Saturday, November 22, 2014

another competitor for the Barbie doll

There is yet another competitor fashion doll.  A doll which I think is again being marketed wrong.
This new doll is named Lammily, and is wider than Barbie.  http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/19/us/anti-barbie-doll-lammily/
How many times have we seen this happen?  A person who doesn't approve of the Barbie doll comes out with his or her own design and then proceeds to advertise the doll incorrectly.  Sales last for two to five years and then the doll fades quietly away.
What do I mean by incorrect advertising?  I mean that, rather than first mentioning the doll's merits, the producers come out by saying this doll is NOT Barbie, that its measurements are more realistic and that she offers a better role model than Barbie does.
Only after going through that spiel does the designer finally talk about what the doll can do or offer.
I have nothing against these competitors.  In fact, as a collector I've owned many of them over the years.  I never have a problem reselling them to other collectors.  So from an adult seller's viewpoint, these dolls are a GOOD thing.
Little girls may still play with Barbie more, both because of the fantasy she offers and because she is better-made (although a little girl may not consciously realize this).  If any of these competitors show up at a girl's Barbie house, the newbie is always welcomed warmly and moves in.  If the little girl is anything like I was, the last thing she is studying are breast and hip sizes.  Rather, she is planning the dolls' next adventure.
So who have Barbie's larger competitors been?
1960s: Ideal's Tammy and family (the most successful and longest-lived of the competitors), Remco's Littlechap family
1970s: Kenner's Dusty and friends, Mego's celebrity dolls and Kenner's Darci and friends
1980s: Hasbro's Jem and friends (although not as long-lasting as Tammy, Jem had more publicity)
1990s: High Self-Esteem Toys' Happy to be Me and friends
I know there have been others but these are the best known.
I wish Nikolay Lamm the best.

1 comment:

skippercollector said...

If you go to the bottom of this article, the Lammily doll is mentioned.
http://time.com/3667580/mattel-barbie-earnings-plus-size-body-image/