Glamazon Extravaganza, the new RuPaul doll!

To celebrate Jason Wu's guest appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race on February 8th, 2019, Ru and Jason have teamed up with Integrity Toys to make the new doll available right as the next episode of Drag Race airs across USA. W Club got an early head start on ordering, before the doll was made available to the general public. This doll is more limited than the first one in the series. Click here to pr eorder.

Item # 14097

Glamazon Extravaganza

The RUPAUL Doll™

Approx. Ship Date: Early March 2019

Price: $145.00 + Shipping

Edition Size: 750

​Head Sculpt: RuPaul

Body Type: New Special Body Type

Foot Type: High-heeled (Compatible with FR Shoes)

Skin Tone: Light Honey

Hair Color: Wheat Blond

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Quickswitch: No

Includes:

• 12.5-inch/1:6 scale, fully articulated, vinyl collectible doll, rooted hair and delicately hand-applied eyelashes;
• Elaborate golden micro-sequined stage gown designed by Jason Wu;
• Golden open-toe pumps;
• Large hoop earrings;
• Two cuff bracelets;
• Miniature RuPaul "chocolate" bar accessory;
• Miniature Mally Beauty "makeup" accessory set;
• Miniature GURU "book" accessory
• Pair of hands with long manicured nails;
• Alternate pair of grip hands;
• Doll stand;
• Certificate of authenticity.

Offer Type: First-come, first-served pre-order.

Pre-order Start (general public): Friday, February 8th, 2019 at approximately 8 PM Eastern time (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST).

Price: $145.00 USD + shipping and handling.

Shipping Timing: This doll is expected to arrive the first week of March 2019. Full amount is due at pre-order time to reserve your doll and the doll will be shipped to you as soon as she arrives, approximately the first week of March 2019 (pending no customs delays).

Availability: Everyone (W Club members and non-members alike).

Order Limit: One per member for for the "head's up" period and no limit after that.

Quite a surprise there, unveiling the second new RuPaul doll just a day after the start of the 2019 registration period. Judging from the reduced edition size (750 instead of the previous doll’s 1000), they were probably not happy with the time it took to sell out the first doll. The new one is a golden rehash of the first, with make up accessories we have seen in Industry dolls, the bouffant high hairstyle we expect to see from RuPaul. The extras are a bar of chocolate and a book, which would not make me buy a doll, since I own the previous one.

All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2019 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. The RuPaul likeness and logo are designated trademarks of RuCo, Inc. ©2019 All rights reserved. Used with permission. The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.

Doll Photography by Jayme Thornton. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing

As always, the doll pictured is a prototype. Final colors and textures may vary slightly in final production. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

The W Club registration period is now open for everyone!

Just like last year, the 6th of February is the day that the W Club registration period opens for everyone. If you want to be a member of this exclusive Integrity Toys club, you have to register until the 3rd of March. Below, you can find more information about the W Club, the upgrade dolls and more. Or you can read about it all in the registration brochure here. Or go ahead and register here.

The W Club is the Official Collectors’ Club for all Integrity Toys collectible dolls, including their lines of Fashion Royalty®, NU. Face™, Poppy Parker™, East 59th™, The Monarchs Homme™ and other. The new club year will be packed with exclusive perks, new dolls, special offers, priority service and more. Should you have any questions at any time, please contact the Club Liaisons at wclub@integritytoys.com.

The W Club is an online based club and requires online registration plus a valid email address to receive information and special offers. it is run separately but in conjunction with Integrity Toys and acts as the collectors’ voice at the table for the company.

Joining the W Club means that you’ll be getting:

• First-to-know information & sneak peeks at upcoming dolls & more

• Exclusive access to members-only forums

• VIP customer service from the W Club Liaisons

• Guaranteed opportunity to purchase at least *5* exclusive Club-only dolls, including: 2 Fashion Royalty dolls (which may include NU. Face), 2 Poppy Parker dolls and 1 additional exclusive doll, plus additional surprise items such as The Monarchs Homme

• $25 coupon to be used towards any $99 or more purchase in the IT Direct Shopping Cart*

• Club-only opportunities to purchase dolls & more

• Exclusive members-only online events

• Priority convention registration and optional access to a Club-only event at Convention

• Special offers, right-to-buy lotteries and contests

• Access to private Q&A sessions with the Integrity staff and much more

*Details and instructions for this coupon will be sent to 2019 W Club Members at a later date, including that a one coupon limit will be allowed per order. Important exclusion: Coupons cannot be used to purchase additional W Club memberships. Any memberships bought with coupons will be voided, as the 2019 Club year does not officially begin until after registration ends.

