoppers want most...

7/1/2009



Top-10 Most-Wanted Licensed Toys
In April 2009, TDmonthly surveyed specialty toy retailers around the country about their sales of licensed product. Here are the top-10 best-selling licensed toys...

6/1/2009



Holiday Preview - Dolls
Little girls (and boys) should have plenty of playmates this holiday season, from soft-bodied kid dolls with a heartbeat, or a heart for green initiatives, to a smiling diapered baby and a doll that gives a heavenly hug...

6/1/2009



Toys from ASTRA Exhibitors
TDmonthly Magazine's video crew will be in full force at this year's ASTRA Marketplace show in June, but while you await the toy demos featured in our July issue, we'd like you to become familiar with some of the specialty exhibitors...

5/1/2009



Corolle Dolls Enchant Every Age
Since 1978, Corolle’s finely crafted, award-winning dolls have brightened countless children’s lives with their smiles and cuddly bodies...

5/1/2009



Watch Dolls, Plush and Puppets Perform on Video
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but pictures alone can be deceiving. Get a close-up look at the new dolls, plush and puppets from Toy Fair with TDmonthly's demo videos...

4/1/2009



Sweet Fairy Doll Flies into the Hearts of Those Young at Heart
TDmonthly Magazine's Dolls Roundtable recently reviewed the Sweet as Can Be Fairy Doll from Linda Rick, The Doll Maker, and were delighted with her sparkling presentation...

4/1/2009



IDEX 2009: Dolls Draw Attention Despite Economy
Warm Florida weather greeted enthusiastic attendees as exhibitors displayed one of a kind dolls, play dolls, reborn babies, limited editions, and doll clothing and accessories alongside many celebrity artists at the 2009 Idex Premiere Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Orlando...

3/1/2009



Classics and Creativity Make Their Way to Toy Fair
The toys manufacturers are bringing to the Toy Industry Association’s 2009 Toy Fair, Feb. 15-18, are as high profile as the show itself. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect among the hundreds of mass-market and specialty items debuting at the show...

2/1/2009



What Roundtables Mean for You
Throughout the year, TDmonthly Magazine's Roundtable reviewers — parents, their children, and occasionally retailers and experts — don their testing gloves and give their honest feedback about dolls, toys, games and infant products...

1/1/2009



TDmonthly's Reviews Do the Work for You
Did you know TDmonthly Magazine offers many more product reviews than you read about in this section each month, and makes it easy for you to check out evaluations on the types of toys your store might be interested in?...

12/1/2008



December Staff Picks
The holidays demand that your store be more about selling than buying this month, but it'll soon be time to excite customers with new and innovative toys, games and gifts for 2009...

12/1/2008



Karito Kids Provide Health and Homes for Children
KidsGive makes dolls and books that represent girls and cultures around the world. It’s also a children’s charity and the result of a vision shared by Co-founders Laura Rangel, president, and her friend Lisa Steen Proctor, COO...

11/1/2008



Top-10 Most-Anticipated Holiday Sellers
Affected by slow sales and a frightening economy, some of the 32 specialty toy-store owners TDmonthly Magazine interviewed in late October didn't feel they could positively name which products will be their strongest sellers for Christmas...

11/1/2008



Toys in the News: 10-31-08
Ganz announced it is now contracting with Brandwise to use its SalesOptimizer program, which will allow the maker of Webkinz to access key sales data, including purchasing trends on a Google map...

10/1/2008



Travel Charmers Charm Adults and Children Alike
TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable reviewers loved the soft bodies, embroidered faces, cute outfits and delightful charm bracelets of Karito Kids Travel Charmers, a new line of five dolls from KidsGive...

9/1/2008



Big Sellers Turn into Big Disappointments
What’s hot one year may not be the next, and even some of the market’s most popular items — Learning Curve’s Thomas & Friends and HaPe’s Quadrilla — can end up destined for a last-chance markdown in some stores, TDmonthly Magazine learned...

9/1/2008



Watch Dolls and Plush
Some dolls have magnetic appeal; others are just adorable...

8/1/2008



Round Up Those Ratings
Are you considering a product for your store, but want to first know what consumers think?...

