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1988 was a big year for Playto Industries. The Teach-Her doll, Playto's first new product since Jim Clayton took over as president, was a winner in the East. Now Jim planned to take Teach-Her national and to introduce another new educational toy called Playto's Labs. All he needed was the financing, which Ray Reilly--the young vice president of finance--would arrange. Playto needed $30 million--almost as much as its existing capitalization--to grow. Monument National Bank said it wouldn't lend a dollar more than $20 million. The price on any new stock Playto might issue would be deeply discounted, thanks to the visible failures of Coleco and Worlds of Wonder. The best option seemed to be subordinated bonds. Rates were high, but if Playto made the bonds convertible, rates fell from 12.5% to a more manageable 8.75%. For months, Jim had been riding high thinking about the company's expansion plans. Judith Freidman, the vice president of marketing, had researched the market and was lining up potential customers in the Midwest. Jack Abrams in production had arranged to lease factory space in Ohio while Playto built its own plant. Judith and Jack were anxious for Jim's go-ahead. Meanwhile, Ray was awaiting Jim's approval to issue the bonds. But when Jim sat down to study the financial statements, he got a knot in his stomach. Interest coverage might drop to half what it was in 1988. He was no financial expert, but he knew that if a competitor imitated Teach-Her or if Playto's Labs flopped, the company would be in serious trouble. When Jim caught himself rethinking the entire marketing strategy, he stopped. "It's just a financing problem," he reminded himself. But was it? The president of a toy distributor, a CFO, a treasurer, and two professors analyze Playto's situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the doll Sailor Moon, which is being marketed by Bandai Co. Ltd., Japan's largest toy company. Sailor Moon isn't a household name the way Barbie is. But Bandai hopes that she might eventually become that. She's the heroine of the popular Japanese TV cartoon series "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon," and she's already pure gold for Makoto Yamashina, president of Bandai Co. In the past two years the company has sold around $400 million worth of Sailor Moon character goods in Japan. Yaniashina's biggest success abroad, and Bandai's first U.S. triumph, is its Mighty Morphin Power Rangers line of action figures.

The article discusses the efforts of Beatrice Alexander Behrman also known as Madame Alexander to make her company, Alexander Doll Co. popular in the U.S. doll industry. The dolls of Madame Alexander are considered to be the most expensive in the U.S. which retail from 7 U.S. dollars to 40 U.S. dollars. Madame Alexander reportedly created the first doll costumes in accordance with the real fashion. INSET: Meanwhile, boys keep 'plugging' away.

The article focuses on the career of doll artist and maker Anastasia Georgiou detailing her concept for dolls from the Early and High Renaissance periods, influence of contemporary art and her perspectives on the future of doll industry.

Photographs are presented depicting the highlights of the 2015 Austin Ball Jointed Doll Convention held at the Omni Austin Hotel in Texas, including the awarding of the 2015 Innovator Award by the magazine and the presentation of dolls.

The article presents an interview with Russian artist Irina Lumiere of dollmaker FragileDolls on topics including her personal background, the artists who influenced her and her outlook for the doll industry.

The article focuses on business owner Jessie McCutcheon Raleigh and her doll creations. Raleigh was born on September 11, 1889 in Indiana from an artistic and literary family. It explores Raleigh's doll business, the Jessie McCutcheon Raleigh Doll Co., and the difficulty of finding and identifying her creation due to the lack of markings. Details about Raleigh dolls, which were modeled after children, are provided.

The article focuses on Brikette doll made by the Vogue Doll Co. Inc. and its competitors in North America. A brief historical overview of Brikette doll, which was manufactured from 1959-1961, is given. Brikette features ball-jointed waist and neck tilted from side to side, enabling it to be placed in many poses. It discusses the license for Brikette as well as explores its competitors, including Jolly Jinx, Tobykins, and Susanne.

The article focuses on the history of modern fashion doll collecting. Topics discussed include the emergence of doll collecting from 1970-1990, key factors which influence changes within doll marketplace such as Great Recession and costs, and the impact of computer technology for mass toy market. Other topics mentioned are the occurrence of competition within doll industry, sales outgrowth within doll manufacturers, and various popular doll brands including Barbie and Bratz.

