|
 HARRY
POTTER DOLLS AND TOYS SHOWN AT PRIVATE TOY FAIR!: There is
a fascinating article in the business section of the New York Times
today. The article is titled "Mattel Shows Off Its Line of
Harry Potter Toys" and it discusses, in depth, a private toy
fair held just this week in Tuscon to showcase, to the world's largest Toy
Retailers, its product line, particularly the secret stable of toys
based on J. K. Rowling's best seller "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone" and the upcoming movie version of the book.
There are several extremely interesting aspects to this
article and Mattel's comments. FIRST, the article talks about "fashion
dolls with wizard robes and hair to comb." This is the FIRST
actual confirmation that Mattel is planning Harry Potter
dolls!! Another fascinating tidbit of information is that most
of the toys and dolls will be EXCLUSIVE and VERY LIMITED. In other
words, don't expect to see the large GLUT of toys everywhere you turn,
which was done in the Star Wars Episode II Marketing debacle. From
the article: "Mattel — which holds the main license for Harry
Potter toys — is working to assure its clients that the company will
avoid the mistakes of other toy makers. At the core of Mattel's strategy
is a plan to limit exposure to the toys, sometimes by curtailing
supply....We are going to tightly manage the property so the market isn't
flooded," said Robert A. Eckert, the chief executive of Mattel.
"There is a fine line between too much and too little."
This could be good OR bad, but what it definitely means is that collectors
will have to be on the lookout, AND if your children MUST have certain
Harry Potter dolls or toys this Christmas, be sure to shop early.
In fact, the article mentions that one of the Harry
Potter Action Figures (a clear plastic version of Harry Potter wrapped in
an invisibility cloak) will be limited to an edition of ONLY 3,000
copies. This is less than an edition of a GENE doll, and, as we all
know, millions of children and collectors will be clamoring for these
items.
SO..don't say I didn't warn you here first!
Here is the direct link to the article: Mattel
Shows Off Its Line of Harry Potter Toys (that link will work for
everyone; but if you are an online NY Times Subscriber, use this link
(subscription is free:)
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/01/business/01ADCO.html?searchpv=nytToday
MEET CORPORATE TURNAROUND BARBIE: Robert Eckert, Mattel's
new CEO, receives a favorable early "report card" in this US
News article. Did you know that Mattel's stock is at a 53-week
high? Article also discusses some of the Mattel products shown at
Toy Fair.
NAKED BARBIE DOLLS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COURT BATTLE: In
what is shaping up as an unlikely landmark case in US copyright law, the
country's highest appeals court (the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals)
has rejected a move to prevent an artist from exhibiting "sexually
suggestive" photographs of Barbie dolls and also selling the photos
as postcards from the exhibit. Utah
"artist" Tom Forsythe has been displaying the pictures for the
past three years in an exhibition he says is a social comment against
"mindless consumerism". One
shot shows a naked Barbie lying "limbs akimbo in a tortilla and
lathered in hot sauce." Others
show smiling Barbie heads impaled on fondue skewers. Mattel
sued Forsythe, claiming that the photographs tarnish Barbie's image by
depicting her in an offensive and disparaging manner. The American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has represented Mr Forsythe in this
lawsuit. Mr. Forsythe maintains he has
fair use based on artistic expression and free speech rights.
Mattel wanted the court to order Forsythe to hand over all
the negatives of his work so they could be destroyed. "Trademarks are
our most valuable asset as a company because consumers associate them with
superior play quality and value," said Mattel spokeswoman Lisa Marie
Bongiovanni. For more information, see The
Age.
FOR A NATION'S DAUGHTERS, LITTLE FIGURES WITH BEG MEANING AND COST:
The Los
Angeles Times explores a high-end
item that Japanese families are scrimping on in their hobbled
economy--dolls. Specifically, the traditional Hina dolls that can
cost thousands of dollars. This is a fasciniating cultural look at
dolls and society in Japan--dolls do hold a revered
place in Japan and are considered to embody the spirit of a child. The
Hina dolls are so revered they are usually called "Ohina-sama,"
using the honorific "o" before the word, and the
"sama" antecedent which essentially means "most honored
guests." There is even an annual doll funeral--last year, about
30,000 of these dolls were given funeral rites and cremated at the Meji
Shrine in Tokyo.