How does registration work?

• The base membership for 2019 is still $50.

• All W Club members in good standing receive perks and privileges throughout the Club year, including first-to-know information, access to exclusive W Club merchandise (including the guaranteed opportunity to purchase W Club exclusive dolls), lottery chances for other exclusive dolls, contests, special offers, VIP customer service, the special offers listed on the preceding pages and more.

• You may upgrade your membership by choosing 1, 2 or all 3 upgrade dolls.* Upgrading your membership only gives you additional dolls, it does not affect any other perks. All members in good standing receive full access to perks.

• Upgrade dolls are produced based on the specific quantity ordered during registration, the dolls will arrive in approximately Summer 2019 and the balance of the payment will be due then.

• You can buy as many memberships as you want and for every membership, you can upgrade each with a Fashion Royalty Vanessa Perrin, NU. Face Lukas Maverick and/or Poppy Parker doll (up to 3 total, one of each item, for every one membership that you buy).

*Note: the Upgrade dolls ARE NOT the W Club exclusives for the year. You will still get 5 more exclusive dolls that you can pre-order later in the year.

Membership and upgrade options for W Club 2019 are:

BASE MEMBERSHIP: $50; Includes the opportunity to purchase at least five exclusive dolls throughout the year- including two exclusive Fashion Royalty dolls (which may include NU. Face), two exclusive Poppy Parker dolls, and one additional exclusive surprise doll- a $25 coupon and a variety of perks, privileges, special opportunities and offers throughout the year, from lines such as The Monarchs Homme collection.

OPTIONAL UPGRADES (these are in addition to the 5 W Club exclusive dolls that come with your base membership):

• Adding the Upgrade “French Kiss” Vanessa Perrin Fashion Royalty doll to your base membership will have an additional $25 deposit due now and $110 (total of $135 US) plus shipping, handling and tax will be billed approximately in Summer 2019, when the doll is scheduled to ship.

• Adding the Upgrade “Level of Suspense” Lukas Maverick figure from the NU. Face Collection (as voted on by 2018 members!) to your base membership will have an additional $25 deposit due now and $110 (total of $135 US) plus shipping, handling and tax will be billed approximately in Summer 2019, when the doll is scheduled to ship.

• Adding the Upgrade “Bossa Nova Beauty” Poppy Parker doll to your base membership will have an additional $25 deposit due now and $110 (total of $135 US) plus shipping, handling and tax will be billed approximately in Summer 2019, when the doll is scheduled to ship.

French Kiss Vanessa Perrin® 2019 Upgrade Doll

Item #91461

French Kiss

Vanessa Perrin® Dressed Doll

The Fashion Royalty® Collection

2019 W Club Upgrade

Body Type: FR 6.0

Head Sculpt: Vanessa 1.0

Quick Switch Feature: No

Skin Tone: Sunkissed

Hair Color: Sandy Blonde

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Foot Sculpt: High-Heeled

Vanessa Perrin is a 12.5-inch articulated vinyl doll with flowing, fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes. She comes with a multilayered outfit that includes a plaid overdress with a separate slip dress underneath, high-heel ankle boots, socks, hoop earrings, a “box” purse, a golden ring and an abstract cuff bracelet! Doll stand and certificate of authenticity included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. This doll will have a non-refundable deposit due immediately, with a balance due at shipping time, approximately in Summer 2019.

A 1.0 Vanessa doll is always good news - and in a tan skin-tone, now named “sun-kissed”, even better. Why do we get all that tan variables is beyond me - it definitely has to do with the haphazard way they make the skin tones in the Chinese doll factory IT uses, without a proper recipe with colour percentages, just mixing colours trying to match the shade. Not very good for replacement bodies in the future - just try to find a tan homme body and tell me about it. The screening screams Going Public Eugenia - in fact, when I first saw the first photo of the email, I thought she was Eugenia, not Vanessa. Beautiful accessories but I am not that crazy about the fashion. Jesse Ayala designed this one.

Level of Suspense Lukas Maverick™ 2019 Upgrade Doll

Item #82114

Level of Suspense

Lukas Maverick™ Dressed Fashion Figure

The NU. Face™ Collection

2019 W Club Upgrade

Body Type: Homme 1.5

Head Sculpt: Lukas

Quick Switch Feature: No

Skin Tone: FR White

Hair Color: Caramel Blonde

Eyelashes: No

Lukas Maverick is a 12.5-inch articulated vinyl male figure featuring fully rooted hair. He is wearing a custom designed detailed faux-leather jacket, over a classic white shirt and convertible pants (each section can be detached to create additional looks). Faux-suede sneakers, eyeglasses, bag, double wallet chain with snake pendant detail, one earring, figure stand and certificate of authenticity are also included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. This doll will have a non-refundable deposit due immediately, with a balance due at shipping time, approximately in Summer 2019.

