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Yet Blythe still keeps chugging along, selling out every limited release via pre-order, though they are largely unchanged in face and body since 1972. And the custom Blythe doll side-market doesn’t interfere with it either, they are complimentary. Stock dolls are higher priced than most Barbie Collector series dolls, but the quality of clothing and accessories is usually very good. I know Mattel has scaled to produce in huge lots and has minimums to meet in manufacturing, but it might be time to start breaking away from those huge open editions, do pre-orders for something very good and charge accordingly. At the playline level, I’m not sure what they can do, I don’t think quality increases will expand their market there. I think girls are age ing out of dolls at a younger age and doll collecting as a hobby is dated, with a narrower appeal. Anyone who has had to watch someone deal with a deceased family member’s collections probably doesn’t want a room full of boxed dolls.
