Pat, I'm unsure as to whether or not Integrity is publicly traded. I will ask Percy but I don't think that it is. Integrity is a family run company. Besides Percy, the lovely voice on the other end of the phone when I call is Joan, his sister, and the gentleman in charge of the warehouse is Percy's brother. I know that when containers from Asia arrive they are all to be found working from dawn to sometimes early hours of the next morn checking in the merchandise and reshipping to dealers. They may bring in extra help at this time but I believe the extra help is temporary. This leads me to believe they are a closely held corporation and not publicly traded.
I hear stories like Melissa's all the time from people across the US. Either the dolls don't appear at all, or, only certain ones appear and sometimes only briefly. The problem with these occurrences doesn't lay at Integrity's doorstep. It is the store buyers who determine the quantity that will be purchased and the distribution. I keep thinking that if the dolls 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!
Suzanne
In a message dated 1/24/2002 7:03:06 AM Central Standard Time, ebradfrd@crosslink.net writes:
<< Hi, Pat & all, I live in Southern Maryland & the only Integrity dolls my Ames carried this year besides the baby & toddler lines was the In Style Jordan & Alejandro which are still on the shelves. None of the "girls". One of our Walmarts occasionally has a couple of Janays from a couple years back. Our Super KMart had NO Integrity dolls AT ALL this year (2001). Our TRU had One case of the Cool Streaks & one case of the Ultra Divas & one case of the In Style Jordan & Alejandro mix, but that was it all year (2001). Since Integrity has its main office in MD, I'm really surprised that we don't see more of the dolls here. I am really disappointed in their "not showing"... What's it like in other parts of the country??? Melissa
I'm in a Northern Virginia suburb of the sprawling Washington metro area. Our Ames store provides an interesting view of dolls, different from Walmart, because Ames seems to be always trying some new doll line to complement Barbie. Walmart doesn't get creative with its doll selections, at all. The local Ames has always included Integrity playline baby dolls but the fashion dolls are expanding with Janay, Alyssa Alejandro. (My K-Mart is too far away for me to watch regularly, but my visit last week there were a few Alyssas and Janays.) As a matter of fact, I'm starting to notice that Ames has cut back a lot of the Barbie doll line and is now carrying another playline called Steffi Love dolls--they don't do much for me, but I always welcome variety to the doll shelf. Problem is, they've started carrying too many of these dolls. They seem like a cheaper-made doll and no imagination with face sculpts and screening or ethnicity.
Integrity's dolls, however, have long been a staple, albeit in small numbers, but present on Ames shelves. Within the year I've noticed the Integrity fashion dolls are slowly increasing visibility and their numbers on the Ames doll shelves. Integrity is a welcome alternative to Barbie because I think it's evident that Integrity can make a doll whose quality
is
comparable to any Barbie and the dolls offer some relief from the
seemingly
all-white dolls on most shelves. I think it's curious that Walmart hasn't put any of Integrity's fashion dolls on its shelves (at least here), but they put Kid Kore on the shelves. It must be their off-brand name of toys and dolls. I'd speculate, that once Walmart discovers Integrity fashion dolls do sell, watching Integrity prove itself a formidable contender to
the
Mattel fashion dolls throne will be a fun match to watch! Is Integrity publicly traded? Regards, Pat Brown >>