Fellow Doll Artist,
Would you like to survive this catastrophe called the "economic crisis" and assure your porcelain doll sales by at least another year or more?
I know this sounds like the usual hype that comes in the spam E-mail messages but it is for real and available to the first doll artist (or group with one or more accomplished porcelain doll artists) to make an acceptable offer. An experienced doll artist is necessary to effectively operate the business. In response, one potential buyer said: "I would like to have the business but the business is you!" To a degree it is true but it could also be YOU.
If you have been interested and involved in the porcelain doll world for a few years you are aware of the impact the China (China China not porcelain china) paint-by-the-number dolls had on the legitimate, and not quite so, artist porcelain doll market in the 1990's. The hobby doll making business simply is no more as a viable business endeavor except as a back-up and augmentation for a more exclusive production oriented approach. Fortunately, there is still a substantial market for the true porcelain doll artist. I have survived and even thrived in that declining market while many, many others have folded up their show tables and took up knitting. I am tired, my husband is old and tired. We want to move on and enjoy the few years we have left here together. If you are a true doll artist this is an opportunity for you to do as well as we have. All I ask is that you give my offer some serious thought and we will work together to make it happen for both of us..
I have been creating and SELLING an average of over 60 artist quality dolls PER MONTH for the last 12 years (when we started keeping score on the web site; see the home page), and have been in business for over 28 years, For the last twelve years my husband and I have operated the business alone. We want to retire again and rest awhile. We would like to see the business continue for the sake of our customers and will offer the complete operational business including the CUSTOMERS and CONTRACTS at much less than our cost. Also included is a distributorship for Monique's with the expected savings on wigs, eyes, etc, plus many accounts with wholesale outlets for the necessary supplies in bulk. (slip, pellets, fiber fill, rabbit pelts, body and outfit material, leather, etc.).
We have orders for over 1500 dolls on the books from one customer alone for 2012. The current customer, who operates an exclusive gallery in Alaska, and her predecessors have been contracting for and selling 700-800 (all we can make) of my Indian and Eskimo dolls per year for in excess of 20 years with no intention of changing. Albeit she is suffering from the economy as well but she caters to that "1%" with money enough to buy dolls. She will be your customer from day one--a guaranteed market. Other similar customers have inquired, begged, and offered bribes over the years but were not accepted because we could not supply them with dolls. Of course these outlets will be identified as we have no interest in competing with you. Some of them, like Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean and other cruise ship lines are still around and are potential customers. We do not even attempt any longer to offer the conventional services of a doll shop such as on-site retail doll sales, classes, greenware, and pieces and parts as we do not have the time nor the inclination to hire employees. The business will support all areas of hobby doll making as well as wholesale and retail manufacturing and sales, and off-site doll, art, and craft shows. These areas will improve as the economy does but it will probably take longer than we have to wait.
NOTES: (1) The gallery in Alaska is open from May through September. She also operates a shop in Puerto Rico during the winter months and would love to have a line of ethnic dolls there but we do not have the time to develop the line. We must create the Alaskan dolls year round to meet the demand. We reached an agreement early-on that has worked well for both parties. Our customer pays in advance for all dolls ordered during the year but rather than having such a great outlay we accept six checks for the appropriate amount twice a year (September and May) and deposit one each month. The checks for June and October reflect any accumulated differences so we are essentially even throughout the year. This works for Gramps and I but you may negotiate a plan with which you and your customer are comfortable. We will also negotiate with you for a plan that will be compatible with that plan should you wish to extend payment for the business. Essentially, we are proposing that you operate the business for three years or so for us and then it will be yours.
(2) The name and contact information of our customers, and other potential customers, will be provided to any serious doll maker considering the business opportunity upon receipt of a serious Earnest Money deposit.. The level of business with those customers may be verified and the continuing orders confirmed before negotiations are completed. Visits to the clients, potential clients, and our facility may also be in order. Other business references may be provided if requested.
(3) This is not some get-rich-quick-scheme. It took over thirty years of our dedication and hard but satisfying work to get to this point. We made a good living, had a lot of fun, met and gained many good friends, gathered a ton of fond memories, and will leave a lot of love behind. We could just walk away and go follow our next dream but my dolls have filled a lot of dreams throughout the years and it would be a shame to let those dreams die. Your dolls could do the same and if you understand the business this is the opportunity you have been waiting for. Let's talk!
The equipment includes over 1500 modern and antique reproduction doll molds (see list below), most of which are no longer available, five kilns, at least five sewing machines, a business computer with over 10,000 doll pictures by number/edition and various and sundry components and accessories to support the production of at least 100 dolls per month (partial list below). For a brief overview of the shop please click here.
