One of the things I noticed about IDEX is that in addition to the Pullip folks, there were at least two other companies promoting big-eyed Pullip look-alikes. Never having been a Pullip or Blythe fan, I just don't understand why people are draw to them. But that's ok, different strokes and all that. The websites for the two companies, if you care to look, are www.pabol.com and www.huckleberrytoys.com.
Of course I had to take a look at the Goodreau booth, where I saw the new ABC dolls. These dolls look like their heads have been stepped on. Imagine a football turned sideways with big eyeballs and hair, minus the two ends, and there you have it. A friend summed it up nicely. It was her opinion that Goodreau should adopt a new company logo that says, "Goodreau: Achieving New Heights in Doll Hideousness". I can't disagree; I've never thought their doll sculpts very attractive. I've been hoping the sculpts would improve over time. The clothes I do like, and have bought some for my MSDs, but they're somewhat overpriced for having been made in China, I think.
Kathy, again it is a matter of personal taste. I personally love the large-headed dolls like Ellowyne, Pullip, and Blythe. Some people don't and that is fine, but I will still continue to support these companies with my money. Hey, I probably don't care for the dolls you like. To each his own.
I will say that I totally disagree with you on Paulette's dolls. She has a very loyal fan base and I personally love her dolls. I haven't cared for all of them, but I do own wuite a few. I personally think her ABC line is adorable and yes, I was there at IDEX to see them and everything else in person. Paulette is new to sculpting so I like to cut her some slack and let her style evolve. Her dolls are becoming very popular so I guess there are many people who do not find the company "Achieving New Heights in Doll Hideousness". Again, to each his own. No one forces anyone to buy anything or like anything and this is your blog, but I think if you took the time to get to know Paulette, you would change your opinion. If not, well that is why beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what you think is ugly, I might like and what you might like, I would think ugly. Variety is the spice of life.
The world would indeed be a boring place if all of us liked all the same things. I don't expect everybody to agree with what I say; I am merely stating my opinion.
I'm sure Paulette is a nice person, but I don't see how knowing her better would change my opinion of her sculpts.
Kathy
I am surprised and dismayed to know that your feelings toward many doll lines are so negative. Your comments are brutal and hurtful, and hopefully for you, nobody will ever review whatever it is you will be doing with your life with such frankness. I wonder if, when you were in the business, you let your customers know just how much you disliked so many doll lines and what you honestly thought of their creators. It saddens me to think that there may be other doll shop owners who feel so poorly towards the dolls they sell. I definitely think it was an excellent idea that you got out of the doll business when you did - for yourself and for your customers. Yes, we all love different things and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there is something called respect - as in respecting that what you don't necessarily care for might be well loved by somebody else and vice versa and saying things that are downright mean and cruel borders on shameful.
If I think something is ugly am I supposed to lie about it?? Would lying be more acceptable to you than honesty?
As a shop owner, I respected my customers' opinions by keeping my opinions to myself, because I knew people cared about the dolls, and I cared about my customers. If I hadn't cared about them, I wouldn't have worked as hard as I did to make them happy. It wasn't necessary or realistic for me as a retailer to like everything I sold. I would be willing to bet many retailers don't like everything they sell.
I now have the freedom to share my honest opinion and I'm sorry for you if that upsets you. If I say a doll sculpt is ugly, I am not inferring anything about the innate worth of the sculptor. I am not equating the creator with the creation.
Doll makers need to hear negative opinions so that they can produce better products. If all they hear is positive, they won't be motivated to improve their products. I think if more companies did a better job of listening to their customers, they would do better business in the long run.
I was also planning to write about what I liked at IDEX and just hadn't gotten around to doing it yet.
I don't believe I ever said I had nothing good to say about the companies whose dolls I've written about. Each company has positive points. More people are willing to talk about the positive points because it's safer and less controversial to do so. I'm taking a chance in talking about the negative ones. There's nothing that says any doll company has to read what I say, or pay any attention to it.
It's too bad you aren't willing to take responsibility for what you said by putting your name on your post. Posting anonymously lets you vent with no regard for the consequences, yet you expect me to honor that.
If I didn't respect other peoples' rights to their values and opinions, I would not be expressly saying that my words are MY OPINION only. I would not post opposing opinions.
Kathy
Just weighing in here to say this- in Kathy's defense (not that she needs me or anyone else to defend her- it's her blog-- but she has the honesty to say what she feels. She even said that "to each his/her own" but that she didn't like some of them.
I don't like some of them either. Others, I am not crazy about but can see their appeal.
But posting opinions anonymously of HER opinions is less than honest, too, I think.
A lot of us keep our mouths shut when we really think something is hideous or even just mildly ugly because we know that it is the New And Popular Thing and that someone is going to get totally offended-- so she's right that the designers really don't ever get honest feedback.
And liking the designer or artist making you like the sculpts better? That didn't follow for me, either. There are some really nice (REALLY REALLY nice) people out there who think they are artists-- who just really aren't (IMO).
I don't care for Goudreaus either but the clothes are cute (not cute enough for me to pay their prices, though). I also don't like Naraes, but I would be taking my life in my typing-hands if I expressed that opinion outside this forum (and might still be since it isn't hard to guess who I am--- LOL).
Of course, on the other hand, there are some designers/artists (no names, it isn't MY blog!) who are just so arrogant and not-nice that I wouldn't have one of their dolls/faceups on a platter.
So: long way for me to say-- Kathy doesn't even have to post anonymous answers if she doesn't want to, but she's honest enough to do it.
She Owns Her Words.
I believe in honesty. No point lying about it or stepping around it. As an artist, if I get all defensive when someone tells me my work sucks, I won't learn anything from it, and I definitely won't benefit from all the fake "I love it so much" comments. True, to each his/her own. As I cannot deny a lot of people I know do love real crap. So no point arguing there.
I remember coming across Goodreau dolls some time ago and I thought they reminded me of really cheap plastic dolls I used to see when I was a kid. Then I saw the price of one and them being cast in vinyl, I can assure you I would not buy them. I'd rather pay for a barbie doll. At least they are more pleasing. The resin, I think it is a waste of resin.
The sculpt, well there are countless of weird sculpts out there but as long as they are aesthetically pleasing, they will appeal to us. The common beauty vs. Oddity. Goodreau sculpts are in between that, a little bit of common beauty + oddness. Neither here nor there, not necessarily a good thing. The result? Horrifyingly disturbing and proportionately unpleasant. Honestly speaking, I squirm every time I look at one. And that is my honest opinion.
Jarod
P.S. Showed my friend the goodreau doll site. Didn't say anything to him. His reaction was, well this will come off as really offensive to some people. He said, "F---. My eyes!!"
Hi, Kathy. Just chiming in -- another voice to thank you for your honest appraisals. There's plenty of burbly happy chat elsewhere for those who need that.
I came across your blog when I was searching for information on how different lines of dolls are marketed and WHY manufacturers think a strategy is or is not viable. The biz is not like any other I've ever looked at, so your insider-now-outsider perspective is more than I hoped to find. You rock!