Corporate Babysitter

American Girl Salon includes exfoliation services. For the doll.

Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:08:38 +0000

A trip to the American Girl Doll Store in the Mall of America, courtesy mspmag.com. I suggest you watch curled up in a fetal position, as more than likely you will end up there anyway.

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Mommy bloggers and internet activism

Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:49:12 +0000

I’ve never considered myself a mommy blogger even though I am a mommy and a blogger. Seems that all mommy bloggers are (inaccurately) lumped into one big marketing demographic. With one voice and one opinion.

The mommy bloggers were recently credited (accurately) for convincing the makers of Motrin to remove a condescending, insulting online ad from the company’s website. No small feat.

Read the story from Lisa Belkin at the New York Times.

Critics have suggested that this story exists only in the mommy blogosphere-twitterverse echo chamber, which may or may not be true. But any time media messaging can be affected by those who pay attention — those who take a moment to see advertising with a critical eye — it’s a victory for all of us demanding reform.

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Handling holiday advertising on BlogTalkRadio

Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:47:35 +0000

The economic pinch couldn’t come at a worse time for those of us with children expecting a normal gift-laden holiday. Tomorrow, Friday, I’ll be interviewed on how to handle the onslaught of holiday advertising by Minneapolis Community and Technical College librarian Ginny Heinrich. MCTC’s BlogTalkRadio show, Our View from the Park, begins at 11:00 a.m. Central time. It’s a call-in show, so if you have questions or just want to say hi, call (646) 200-4753.

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Good news/bad news in girl’s retail stupidity: Club Libby Lu, American Girl

Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:20:29 +0000

Patrick Byers recently asked if Club Libby Lu was responsible marketing or not, but it seems it doesn’t matter anymore as the retail stores will be closing.

Boo. Hoo.

From Nancy Gruver at Girl Media Maven:

. . . Club Libby Lu shopping and makeovers are not about imagination, self-expression or individuality. They are about conforming to someone else’s idea of who you should be and how you should look. What Club Libby Lu really does is indoctrinate little girls into a culture of comparing themselves to others and striving to change themselves into someone else. Yuck.

Meanwhile, the new American Girl Store in our own Mall of America is hiring Doll Hair Salon Sylists.

Dream Job-Get paid to play at American Girl

. . . At the store, girls can shop for their favorite American Girl dolls, books, and accessories; get a new ‘do for their dolls in our signature Doll Hair Salon. . . . If you’re an experienced retail and/or hospitality professional, the job of your dreams is waiting at American Girl.

We’re currently seeking:

Sales Associates
Doll Hair Salon Stylists
Stockers
Visual Merchandisers
Event Associates

See, you take your $100 doll into the store and get its hair styled.

One of the newest “historical character” dolls from Mattel’s American Girl line is this one from way back in 1974. [Ahem.] The doll comes with this $18 old-fashioned accessory — a popular toy back then — a Barbie head with hair you could style. Yourself.

How quaint!

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Real girls, real Halloween costumes

Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:43:58 +0000

With all my complaining about girls’ Halloween costumes, I was happy to see Halloween Vamping for Girls Wears Thin. Seems that what girls and parents want is not exactly what costume retailers are offering.

To prove it, Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me is sponsoring a Real Girls costume contest. Parents have been sending in photos of what their girls really wore on Halloween; readers can vote on their favorites. Contest ends today.

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Dear Mattel, Disney, and friends: Since you’ve got to scale back your marketing budget anyway, how about leaving my kids alone?

Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:01:12 +0000

Drop everything and go immediately to join CCFC’s letter-writing campaign to tell toy makers to stop targeting kids this holiday season. I know the economy has already caused riffs in our home about what we can afford — and my kids rarely see televison commercials.

. . . Even though experts predict parents will spend less on toys and gifts this year, marketers are still planning their usual holiday ad blitz to kids.

It’s never fair for corporations to bypass parents and market directly to children. But with parents everywhere worried about making ends meet, it’s especially cruel to bombard children with ads for expensive toys and electronics.

Your letter will go to: Mattel, V-Tech, Leap Frog, Hasbro, Spin Master, Jakks Pacific, Techno-Source, MEGA Brands, MGA Entertainment, LEGO, Activision Blizzard, Thinkway Toys, ThinkFun, Electronic Arts, Ganz, Oregon Scientific, Disney, Playmates Holdings LTD, Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, Microsoft, KMart, Walmart, Target, and Toys R’ Us.

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