The PROBLEM with American Girl’s Marketing!!!
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- You can follow me on my instagram @The Doll Studio by Kris
and my behind the scenes account @behindthestudiobykris
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They aren't even putting emphasis on the books and stories of the historical dolls. It angers me so much.
Poor Claudie and poor all the real historical dolls. They are being buried alive.
It saddens me so much.
Claudie is probably the most beautiful doll AG has ever made and it boggles my mind that she is given zero promotion. Kira is still getting so much promotion that it's as if she's the GOTY and not Kavi. I don't know what's happening in AG's marketing department. 🤦♀️
I spent my childhood in the 1970’s. I discovered Pleasant Company as an adult in 1997. I loved the PC catalogs, full sets, books, and Pleasant Rowland’s focus on education.
American Girl has drifted from the original intention since 2010-2015. The time period of the Harlem Renaissance was discussed by Connie Porter and Pleasant Rowland before they decided on starting black history with the end of slavery.
I was very disappointed that AG did not give Claudie the next catalog cover and at least a month before releasing the new TM line. I am hoping for the next book to go further into Jim Crowe and discrimination and for clothes and accessories for a 10 year old in 1922-23. Meanwhile, Etsy sellers are creating 1920’s style dresses.
I have gone beyond AG to learn about the black migration from the south and the Harlem Renaissance. There is so much to be offered in learning history.
I don’t consider the 1980’s or 1990’s to be “historical” because I remember these time periods. They are choosing time periods that attract the parents and grandparents. This is where the money comes from.
The children like the dolls with colored hair. I hate how far they have drifted from the simplicity and innocence of the pre-2022 dolls.
The 1999 Girl of Today (representing the line and being shown in the Meet outfit) was a blond haired 3 in the red vinyl jumper dress. Compare her with Nicki in her jumper dress. This is 1999 verses what Mattel is selling as 1999.
With the Instagram previews of the Hoffman twins, I have gone back to my PC catalogs, have bought a second hand Grin Pin canvas and have binged on buying Grin Pins.
I have the grin pin sheets since I started collecting the grin pins about 7 years ago when I first started collecting AG. I prefer PC items
it feels like AG is rushing dolls faster than we can keep up. Claudie came out last year and all ready we’re getting new historical dolls (90s era) this year. It would not surprise me if the next historical doll is from the year 2010.
It also feel like the marketing by AG favor white dolls more. AG did Claudie so dirty.
Also, off topic, but the waist of the dolls have become significantly thinner. Current AG dolls are 10 inches, while an AG doll from the 2000s was 11 inches. I have a Pleasant Company Doll and her waist is 12 inches. It boggles my mind that AG continue to cut corners and still expect us to pay 115 for these dolls.
I do agree that they did not promote Claudie properly. The fact that she never got a catalogue cover blows my mind. They could and should have waited a month or two for the TM rebranding. I do like the new TM dolls but they should have had their own new name for the line and left the TM line as it was. Now most kids can’t find a TM that looks like themselves anymore and that is what the line is all about!! Thanks for helping me decide who I am ordering tomorrow, it will be Claudie❤❤
I went to the nyc store for the first time in years the day before Kavi released (I figured it would be empty because all the tourists would go the next day. Boy was I wrong). I was surprised to see that they made sure to put Julie and Courtney’s displays in a place where you would have to walk by them on the top floor, but they didn’t do the same for Claudie. Like yeah she had a significant display in the basement, but they couldn’t even put a little one advertising her and how she would be in the basement? It’s like they’re setting her up to fail when she’s probably the prettiest historical doll they’ve released so far.
As an adult doll collector, I had my eye open for the next historical girl bc I love the PC girls ❤ If it hadn’t been for your channel and checking AG’s website constantly, I wouldn’t have known Claudie existed! I bought her day one, and I absolutely love her!!
It’s sad to see Mattel make these choices, especially when Claudie has a beautiful story, and she’s a gorgeous girl! We all need to be writing both AG and Mattel explaining what we want and why it’s important to us as collectors. Historically accurate clothing should have been released along with the inspired line in my opinion.
Thanks for another great video! 👍💗
Yet when AGIGers or AGtubers try to promote these dolls by posting leaks AG takes down the videos… do you want your dolls to sell or not?
I totally agree. This is free marketing for AG. Heck, AG used to send influencers their products early for them to show off before release to generate excitement.
I loved that when they worked with influencers. I watched them all.
True
Every time you search up American Girl Courtney's commercials would come up
Also don’t forget that Courtney got a full on stop motion movie and so many music videos as well as guest appearing on the doll salon series while Claudie just got one music video
It seems like a legit problem. I don’t pay as close attention as most if the AGTubers I follow but from what I’ve seen there’s something there. I was surprised at how soon the revamp of the TrulyMe line after Claudie’s release. Felt like they should’ve waited on it. They just released Kavi, now we’re getting the twins. Maybe the twins should be later in the year. Give Kavi some space. The advertisement definitely needs improvement for sure if nothing else
I completely agree! I was hopeful that Claudie would have gotten a holiday set but no such luck, hopefully summer will bring something new, love you're videos and you're not crazy lol
I didn’t know that Claudie was released until I saw her music video and on the actual website! And she was given a small reveal on CMS while Nikki & Isabel, Kavi, etc. we’re given a big reveal on GMA. Claudie really deserves better. I really don’t want this to happen EVER again.
