The Story behind Barbie's Success

In 1945, Ruth Handler, the legendary woman behind Barbie Dolls, owned a toy money-spinning business making picture frames made from wood. She and her husband Elliot Handler tied up with their friend named Harold Mattson paving the way for the creation of the famous Mattel Toy Company, producing Barbie Dolls.

It was in 1959 when the first Barbie doll was ever launched and until now, its success just can't seem to stop. Every second, a Barbie dolls are created and sold in the market in over 150 countries all over the world.

The beginning of Barbie happened when Ruth Handler visited Switzerland in the 1950s and she bought a beautiful 1955-made Lilli doll from Germany. The doll was created using hard plastic and she had shoes and a pair of earrings on. Doll lovers have the choice of getting the Lilli doll either the one standing at 7 inches or 11 inches.

This first Lilli doll Ruth Handler purchased had long hair tied back neatly and had a large assortment of clothes available to anyone who loves dressing dolls up. It is actually the same doll that stirred Ruth Handler's senses to craft the famous Barbie dolls kids of our generations are so fond of. The moment Ruth Handler saw this Lilli Doll, she knew right there and then that she was going to design a new doll she will call Barbie, named after her daughter Barbara and Barbie Dolls' boyfriend Ken named after their son Ken.

Seeking the aid of some technical people along with the engineers of Mattel Company, this dream was finally put to reality. Barbie was introduced and Mattel got its patent for the first Barbie doll in 1958. She was a stylish doll unique to all her other contemporary dolls, with long legs, shapely body and perfect face, standing at eleven and a half inches.

Barbie did not immediately receive a sizzling warm welcome from the public when she was first introduced to the market. Toy buyers were used to the baby dolls they have grown accustomed to, not the newly designed kind of doll like Barbie. However, eventually, Barbie made its public recognition in 1960s when purchase started brewing up giving Mattel a difficult time to produce according to Barbie Dolls' demand. And in 1970s, Mattel was able to deliver Barbie stuffs valued at USD500 million. And after having been in the dolls market for 43 long and successful years, Barbie continues to receive the love and devotion of Barbie enthusiasts the world over.