Dec 10, 2013

Introducing The Smart & Savvy Lottie Dolls Showcased at Toy Fair

Arklu introduces Lottie, a 7 1⁄2 inch doll collection that’s aimed at girls 3 and up. She isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes but she learns from them, she’s fervent, feisty and of course fun, just like little girls!

Lottie is not just a doll

The second range of Lottie dolls draw out the storytelling context that underpins Lottie’s diverse range of activities.

Lottie’s adventures take place on an imaginary island called Branksea, which is loosely based on a real-life island called Brownsea Island in Dorset, England. With its rich and varied history including Romans, pirates, Elizabethans and Victorians, as well as woodlands and wildlife, it is an ideal storytelling context for Lottie’s adventures and escapades. It was also where the Scouts held their first camp in 1907 and was the inspiration for an Enid Blyton ‘Famous Five’ adventure too, Branksea is not quite a Utopian world but it is one in which girls or boys can be who they want to be; it’s full of adventure, both fun and educational, whilst encouraging kids to enjoy the outdoors and use their imagination. Several of the storyline synopses that appear on each doll box allude to Branksea. Going forward, Branksea will play a pivotal role in Lottie’s activities, and the development of Lottie’s world in 2014 will take Lottie’s strong ‘pro girl’ feel beyond toy, into book and animation format too.

Come see the full line of smart dolls and accessories at Booth 1625 in the Schylling booth at American International Toy Fair in February.

For parents hoping their daughters will study S.T.E.M. – science, math, technology and engineering – playing with Butterfly Protector Lottie (all dolls priced $19.99) may inspire a love for nature, experiments and science. For a strong mind and strong body, girls will find intrigue with Kawaii Karate Lottie. Unconventional career paths can be found in Pirate Queen Lottie, not a current career track but a path that shows that women can do anything men can do! Right matey? And Robot Girl Lottie is a whiz at the science fair. An interest in robotics could happen by playing with this adorable toy!

How? Consider all of the detail Lottie puts into its dolls and accessory kits. First, Robot Girl is dressed in blue jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt, a blue hoodie with a metallic — Marie Curie inspired – “atomic” design on the front, a baseball cap, glasses and converse-style sneakers. In other words, very much like kids at school science fairs. To enhance the Robot Girl Lottie play time, the new Busy Lizzie the Robot Accessory Set ($9.99) includes practical suggestions for kids to get “hands-on” with robots – just like Lottie. This features a mini-biography of Erin Kennedy, Canadian robotics role-model, trailblazer and original “Robot Grrl,” and information about Kathy Ceceri, US award-winning author of Robotics, a fun and educational introduction to the exciting field of designing, building, and operating robots. These are real-life examples of powerful, positive role models for girls to emulate.

Lottie in the Media

The immediate impact of Lottie dolls from parents and has been reported by the media around the globe. The UK’s newspaper, The Guardian, summed it up best when it said that the Arklu company “did a survey in which parents talked of their concerns about very young girls not wanting to wear certain clothes because they would look fat. “’My daughter told me she had fat legs and tummy and needed to make them smaller – she was four at the time!’ said one,” The Guardian article said. Online media source The Huffington Post goes a step further and writes, “At least by doll standards, Lottie dolls look like 9-year-old girls are supposed to. And that’s their selling point, according to reports. Manufactured and marketed as an antidote to unrealistically proportioned and suggestively dressed dolls, the wholesome Lottie’s have sold by the tens of thousands since hitting North America” – all in just a few months!

The New York Times “Dolls and other toys for young children are especially important because they are still developing their own gender identity and are especially susceptible to gender stereotyping,” said Catherine Hill, director of the The American Association of University Women’s research department.” The article went on to recommend a number of different products that do just that, including the Lottie dolls!

Indeed all Lottie dolls are modeled on the dimensions of a real 9-year-old girl. The award-winning Lottie collection has become a hit in 14 countries. Stateside, over 700 specialty stores carry the doll since arriving in July.

Lottie Dolls USA has its own website, http://www.Lottie.com/US/ since the dolls are sold globally and are described in 17 non-English language versions including Chinese, Russian and Japanese! Here in the States on Facebook, Lottie is picking up fans daily as moms post pictures of their children with their favorite character.

