IDEX - Rehash

[SALwkdwtchnwLY]

OK. Now that IDEX is over I have a question or two.

For those of you who attended and for those of you who only wished you were there, what was missing?

Were there accessories or artists not there that you wished were there? I wished there had been more of a variety of clothing to choose from. I bought a baby and I needed a blanket for her. I finally did buy one but it wasn't precisely what I wanted. So, tell me, with next year's IDEX in mind, what would you have liked that you couldn't get there at IDEX 2010??

[Pebby]

HI Sally

A blanket would of been a good thing! When I was at IDEX a few years ago and won my precious Miley by Angela Harris, I didnt have a blanket to bring her home in, Thank goodness I did have a brand new pink towel and that was her blanket to get home in.

[jacque123]

I was thinking about selling baby blankets at my Booth as I must have about 30 more here at home! Ah, there's always next year. Thanks for the idea, Sally.

[just_Brenda]

Sally great topic !
I would love to see more baby items like blankets and handmade clothes for our babies.
I also think some fun wearable items for us collectors would be fun to see too .
For instance I have a glittery pin that I wear that says " I LOVE DOLLS" and everyone asks where I got it .

[DianeLovesBabies]

I love that pin you wore Brenda and would love one for myself. Great post Sally....maybe we can give some of the vendors some ideas of what they need to stock in their booths and tables for Idex 2011....

[Jenny]

I would love to see more accessories for the babies..Like...Blankets, bottles, magnetic paci, hairbows, hats, clothing . I can spend some money on things for my babies...

[r2pn_sheri]

For there not to have been soooo many babies sold before it opens to collectors on the Saturday afternoon
I only got to see 4 Hutis because the rest sold and were removed from the table before collectors were allowed in

For Ashton Drakes booth to be able to sell things instead of just showcasing

For the contest results to be displayed somewhere so that we arent left wondering

finally, for the retail room to be bigger and alot better, or to take it out and just let them show in the main room

The artists that i wish were there were Lorna Miller Sands, Michelle Fagan, Vikki Ebbeling, Donna Lee, Jackie Gwin etc
Janet & Carol of Lullaby & Eva Helland (wishful thinking )

[Veradolls]

I would love to display/sell my creations (clothes and accessories), but booth are way too expencive, even retail room is unaffordable.
As a spectator, I would love to see more reborn artists... and to be able to enter the show room on Friday, to have more choices.
HUGS

[Joyce]

Although I missed IDEX this year because of the ruptured appendix, Here are things I wanted offered that were not at the 09 IDEX.
A professional photography area where you could have your picture taken with your new baby, or new friends and babies.
A calendar with pictures of dolls, IDEX events, anything doll related. I got an Adora Calendar, but I wanted more than just Adora.
Clothing and blankets

[Melissas Babies]

Idex is suppose to be a trade show although somethings are for sale after the Shops order. The Doll and Teddy Bear Expo coming up in Oct is a Collector show where you will be able to purchase from the Exhibitors!! Idex is like Toy Fair .

[Agatha]

That sounds like a good list Sheri! A real collector talking. That is weird that dolls were sold before the collectors came in... I mean, you came a LONG way!

[tanyasbabylove]

I didnt mind that there were not so may clothes to purchase because there is a outlet mall VERY close by where I got Carters, Children's Place, Gymboree, Janie and Jack, Gap and much much more at SUPER prices. I had to purchase a huge luggage bag to take it all back home to Australia in and I spent less than $300!!!

I wish there was all the bountiful baby supplies there to purchase and loads of different reborn kits. I planned on spending a fortune on reborn supplies to save me on the HUGE postage costs to Australia but sadly really lucked out.

I would have loved to see JackieG, Marita Winters, Natalie Scholl, Michelle Fagan, Sandy Faber, Bonnie Chyle, Donna Rupert, Camille Allen, Shawna Clymer, Tammie Yarie(s?) and sooooo many more!!!

[Elisabettas Babies]

Good question Sally!
First of all, thank you to all of you wonderful ladies who were there!! It was the highlight of my 2010 so far to meet you all.
I think I was hoping to see... more.

More clothing and accessories, in a wider range of prices. More cute stuff, like baby shoes and so.

More artists and exhibitors... IDEX is shrinking before my very own eyes, year after year.

More glamour and importance to the Tiny treasure exhibit, which looked like somebody put the dolls on the table just for a moment, to go to the restroom maybe...

And well, MORE LIGHT!!! I'll yell this to the high Heavens, more LIGHT!!!! My eyes are still tired!!!

[Beachwalker Mandy]

Sally, I am one of the ladies who only wishes I could have been there. I didn't see a thing to miss, but I guess if you were needing to find a pretty blanket, then that is a wonderful suggestion for those who go and offer baby supplies to bring next time. I thought all in all the IDEX this year was just lovely. I enjoyed all the pictures and it looks like all the ladies had a grand time. I do love those Huti babies, and I am in agreement, if only they could have brought more to go around.
A lot of work was done to get ready for IDEX and I think the ladies all did such a wonderful job. Beautiful babies, everywhere.