8/1/2008



TDmonthly Top Seller 2008 Awards
Which toys are known for driving up sales in specialty toy stores? The list of winners for TDmonthly's Top Seller 2008 award, presented based on sales evaluations by specialty retailers across the country, tells its own story...

8/1/2008



TDmonthly Classic Awards
TDmonthly Magazine is proud to announce the select winners of its TDmonthly Classic 2008 Award...

8/1/2008



TDmonthly’s Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
“When I first began, I was told in my research for the store [which opened in October 2004] that dolls were going out,” Ray Goodhart, owner of Ages & Stages Toy Box in Golden, Colo., told TDmonthly Magazine...

8/1/2008



Retailing Tips: Finding the Right Dolls
I remember, as a child, pressing my face against a toy-store window and falling in love with a doll. At the time, choices for toys and dolls were more limited...

8/1/2008



In This Issue
If it feels like summer is flying by and holiday orders will soon be upon us, well ... that sounds about right!...

8/1/2008



Bath Doll Makes a Splash With Reviewers
TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants were taken with the Götz Maxi Aquini Blonde Baby Bath Doll from International Playthings...

8/1/2008



Weekly Toy Newscast: 8-17-08
The much-anticipated toy safety bill lowering acceptable lead limits in children's products and overhauling the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been signed into law. Find out the major provisions...

8/1/2008



Why That Awful Toy Deserves a Second Look
It’s natural to be hesitant about a toy you don’t know much about. But are you missing big sales by being too cautious?...

7/1/2008



Girls Give Language Littles Doll an “A” in French
TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants recently reviewed Language Littles’ French doll, Jolie. While the two storeowners had several suggestions for improvement, the girls were intrigued by Jolie and enjoyed trying out another language...

7/1/2008



Doll Companies Recreate Old Favorites
Many women have happy childhood memories of playing with dolls and many have passed on their playthings to the next generation...

6/1/2008



Clicking Into Christmas: Find New Toys
You can ditch the catalogs, evade the reps and still be ready for the Holiday Season...

6/1/2008



Doll Reviewers Applaud Flatsy's Poseability and Style
TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants recently reviewed Schylling’s Flatsy, a remake of a 1960s doll...

6/1/2008



Doll Experts Give Madame Alexander's Eloise Perfect Score
Participants in TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable reviewed the Eloise doll by Alexander Doll Co...

5/1/2008



When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get an Endcap
There is little doubt that things are tough in toy land. By the end of April, my retailer panel reported declining sales by 5 percent over all categories compared to the same period last year...

5/1/2008



My Best Sellers: Creative Kids Toy Shop
At Creative Kids Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., the Lee Middleton Newborn Doll Nursery is a main attraction, according to Owner Melodie Ingwersen.....

5/1/2008



Retailer Spotlight: Creative Kids Toy Shop
Although Melodie Ingwersen has childhood memories of playing “toy store” with her sisters, she didn’t aspire to be a toy-store owner, she told TDmonthly Magazine...

5/1/2008



The Dolls of Pomona
Dolls of various ethnicities and diverse fashions hit the floor at the WTHRA Western States Toy & Hobby Show in Pomona, Calif., in March...

4/1/2008



Retailers' Top 10: Toy Fair and Pomona
What did specialty retailers think about this year’s American International Toy Fair in New York City and the Western States Toy & Hobby Show in Pomona, Calif.?...

4/1/2008



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
Thirty-seven of 62 toy-store owners raved that Corolle babies are their best-selling dolls, with sales averaging from two to 50 per month year-round and significantly more at Christmas...

2/1/2008



New Dolls for 2008
When TDmonthly Magazine calls toy-store owners about hot sellers, dolls aren’t usually at the top of their lists...

2/1/2008



The Emergence of a German Toy Giant
With bankrupt Smoby’s future up for grabs, Simba-Dickie, the fifth-largest German toy manufacturer, is preparing to challenge the big boys on their home turf...

2/1/2008



DOLLS ROUNDTABLE: Love Is Green
The participants of TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable appreciated the bright color and small, cuddly nature of Eva, a 12” cloth doll from Ella and Friends, though some believe the suggested retail price might be too high, even for a quality doll...

