August 2009 Archives

InnoSera was an attempt to merge interest in things Anime and Lolita with BJDs. It was only partly successful. It's pretty clear the organizers had little experience with BJDs and this showed in how InnoSera ultimately manifested; hopefully next year there will be more balance between the three elements.

To be honest, I cannot comment on how well InnoSera did with the Anime and Lolita portions. I know too little about them.

As for the BJD portion of the programming, the biggest disappointment was the lack of vendors offering BJD-specific items for sale. Grace of JPOP Dolls was really the only vendor offering a decent selection of items designed for, and to fit, BJDs. Another vendor had some shoes and a few other items that happened to fit BJDs. She also had some inexpensive, nekkid BJDs of dubious origin, minus boxes. While some were cute, I was too leery to even think of buying one. An actual BJD retailer with reputable brands probably could have done very well. Most of the other vendors had a variety of items from fabric, to Hello Kitty-type merchandise, to custom artwork. I didn't spend much money there. I'm sure the depressed economy discouraged some vendors from attending, and probably many others from attending just for fun.

Because I was helping Ms. Cholong, Simon and Pasu of Elfdoll/Dollheart in their sales room, I did not attend any of the BJD-related events. Frankly, when I looked at the schedule, I probably would not have done so anyway. I saw no familiar names listed as presenting the events except for Ms. Cholong.  What I heard from several attendees is that the panels were underwhelming and possibly presented by folks who weren't as qualified as they perhaps should have been. There are lots of knowledgeable local people who could have done BJD panels or workshops. Hopefully next year some of these folks will come forward and do so. InnoSera would benefit greatly from them.

The folks at InnoSera definitely did some things very, very well. For example,the staff was unfailingly polite, patient, helpful and enthusiastic. Guests of honor such as Ms. Cholong of Elfdoll and Pasu Lau of Dollheart were very much welcomed and appreciated. I heard that the tea parties were a lot of fun and I hope they will be repeated next year so I can try to get to one. Overall organization seemed to be good. There was a convenient area set up specifically for folks who wanted to photograph their dolls.

One thing that impressed me very much about InnoSera was the creativity of those who attended.  I saw some very pretty or just downright  cute costumes for people and dolls. Other costumes were less pretty, but equally stunning in different ways. If you'd like to see some of the photos I took of all this creativity, look here.

This was InnoSera's first year.  Let's hope InnoSera 2010 benefits from the experience gained this year and comes closer to fulfilling the potential I saw lurking just beneath the surface.

I can't believe I haven't written anything since shortly after GoGa! June and July flew by and now InnoSera is only a few days away.

I will be helping at the Dollheart sales table at InnoSera and I hope to see some of you there! I continue to have reservations about its possibilities for success. There is still no list of exhibitors on the official website. I can't help but wonder if the organizers are afraid of less attendance if it's known in advance that few vendors will be there. Frankly, I'd consider keeping quiet about it, if I were organizing a con.  But keeping quiet about such a thing is not exactly a good way to inspire trust in people either. It's kind of a lose-lose situation. It's unfortunate that so few BJD companies are attending. Last I heard, Elfdoll will be the only company with any kind of presence. After seeing the decreased attendance at GoGa, with its well known organizers and track record, I just can't picture InnoSera being a success. Hopefully I'll be proven horribly wrong and I will have to eat my words. In that situation, I'd be more than happy to do so.

I was asked to write about the continuing effects of the economy on both my own doll collecting and what I see happening with other BJD companies and retailers. Personally, I can't remember buying any true BJDs since I closed the shop. I keep up a bit with what's being introduced by various companies, but have not been buying much in resin form. I'm still lusting after a Luo but have yet to take the plunge. I did receive the vinyl Evangeline I ordered at IDEX, and like her-and her fashions-a lot. I'm planning on buying a wigged version next, as I bought the rooted redhead. I confess to buy buying a couple of the Tonner BJDs. I especially like Sydney and Lady G, but I don't consider them true BJDs. Currently I'm getting into the 14" Kish Chrysalis dolls and Ellowyne Wilde. I bought a couple of Ellos with glass eyes, done by "Jim Dandy". They have yet to arrive. As far as I'm concerned, as with the Tonner vinyls, the Kish dolls are overpriced for having been produced in China, which means I will buy fewer.

As far as BJD retailing in the U.S., I honestly think I got out at just. the. right. time. Thank heaven. I can't imagine trying to keep a doll business going in this economy, not with the low profit margins and having to immediately discount new Tonner and Kish items, for example. I feel for those trying to keep their businesses alive; it can't be easy for anybody. Even before we announced our closing sale last year in August, sales were starting to slow down, including our hottest sellers like Dollheart. More people were having to cancel their layaways or pre-orders due to having lost their income. I see on various forums and groups that lots of collectors are trying to sell their dolls and accessories, either to be able to afford new stuff or just to pay other bills. Like so many others, I myself hope to sell a few of the BJDs I managed to accumulate over the years. I don't have the space, money or desire to keep everything. What I hear from friends is that they've had trouble selling unwanted dolls, so I'm not sure how successful I will be either. Lots of folks have stuff they need or want to sell, which means those lucky enough to actually sell their stuff will get less for it, unless it's something relatively rare. I may find myself offering layaway once again!! It truly is a buyer's market, at least regarding pre-owned stuff.

Even now, I keep seeing new BJD companies announcing themselves on Den of Angels and I have to wonder how long they'll last. The small companies might have an advantage over the big ones in today's economy. If just a couple of folks are responsible for sculpting, marketing and actually producing dolls, they keep the money themselves, as opposed to the bigger companies which hire factories to produce the dolls they paid a sculptor to create. There's no way all the companies currently in business can survive, nor should they. Hopefully those who survive will be the ones who offer the best service and product for the best price. Hopefully-and I admit to prejudice here-it won't be only the Chinese companies that survive. Like so many, I consider the BJDs made in South Korea or Japan to be the only true BJDs. It would be a huge shame if most of the companies in those two countries failed and disappeared.

I'll post again during or after InnoSera. I've got to make sure my camera is charged and ready to go! Next,  I'm planning on going to the Modern Doll Convention in October. It'll be my first time to that particular con and I'm looking forward to it. Our beloved Ms. Cholong will be presenting a BJD primer there which should be fun. No doubt I'll come home with a couple more dolls which I'll then have to make room for. That means clearing out even more of what's already here. The cycle continues. :)