[~Marilyn~]

It was my first IDEX and I couldn't have been more pleased!!! My greatest disappointment was that I could only get one baby! There were so many wonderful reborn artists , all so talented , all with gorgeous babies! I wanted one of each!
I am in agreement with most of you who wanted more baby things to purchase. I have been wanting plain white fitted diapers and opaque side snap vinyl diaper covers. How about a carrier/snuggy that lets you tote your baby on your hip? That would have been a sure sellout! I just couldn't do the front carrier. And finally, why did the sellers bring dolls to a US show that can't be purchased in the US? Kind of a tease?? I was disappointed to learn that some of the dolls were there for display only along with ones that could be bought.
All in all.......it was soooooooooo worth it! Everyone should start saving now for next year! I am praying that I will be able to do this again!!

[milliemoos]

I wrote on this elsewhere but will post my main thoughts

I think many of us collectors don't have that it's a Trade Fair primarily at the front of our minds. This means that inside the show floor exhibitors are not allowed to sell anything except for one show special. They can take orders for other dolls.

This was where the confusion lay for me. I did not know this but found that some exhibitors were selling nothing, some were selling everything, and some were selling some things and not others (and it wasnt clear what was for sale and what was not for sale!)

So maybe the retail room needs to be enlarged considerably so those who are selling can have tables in there?

I think the TT contest needs to be organised better. I had to go and ask for a voting form. Since I was given one I imagine anyone could go back countless times and ask for one. Also it needs to be stated on the website that it's designed for advanced reborners and not intermediates. With TT having classes for beginners on offer I wrongly assumed there would be many non-advanced reborners entering and that advanced reborners would not be entering such a contest (my fault!)
Maybe a contest for beginners would be fairer and invite more entries from those 'in the know'?

The retail room was fab BUT needed more supplies. I was in heaven with the vintage dolls. But I came for kits and eyes and mohair and other bits and pieces which are expensive in the UK. These would not have taken up much space for sellers to bring down. Even Irristibles had half their table taken up of pictures of kits which are on their website - this could have been used to sell all the much wanted supplies.

I agree that clothing can be found at the outlets - I too had to buy another case and on the last day (Monday) err....had to buy some perfume....just so I got the freebie bag with it as we needed another bag (they thankfully ignored the one piece of handluggage rule!)

My other major moan is about TT classes - PLEASE could these be scheduled for outside of showfloor hours! I had to miss either doll viewing (I dont just reborn - I collect other sorts of dolls and wanted to spend hours looking at them) or miss out on TT events.
On the days before there were few classes which was a shame really as the hotel car park is expensive!
It would have been possible to do back to back TT events and never have time to set foot on the IDEX showfloor at all - so I had to miss some TT events just to be able to see the dolls and be in Heaven in the retail room!

[jacque123]

Back in 2008 at the Tiny Treasures Doll Show I had a table to show/sell my babies. They, also, had a reborn contest and I entered three of my dolls in the contest. At that time I had only been reborning for about 9 months. I, of course, didn't win anything in the Reborn Contest, but, they came to my table and interviewed me about suggestions on making the Tiny Treasures Show better. I told them that they should have a Reborn Contest for the newbies to Reborning and a seperate contest for the advanced and master reborn artists. They liked my suggestion, but, obviously didn't listen to me!

[christineskeepsakebabies]

If I am able to get a Booth at idex for 2011 or 2012 These are things I know I could do (and want to do)
sell:
reborns
real baby clothes and blankets for dolls
bottles
paci's (magnetic, or modified)

And an area (within the booth) to take pictures of your special new doll/bear or person with their new doll for a small fee. *if allowed*

It was my very first doll show AND first time at Idex. I am hoping to make enough dolls this year to be in Idex next year. I already know how I want to display everything in the booth,lol. I was too busy to do hardly any reborning last year . Now to find some one to share a booth with for next year. How would one go about doing that, and how do they work out the financial part ? I am thinking I would pay for everything as if I were the only one donig it, but make sure there there was room for someone else, but also make sure I had extra stuff in case they backed out. (?)

[Laura Tuzio-Ross]

Hi Ladies,
Thank you all who came to Idex!!! It was exciting to meet everyone either again or for the first time!!!

Some things I would like to change (and have already been mentioned)
#1 COLLECTORS SHOULD BE ALLOWED INTO THE SHOW FIRST THING IN THE MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT 1PM ON SATURDAY!!! Artist spend money and collectors spend money to get there, and get their babies there, and then the collectors are not allowed in except for a few hours??? doesn't make sense.
#2 ALL DOLLS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE COLLECTORS, AND NOT JUST THE "SHOW SPECIAL", AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE RETAIL ROOM IN ORDER TO SELL OUR DOLLS AND KITS TO COLLECTORS.
#3 THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR STROLLERS AND SO THE NO STROLLER POLICY WAS UNCALLED FOR. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A REAL BABY WHO IS SLEEPING IN ONE.

Something I wish I had done but didn't anticipate...
I didn't have enough kits for demand of overseas dealers who wanted to take their kits with them. I didn't anticipate that there would be so many overseas people who would have liked to take their orders with them.

Also, I wish I knew who the artists were whose babies were in tiny treasures, and also if they were available for adoption, as I had collectors who inquired about reborns (done with my kits) in the show and did not know whose babies they were. The reborn artists lost potential sales if they were available for adoption.

Hugs!
Laura

[~Valerie~Anne~]

Idex is suppose to be a trade show although somethings are for sale after the Shops order. The Doll and Teddy Bear Expo coming up in Oct is a Collector show where you will be able to purchase from the Exhibitors!! Idex is like Toy Fair .

That's a good point, Melissa. I hope Expo turns out to be a big show like in the "olden days".