- Founder and creator of Barbie doll, Ruth Handler has become the most successful business woman at all time. She was born in Polish and actually stayed in Denver, Colorado with her family members. She was the youngest child from ten of her siblings.
Ruth Handler with her husband Elliot Handler,daughter, Barbara Handler and son, Kenneth Handler
Her humble appearance has attracted Elliot Handler which then proposed to her and got married in 1938. Elliot Handler was the founder of Hot Wheel which is one of the Mattel popular products. Both of them have a daughter named Barbara and Kenneth which then become the trade mark of Ruth famous product Barbie and Ken doll.
She had to face business and motherhood world because her daughter wanted her more to be a normal mother while she cannot resist to leaves the fast phase of toys industry development. During that time, a woman is known to manage family in home only. Yet by that, she have to make schedules for her life journey and make her family as her priority in her scheduling arrangement.
Before becoming one of the most successful business women, she was working as a secretary at Paramount Studios, while her husband studied and began designing household products such as candle holders. In 1942, she joined ventures with her husband and their friend, Matson and become founder of Mattel Inc. and turn profit in 1945 for their doll house furniture business.
In 1970 she had being diagnosed with breast cancer. There was no breast prosthesis that satisfied her. From her requirements, Nearly Me product had being introduced by Ruth Handler. The project aims to create new and fit artificial breasts and she had hired woman that were experiencing mastectomy to market prosthesis.
Ruth Handler with prosthesis product
She died in Los Angeles, California, on April 27, 2002 at 85 years old. She faced complications from colon surgery and left with her husband of 63 years; a daughter, Barbara Segal of Los Angeles; a brother, Aaron Mosko of Denver; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
She inspired most of us that images are not the only things that boost our self esteem but the ability to make one effort matters the most in life. Her Barbie product has become the iconic toys in child history and yet she inspired us to make family as the ultimate priorities in our life.
Ups and down of Barbie
First made Barbie doll that were launch in the 1959
Barbie is an adult-bodied woman toy that basically focused towards the interest of little girls. By default, the model of Barbie dolls were made with blond ponytail hair styles and suited with black and white zebra striped swimsuit.
Mattel have come out with more than 80 careers for Barbie in 40 years. The Barbie owned career consist of astronaut, librarian and so much more. This has made up wide range of child interest in owning one of them.
Example of Barbie dolls in certain career which isin teacher outfit (left) and astronaut outfit (right)
In 50 years of Barbie dolls anniversary, quite a big range of career have come out to meets children and parent expectation yet making Barbie as the top competitor in the toys industry. Below are the rhythm of Barbie product in 50 years time.
Video of story line for 50 years of Barbie product through out the year
Some Barbie product that distributed by Mattel are followed by fashion trend that occur today. In addition to that, variety of Barbie equipment and fashion list being produced which consist of kids fashion line from wrist watch to boots, Barbie's manicure set and the little tiny house hold for addition item to play with Barbie.
Barbie Pink 3 Story Dream Town house
Mattel have made their main toys business into variety of product based on their hot selling product of Barbie. That made them incredibly outstanding and they are able to beat Disney as their competitor for bringing the interest in most little girls.
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During some visit to Europe in 1956, Ruth Handler discovered a German Lilli doll. She then brought the toy figure to Mattel to point out her brilliant ideas of creating an 11 ½" foot high fashion doll. She then hired fashion designer, Charlotte Buettenback Johnson as the first designer of Barbie outfit.
From left, Ruth Handler and her husband, Elliot Handlerduring the 90's of Barbie early debut
Charlotte Johnson : The first Barbie designer outfit
Inspired by her daughter, Ruth Handler suggested to his husband, Elliot Handler upon creating an adult doll for little girls at that time. At that moment, she was just realized that her daughter, Barbara and her friends quite enjoy playing with paper doll with the imitation of adult woman rather than baby doll toy.
The Barbie doll was first debut on March 1959 with the price of only 3$ and was first introduced during International American Toy Fair in New York. From that time being, Barbie doll had become the upmost popular product ever being created by the Mattel.
On the following year of 1960, Barbie’s “boyfriend” named Ken named from Ruth and Elliot’s son Kenneth. Mattel had sold more than 351,000 Barbie in the first year alone. This has become a phenomenon in the toys industry and last until now.
Source :
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Barbie
Barbie - The Introduction
Mattel Creation was first established in the home garage in the Southern of California founded by Ruth and Elliot Handler and Harold “Matt” Matson. The company was the first to produce the picture frame and dollhouse furniture made by leftover wood scraps.