Thursday, January 3, 2019

The Tonner Company is Gone, But Tonner Dolls Linger On

  It has been announced that the Tonner Doll Company is no more. The website closed down at the end of December. Yesterday the company sent a message out:
" I was lucky enough to start Tonner Doll at a point when it seemed that everyone was collecting, making, buying or selling dolls.   At the same time, the Far East was willing and eager to produce whatever we wanted at a price that couldn’t be beat.    High demand and inexpensive, quality production led to the golden age of collectible dolls and great success for Tonner Doll...the business model that I used to build Tonner Doll is no longer viable or sustainable."
  I was curious when, late last year, I received an email from a company named Phyn and Aero,advertising the new Patience doll. The doll wasn't available on the Wilde Imagination site. (Tonner's other doll site.) That was explained in the email too.
  "Through Phyn and Aero, I’ll be working directly with our favorite retailers to create unique and exclusive dolls (look for the first Ellowyne out this Spring).   I will continue to design for and attend events throughout the year (Dollology, Shaker Doll Club, Doll Circle and UFDC to name a few).  At Phyn and Aero I will also continue to develop new product; we’ll be doing small batch, design driven products.  Rayne, a new character with unique (and I mean unique) accessories will debut around Toy Fair."
  Robert Tonner also said he'll be working on projects for other companies too. So for those of you who are fans of Robert Tonner's dolls,there will still be new dolls.
  So there you have it. You can see the Phyn and Areo site HERE. For those of you keeping track of old collections,the Wilde Imaginations archive has moved to Phyn and Areo too,although it doesn't seem to have anything there right now.
  Don't forget to check out today's Doll-A-Day too.





5 comments:

  1. I got this announcement yesterday too, it's a shame but everything comes to an end I guess. I quite like the new Ellowyne body but doubt I'll ever buy another Ell purely because of the Spanish customs, they're so expensive. I still have my Dorothy of Oz and will keep her as I really like her face. She will be my one and only Tonner doll now :)
    x

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  2. I have to admit that I'm disappointed in the direction that Tonner took, but I am happy with the dolls that I have.

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  3. Thanks for this update. I don't have any Tonner dolls but some women in my local doll club do. We will be meeting this Sunday. I will share this news with them. It is always good to know what is going on the doll world.

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  4. "Phyn And Aero shutting down at the end of March 2019"

    Just my luck.

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    Replies
    1. I missed the Patience doll they had too.

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Thanks in advance for your comments.