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| How Does the Web Impact Doll Events? |
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While at the Tonner Collectors’ Convention in Lombard, Ill., last weekend, a fellow writer and I got into a discussion about the impact of the Internet on doll collecting. She mentioned her concern that youthful doll collectors of today use the Web as the only source to feed their doll-collecting passion, and in the process, shows/conventions will be forgotten or never even discovered in the first place. And if that’s what’s happening, it’s a shame, she contended, because nothing can replace the face-to-face interaction to be had with fellow doll enthusiasts at an event, and the energy experienced at one simply can’t be substituted electronically. I tend to agree with her viewpoint and think the Web should be a place to interact and enrich one’s doll world experience; however, it’s an accessory, a side dish if you will, not the main course.
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I don't think that doll conventions are very central to a collector's experience anymore. But then, in my mid-thirties, I may be considered a 'younger' collector.
I live on the west coast and rarely do doll conventions come out here. I have been to a couple but in no way did I get anything out of them that I could not have received off the internet. I speak of knowledge about our hobby here, not about social camaraderie with other collectors. Yes, the social aspect cannot be replicated as well by online interaction, but I have to disagree with your statement. I feel it is the convention that is the accessory, the happy extra. Does the internet replace the 'need' for conventions? That depends on what you think the need is. If the need is to learn about the latest doll coming out then yes, the internet does the job just fine. If the need is to meet and mingle with collectors and creators, get your hands on some exclusive dolls and attend yet another Goth-themed banquet then no, I don't think the internet can fill that need. People still flock to them- conventions do not seem to have a problem filling up. But I didn't see a whole lot of 'young people' at the conventions I went to. Perhaps there is a need to move them around every year so younger collectors can get a feel for them without having to go into serious debt to get there. I started collecting just as the internet was booming in the early nineties and while I originally got a lot of information from Doll Magazines eventually the internet began to make their content irrelevant. Magazines have had to shift their roles. They cannot just show new product and feature Doll Company press releases, any reader can find that information out online. Successful magazines have had to 'up their game',give readers more original material and even develop a community of their own. Otherwise their content is dated before it even goes to press.
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July 03, 2009
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Latest Articles from News & Notes
The two premiere publications covering doll collecting, DOLLS and Doll Reader, will merge into one title in 2012 published under the name DOLLS by Jones Publishing. The deal was announced Jan. 27 at the Debut of Dolls and DOTY Awards Banquet during the IDEX trade show in Orlando, Fla. Jones Publishing also presented its Lifetime Achievement award to Maggie Iacono at the same event.
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If you have not heard, you will shortly. Four of the major doll and teddy bear magazines are merging this year. Teddy Bear & Friends and Teddy Bear Review will merge. Also, Doll Reader and DOLLS will merge. It is time for all of us to stop shouting from the sideline that something needs to be done to turn around the doll and teddy bear world. We need to step off the curb and join the parade to do something about it. No one is going to come to our rescue. This is not a movie. We are the only ones that can do something about it.
The antique collectable world has the auction houses, price guides and their own publications to promote their dolls and teddy bears. The major doll and teddy bear manufacturers have huge advertising budgets to promote their contemporary collectable world. However, the doll and teddy bear artists, dealers, and show organizers have very few publications to promote their world. Four of those publications will now be down to two. It is time that we support the merging publications as much as possible, whether it be through advertising, subscriptions, article and picture submissions, creating links to their websites, or promoting the magazines with your customers and friends. Magazine subscriptions make great gifts, door prizes, and raffle donations. The price is a bargain compared to the alternatives. We are confident that if conditions improve enough for the magazines, we will see improvements in their publications that will benefit all of us. We hope that in return the magazines will not only be more open to suggestions from the artists, collectors and dealers but actually implement as many of their suggestions as possible.