First of all, dear Integrity Toys, please stop calling male dolls “figures”. They are DOLLS. Even the G.I. Joe figures are actual dolls that are named figures to placate parents buying them for their little boys. This is so backwards thinking, especially in this day and age. So please stop it. It does not fit with what Integrity Toys represents as a doll company.

Lukas is his usual gorgeous self but looks uncomfortably a lot like his first apperance, Raw Appeal, from the 2009 convention, minus the eyeliner. The outfit is not that impressive either. Compare it with Bellamy Blue from last year’s Industry collection and you can see why. Those convertible pants have got to stop - the Violaine ones were more than enough. So last year. Jesse, I was expecting so much more from this one.

Bossa Nova Beauty Poppy Parker™ 2019 Upgrade Doll

Item #PP150

Bossa Nova Beauty

Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll

The Girl from I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y.: Mission Brazil Collection

2019 W Club Upgrade

Body Type: Poppy Parker 1.5

Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker

Quick Switch Feature: No

Skin Tone: Hungarian

Hair Color: Raven

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Foot Sculpt: Articulated ankle

Poppy Parker is a 12-inch fully articulated fashion doll with fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes. She comes dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and includes jewelry, golden kitten heels, a purse and a newly designed standup microphone. A special themed package was created just for this collection. Doll stand and certificate of authenticity included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. This doll will have a non-refundable deposit due immediately, with a balance due at shipping time, approximately in Summer 2019.

David Buttry designed this one within the concept of this year’s Poppy spy theme, which story is taking place in Brazil. I love the print but not much more from this one. If you described her to me without any photos, I would have said “what a lovely doll”, but the execution seems slightly off to me.

Remember that all dolls shown are prototypes only, the final production may vary slightly.

And now the technical details of the membership:

• How do I become part of the W Club?

From now until March 3rd, 2019, you can qualify for the 2019 W Club by submitting a registration form and completing your payment. You can start your registration here:

https://www.wclubforum.com/2019clubregstart.html

No registrations will be accepted after March 3rd, 2019 at Noon Eastern Time (New York time). No exceptions.

• For how long is my 2019 Club membership valid?

Memberships are valid until the latter of January 1, 2020 or when the 2020 Club membership registration period begins.

• As a member, will I be guaranteed every exclusive item from the Club?

Every member in good standing will be guaranteed the right to purchase at least 5 exclusive dolls, which will be offered at various times throughout the Club year, including the 2 Fashion Royalty exclusive dolls (which may include NU. Face), 2 exclusive Poppy Parker dolls, and 1 additional exclusive doll during 2019. Members that added upgrade dolls during registration are guaranteed those upgrade doll(s), as well. There will be other limited items which will be available by lottery or first-come, first served opportunities. Please note that membership in the W Club does not guarantee access to Integrity Toys’ non-Club exclusive dolls and accessories. None of the dolls available through the Integrity Toys’ authorised dealers can be purchased through the W Club and are not W Club exclusive items.

• How many 2019 Club memberships can I purchase?

IT is not restricting the number of memberships by collector or household. However, memberships are non-transferable and cannot be shared.

• I live outside of the US. May I still become a member?

Absolutely! Membership is available to residents of all countries worldwide. Please note that all news releases and information will be released in English only.

• I would like the Club information sent to me via regular mail; can IT do that?

This is an online only Club and all members must have access to a valid email address.

• What forms of payment does IT accept?

All payments are processed through Integrity Toys’ online shopping cart system. They accept Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). They also accept PayPal. If you don’t have a PayPal account or a credit card, they suggest that you get a prepaid credit card, as it makes it easier for you to take advantage of their many offers.

• Can you tell me more about the purchasing of exclusive W Club dolls?

2019 W Club members are guaranteed the right to purchase the exclusive W Club doll(s) from 2019 only (these dolls are separate from and in addition to the upgrade dolls that you can purchase at registration). The number of W Club exclusive doll(s) produced is based on the number of pre-orders paid. If you do not pre-order the Club doll(s) by the designated cut-off date (there is usually about a week-long ordering window), you forfeit your right to purchase that Club doll through the W Club. Also, Club doll(s) from previous years are NOT available to 2019 members- Club dolls are only available during that specific membership year.

