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Largest Multicultural Toy Store Launches --
DollsLikeMe.com
New Online Toy Superstore Aims to Reach Latino
Consumers
 April
10, 2006 -- The days of frustrated consumers waging all-out
searches through super and toys stores looking for quality dolls and puppets
that resemble their ethnic and biracial children are gone. DollsLikeMe.com,
a new online superstore featuring dozens of African American, Asian, Latino
and Biracial play dolls, puppets, and multicultural toys has launched.
Created by Denise Gary-Robinson, the concept evolved after years of
gift-buying frustration at the meager selection of ethnic dolls and puppets
found in local super and toy stores. Even in large urban areas where the
African American and Latino populations are often the majority, retailers
never seem to stock an adequate selection of dolls and puppets for children
of color, said Gary-Robinson, president of DollsLIkeMe.com, Inc.
Gary-Robinson is not alone in her frustrations. According to a poll
conducted by the multicultural and advertising firm UB (www.ubtoday.com),
for DollsLikeMe.com, parents of children of color regularly scan retail
shelves looking for culturally and ethnically sensitive dolls and
puppets often coming away empty-handed.
The poll of 470 parents who identified themselves as Latino or Hispanic
revealed that 74% felt It is important for children of color to have dolls that
look like them. Of those parents, an overwhelming 90% agreed that the selection
of dolls and puppets of color in local super and toy stores was, as one parent
put it, abysmal.
According to the US Census Bureau, currently 31% of America s children are
children of color, or non-white. That number will increase by 50% by the year
2020, "Demonstrating the need for a retailer that provides easy access to dolls
and puppets that resemble America s growing multicultural population, concluded
Jerry Ware, vice president of strategic marketing at UB.
Consumers will find more than 90 African American, Asian, Biracial, Latino, and
Native American dolls; a wide selection of multicultural puppets and toys;
stationery items, including a line of biracial greeting cards, a line of Latino
greeting cards (en español), and African American, Latina, and Asian diva
post-it notes; urban-style American Girl doll clothing; quality doll furniture;
custom multicultural doll quilts (which double as wall hangers); and self-esteem
books for children of color. Shown is Isabel, a beautiful collectible and play
Latina baby doll from Paradise Galleries.
The site also includes educational toys and videos for multicultural children, a
blog forum, and a resource center featuring information on transracial adoption
and building self-esteem in children of color.
In an effort to provide seamless customer service to consumers and institutions
throughout the continental US, DollsLIkeMe.com has appointed several regional
sales directors. The directors are responsible for promotions, recruiting
DollsLikeMe.com toy party hosts, and institutional sales. The national Latino
Market sales director is Amanda Morales Kennerly. Amanda s first promotion is a
special welcome discount for first-time online and telephone purchases (DISCOUNT
CODE: AKENNERLY). Ms. Morales Kennerly can be reached via email at
mkennerly@dollslikeme.com or via telephone at 520-235-3225.
Doll prices range from $11.95 - $90 and puppets start at $12.95. DollsLikeMe.com
accepts all major credit cards, echecks, PayPal, and telephone orders
(Monday-Friday, 9 am 5 pm EST), and has a special discount program for schools
and
non-profit organizations. Source: Dolls Like Me Press Release.
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