Claudie is one of our favorites. Her collection is very nice quality. Looking forward to her next book. Thanks for your commentary, Chris. ❤
When they released Courtney there was commercials on UA-cam for Courtney's release
It feels that AG has always done this, under promote or ni marketing for diverse dolls and over the moon marketing for white dolls. It just gives them a self fulfilling prophecy, that doc don’t sell.
You're correct! The new twins have already over-shadowed Kavi, a girl of color. Releasing the twins in Feb. stole the thunder from the girl of the year.
I agree that their marketing truly sucks. I feel like the historical all around need more marketing, put them towards the from of the catalog. Have at least one catalog a year where they're on the cover (not just a new one) release more fun stuff for the historicals and they'd sell better.
You're not crazy. If AG doesn't want us to think they're just checking off boxes to make their company seem more diverse, they're doing a pretty bad job of it. Claudi's collection is so beautiful, as is her story, and it's a darn shame what they've done with her.
Claudie came out right as I was getting back into AG and I remember being super disappointed at the lack of promotion. Anyway, great video! It's well organized :)
I do not care for the Truly Me revamp.
Honestly the best thing for me was when American Girl Ideas (now Totally Rudy) was active as an AGTuber. She has great reviews and really made me excited about every new release.
Thanks for posting this on my birthday and when I got my first american girl doll!!!
The Catalog for Claudie had truly me dolls on the cover and they had pictures of claudie in the catalog.
I didn't know about Claudie until I saw her on the website & I was shocked I didn't realize there was a new doll
You raise some great points in this video. American Girl’s marketing is so confusing.
If they gave claudie a stop motion or animated series id watch it if you would too like this comment.
Joss had a typical GOTY release. The day before on TV giving all the girls at the show blah blah blah.... She was released before covid hit. Kira they ticked a lot of people off by doing the release for Berry Members only shopping event. But they weren't even checking if people were berry members before giving them up to 10 "tickets." Then those people were selling their spots. Those that got to go got 50 pts, the bag for her joey, and some other goodies plus shopping an hour or two before the store opened.
Your points on Molly are SO spot on because I had NO idea she was coming back and was so surprised when I got a catalogue and she was in it! But I was super happy about it nonetheless :)
Claudie got gypped for sure. Also those blue shorts are adorable
Molly was such a surprise that since then I've been posting to my fb about new doll releases despite not really collecting dolls anymore. I know some of my friends with kids have dolls or are interested or some have family who are collectors but at least get it out there about it. I always offer pick ups for mcm sale to friends too, tho yet to have anyone pick up on my offer, AG frankly is just too expensive for average americans with kids. We always afforded it by going to the mcm sale, if we didn't live in its backyard I just wouldn't of had them.
I feel like this is why I often forget about Claudie. Her promotion was so elusive for such a beautiful doll with a great collection. So sad. I feel like AG needs an overhaul in someways, some of their decisions make no sense!
This is Mattel we're talking about. They've brought every Barbie collector to their knees in store over the last decade and there's a huge Monster High backlash over lack of quality for so-called upscale collector dolls right now over at Mattel Creations. Collectors aren't important to Mattel, only parents with $$$. My point being they have a long, already established track record of not doing right not only by collectors but also by the dolls they sell. That's Mattel. Barbie, Monster High and AG are targeted marketing brands. They don't really exist in that perspective.
Honestly, the only thing I can think of why they are doing this (besides the things that were mentioned by you and by people in the comments) is that AG generally is slowly withdrawing from the older historical dolls. I understand that is a hard pill to swallow for the collectors and people have a lot of sentiment for them but let's be real - when have you seen a kid buying a historical doll and keeping her as historical in her outfits? I haven't for a loooong time. It's one thing to be immersed by the book and another to constantly play with an "old-fashioned" doll and I understand that - I personally couldn't care less about Felicity, Caroline, Marie-Grace etc. and I like their stories.
That being said - seeing how many collectors love historicals, it would be wiser for them to be transparent about their plans and keep them maybe in lesser numbers but add more care to the accuracy to the period and keep their collections for a longer time. Honestly, the collections are disappearing so fast now, if a person isn't buying them as fast as all of you with the UA-cam channels then they can forget to get a doll's whole world and this can be discouraging for people to keep them as historicals on their shelves and in their dollhouses.