• Can you explain more about the Club coupon?

Each W Club membership that you purchase will automatically add a special $25 coupon to your IT Direct Coupon Wallet that can be used towards ANY IT Direct shopping cart purchase of $99 or more online only during the 2019 W Club year! As long as your order is above $99 before shipping and tax, you can apply your coupon towards any order of your choice! Full details and instructions for the $25 coupon will be sent to 2019 W Club Members at a later date, including that a one coupon limit will be allowed per order. Important exclusion: Coupons cannot be used to purchase additional memberships. Any memberships bought with coupons will be voided, as the 2019 Club year does not officially begin until after registration ends.

• When will I be able to log into the W Club forum?

Once your membership has been processed, you will be emailed the “Welcome to the 2019 W Club” notice. This notice includes information on how to register and be approved for the members-only forum, contact emails, email information and more. Due to the number of registrations that we expect to be receiving at this time, it can take up to a week or more for the welcome notice to be sent out and we appreciate your patience until you are sent the notice.

For answers to any additional questions, please contact the W Club Liaisons at wclub@integritytoys.com

For W Club Rules and Protocol, go to

https://www.wclubforum.com/wclubrules.html

to view the rules document.

So, are you joining this year? I know I will! Remember, the deadline is March 3rd, 2019!

All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2019 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. FASHION ROYALTY, POPPY PARKER, NU. FACE, EAST 59TH, THE INDUSTRY and all other character marks followed by ™ or ® are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. Chesapeake City MD USA 21915. All rights reserved. The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.

Doll Photography by Tony Pettinato. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing.

The fifth and final W Club doll revealed for 2018

The late start of the 2018 W Club year meant that we got the W Club doll releases crammed into the six last months of it. Hopefully the next year will be a bit more streamlined. This meant that members of the club got the notification for their last W Club offering in late January. The fifth and final Club doll is Eugenia, missing from the main collection so far, which should be welcome news to everyone. Jessy Ayala designed this doll, with only accessories and small details connecting her to Sacred Lotus and the Luxe Life Convention Collection. 

Item #91439

Secret Garden

Eugenia Perrin-Frost™ Mini-Gift Set

The Fashion Royalty® Collection

2018 W Club Exclusive

Approx. Shipping: Early Summer 2019

W Club Retail Price: $175.00 + S & H

Edition Size: TBD

Head Sculpt: Eugenia

Body Type: FR 6.0

Foot Sculpt: High-heeled

Skin Tone: Japan

Hair Color: Light Champagne Blond

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Quickswitch: No

Included:

• 12.5" fully articulated doll with fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;
• Two pairs of hands (one with long nails and one with the regular manicure);
• Frothy, ruffled black tulle gown with a crinkle texture bodice, cinched at the waist by a narrow black ribbon belt;
• Tan trench coat dress with drape and belt detail on sides;
• Chocolate brown flocked hat with black grosgrain ribbon trim;
• Black tulle neck scarf;
• "Silver" cuff bracelet, chandelier earrings and statement ring with "diamond" and "pearl" accents;
• "Silver" necklace with nature-inspired "diamond" and "pearl" stone charms;
• Alternate pair of asymmetrical small charm earrings;
• "Metal" clutch with sculpted leaf detail and skull clasp;
• Pale nude "pearlized" faux-leather purse with quilted detail and "silver"/"diamond" flower charm;
• Black and tan faux "patent leather" boots with "silver" zipper closure;
• Black holographic glitter high heels with clear bead detail;
• Doll stand;
• Certificate of authenticity.

Offer Type: W Club Exclusive pre-order.

Participation Deadline: January 30th, 2019, Noon Eastern time.
Special Pricing: $175.00 USD + S & H per doll.($25.00 NRD deposit per doll due now, balance of $150.00 + S & H per doll due approximately early summer 2019).
Final Edition Size: To be determined, will be based on all pre-orders received.
Shipping Timing: Approximately early summer 2019.
Availability: 2018 W Club members only.
Order Limit: Up to 1 doll per membership.

A very beautiful doll to end the year. She’s not groundbreaking or different from older releases, but she’s a lovely doll with gorgeous clothes and lots of accessories, justifying the price tag. Even though generally I preferred the earthy and dark tones of Sacred Lotus dolls versus the eighties pink/blue ones of Luxe Life, in this case I would have gone for the latter.

