American Girl was acquired by The Mattel Corporation in 1998 for $700 million in cash and stock options. Mattel reported that the purchase would help it focus on “establishing a significant presence in the substantial and growing market for products targeting girls aged five to nine.
” American Girl had already become a popular brand and the acquisition was a major move by the Mattel Corporation to increase their presence in the girls’ toy market. Since the purchase, American Girl has become even more successful and has been a primary seller of dolls and books targeting young girls.
American Girl has grown to include over 6,000 products, spanning books, clothing, furniture, gifts and more. The company also has retail stores, a popular website and even a magazine. Overall, American Girl continues to be an important part of Mattel’s business and the acquisition has proven to be a smart investment.
Is American Girl owned by Mattel?
No, American Girl is not owned by Mattel. American Girl was founded in 1986 and it has been owned and operated by the Pleasant Company since then. In 1998, Pleasant Company was acquired by Mattel but in October 2019, toy company Kids Brand Insights acquired the American Girl business from Mattel.
According to their website, American Girl is now a privately held company independent from Mattel.
When did Mattel Buy American Girl?
Mattel acquired the American Girl brand in 1998. Founded in 1986, American Girl initially existed as a direct-market-based doll brand that distinguished itself from other doll businesses by offering story-telling books and high-quality dolls as a set.
After experiencing success as a direct-market business, American Girl opened its first retail store in 1998, and Mattel acquired the franchise that same year. Since then, American Girl has expanded to sell a variety of books, clothing, and other accessories, as well as introduce its own line of movies and webisodes.
With Mattel’s acquisition, American Girl was taken to a much larger international stage and its transformation into a leading global brand was set in motion.
Which American Girl doll is most valuable?
The American Girl doll that is currently most valuable is the Historical Character Samantha Parkington. She was released in 1986 and is one of the oldest dolls in the line. Samantha’s original price tag was $86 and she is now worth around $900 – $1200. She is a 9.
She is a 9. She is dressed in a white dress with lace detailing and a matching hat. Her accessories include a fringed shawl, brown leather shoes, and a skirt with a floral pattern. Samantha came with her own book and was one of the first characters to establish the American Girl brand.
Samantha’s popularity has made her not only valuable, but also a beloved character for generations of young girls.
What was the first American Girl doll?
The first American Girl doll released was the Samantha Parkington doll. This doll was originally released in 1986 and was part of the Historical Character Collection. Samantha was an orphan from the Victorian era who had a positive attitude and a passionate heart.
She was an 8-year-old girl from 1904, living with her wealthy grandmother. Purchase of the Samantha Parkington doll also included a set of books about her adventures. The books were written by author Valerie Tripp and followed Samantha through a variety of heartwarming experiences.
Through the books, readers discovered her friendship with Nellie O’Malley, her beloved dog, Muffin, and her special bond with her grandmother.
Throughout the years, the American Girl Doll collection has included many more historical characters from different points in American history. Each doll comes with a variety of accessories and a set of books that tell stories that are rooted in the past.
Today, American Girl Dolls continue to be popular with children who are eager to explore their American heritage.
What is Addy Walker worth?
The exact net worth of Addy Walker is difficult to quantify, as she is a fictional character from the American Girl doll line. However, based on the American Girl doll’s affordability, it can be estimated that Addy is worth around $100.
Addy Walker is a doll from the American Girl Historical Characters line, and was released in 1993. She has a unique backstory; Addy is a runaway slave who escapes to freedom with her mother behind the Underground Railroad.
Addy’s life-like features make her an excellent historical teaching tool for young girls. Additionally, various books which depict the story of Addy Walker have been used in elementary school classrooms around the United States.
All American Girl dolls are custom-made with high-quality fabrics, and Addy is no exception; her facial features and authentic overall look are meticulous and very detailed. Addy Walker has various accessories to match her clothing, and she holds a place of prestige among the American Girl doll collection.
Ultimately, it is impossible to exactly determine the value of Addy Walker and her accompanying products in terms of monetary value. However, it is safe to assume that she is worth substantially more to those who have collected her and others who have used her to teach lessons about American history.
Her influence in this regard and unique backstory have proven to be invaluable in many areas.
What company owned American Girl Before Mattel?
Prior to Mattel’s acquisition of American Girl in 1998, the company was owned by the Pleasant Company, which was founded by Pleasant Rowland in 1986. The company originally sold books, magazines and dolls portraying girls from different periods in history, such as Kirsten Larson from the pioneer era, Samantha Parkington from the Edwardian era, Molly McIntire from World War II, and Felicity Merriman, a colonial-era girl.