Still, any of it doesn't excuse what they did to Claudie. She's a gorgeous doll with a beautiful collection that would work even if kept as a modern doll - her outfits would be perfect as a stage outfits (when I don't think of them as historicals, they scream Beyoncé to me). Someone did her dirty big time. They are ridiculously bad at admitting their mistakes. Would that be so hard to say - someone planned it terribly and we apologize for that? Again - lack of transparency can be a killer for companies nowadays. Either you're ridiculously bad at planning or you hate dolls of color - which one is it AG?! //And I don't think that Courtney had as little promotion as her - she had songs written just for her and special displays in the store even for her mix & match collection. But again, she was what I'm calling "a modern historical doll".
All in all, everything about it is so shady but everything could be solved by having more transparency. It's like they can't apologize for anything because they would consider that as a "negative" post on their social media and they can't have that in their heavily-branded pastel world where everything's perfect😒...
Claudie got a music video but I think it was after the truly me revamp was launched but she didn't get a stop motion series like courtney did.
Claudie is such a darling... If I had a little more cash, I'd pick her up. Her clothes are so pretty ❤
They need new marketing that’s equal. Hire someone new
Does skin tone or heritage of a doll reflect a difference in AG's promotions of their entire line of dolls (not just Claudie)?
I’m a big AG fan
I thought that the TM dolls should have been released later and Claude promoted. They should also release the 90’s dolls later in the year and concentrate on Kavi. I’m not buying anymore for now. Too much has released at once. Besides I have a lot of dolls and want to replace some items in my condo first. Not everyone can buy everything that is released, when they are released. I am going to wait to buy the 90’s dolls. I still don’t know why diverse dolls are not promoted. Besides, the quality is almost of knock off dolls and everything is far more expensive.
Claudie is all but cubed. Where are the books? Where are the collections? There doesn't seem to be any real organizations to these launches.
I think the twins were going to be GOTY which is why the twins are now released in February
Not to mention that Kavi was released then the twins take her spotlight.
I miss the pleasant company essence of American Girl
Me too
Honestly the only thing I can say is the skin color of the dolls or their story. I came back to the AG world about 3 months ago and as I'm also discovering more about the story of World By Us, I'm like whyyyyy are they not promoting this more.
Then I see the homophobic and transphobic comments any time AG posts like, Harry Potter stuff, then I realize that a lot of AG parents are bigots and honestly it makes me wonder if any higher ups share their closed minded views. Either that or they're too afraid to change because they're afraid of losing money.
Unfortunately I think your right
I am so mad at ag for how they promote their dolls
You’re not crazy.
Kavi was released before new years and then with kavi released at the stores they had the twin's sneak peak picture at kavi release. America Girl releasing the twin's in February and not in the late summer early fall like they've always do.
In 2017 we all know the whole Tenney and Gabriella thing but with Z i think she was meant to be a GOTY too but AG Rereleased her in 2017. Then Gabby was released new year's then in February Tenney and Z was released the same as twin's being released in February. Instead of the twins being released in late summer early fall like they always release historicals.
i really hope they release more stuff for claudie this year and this time promote her right
Do I REALLY need to say why this happened, like do I?…
I think that The twin's were meant to be GOTY for this Year and American Girl changed it for Kavi. Then i think kavi was meant for world by us. What do you think?
I’d love to know what the research and development is that shows that these changes and marketing and releases are going to sell.
Oh, Claudie. She’s cute in an Ag knock-off kinda way. Like the toys r us line. They could’ve done sooo much with the 20’s
After Corrine’s low quality I stopped buying. Period.
I think one of their main problems is how expensive the dolls are.
Sadly for diverse dolls of certain backgrounds, I think this is true. Many minorities simply don’t have $115 to spend on a toy.
That, and the value has just finished because the quality has diminished. One could see how the dolls and collections of PC dolls were worth it…they were collectibles!
And then there's the whole joke about the GOTY. They shouldn't leak beforehand and they should pull at end of year. Period.
Otherwise it is just so fluid. Ridiculous. I really like Kavi but they are doing everything wrong.
Wow I wasn’t that excited about Claudie and maybe it’s because they didn’t hype her!
How NOT to market your products. 😅
Claude and the twins are not going anywhere as far as historical except to discontinue them as they did for Molly etc. in the past. So, you can have the option to buy them later if you want. As far as Claude, she looks so Mattel that at first, I did not like her face. Its molded after the babydolls and I know others feel that way too. It takes a while to get used to her. As far as marketing, who really buys AG? Look at your audience, then marketing as see. I am a DNP specializing in peds. Our office was very ethnic, and very few children played with dolls. A shame but they were very much into their social media, the younger ones too along with gaming and electronic toys. So, what market this that? The doll group is so specialized perhaps they base their marketing on those surveys they give. Just some things to consider. P.S I agree with you on marketing. I am still considering the names of the twins. Nicki was released in 1999, the other twin in 2014. There is some connection here along with the "end of the world" ideas floating around for 2000. Now I am sounding like a conspiracy buff! xoxo
I hate the new outfits for the new truly me dolls like their so ugly and I loved the last ones so I was sad when they got rid of them and replaced them with such ugly outfits