The article focuses on the creation of doll clothes by vintage mothers using manufactured patterns which came in many forms such as those printed in magazines, sold at local stores or offered by mail order. It notes that magazines like "Family Circle," "Ladies Home Journal," and "Woman's Day" offered free patterns for dolls such as Betsy McCall, Tiny Tears, and Toni. It says that most young girls had mastered a simple running stitch and were helping their mother to create doll clothes.

The article presents questions and answers related to doll collection such as French dolls, fixing German dolls, and pricing dolls

The article announces winners of the 2011 Doll of the Year (DOTY) Industry's Choice awards winners at the IDEX Premiere held in Orlando, Florida.

The article focuses on vintage skater dolls by Arranbee Doll Co., Madame Alexander and A & H Doll Manufacturers. It states that skater dolls were in demand in the 1930s due to Norwegian figure skater and film star Sonja Henie who won the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936. It describes several skater dolls which include Arranbee Nanette, Kewpie, and Marcie.

The article focuses on EEGEE dolls by Goldberger Co. which are reportedly rare in the U.S. It states that Goldberger is a family-run American doll company that has been in business for almost 100 years. Goldberger's president Jeffrey Holtzman reportedly describes the company as a mass-market manufacturer which sells dolls that are cheaper compared to competitors. EEGEE dolls include Ms. Charming, Susan Stroller, and Little Miss Eegee.

The article focuses on dolls made from the 1950s through 1970s in the U.S. Dolls created in the 1950s were made with hard plastic which reportedly reflected the fashion sense of post-war mothers. Dolls from the 1960s were reportedly made with vinyl which could be tinted to match various skin tones. In the 1970s, there was a decline in doll purchases which was attributed to the rise of feminism.

The article features several dolls for the 2011 Doll of the Year (DOTY) Industry's Choice award program in which readers are invited to cast their votes for their favorite dolls.

The article offers information about the Cindy Horsman 10.5, a doll produced by Horsman Doll Co., which became popular in the U.S. in the 1950's. According to the author, the doll competed with popular dolls with large wardrobes like Little Miss Revlon, Arranbee Doll Co.'s Coty Girl, and Cosmopolitan Doll Co.'s Ginger. She notes that in the 1960's, Cindy was taken over by Barbie and finding Cindy in 2011 and putting together her wardrobes are like going on a scavenger hunt.

The article lists 2011 DOTY industry's choice winners in various categories including Little Red Riding Hood by artist Joanne Flitton, Tiny Bundle by artist Camille Allen, and Tabea by artist Hildegard Gunzel.

The article offers news briefs related to doll industry in the U.S. in 2010. The Madame Alexander Doll Club (MADC) held its annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri on June 23-26. The National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA) held its conference in Chicago, Illinois in July. The Enchanted Doll Club of the Northwoods held its 32nd Annual Doll Show and Sale in Eagle River, Wisconsin on August 7.

The article features several doll artists and collectors worldwide. It details the creations of Nefer Kane of France who is known for making Steampunk dolls and E. J. Taylor of England who is influenced by Chinese art. It also presents the doll collections of Jadine C. of Italy who uses the polymer clay sculpting technique and Claudine Roelens of The Netherlands who was influenced by Ankie Daanen's book "Creating Fantasy Figures."

The article features the newest Halloween-inspired doll for Fall 2008 including Evangeline Ghastly Gothic Vigil from Wilde Imagination, Vampire Red from Elfdoll, and Queen of Spade by Virginie Ropars.

The article provides information on Cabbage Patch Kids dolls.

The article provides information on the 100-year-old legacy of Kewpie dolls.

The article highlights several dolls with costumes ranging from 16th century English Tudor to the early 1900s in France, Italy and the U.S.

The article discusses the quality and competitiveness of the dolls created by Dolls by Berenguer. The company had remained at the forefront of the baby and toddler doll market. According to Richard Cerdá, President of Dolls by Berenguer, their dolls are created with unique looks and faces compared to other companies. Further, their sets of collection suit the needs of collectors, reborn artists and for girls. The article also presents some of the dolls made by the company.

