Harriett, I'd be willing to bet the babies and toddlers do show up on ebay as unknown dolls--have you noticed if the dolls you have have any markings on the bodies?  I doubt Integrity or Olmec babies and toddlers would fetch much on the secondary market, if one were inclined to collect either company's dolls for historical purposes.
 
I haven't the foggiest what became of Olmec.  The only whiff of a story I ever heard was that the company was struggling--I guess the way other small businesses often do when their market share is fairly small and their product concept is somewhat new to consumers.  But Olmec did catch the eye--at least enough to get that huge interview with Beauregard Houston-Montgomery I was quoting from.  You know, he was once friends with Helena Hamilton.  I've often wondered if Helena knew Mrs. Eason and if it were all coincidental that these 2 women were creating dolls for the same reason--they saw their children's toys poorly represented and felt a need to fill the void.  I wonder if they were actually competing against each other.  Dunno.  It's never occurred to me till now.
It'd be an interesting follow-up story to find out what Yla Eason is doing now.  Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: Harriett Weymon
To: Candi Chat List Owner
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: Olmec Toys

I remember Olmec Toys.  I have most of their Fashion Dolls.  The last one I purchased was the Imani with the Dredlocks.  I wondered what happened to the company.  Seems like they were improving the quality of their dolls when they disappeared.
 
I wish I'd gotten more of the Baby and Toddler dolls now.  They are probably hard to find now.
 
Harriett
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Brown
To: candichat@dolls.de
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 5:03 PM
Subject: Olmec Toys

Interesting.  So he was with Olmec?  Olmec was one of the earliest "black-owned doll manufacturers in the US to provide ethnic variety in a fashion/glamour doll (circa 1991-1994).  Hamilton Toys was another one at the time.  Olmec was a toy company that was founded, also, by an African American mother (like Helena ), her name was Yla Eason, who had a hard time finding "positive-image" toys for her son, named Menelik.  I didn't know Olmec had operations out of Richmond.  According to an 1993 Dolls magazine article, offices were located in the toy district of Manhattan (of course, there can be a difference in location for operations and corporate offices).   Some of you may remember the names of the Olmec dolls and the ethnicities they represented were Lisa/Consuelo, Naomi, Ellisse, Imani and Menelik, the Hip Hop Kids anda line of action figures called the Brown Bombers.
 
Thanks, Robin for getting that Dun & Bradstreet info.  Regards, Pat Brown
 
    
----- Original Message -----
From: Robin
To: candichat@dolls.de
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: Integrity playline in stores - reply

Hi all, just some extra, probably pointless, info.

 Integrity, according to the D&B Database, is not a public company:  There database reports the following:
Company Name(s): Integrity Toys, Inc
Street Address: 39 Jewett Ave 2
City: Jersey City
State/Province: NJ
ZIP Code: 07304
County: Hudson
Phone Number: (201) 434-3760
Sales: $1,000,000 U.S
Employees Here: 7
Location Type: Single Location
Line Of Business: MFG TOYS, DOLLS, EXCEPT STUFFED TOY ANIMALS
CEO: Mr Percy Newsum, President Executive
Biographies: PERCY NEWSUM
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1957
|BUSINESS OWNERSHIP: Started this business 1995
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE: Empoyed with Olmeck Toys Inc, Richmond, VA as Vice
President of Operations
OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: Plant Manager of Berbice Mining Co, Guyana.

Robin

  Pat Brown <nqsqurtz@staffnet.com> wrote:

I don't think Integrity is public, either. It's just as well it's not
because then there are all the headaches of catering to stockholders.

It appears to me that Integrity is the like the Little Toy Company That
Could...could give Mattel a run for its shelf space. It'll take awhile, but
I'm so one hundred percent positive of the artistic vision that Jason
provides the fashion doll line, that I would put money on the upcoming lines
attracting interest beyond independent dealers.
As long as Integrity sticks with its steady-as-you-go approach to marketing
its fashion doll line and supporting Jason's creativity, I think that within
7 years Integrity's higher-end fashion dolls will be readily available at
all TRUs. I'm not sure Walmart will ever get with Integrity because Walmart
affiliates itself with companies that can sell in gargantuan volume. Mattel
can do that. I wouldn't know or splls
> consistently sell out that the numbers the buyers order will increase. Of
> course, I'm sure that economic factors effect the money the chains may
budget
> towards a certain manufacturer. I'm not privy to the inside information a
> buyer for a large chain is working with.
>
> Perhaps talking to a manager of a store you frequent in your area with a
> small representation of the dolls requesting more variety would be
> appropriate. This could be followed up with a letter to corporate
> headquarters with the same request. If enough requests are received, the
> company may respond with increased selection. I'm sure Integrity would be
> happy to increase their sales, LOL!
>



Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions Great stuff seeking new owners! Bid now!