Rowland named the company “Pleasant Company” to express her desire to bring “pleasure to girls and their families. ” She chose to focus on historical dolls and stories, believing this would provide an important educational experience for girls.
In addition to the historical dolls, Pleasant Company also sold contemporary dolls, dolls from contemporary stories, and accessories for all the dolls. The company was so successful, that it was eventually acquired by Mattel in 1998.
How do I know if my American Girl dolls pre Mattel?
In order to determine if your American Girl Doll is pre-Mattel, you can look at the identifying marks on the back of the dolls. Before the Mattel takeover in 1998, most American Girl Dolls were made by the Pleasant Company.
If you see “Pleasant Company” printed or stamped on the back of the doll along with “© Pleasant Company/The Deluxe American Girl Collection” as well as “Made in China” on the former dolls, you can assume your American Girl Doll is pre-Mattel.
Additionally, categorizing these dolls by the date and location of purchase is another method of determining how old the doll is. If you purchased the doll pre-1998, it is likely a pre-Mattel American Girl Doll.
What is the difference between Pleasant Company and American Girl?
Pleasant Company and American Girl are both companies that specialize in making and selling dolls, clothing, books, and accessories for active play. However, there are a few key differences between the two companies.
Pleasant Company is a privately owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. It was founded in 1986 and is focused on producing historically themed dolls. The company is best known for its central character, the 18-inch American Girl doll.
American Girl is owned by Mattel and focuses primarily on modern dolls and their accompanying materials, such as books and clothing. American Girl was launched as a mail-order business in 1986.
The central character in American Girl is the brightly colored, modern American Girl doll. Pleasant Company’s collection is comprised mainly of historical dolls and period-centered activities. These include various accessories, books, and clothing specific to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Finally, Pleasant Company dolls are usually sold in a bundle that includes a paperback book about the doll. On the other hand, American Girl dolls are often sold as individual sets, with dolls and accessories often sold separately from the books.
Why is American Girl retired?
American Girl is a doll company that has been retired in part due to market trends. Over the past few years, the doll market has shifted toward digital products, active-play toys, and child-oriented media, leading to a decline in the demand for traditional dolls.
Additionally, American Girl dolls were known for their high-end quality and sophisticated level of detail, which made them a luxury item that was often a discretionary purchase. As traditional dolls become less popular, and as families become more cost-conscious, fewer people are opting to purchase American Girl dolls.
Ultimately, American Girl has chosen to respond to the changing market conditions by phasing out the majority of its doll lines. It says that it will remain open to partnering with outside toy companies to offer high-end dolls to meet specific needs.
American Girl plans to focus on items other than dolls that support its mission, such as books, accessories, and other products and experiences.
Is American Girl still popular?
Yes, American Girl is still very popular! Since its launch in 1986, American Girl has grown to be a global presence in the world of toys and dolls. Every year, American Girl releases new dolls, redesigned versions, themed collections, and accessories to keep up with the changing times.
American Girl also produces books, doll clothing and accessories, as well as media and entertainment such as movies and TV specials. Their merchandise is available online and in stores throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK.
American Girl not only serves as a popular brand for dolls and toys, but it offers educational benefits as well. The company’s “BeForever” line of dolls teach young girls about history, different or cultures, and inspiring stories of important female figures in history.
American Girl has continued to be a popular brand among girls of all ages and has been a go-to brand for gifting as well. Every year, parents and grandparents buy American Girl items as special gifts for young girls.
The versatile products, combined with the educational aspect and commitment to giving back to the community, make American Girl’s popularity continue to grow.
What happened to the Felicity doll?
The Felicity doll was unveiled by the American Girl company in 1991 as part of their Historical Character Collection alongside the other original characters; Kirsten, Samantha, and Addy. Over the years, the company released several items related to the character such as clothing, accessories, and books.
In 2009, American Girl announced that the manufacture and sale of Felicity’s Collection products would be discontinued; however, they still offered her books and other products featuring the character in their online store until 2020 when they announced they would no longer be selling the Felicity items.
Despite the discontinuation of the product line, Felicity is still a beloved character in the minds of those who experienced her story and one of the characters that remains popular among past and present American Girl customers.
The company has continued to feature the character in activities and storytelling events at their retail stores. The character also still appears in the company’s online and catalogue stories and activities.
How much does Molly McIntire cost?
Molly McIntire’s cost varies depending on where she is purchased. On the American Girl website, her basic doll costs $115, while her Historical Character Collection outfit and additional accessories can cost up to $248.
Additionally, more accessories and outfits (including Madame Alexander Doll clothing) can be found in physical American Girl stores and at other toy retailers, such as Target, at a variety of prices.