1/1/2008



Competing With Computers
Given the craze over computers and obsessions for being online, thanks in part to Ganz’s Webkinz, it may seem that children have lost interest in good, old-fashioned toys...

12/1/2007



Dolls Roundtable: Dancing With Terri Lee
TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants were delighted with the price point and playability of the Prima Princess Ballerina Doll by Terri Lee Associates...

12/1/2007



Cool Female Action Figures Get Moving
Dolls aren’t just for sitting on the shelf or dressing pretty anymore. They can be just as cool and exciting as action figures, if given moveable joints...

11/1/2007



TDmonthly’s Fashion Dolls War - Update 2007
After its inception in March of 1959, Mattel Inc.’s Barbie doll dominated the fashion doll market. Barbie’s accessories — everything from play homes to cars to clothes — helped make Barbie a worldwide phenomenon...

11/1/2007



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Gifts for Girls
What will girls want from Santa this year? Webkinz by Ganz are sure to stick around, retailers told TDmonthly Magazine, and younger girls are likely to clutch onto the latest dolls from Corolle and Madame Alexander...

11/1/2007



Toy Buzz: Giving Back Pays Off for Karito Kids
When Lisa Steen Proctor and Laura Rangel began planning their company, KidsGive LLC, in 2005, they knew they wanted to accomplish more than giving a toy. They also wanted to help kids celebrate diversity and learn to give to others, Laura, the company’s president, told TDmonthly Magazine...

11/1/2007



Dolls Roundtable: Press ‘n Dress is Popular
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable reviewed the Two’s Company and Dinner Party sets of Press n’ Dress dolls and accessories by Pockets of Learning...

11/1/2007



Dolls Won't Let Up
Little girls have always wanted to have a cuddly doll to tell their problems to, and it's no different today. playzak asked 62 toy-store owners about what's new and marvelous in dolls...

10/1/2007



Dolls: Thinking “Glad” With Pollyanna
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants reviewed Tonner Doll Company's Pollyanna, a 14” fashion doll that is similar to Tonner’s Betsy McCall doll...

10/1/2007



Kookeys Aim for Webkinz Jugular
Think plush is cute? What about the hungry creators behind it? Kids may be playing with KinzCash, but Ganz is raking in real millions, and manufacturers want in...

10/1/2007



TDmonthly Specialty Toys Report: WINNERS
It's finally time to announce the deserving recipients of TDmonthly Magazine's 2007 toy awards...

10/1/2007



Dolls: A Lee Middleton Trio
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants reviewed three age-specific dolls by Lee Middleton...

9/1/2007



How American Girl Became an "Experience"
On August 18, 2007, girls from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and other neighboring states flocked to the Atlanta, Ga., American Girl store, celebrating its grand opening as it joined locations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles...

9/1/2007



Take Britney Home With You
It’s been more than 70 years since Shirley Temple and her namesake doll won America’s heart. But today, teen stars don’t always grow up maintaining a wholesome image...

9/1/2007



Blackall Associates Crafts a Masterpiece
The unique and lifelike Masterpiece Dolls by Blackall Associates were an instant success when Shirley Blackall introduced them in 1998...

8/1/2007



Dolls Won't Let Up
Though few of the 62 retailers surveyed by TDmonthly Magazine claimed dolls as a stellar seller, all but one carried them — a testament to this classic toy’s staying power...

8/1/2007



Fashion Passion
Anyone in need of fashion inspiration can cancel that trip to Paris and look instead to these dressed dolls...

8/1/2007



Hot Babes
Over the past three to four months, a number of retailers have told TDmonthly Magazine that baby doll sales are up, and it’s all thanks to little girls...

8/1/2007



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Dolls
Baby dolls are cute and cuddly, of course, but realism and detail are in demand, too...

8/1/2007



Dolls: Corolle's Bébé Do
This month, Dolls Roundtable participants reviewed Corolle’s Bébé Do — an infant doll they fell in love with before the package was even opened...

7/1/2007



The Doll Next Door
Now any little girl can find a doll that (almost) looks like her ... and her friends...

7/1/2007



Dolls Roundtable: Corolle
You wrap up the doll and the customer takes it home. But what do collectors, kids and grandmas really think about a baby doll once it's out of the box?...