The American toy industry has taken notice of the meteoric rise of the Lottie line. Multiple toy judges have awarded their highest praise and awards to the company that uses the tag line, Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio has awarded its rare Platinum Best toy Award three times in 2012 to the Snow Queen, Spring Celebration Ballet and Pony Flag Race. Priced at an affordable $19.99 each, the Oppenheim judges gushed: “an adorable collection of 71⁄2-inch dolls with removable clothing and moveable joints for poseable play. These are not fashion dolls in the traditional sense, but girl dolls. Their clothes have a high-end look, though the girls are plastic and not overly pricey.” In a matter of weeks, Lottie received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, A Scholastic Gold Star Toy distinction and Creative Child’s Preferred Choice and Seal of Excellence.

Mom bloggers have caught the Lottie fever and are anxious to share their finds with other parents of young girls. Writes Megan Conley aka MeginProgress.com in a thank you note to the doll company, “I have two daughters and have been searching for ages for a doll just like Lottie. A doll my daughters can relate to rather than an impossible image they feel they must live up to. So refreshing! When I read your description about the doll standing on her own two feet, I nearly swooned. The release of this product is just so timely! Thank you for making something so necessary and so cute. (Often difficult to combine those two things.)”



The Dolls

All Lottie dolls have Saran nylon hair and tactile fabrics with stitching detail, inner linings and attention to detail not found on dolls at this price point. Lottie has the detail of a high-end collectable doll at an affordable play doll price.

Each Lottie doll arrives in a giftable, illustrated and collectable “doll box bag” with handles with minimal plastic packaging. Lottie clothing is easy to dress and undress using Velcro fasteners. Her long hair — in various shades — is soft and won’t tangle or knot. Standing at 7.5 inches, she is perfectly sized for little hands to hold and carry her around the room and across town. Her jointed body can have her do splits and turn her head to strike a pose. All dolls and clothing are suitable for children ages 3 and up.

Check out the many new options for at Amazon.com including four new “hero” dolls that are at once inspirational, aspirational and extremely appealing. They join eight dolls to make the collection 12:

Robot Girl Lottie • $19.99

Arklu chose October 15, Britain’s Ada Lovelace Day, to launch this doll. It’s a day to celebrate the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and math. In the US, events to observe this day are staged in NYC, Hoboken, NJ and Providence, RI plus online.

Lottie is entering a Science Fair and she decides to build a robot that can “get busy” doing all the household chores she dislikes. She decides to investigate if it is possible to build a robot using recycled household items, including old shoes that she unearths in her messy bedroom. The aim is to introduce the theme of robots in a positive way – and via the unexpected medium of a doll – making specific use of the words “research” and “build” while encouraging girls to take part in the school robotics club or district science competition.

Busy Lizzie the Robot Accessory Set • $9.99

Busy Lizzie the Robot is not simply a standalone figure; it has interactive plug-in elements so that the arms and headpieces are interchangeable. The fun and appeal for kids lies in mixing up the

arms, headpieces and shoes so that they are miss-matched – after all, perfection is boring! The Busy Lizzie shoes are also interchangeable with those of the Robot Girl doll; they are, naturally, recycled.Interestingly, an actual science fair project by 8-year-old Allie Weber from Sioux Falls, SD, provided the inspiration for the set. A blog article written by Allie’s mother, describing Allie’s science fair project – an attempt to investigate whether it is possible to build a robot out of only recycled materials – also inspired the idea to have the Busy Lizzie robot wear “recycled” shoes that are interchangeable with those of the Robot Girl Lottie doll.

Butterfly Protector Lottie • $19.99

Looking to encourage your daughter to study S.T.E.M.? Lottie introduces science and conservation in a fun and engaging way. Lottie is dressed in her polka dotted green and white caterpillar boots and orange striped socks. Her pink and purple jacket tops off the outfit of orange corduroy shorts, a pink t- shirt with a removable butterfly patch and a cap with butterfly motif. Lottie also has a butterfly net, 4 butterflies and a pair of binoculars as well as a series of butterfly life cycle collector cards. The back of the doll packaging sets out a story that encourages imaginative play. Then the storytelling setting aids girls to understand why butterflies are so important to the ecosystem.

