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Is there a list of companies that have gone under?

Dec 3, 2014

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    1. I'm doing an essay on different aspects of the BJD community and I'm having trouble with my research. Is there an actual documented list of companies that have folded? Are the reasons listed?

      I would really appreciate if anyone can point me in the right direction. :daisy
       
      #1 Pathfinder, Dec 3, 2014
    2. As far as I know, there isn't a list. But i'm sure some of the users here could help you compile one... It would be every intresting to see. I believe the turn over rate for doll makers is quite high. I can easily think of 10 or so that no longer exist just off the top of my head.

      Until just a couple of months ago there was giglegeek, which I would have suggested as a great place to start making a list. It was a very early database of all companies with pictures that was last updated 2007-2008ish... It was a great 'museum' of old companies, a lot of those listed are gone...but the hosting expired just recently.
       
      #2 Sillypeach, Dec 3, 2014
    3. Agreed, there's never been a solid list. Some that spring to mind are Gomidoll (at least, I can't find their web presence anymore), Glorydoll, Serendipity (though I believe some of their molds have been bought by another company). Then there's companies that still have a web presence, but I honestly haven't seen any activity from them in ages - Notdoll Lab, Domadoll, Elysium for artist heads etc.

      Then there's also company drama, such as the Narin dolls, where it could be argued that there was a gone-under situation. Though it was more that the company dealing the Narin dolls screwed over a large customer base, Bimong could not keep up with the backlog, D-storic came in to try and fix things after etc etc.

      I'm sure there's more since I recall a lot of older companies and artists, but I'm not up enough on them to see if they're still around or not. There's definitely been some sad losses in the hobby though, whether it be company or just lines within a company.
       
      #3 Schtiel, Dec 3, 2014
    4. I don't know if this counts but Customhouse/Aidolls has had a lot of drama and problems over their history and their English web presence is gone. I don't know if they still sell through their website in other languages.
       
      #4 Syrill, Dec 3, 2014
    5. #5 yuan_mdx, Dec 4, 2014
    6. There's quite a bit of information about defunct companies in the DoA Wiki.
       
      #6 Cynthia in FlintHills, Dec 4, 2014
    7. Unidoll. Sadly, Unidoll are gone now. :(
       
      #7 Khell, Dec 4, 2014
    8. Domuya, HappyDoll, I-Doll Studio, Angelsdoll.

      The BJD Obyrarium, if you can still find a copy, had a lot of older companies listed.
       
      #8 Alewife, Dec 4, 2014
      • x 1
    9. Felixdoll. After the whole debacle with the owners wife running off with the money, I believe they went under, and their sculpts belong to another company now. (I never did get refunded or anything for the tiny they never made, bah)
       
      #9 Teabender, Dec 4, 2014
    10. Buddy Doll is another that went down. They had said at one point that they were closing temporarily to restructure or something and never came back. I was sad over that as I loved their Mars Tough sculpt for one of my characters but couldn't get the cash together to buy him before they disappeared.
       
      #10 Iron_Dog, Dec 4, 2014
      • x 1
    11. Thanks for the input everyone! I managed to complete my paper, but while we're on the topic, I think it would be a good idea to make a master list of all of the companies who have gone under, and why. :) The wiki currently doesn't cover this topic.
       
      #11 Pathfinder, Dec 4, 2014
    12. I just found out gigglegeek is gone completely *sigh* "this web space is expired"
       
      #12 aeryn, Dec 4, 2014
    13. Angelheim. Sadly.
       
      #13 Lilit, Dec 22, 2014
    14. DoA members are free to update the wiki regarding each company that had gone under. That's probably the best and fastest way of going about things.
       
      #14 satyrsmoon, Dec 23, 2014
    15. J'aime, too. :-(
       
      #15 Sarenka, Mar 5, 2015
    16. Yeah, everyone, update the Wiki! It's no good letting all that knowledge go to waste! :)

      ...
      Actually, considering how long bjds have been around and how difficult it is to make a living from dolls, the number of defunct companies is pretty low, I think. Most companies are really just a couple of people--maybe just the artists, often. Running a business isn't easy, so sometimes the artists just put out a few dolls and then go on to something else. Or crap happens and they have to stop. Plenty of companies have had problems with all kinds of things they aren't in control of and most come back, but it's not easy. I think it's amazing how many companies have continued for so long! :)
       
      #16 april, Mar 5, 2015
    17. I think Dollstol closed recently as well. The domain is still up but it's empty.
       
      #17 ninive, Mar 5, 2015
    18. Anybody remember when Charles creature cabinet went under? That was horrible.. he kept taking orders but wasn't fulfilling them. When people started asking about their dolls he started sending fake tracking numbers. It was bad :/
       
      #18 lookame, Mar 5, 2015
    19. #19 ezzora, Mar 5, 2015
    20. Infinitidoll. They were run by an ex-sculptor from LUTS who apparently stole some of their designs when he left and it looks like they sued and won. (They made a post about it in their news section during an argument with Dear Mine about product similarities.) Such a bummer all around.
       
      #20 Amet, Mar 5, 2015
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