6/1/2007



Dolls: Karito Kids Take Girls Around the Globe
This month, TDmonthly Magazine's Dolls Roundtable participants reviewed the Karito Kids Wan Ling doll by KidsGive...

6/1/2007



Mixis Mix It Up
The founder and president of YNU Group lived a "Mixis" life long before she ever considered making the 12" multi-ethnic fashion dolls...

6/1/2007



Dolls: Käthe Kruse's Melena
This month, Dolls Roundtable participants took a look at Melena — a Käthe Kruse rag doll by Europlay...

5/1/2007



Only Hearts Club Keeps Growing
Soft yet poseable, wholesome yet cool, Only Hearts Club dolls are an appealing alternative to the typical dolls marketed to girls ages 8 to 12...

5/1/2007



Dolls: Teaching Unselfishness
This month, TDmonthly Magazine’s Dolls Roundtable participants reviewed the P31 Elizabeth “Pure Heart” doll by One2Believe...

4/1/2007



Secrist Shares Secrets, Gains Sales
Reborning — disassembling a doll and rebuilding it into a lifelike baby — has turned the business model upside down...

3/1/2007



Dolls: Only Hearts Are All Heart
From the heart of Georgia, grandmas, moms, daughters, collectors and a retailer turned their critical eyes to soft, poseable 9” fashion dolls known as the Only Hearts Club...

3/1/2007



Report from IDEX's Sweet Sixteen
TDmonthly Magazine attended the 16th annual IDEX show January 19-21...

2/1/2007



"Reborn" Doll Sales With Kits
While many collectors are still shopping for dolls, others are now producing their own...

2/1/2007



Dolls: Move Over PlayStation!
Being a doll just isn't enough anymore...

2/1/2007



Mass Market Spy: Elmo and Wii Led Santa's Sleigh
As early as mid-November, the research team at The National Retail Federation released their predictions of the hottest mass-market toys...

1/1/2007



TDmonthly's Top-10 "Toys I Didn't Have"
No specialty toy-store owner has ever admitted to stocking MGA's Bratz...

1/1/2007



Fashion Dolls Still Move and Groove
Manhattan Toys' Groovy Girls received the "grooviest" rating in the specialty market by far, mentioned as a projected best holiday seller by 24 out of 51 toy retailers...

12/1/2006



Sales Reborn With Doll-Making Kits
Some "reborn" artists will spend more than 40 hours making a doll — an art that’s exciting doll collectors and opening up new opportunities for retail stores...

12/1/2006



Baby Dolls Do Their Business
Sixty-two percent of retailers credited Corolle with reliable doll sales, according to a TDmonthly Magazine survey of 51 storeowners and managers...

12/1/2006



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Gifts for Girls
Manhattan Toy’s Groovy Girls, Calico Critters by International Playthings, and Calin from Corolle prove that doll and critter power rules when it comes to last-minute gift ideas for girls...

12/1/2006



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Classics
Thomas the Tank Engine keeps chugging along, bringing with him dolls by The Alexander Doll Company and Corolle, construction by K’Nex and plush by Gund...

11/1/2006



Corolle Dolls Makes Classics to Last a Lifetime
Corolle Dolls has been in business for almost 28 years...

10/1/2006



TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Mini-Toys
Manhattan Toy's Groovy Girl Minis are tied with Papo Knights as the best-selling teeny toy, each getting a top-selling nod from 10 of 45 specialty toy-store owners surveyed...

9/1/2006



Fairies Fly Back On — and Off — the Shelves
The Fairies are back. Everyone from Disney to OOAK (one-of-a-kind) artists are in on the game .....

8/1/2006



TDmonthly's Toy Sleuth
The search for the "new" is all-encompassing. TDmonthly Magazine scoured the globe for the latest and greatest...

8/1/2006



Keeping Specialty Dolls Special
Are there any specialty dolls left for the specialty market?...

8/1/2006



Rag Doll Revival
Rag dolls have been transformed from nostalgic gifts to modern-girl must-haves...

8/1/2006



Silly Collectors, Dolls Are for Kids
The start of the 21st century has seen a decline in the collectible doll market, and many manufacturers and retailers are once again focusing their products toward children...

