Barbie’s Big! She Has Her Own Convention
Barbie is big – there is no doubt about it. As a matter of fact, she is so big that she has her own fan club, and membership is strictly limited! Yet did you know that she is so big, that she even hosts her own convention? It is true! Mattel – who has long since realized that it is not little girl that are buttering its bred, but instead affluent and avid doll collectors – hosts annual Barbie conventions that cater specifically to this group of Barbie aficionados.
Therefore, the Barbie convention is a very carefully planned and executed event, and very little is left to chance. At the same time, special care is taken that first time attendees will understand what they will be getting themselves into, so that they will not be overwhelmed, since this is rather easy to do. Similarly, novices will need to know to come equipped with plastic, checkbook, or cash, as there will definitely bargains to be had for any serious collector.
So what exactly can you expect when you visit a Barbie convention?
Expect to spend a lot of money on merchandise. Collectors, dealers, and even artists come to the conventions to peddle their wares, for the savvy collector there are some wonderful deals to be had. If you are looking to complete your collection, for example, this is a great place to be. Very often you will be able to find that one doll that would complete your era collection, or that one accessory that will complete your vintage set.
What is noteworthy is the fact that the sales are held at the hosting hotel as well as at the actual sales floor. Even though Mattel is very much in charge of the event, the company is careful not to curtail their collectors’ activities too much, and so it is important – if you are a serious collector – to arrive early and attend the presales and room sales rather than just relying on the sales floor itself; however, keep in mind that you can spend a lot of money this way!
For those who do not wish to sell their wares but rather showcase their collections, there is plenty of room for some collector competitions. Visitors will have the opportunity to take a look at the collections of other fellow-collectors and see what they collect, how complete their collections are, and maybe even chat briefly with the collector to perhaps learn of some sources for the harder to find items that you might still be looking for! For those who simply enjoy the look of a clean vintage doll, this may very well be considered the holy grail of collections!
Mattel is in charge of presenting a program that will offer little insights into the workings of Barbie and the designers, as well as showcase some of its most dedicated collectors. Mattel is also on hand to bring in some of its dolls’ designers who will autograph their dolls, thus adding to the collectible value of a doll later on.
When you are not spending money on dolls and accessories, you will be able to participate in workshops that may help you to deal with that dreaded vintage Barbie disease referred to as “Green Ear†or simply teach you how to reapply makeup to a faded Barbie head. Serious collectors value these classes since it ties in directly with some of the skills they wish they had when running across a particular problem with their doll collection. Additionally, if you are able to restore dolls yourself, you will be able to open yourself up to a larger market of doll from which you can choose.