The article offers news briefs related to the doll industry in March 2008, including the Russian Winter Festival in London, England and the five Doll of the Year Industry's Choice winners in the category of "Children's Play Doll."

The article announces the Doll of the Year awards winners given to doll manufacturers and artists. The winners in the manufacturer's categories include the doll Matthew from MasterPiece Dolls and Tyler Wentworth doll from Tonner Doll Company. In the Artists' category, the winners include Little Red Riding Hood doll by Beverly Stoehr and Lisa Marie doll by Monika Levenig.

The article discusses how Pauline Bjonness-Jacobsen and her family became successful in the dollmaking industry. Pauline Bjonness-Jacobsen's started a doll business in Hong Kong, which eventually grew and had other branches in other places and was inspired by her interests in arts. Her whole family supported and helped her in managing the business until the present time. They make various types of dolls such as soft and porcelain dolls.

The article offers information about the 2006 Dolls of the Year Awards to be held at IDEX exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The article reports on the popularity of celluloid dolls among doll collectors in the U.S.

The article details how sisters Claudette Buehler and Delene Budd purchased the Nancy Ann Storybook Doll Co. on eBay in 2003.

Features the French workmanship on automatons or mechanical dolls during 1848-1915 in France. Inspiration of French artisans for their moving doll characters; Presentation of pictures depicting the mechanical dolls in those period; Collectible value of automatons.

Features the doll fashion creations of artist Jennie Graves in the U.S. Foundation of the Vogue Dolls Inc.; Passion of Graves on creating unique Christmas styles for the dolls; Presentation of pictures depicting the doll fashion products of the artist.

Features various antique dolls doubled as candy containers. Reason for the design of the dolls; Shapes and materials used for the containers; Origin of the creation of dolls as containers. INSET: What are these candv containers made of?.

Reports on the creation of 1926 Baby Sister by The Misses Tebbetts. Resemblance of the baby doll with the Missionary Rag Babies first created by Julia Beecher in 1885; Sizes of the dolls; Accounts on the creation of the doll.

Reports on the rapid growth of reborning into a groundbreaking new direction in baby doll production. Factors affecting the appeal of reborning; Evolution of reborning from relatively simple adjustments to a wide range of detailed enhancements; Use of traditionally vinyl dolls for reborning.

Reports on the success of German doll artist Sonja Hartmann in creating her own doll company, With Heart and Soul to produce and market artists dolls in Berlin, Germany. Reproduction of Hildegard Günzel's Dorle in a 1500-piece limited edition; Offer of Sybille's Peggy, a disc-jointed baby with a partially granulate-filled body; List of the artists attracted by Hartmann.

Presents the procedure for making a romper for a 10-inch baby and toddler dolls. Materials to be used; Instructions for creating a romper.

Focuses on the conversation of the author businessman with Juan Cerdá about his company, Dolls by Berenguer. Historical background of the company; Success of the company over 50 years of doll craftsmanship and design; Offer of many dolls with many different facial expressions.

Reports on the availability of real-looking newborn baby dolls from The Heartland Mint Co. Comment of Heartland's co-owner, Steve Di Gino on Heartland's "Baby Feel So Real" doll collection; Availability of solid silicone newborns on a reproduction basis; Features of the newborn baby dolls.

Introduces Tuesday Taylor, the newly created fashion doll from Ideal Toy Co. Inc. in the U.S. Description of the physical attributes and packaging of the doll; Divergence of Tuesday Taylor from other fashion dolls; Citation of the different looks and styles of the new doll.

Presents winners of the Dolls of the Year 2005 Public's Choice Award Program in the U.S. "Children's Play Doll" granted to Stilettos Nikki by Alexander Doll Co. Inc.; "Collectible Baby Doll," granted to Bonnie by Monika Levenig for Blackball Associates Inc.; "Collectible Fashion Doll," awarded to Elan's It Girl Suzette Morgan by Alexander Doll Co. Inc.