Groovy Girls
Groovy Girls are a line of fashion dolls manufactured by the American toy company Manhattan Toy and launched in 1998. The brand consists of plush, 13-inch dolls, fashion and furniture accessories, as well as pets.[1] Groovy Girls generally cost $10 to $20 per doll[2] and target the 6-to-12 age range, with licensed products including such categories as room décor, apparel, interactive and electronics, stationery, health and beauty aids and others.[3]
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[edit] History
Groovy Girls launched as a "funky"[4][5] alternative to Barbie.[4] Each doll features a girl of different skin tones, hair types and facial features, reflecting the ethnic landscape of America.[6] The brand's lifestyle aspects are fashion, friendship and self-expression,[3] and represents a wholesome alternative to dolls such as Bratz, Flavas and My Scene Barbies.[7] Groovy Girls were initially sold in specialty toy stores such as Zany Brainy, Noodle Kidoodle, and Store of Knowledge.[6] Beginning in early 2005, the dolls were launched in Target stores.[6][8]
As of 2005, more than eight million Groovy Girls dolls were sold since its inception,[9] totaling more than $100 million in retail sales.[3] GroovyGirls.com, which launched in the fall of 2004, had approximately 145,000 registered users by early 2005,[9] and more than 1.7 million registered users by July 2007.[10] The Groovy Girls RSVP collection was introduced during the 2008 holiday season.[4] RSVP stands for Respect, Self-Expression, Values and Play.[4]
[edit] Licensing and awards
Burger King offered miniaturized plastic versions of Groovy Girls in its global Kids Meal program, which ran from February 12, 2007 to March 18, 2007.[11] That year, Manhattan Toy also partnered with the Girl Scouts to develop a line extension of dolls called Troop Groovy Girls.[12] An online community called Camp Groovy Girls launched in September, soon after the dolls became available in stores.[12] In February 2008, the Toy Industry Association named the Girl Scouts' Troop Groovy Girls the best girl toy of the year during the American International Toy Fair in New York City.[13] Groovy Girls had previously won "Girl Toy of the Year" and "Specialty Toy of the Year" awards at the 2003 Toy Fair.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Gabler, Ellen P. (2005-12-23). "Dogs with Attitude to Follow Groovy Girls". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal (Advance Publications). http://www.ajc.com/ajccars/content/printedition/2009/01/26/wholesome0126.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ Newmarker, Chris (2009-05-01). "Toymaker Plans New, Bigger Doll". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal (Advance Publications). http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/05/04/story5.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ a b c "Silver Lining Bringing Groovy Girls to Licensed Products". Kids Today (Reed Business Information). 2005-07-01. http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA628894.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ a b c d Kadaba, Lini S. (2009-01-26). "Self-Esteem, Sharing Marketed". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Cox Enterprises). http://www.ajc.com/ajccars/content/printedition/2009/01/26/wholesome0126.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ Weisstuch, Liza (2002-12-12). "Toy Story". The Phoenix (Phoenix Media/Communications Group). http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02586679.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ a b c d De Mesa, Alicia (2005-10-12). "Marketing and Tweens". BusinessWeek (McGraw-Hill). http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/oct2005/id20051012_606473.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ D'Innocenzio, Anne (2003-11-29). "Identity Dolls: Toy Makers Try to Appeal to All Kinds of Girls". The Press-Enterprise (A. H. Belo Corp.). http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_dollwars30.f04e.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ Bland, Karina (2007-10-09). "Dolls Gone Wild: Unhappy Moms Want Wholesome Alternatives". The Arizona Republic (Gannett Company). http://www.azcentral.com/ent/pop/articles/1009dolls1010.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ a b Grimaldi, Paul (2005-02-25). "Tech Trend Continues Its Ascent". The Providence Journal (A. H. Belo Corp.). http://www.projo.com/business/content/projo_20050227_toy27x.1dd3288.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ Kuchinskas, Susan (2007-07-01). "An Underserved Age Group Has Huge Buying Power". OMMA (MediaPost Communications). http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=63046. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ "Toy Firms Hope for Burger Bonanza". Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Black Press). 2007-03-12. http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/03/12/business/bizbriefs.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ a b Hurn, Mary Elizabeth (2008-01-28). "Manhattan Toy/Girl Scout Partnership; ExpoTV; Auto Insurance Specialists". DMNews (Haymarket Group). http://www.dmnews.com/manhattan-toygirl-scout-partnership-expotv-auto-insurance-specialists/article/104438/. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ "Dolls Chosen as Outstanding Toy". Tri-Town News (Greater Media). 2008-03-13. http://tritown.gmnews.com/news/2008/0313/Front_Page/015.html. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Groovy Girls at Manhattan Toy