8/1/2006



Dolls Talk Back and Kids Respond
Technology has advanced so quickly that baby dolls don’t just talk, they talk back. But do kids go for dolls that have a mind of their own?...

7/1/2006



Keeping High-End Doll Sales High-Spirited
What’s the difference between those retailers who fail and those who succeed?...

7/1/2006



When Unique Dolls Go Mainstream
With Groovy Girls and Only Hearts Club already at Target and Lee Middleton heading to JCPenney, retailers wonder, what's the incentive to carry dolls once considered the anti-Barbie?...

7/1/2006



I Know That Doll …
Grandparents and parents are usually cited as the impetus for classic toy buying, but now 2-year-olds are getting into the act...

6/1/2006



The Art of Dollmaking
R. John Wright Dolls has been making hand-crafted collectible dolls since 1976...

4/1/2006



Dolls Go Soft for 2006
When retailers report grown men buying plush dolls for themselves, you know something’s up...

4/1/2006



Tonner Dolls Puts on a Show!
Tonner Doll Company makes the idea that dolls are just for little girls completely old fashioned, according to tween trendsetter Juliette Brindak...

4/1/2006



Romancing the Past With Dolls
Carpatina Dolls are meticulous creations that showcase president and lead designer Mihaela Hinkle's talent...

3/1/2006



Toys With Heart Coming Soon
Although many companies have developed interactive toys that react to specific phrases, familiar objects and even voices, Exmovere LLC has taken the technology to the next level...

1/1/2006



TDmonthly Recommends: New Year, New Toys, More Stuff
TDmonthly Magazine spoke with over 25 retailers across the country to find out what is the latest thing...

1/1/2006



Dolls and Plush
The following products are from manufacturers you won't find at the 2006 Toy Fair...

1/1/2006



Santa’s Babies
In specialty stores, tradition sells for the holidays, retailers agreed … and what could be more traditional than dolls?...

12/1/2005



Barbie's Building a Bear
Barbie shops at Build-A-Bear Workshop in January 2006...

11/1/2005



How Dolls Do It: Getting Cuter, Staying Hot
TDmonthly Magazine talked with industry experts to find out why a toy captures the public’s fancy and how manipulating face and body shape keeps it on top...

11/1/2005



Dolls Pick Up Speed for Christmas
Doll manufacturers are increasing production speed to fill orders for Christmas...

11/1/2005



Celine Dion Gets Real With Dolls
Celine Dion has been working with Uneeda on a line of realistic baby dolls, and other celebrities are getting involved with dolls as well...

11/1/2005



The Road to Damascus: A Whole New Fashion Doll for the Middle East
Fulla has taken the Middle East like a wind of change. Will she be coming to America next?...

10/1/2005



Are Barbie and BRATZ Out of Style?
There’s a new fashion in fashion dolls, and the #1 spot is up for grabs...

10/1/2005



Teen Trends Reach For Tweens
Mattel has chucked out the old template for fashion dolls and come up with something new: 17" Teen Trend dolls...

10/1/2005



The Coming Fashion in Fashion Dolls
Next month, TDmonthly Magazine talks with the heads of the fashion doll industry — the creators, the CEOs, the movers-and-shakers — to find out where it’s all going and why...

9/1/2005



Become Enchanted With Dervish Toys
After six years in development, the husband and wife founders of Dervish Toys, Charles Erdman and Tatiana Romanov, are finally ready to bring their old world fantasy to life...

9/1/2005



Sugar, Snails and Silicone: Today´s Doll Materials
What are little girls and boys made of? These days, if they’re collectible replicas, a soft vinyl and silicone mix. From sculpting to manufacture, new materials are revolutionizing the look and feel of baby dolls...

9/1/2005



Little Girls Get Real Babies
Little girls are picking up lifelike baby dolls meant for adult collectors, and they’re not putting them down...

9/1/2005



Buying a Doll Experience? — Priceless
See a doll, hear a doll. Touch it. Buy it. Then come back for more. The sensory approach to doll selling that Jerree Childers has chosen for her store seems to be working; she estimates that 70% of her customers are repeat buyers...

9/1/2005



Groovy Girls Play It Both Ways
How do you sell a specialty item that some fear isn´t so special anymore? When the Groovy Girls hit Target last January, a number of toy shop owners and managers who’d helped build the popular Manhattan Toy Company line felt betrayed...