Another peeve: black gown. We’ve had big black gowns in the past (even though I own none of them). The fashion runways are filled with bright or pastel coloured big frilly gowns - check out the recent couture shows for Spring 2019. Why black? Just think how much better this would look in blue, fuchsia, yellow or green. Or even a lightweight print muslin. And enough with the tan trench coat! Give us one in an unexpected colour, like white, lilac, pink or lemon! Or olive green!

It’s the kind of choices and details that distinguish a properly trained and educated experienced designer from a talented but still-findin-my-way-one. Merely copying runway looks does not help in forwarding your work by itself. Studying and researching needs to be constant and thorough. Even if, accidentally, you score the summer garden thread of the Couture collections now held in Paris. And yes, I did preorder the doll. She’s a keeper. But she could have been a holy grail.

​The doll pictured is a prototype. Final fabrics, colors and textures may vary slightly. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2019 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

FASHION ROYALTY, POPPY PARKER, NU. FACE, EAST 59TH, THE INDUSTRY and all other character marks followed by ™ or ® are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. Chesapeake City MD USA 21915. All rights reserved.

The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.

Doll Photography by Tony Pettinato. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing

The fourth W Club doll is Looks A Plenty! Poppy Parker - 3 dolls in one!

This is the way a new year should start: a beautiful new doll! And when it is actually three dolls combined into one, even better. That’s the case with the fourth W Club doll, announce on the first day of 2019 to Club members. Poppy gets the Adéle treatment: the set consists of one doll plus two additional heads with busts and three different outfits. Of course Poppy only has one sculpt, but the body does have interchangeable feet: it comes with both high heeled and flat feet, to better accommodate all three looks. A completer pack is also offered: for $30.0 one gets two partial bodies (torso, legs and arms) to make the three dolls complete.  It’s a good price for three Poppy dolls: getting both the giftset and the completer set means 229/3=76.33 per doll. Not bad at all. Let’s check out this beautiful set.

Item # PP136

Looks A Plenty!

Poppy Parker™ Gift Set

The Poppy Parker™ Collection

2018 W Club Exclusive

Edition Size: TBD

Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker (For All 3 Heads)

Body Type: 1 Poppy Parker 1.5 Complete Body + 2 Additional Poppy Parker 1.5 Busts

Foot Type: High-heeled Lower Legs

Bonus! Extra Set of Lower Legs with Articulated Ankles Included!

Skin Tone: FR White

Hair Colors: Bright Auburn Red, Azure Blue and Natural Blonde

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Quickswitch: Yes (Switchable at the Torso Level, Not the Neck)

Included:

• Fully articulated 12" / 1:6 scale doll body with high-heeled feet and a bonus pair interchangeable lower legs featuring the traditional Poppy Parker feet articulated at the ankles;

• Three separate Poppy Parker doll heads, each featuring fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes (each comes pre-mounted on its own bust piece).

• MUSEUM PODIUM STAND INCLUDED WITH EACH GIFT SET:As mentioned in the description above, the gift set includes a museum podium stand that allows you to display not only the complete doll on her telescoping "saddle stand", but also display the other included portraits "museum style", on stylish acrylic podiums. The busts insert on a peg at the top of each podium, creating a showcase for any of your dolls.

Look 1:

• High-contrast, black and white polka dot evening gown, with train on the back;

• Chunky "jeweled" bracelet and matching oversized earrings;

• Alternate black "opera" length gloves (with painted on traditional Poppy hands);

• Black clutch purse;

• High-heeled shoes;

This is my favourite of the three looks, both as doll and outfit. I have a soft spot for red heads. She does remind me of the redhead included in another triple giftset, Mood Changers. This is the evening look, with the upswept hair and the gorgeous polka dot gown and it’s A-line shape. David Buttry confirmed on Instagram that this Poppy’s face is inspired by the screening originally used in Summer Magic Poppy. The dress is a 1964 Balenciaga Haute Couture gown.

Look 2:

• Black cowl neck sweater with Punchinello patterned pants;

• Black cat-eye glasses;

• Bright pink heart shaped enameled brooch (with magnet backing)

• Pair of red enameled stud earrings;

• Miniature soda bottle and drinking straw accessory;

• Black kitten heels;

Blue hair! This one looks a lot like a colour variant w Club 2018 upgrade doll Soda Pop Poppy - different outfit of course. She even has a soda bottle. Love the harlequin pants and the cowl neck sweater. Now there are three Poppy dolls with fantasy coloured hair - this one (blue), Ciao Poppy (pink) and one of the Mood Changers (lilac). Cannot wait to photograph them all together.