It is beyond the point of just pointing fingers, as we need to accept the fact that there are forces at work that cannot be changed. It is now all about survival by stopping the retreat and taking a stand. When any industry suffers from the economy or reduced demand, one of the two strategies is to gain a larger share of the competitors’ markets, and those markets are made up of a lot of other types of collectables and art forms out there. The other strategy is to merge efforts, as the magazines have done. We also need to stop thinking as individuals with concerns only about our shop, our show, our sales table, our website, our customers, and our troubles. If each of the major peer groups within the doll and teddy bear world would think and act as one collective force, the synergy of the parts could far exceed the power of the whole. We intend to do our share to make a difference. We hope you will join us. Our first task is to support these merging magazines in any way possible.
Sincerely yours,
Susan & Terence Quinlan
Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum
(805) 687-8901
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On Jan. 26-29, 2012, the internationally acclaimed doll show—IDEX Premiere 2012—will be held at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld. The show offers something for doll collectors of all interests—from ball-jointed dolls to fashion dolls, classic collector favorites and more. Additionally, exciting events will roll out the Debut of Dolls, a Roaring ’20s BJD Extravaganza, Tiny Treasures Contest and Awards, and so much more. DOLLS magazine will also be in attendance to present Maggie Iacono with the Jones Publishing Lifetime Achievement Award. Make sure to pre-register for workshops and events before they are sold out. Click here to view a complete listing.
The Alexander Doll Company and well-known auction house Theriault’s hosted a gala reception at the Alexander company headquarters in New York Nov. 19 before Theriault’s auction of author and socialite Candy Spelling’s rare, vintage Madame Alexander doll collection at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York Nov. 20.
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Maggie Iacono has been named the recipient of the 2012 Lifetime
Achievement Award by DOLLS magazine. Iacono, with 31 years of dedication
to the craft, raises the bar of excellence for the doll industry year
after year, making her an ideal pick for this year's winner.
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Latest Articles from Events
The fourth Pullip and Dal Doll Lovers Event (PUDDLE) drew 60 doll lovers from 10 different states and Canada to the Elk Grove Village Holiday Inn in June. This year’s theme, cranes, was inspired by the sandhill cranes at the group's charity organization, the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Six custom dolls and other items donated by sponsors like The Sleeping Elf and Denise's Dolls were raffled off at the event, raising $500 for the center.
The weekend started Friday night with dinner at Mitsuwa Japanese Mall in Arlington Heights, followed by a tea party at the hotel. PUDDLE officially kicked off at 9 a.m. Saturday, starting with an organized buy-sell-trade opportunity, and dozens of fans milled around trading and buying doll wigs, eye chips, bodies, clothing, and more.
Every attendee received a door prize, thanks to generous donations from many sponsors. Distribution of the door prizes was followed by a secret gift swap and lunch break. Afterwards, an informal Q&A-format customizing workshop answered questions for many fans new to the hobby, followed by a display of fully customized and modified dolls entered in the customization contest. Winners of an online photo/art contest which was held and judged before the event were announced along with the customization contest winners. The photo and art entries can be seen at www.puddlestyle.com/photoart.html.
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For information on PUDDLE 2012, visit www.puddlestyle.com.read moreAttendees at the third annual R. John Wright Convention enjoyed the festivities of several major holidays coupled with outstanding dolls,
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The convention opened with St. Patrick’s Day reception Wednesday evening, where everyone laid claim to being a wee bit Irish while enjoying a scrumptious dessert buffet. The sales room opened immediately after this kick-off event, with conventioneers hoping the “luck of the Irish” would help them find that perfect doll or dolls.
Thursday began early with the Easter Morning Breakfast; those attending this ticketed event didn’t have to search for large, beautifully decorated baskets serving as table centerpieces. They were filled with molded felt eggs in pastel colors. At the end of the breakfast, the eggs were distributed and the happy new owners opened them to find “Peep,” a 3-inch yellow mohair chick as their event souvenir. His companion, “Posey,” was available for sale. After breakfast the special and competitive exhibits opened, along with the helper room. This year’s special exhibit, arranged by John and Susan Wright’s daughter Emily, was titled “Happy Holidays” and showcased R. John Wright dolls and animal characters and the traditional holidays that inspired them.
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