9/1/2005



TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Realistic Play Babies
When it comes to baby dolls, the “realer” the better. Lifelike baby dolls meant for collectors, such as Ashton-Drake Collectible’s So Truly Real! line and the Lee Middleton Original Doll Co.’s Breath of Life Babies, have even crossed over into the (very careful) play category...

9/1/2005



Get Real, Baby
The lifelike baby doll trend that exploded the collector’s market is moving to the local department store. The Uneeda Doll Company is working on a line of mass-market lifelike baby dolls meant for play instead of collection...

8/1/2005



New & Notable Toys: Dolls
Check out these new and noteworthy dolls...

7/1/2005



The Princess Tween
In 2004, the animated film “Shrek 2” grossed $436 million, making it the top seller of the year and the third biggest blockbuster of all time. What was the secret behind this cash cow? It was, of course, Fiona, the beautiful princess ogre...

6/1/2005



Christmas for Collectors: Special Holiday Dolls and Plush
Christmas versions of dolls and collectibles are on their way for the holiday season...

6/1/2005



MGA Introduces Five New BRATZ Lines This Spring
The BRATZ spring 2005 line is sure to be a must-hit among girls ages 6 and up. Five hot lines have already hit the market...

3/1/2005



UPDATE: Doll Wars: Mattel’s Flavas Take on Bratz in a Battle for Tween Girls’ Dollars
The pop-culture savvy, ultra-stylish Bratz dolls were first produced by MGA Entertainment in 2001. MGA introduced its line of eight dolls and has followed suit with a host of accessories...

2/1/2005



TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Dolls
The research for this article was compiled by December 10, 2004. Interactivity and electronics are the season’s buzz words -- dolls are incorporating both these trends to encourage play. Movie tie-ins are also a huge trend. As parents pick up the first “American Girl” movie or Barbie’s big screen adventure, children are desperate to add these new characters to their collections...

1/1/2005



Play to Meet Profit at Toy Fair 2005
As retailers begin stocking shelves for 2005, the big question remains, what will be a hot sell in the new year? Of the many resources available, one good place to commence research on toy trends is at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center this February 20-23rd, where once again the Toy Industry Association, Inc. returns with its annual American International Toy Fair...

1/1/2005



Dolls-- $2.8 Billions in Sales for 2003
The Dolls category was the industry to watch in 2003. NPD Group reported brisk sales of $2.8 billions and dolls show no signs of slowing down. Little girls want the option to choose and this season doesn’t disappoint with an array of lovable babies and new best friends...

12/1/2004



The Tween Spending Scene: What do they Buy?
It´s official: Tweens are keen on technology, especially products like Nintendo´s Gameboy SP Advance, which retails for $99.00. Once a Tween owns the SP, games, accessories (such as lights, magnifiers, vibrating buttons, speakers, headphones and carrying cases) and software-related licensed merchandise are ongoing purchase options at a variety of price points. Sometimes, it only take one key product to break open a broad segment of the elusive Tween market...

11/1/2004



Shouldn´t Barbie Have to Change Too?
I´ve been trying to live up to the Barbie ideal all my life and I still don´t measure up. Sure, Mattel has attempted to make her more realistic ... Big deal. Barbie is what now - 45 years old? When I received my first Barbie doll in 1965 she looked 16. By now, she should have aged like the rest of us, right? I suppose I have to give Mattel their due and say she has. She now looks at least 16-1/2...

9/1/2004



Simpich Character Dolls Embody Storybook Fantasies
Nestled in historic Old Colorado City is a workshop filled with elves. It´s a land of enchantment filled with storybook characters...

9/1/2004



Fashion Dolls Get Edgier and More Ethnic
When Bratz burst onto the fashion doll scene in 2001, the industry was forever changed. The 10 inch vinyls exude fashion sense and a hip, urban attitude that little girls want to emulate. The success of Bratz means Barbie no longer has a solid lock on what is considered acceptable for the industry. As a result, doll designers have the opportunity to experiment...