Look 3:

• Mauve baby-doll nighty and panty set;

• Simple bangle bracelet;

• Pair of stud earrings;

• Mauve pom pom slipper heels;

This is the simplest and most versatile one. I’m not crazy about the lingerie but it is something missing from my collection. The doll is lovely and with the long, flowing hair and relatively softer make up, will be able to wear many different outfits. She does remind me of To The Fair Poppy a bit.

• Pair of basic Poppy hands with red nail polish;

• Pair of alternate basic Poppy hands with pink nail polish;

• Pair of alternate "slight grasp" hands with soft pink nail polish;

• Museum podium stand (white acrylic with gold Poppy Parker logo);

• Certificate of authenticity.

Offer Type: W Club Exclusive pre-order.
Participation Deadline: January 9th, 2019, Noon Eastern time.
Special Gift Set Pricing: $199.00 USD + S & H per gift set.($30 NRD deposit per gift set due now, balance of $169.00 + S & H per gift set due approximately late-spring 2019).
Optional Body Completer Pack Pricing: $30.00 USD + S & H per completer pack.($15 NRD deposit per completer pack due now, balance of $15.00 + S & H per completer pack due approximately late-spring 2019).
Final Edition Size: To be determined, will be based on all pre-orders received.
Shipping Timing: Approximately late-spring 2019.
Availability: 2018 W Club members only.
Order Limit: Up to 1 gift set and 1 body completer pack per membership.

Final fabrics, colors and textures may vary slightly. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only. All text and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2018 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

FASHION ROYALTY, POPPY PARKER, NU. FACE, EAST 59TH, THE INDUSTRY and all other character marks followed by ™ or ® are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. Chesapeake City MD USA 21915. All rights reserved.

The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.

Doll Photography by Tony Pettinato. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing

The end of an era: Tonner Doll company shuts down

I was expecting to begin the new year with happier news, but unfortunately that is not the case. Robert Tonner announced in an email that Tonner Doll shut down with the end of 2018. Of course it was to be expected, after the restructuring of his business and his focus on Phyn & Aero, which left Tonner Doll only with licensed product, which was obviously not as commercial as it should. Licensing has the fees sucking out most of the profits, and if a company deals only with such a sector, it needs to have mass production and a wide array of product to be sust, something Tonner Doll had not. I’ll always cherish the Tonner dolls I own, and hopefully will acquire some more in the future. From now own, doll collectors will follow his endeavours with his other company, Phyn & Aero. Below is his letter. 

 My Dear Friends,

I was lucky enough to start Tonner Doll at a point when it seemed that everyone was collecting, making, buying or selling dolls.  At the same time, the Far East was willing and eager to produce whatever we wanted at a price that couldn’t be beat.    High demand and inexpensive, quality production led to the golden age of collectible dolls and great success for Tonner Doll.

It’s often said that the only thing you can count on is change; I whole heartedly agree with that statement.  I could go on and on about the changes in the collectible doll industry, but in short, the business model that I used to build Tonner Doll is no longer viable or sustainable.  Therefore, Tonner Doll Company (including the Tonner Doll web site, doll hospital, phones and emails) was closed as of December 31, 2018.

However……

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
― Jenna Evans Welch, Love & Gelato

I’m very excited that Phyn & Areo will continue with a brand-new business model, one that addresses some of the changes mentioned above and we will be exploring new ways of doing business.  Through Phyn and Aero, I’ll be working directly with our favorite retailers to create unique and exclusive dolls (look for the first Ellowyne out this Spring).  I will continue to design for and attend events throughout the year (Dollology, Shaker Doll Club, Doll Circle and UFDC to name a few).  At Phyn and Aero I will also continue to develop new product; we’ll be doing small batch, design driven products.  Rayne, a new character with unique (and I mean unique) accessories will debut around Toy Fair.  In addition, I am working on design projects with other companies (I just did a huge amount of work for FAO; that was both a challenge and a delight).  I think it’s going to be a very busy, very exciting 2019!

Over these past 28 years I have had to honor to meet, work with and befriend some of the most wonderful people there are—doll collectors, doll lovers and doll retailers.  I want you to know how deeply I’ve appreciated our journey together—and here’s to a bright, exciting, shiny, new future!
Warmest,

Robert

P.S.  Starting today, please visit our website at  www.phynandaero.com or call us at 845-802-5552.  You can also reach us through info@phynandaero.com

All photos courtesy of Tonner Doll.