As women grow and evolve through each generation, we find more and more women sharing the financial burdens with their husbands, women who want independence through generating their own income on their own terms, taking care of their families with the restrictions and time limits that prevent them from normal 9-5 jobs, and even in single women pursuing their crafts and artistry. I've walked that path myself, and knowing the struggles we as women face while juggling so many responsibilities, this issue is close to my heart.

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When I decided to take my business in the direction of dolls, I was excited about doing a business that would affect so many collectors and families as well as childhood memories.  Creating products for an audience largely comprised of women and little girls, made me feel a part of something bigger. 

 

I immediately wanted to connect with the other businesses doing the same in the doll community, but mostly I was met with a very highly competitive, combative, and territorial group of women entrepreneurs who stole ideas from each other, copied products, manipulated vendors, and very "stab in the back" tactics in running their businesses. These women pushed others into going out of business and fought over customer loyalty exhibiting dishonest and ruthless business tactics.  It was a very survival of the fittest situation, and I was very frustrated and apalled that it was occuring in the doll industry very close to my heart.

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It was obvious to me, that these women believed to succeed in business, they had to knock all the competition out to "win" and that's how they would grow their sales and achieve business success.  But this kind of tactic, while it may have short term benefits, has no long term benefits and casts a negative shadow on the reputation of both the owner and their company.

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Women empowerment and support of women in their artistry and small business is a subject very near to my heart.  These are all mother's, sisters, grandmothers, etc. stepping up to earn income for their families and for themselves breaking into a "hard to make it" field.  I wanted to send a message to the doll industry that there was another way.

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We started artist collaborations, where small businesses within the doll industry could band together to do collections utilizing their various strengths and talents to present collections to the community for purchase.  Each collaborator was required to promote the others in the group inspiring each other to co-exist, lift each other up, and share collaborative works to grow their following and their business. At first we only did one per year, and now it has increased to multiple collaborations and more participants.  Each one has been a positive experience for those involved cultivating new friendships, assistance in growing their businesses, referrals, and has generated enough funding to keep getting bigger and bigger.  

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The success of our collaborations has also allowed us to continue to aid in other areas.  Our Save the Dolls program generates funding to commission women artists and doll hospital volunteers to assist in doll recycling and adoption.  Dolls are reimagined, restored, painted, and adopted through our program creating another avenue of supporting women artists with income.  Likewise this program also allows us to find deserving girls and women to benefit from the dolls we restore as recipients that they might not otherwise be able to afford.  Our Wishing Well program allows families and friends to suggest dolls to be sent to those in need, those without funds, and those who's health and emotional state could benefit from the cheer a doll can give.  Likewise, women who are ready to let go of their doll collections and send to us know that their contributions and childhood memories will live on in good homes and be rejuvinated/restored to bring joy to others.

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It is our hope that the more our company grows, that we can continue to create more programs and opportunities for women to succeed in small business and with their art. From this, we hope to build a strong network of talented women who also believe in empowering others to rise up and build on this success.

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Disclaimer: Opportunities and programs are available to all genders, we do not discriminate and anyone regardless of gender can participate.  For artist collaborations, we send out invitations to participate solely based on talent.  Artists are contacted and invited to participate and can accept or decline. We do not exclude based on gender, but male artists for the dolls we work with are harder to find so many of our collaborations are all female because of this.