9/1/2004



A Few Words About Bratz
Enormous sales have indicated that kids can’t get enough Bratz merchandise. Now, MGA Entertainment has teamed up with publisher, Grosset & Dunlap, to make some great reading material that is sure to get tweens coming back for more...

9/1/2004



Chic Boutique Hopes Hottiez will Sizzle
When Murray Bass and Sarah Nguyen formed the Chic Boutique doll company in 2003, they knew they were entering the market at a fiercely competitive time. Staying afloat would require a product line that would set them apart from the rest. They hope they’ve found the key to success with the introduction of Hottiez, a collection of 10-inch dolls geared toward girls ages 4-9...

9/1/2004



Mini Doll Collections: The Market’s Tiny Trendsetters
When it comes to toys, mini is “in.” Pocket-sized dolls and animals less than 9 inches tall that can be carried in a little girl’s purse or bag remain super-popular these days...

9/1/2004



Magic Mini´s: Mini Doll Phenomenon
According to a report "What to Watch in 2004" by the NPD Group, “another area of strength in 2003 that will continue this year is the mini doll category.”...

9/1/2004



TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted - Mini Dolls for the Holiday Season
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends 5.5 ” ($8.99, 4+) by Bandai. Yum! Each girl is back with her little signature scent...

9/1/2004



Baby Dolls for Baby Girls
Some of the newest dolls will inspire imagination in young minds and can also become sweet play pals for any girl...

9/1/2004



Hello Dolly: A Range of Collectible Dolls
Whether collectors favor dolls that are glamorous, cuddly or whimsical, the new product market has something for everyone...

9/1/2004



TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted - Dolls for Tweens for the Holiday Season
Straight from the runway…manufacturers have stepped it up a notch this retail season making tween girls more fashion conscious, technology savvy, and realistic then in years past. This age group is big business...

9/1/2004



DOLLS
Fashion Boulevard The limited edition California Sun Christina doll is the epitome of California fashion! She is dressed for Southern California weather in her hot pink bathing suit, pink animal cover up and big picture hat. She carries a cute tote to match her hat which she uses to...

8/1/2004



Not Your Mother´s Barbie, Anymore
Barbie has remained a penultimate collectible for those who cherish each Barbie transformation. And the rest of the Adult Collectibles category is morphing, too, along generational and economic lines of the new century...

7/1/2004



Customer Service: Does One-on-One Contact Really Sell?
An average customer touches merchandise before purchase and needs direct contact with a retailer, but the Internet crosses distance barriers...

7/1/2004



Ugly Never Looked So Good
What began as a series of wacky sketches from a guy to his girlfriend has resulted in a brilliant contribution to the collectibles market...

7/1/2004



DOLLS
Badger Basket (ToyDirectory)Jessica, part of the Gotz Precious Day Collection, is 18” tall with long, silky blonde hair tat can be brushed, braided and styled. Her articulated arms and legs are vinyl and she is also poseable. Jessica wears a cute pink and white dress, vest, underpants and “patent leather”...

7/1/2004



Have Yourself a Merry Little Holiday Sales Season
With Christmas sales accounting for more than 50% of annual toy sales...

6/1/2004



MATTEL FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST FORMER EMPLOYEE
Mattel Inc. has confirmed that it is suing former Mattel employee, Carter Bryant for allegedly misappropriating company intellectual property and secretly working for a competitor while still at Mattel...

5/1/2004



Retro Revival
From Care Bears to He-Man, many of this year´s “new” toys were actually born two decades ago...

5/1/2004



Breaking Up Is Easy To Do: Barbie and Ken Call It Quits
You heard it right: Barbie and Ken, the adorable sun-kissed couple who have been wooing each other for 43 long years, have decided to call it quits...

3/1/2004



Build-A-Bear Workshop: An International Success Story
Maxine Clark, founder of the Build-A-Bear Workshops, took a winning idea in early 1997 and turned it into an international operation...

2/1/2004



Our Top Ten Toys of 2003
From a new toy that makes kids part of the video game action to fashion-savvy dolls with celebrity panache, 2003 brought some much needed excitement to a rebounding toy industry.....

1/1/2004



Build-A-Bear on Creating a Welcoming Website
Since its beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri in 1997, the Build-A-Bear Workshop chain has become an international success. .....

12/1/2003




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