Kawaii Karate Lottie • $19.99

Be bold and brave and learn karate – just like Lottie! Lottie learns karate from her inspirational karate teacher who encourages her to try her best. The doll box includes “collector cards” demonstrating beginner karate stances that both the doll and the child can try for themselves. This Lottie theme was inspired by Sensei Debi Steven, founder of PeeWee Karate in London, who teaches young girls to achieve their potential. Originally from South Africa, Sensei Debi represented the Springbok “all styles” karate team and competed at both a national and international level. She is also founder of a ground-breaking initiative to deliver free self-defense classes to underprivileged females in India.

Pirate Queen Lottie • $19.99

Lottie is inspired by reading about the life of the original “Pirate Queen,” Grace O’ Malley, a real-life pirate who lived in 16th century Ireland, the “most notorious woman in all the coasts of Ireland.” Not a ruthlessly accurate historical representation; instead this is a memorable way to highlight an unconventional woman who has been airbrushed from history until recently. Don’t be surprised when kids ask to read more about her life and if she sparks a passion for history!

Pirate Queen Accessory Set • $9.99

The accessory kit includes replica silver pesos de ochos coins (pieces of eight) as well as a treasure chest and pirate flag …with Latin wording! Hic sunt dracones! (“Here be dragons!”)

To enhance the Lottie experience, look for these bold, intrepid and beautiful outfits:

Girls United Outfit Set • $9.99

Lottie and her friends have teamed up to make an all-girl soccer team. The outfit set includes shorts, shirt, socks, boots and football.

Body Boarder Outfit Set • $9.99

Lottie is all set for a fun, exciting day on the beach. The outfit set includes wetsuit, mask and snorkel, bucket, spade and body board.

Blue Velvet Outfit Set • $9.99

Lottie celebrates the party season and wears a spectacular blue velvet -style party dress, a silver sequin cardigan and matching silver sparkly ballet flats.

Raspberry Ripple Outfit Set • $9.99

It’s raspberry season again! Lottie enjoys going outside to pick plump and juicy raspberries straight from the bushes. The outfit set includes a raspberry ripple sundress, ice cream swirl tote bag and raspberry pink ballet flats.



Raising the Bar Outfit Set • $9.99

After months of preparation, Lottie is competing in her first gymnastics competition. The outfit set includes gymnastics leotard, competition number, gold winner’s medal and tracksuit pants.

Sweet Dreams Outfit Set • $9.99

Lottie loves to curl up with a steaming mug of cocoa (who doesn’t?) and watch a cascade of shooting stars. The outfit set includes all-in-one pajamas, dressing gown robe and pink fleece slippers.

Biscuit The Beagle Accessories Set • $9.99

The set includes a dressable Biscuit the Beagle dog figure and a dog bag for Lottie to carry Biscuit in. It also has a leash, an outfit, a dog bed, bone and drinking bowl

Seren The Welsh Mountain Pony • $19.99

Seren wears a saddle, bridle, stirrups and numnah (a saddle pad that acts as a protective cushion between the pony and the saddle)

Books

Pony Flag Race Accessories Set • $9.99

The set includes a fleece jumper for Lottie, a trophy, a riding hat cover and three rosettes

Look out for Lottie Chapter books in the Fall 2014, on each doll box there is a synopsis of Lottie’s adventures.

Social Media

For more information about the Lottie line of dolls, clothes and accessories, visit their social media sites regularly at

http://www.pinterest.com/lottiedolls/ https://www.facebook.com/lottiedolls http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialLottieDolls https://twitter.com/Lottie_dolls

ABOUT LOTTIE

Lottie doesn’t wear makeup, jewelry or high heels. She can stand on her own two feet (always a useful life skill for all girls, big and small). Lottie’s motto is Be bold, be brave, be you. Since her launch in August 2012, Lottie dolls have become something of a global phenomenon securing the approval of industry experts (17 awards and counting in the US, UK and Canada), child development experts, international press coverage (including The Guardian, Huffington Post, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC TV, City News, Toronto Star, San Francisco Chronicle) and most importantly, positive feedback from the parents and kids who love Lottie.