INTERNET WOES AFFECT TOY AND DOLL INDUSTRY: As many of you
know, eToys has officially filed for bankruptcy. Rumours about the
demise of iDolls abound, with their constant deep discounts of late,
warehouse re-location, and the absence of any of the new 2001 dolls and
merchandise on their site. This is BAD for our hobby and our
industry and quite a shame--I can't help but think that eToys, and
especially iDolls, just got caught in the horrible downdraft of the
Internet Industry of late 2000/early 2001, which has made financing, and,
well PATIENCE of the markets impossible items to come by. I
certainly hope the rumours about iDolls are not true, and I also hope that
we don't lose any other large toy and doll retailers this year.
PRIMEDIA AND ABOUT.COM MERGE: Its official--as of today,
About.com has become a part of Primedia, which publishes over 250
wonderful magazines including Doll Reader. Do you subscribe to Doll
Reader?? If you don't, you SHOULD. It has long been the leading
magazine for doll collectors. Their website is at http://www.dollreader.com
TOY
FAIR: In case you missed last month's Special Toy Fair
Edition of About Dolls Daily, with more news on Harry Potter, Dawn Dolls
revival, Shoezies. Cosmic Babies, Josie and The Pussycats, Elle dolls,
Little Lady; Betty and Veronica and MORE, here is the link: Toy
Fair Special Edition Of About Dolls Daily.
More Toy Fair Coverage: Toy
Fair News contains news from Toy Fair organized by doll
company.
Toy Fair and IDEX Main Page and Photo Gallery
Toy Fair and IDEX Links
 If
Its Collectible, It Could Be The Next Big Thing... Here is ANOTHER
perspective on Toy Fair. Its in the Pioneer
Journal
CHAT
ROOM: The chat room is open 24 hours a day, and its
free! Just invite your friends in any time, or stop by to see who's
there! And, don't miss our collectors chat every Tuesday at 6pm pacific
time/9pm eastern. http://collectdolls.about.com/mpchat.htm.
About Dolls Daily
Archive:
February 21, 2001:
Barbie Nutcracker Movie; Twiggy Doll, MORE!
February 15, 2001:
About Dolls Daily from Toy Fair, Edition Two
February 13, 2001: About
Dolls Family from Toy Fair, Edition One (includes 2/5 Pre-Toy Fair
Edition).
January 30, 2001: Live IDEX update--news on all your
favorite fashion doll lines and much more!
January 23, 2001: IDEX Preview--Clea Bella, Christina St.
Clair and more! Plus, site with sewing measurements for your
favorite large fashion dolls.
January
18, 2001: New, higher eBay listing fees; eBay keeps Buy It
Now; eToys really struggling; Are smart toys making kids dumb?
January
12, 2001: GENE gets a male companion; more Gene 2001 news;
Theriaults Auction News and Review
January
6, 2001: Update from Theriault's Auction
Weekend: Automata; Antiques Auction.
December 30, 2000: Theriaults Auction Weekend; History of Fashion
Dolls in Barbie Bazaar Magazine warehouse.
December
16,2000: 2001 Fashion Model Barbie pictures; Treasure Trove
Of Vintage Toys found in Government Warehouse; Kitt Kittredge sold
out
December
7,2000: Ferrari Evening Barbie; Power Puff Girls BAD; new
Clip Art; No Toy Home-Run for This Year's Holiday Season
Click HERE
for the 2000 Doll
News Archive
For all 1999 editions of "Dolls This Week" please go to
the 1999 Dolls This Week Archives.
Be a Roving Reporter!!
Become a Roving Reporter and write a report on a doll
event! Or, do you have a doll event to promote, a new doll to announce, or an
updated web site? Please e-mail me at collectdolls.guide@about.com and
put "Newsletter" in the subject line--For events, please give me 7 to 10 days
advance notice (at minimum!) in order to have your event appear on time. Some events will
also/alternatively appear in the Events Calendar. |
Do You Have Dolls For Sale Or
Trade?
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dolls for sale or trade (or, dolls wanted) in the Doll Collecting
Classified Forum? Dealers, collectors,
everyone welcome; feel free to link to your eBay auctions as well! Visit the Dolls Forum to find out how to place your ad; if you
are not yet a member, click on GUEST, but you will need a free Forum ID to place your ad. |
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