The inventory of pieces and parts is extensive and will support nearly a full year's production at any given time. The inventory will not include completed dolls to be shipped in 2011 as they have been paid for in advance. Those contracted dolls in work may or may not be included depending on the date of sale and transfer of title.
We are asking for just a portion of the cost of the inventory (depending on age and condition), less than one-half the cost of the equipment, a fair price for the molds, and a minimum amount for the business goodwill and customer base. Basically, the business has been our retirement fund since 1988. All we want in return is sufficient capital to meet our current business obligations and a modest monthly amount to secure our retirement for the next five years or so.
I also have an extensive collection of antique and collectible dolls that may be included at less than current wholesale value. If you are interested in moving to Arizona the shop and real estate including the residence may be available .
The business names, website (www.storytimedolls.net: the domain name alone is worth over $10,000 as dictated by an established traffic maximum of over 50,000 hits per month), and other proprietary items are included along with a non-competition agreement. A consulting and training transitional period of up to six months will be possible.
Depending on the time of the year, because of the schedule of deliveries, the inventory will vary and the other items are negotiable but the complete business will cost MUCH LESS than the replacement cost. This could yield a gross RETURN ON INVESTMENT of more than 25% per year! We will carry a balance and payment schedule, at little or no interest, to be negotiated depending on total down and security offered.
List of Molds
Modern Doll Molds
Bell 7 BJ Molds 1 Boots Tyner 32 Connie's Dolls 21
Dawn Adams 15 Doll Artworks 257 Expressions 56 Faces Past 9
Fayzah Spanos 2 G. A. Dietz 11 Gadco 1 Good Kruger 8
Hein Molds 5 His Children 8 IMSCO 36 Jane Zedjanus 4
Jones 14 Klowns by Kay 11 Lasting Impressions 40 Legacy 4
Mystic 11 Nancy Spain 4 Old Irish 7 Olivia 1
Otto Lindeman 11 Parker-Levi 12 Prestige 19 Real People 14
Scioto 16 Seeley 5 Specialty 1 STDS (Prec. Mo.) 2
Thelma Resch 7 TJ Molds 9 Ultimate Collection 6 Unknown 1
Val Sheldon 3 Van Osdel 3 Vicki 40 Wen Ban 4
Antique Reproduction Doll Molds
BEC 16 Bell 9 Byron 267 Doll Creator 1
Fern 3 Howell 2 IMSCO 76 Irma's 8
Joli 5 Jones 41 Kais 4 Kimple 1
La Rose 1 Mystic 1 Nordquist 1 Robin Hood 14
Romans 13 Sams 1 Scioto 9 Seeley 47
Spectrum 1 Unknown 17 Ultimate Collection 1 Virginia LaVorgna 5
None of these mold companies are still in business. Soon a reproduction from one of these molds will be almost as valuable as the original doll itself. These molds alone are virtually priceless.
This is a partial listing compiled about five years ago. Numbers, names, details, and inspections will be provided to interested parties. The list does not include several hundred molds used for our Indian and Eskimo dolls.
List of Equipment
Shelving (Stationary) 7 Shelves, 18" wide 36" long; 16
Shelving (Stationary) 7 Shelves, 12" wide 36" long; 9
Shelving (Wheeled) 6 Shelves, 18" wide 48" long; 8
Work Tables 5/6 feet long 18
Kilns Cress E/F-23 Cone 10 220v 4 Small unknown 110V 1
File Cabinets 4 Drawer 3 (Full of patterns)
Sewing Machines Regular 5 (3 need work), Single Needle Fur 1, Serger 2
Computer with business data 1
More other stuff than practical to list: patterns, fabric, beads, trim, feathers, rabbit pelts, fur, leather, lacing, stuffed toys, hand tools, Sand-O-Flex, boxes, slip, cones, trays, packing material, show props, books, and the irreplaceable kluges that make the production possible.
A Doll Makers Dream come true!
Any offer will be considered but please be as professional in offering as you would be in operating the business. We want to move on not up!
Finder's Fee: A $5000 referral fee will be paid to anyone referring the ultimate buyer to this site. Simply put us as a copy recipient on the referring E-mail or E-mail the name to us. The reward will be paid as part of the closing settlement.
Inquiries
December 2011: 187 "We Wish:" 0 "We're Thinking:" 0 Offers/Open: 0/0
January 2012: 180 "We Wish:" 0 "We're Thinking:" 0 Offers/Open: 0/0
February 2012: 53 "We Wish:" 0 "We're Thinking:" 0 Offers/Open: 0/0
If you have suffered through to this point you must have had some interest to start. We will be happy to supply any other information to any appropriate potential buyer. Please take a moment to comment on the site, the page, your interest, and offer any suggestions or if you would like to converse with us please send your E-mail address to dond@storytimedolls.net. We will respond immediately if not sooner.