Would you go to a physical BJD store?

Honestly, would love if there was a place to go to see these dolls in person. I think half the wariness is being unsure on how big these guys can be XD but also, it would allow for easier browsing of all the different companies and styles. Digging thru Google searches and other people's recommendations takes much longer, and still feels like I could be missing out on that really awesome find.

 

I didn't know these were a thing at all until seeing some of the replies on this thread... Something to go find, I suppose! Though I doubt there's any in my area.

Would you go to it?
Oh yeah! It'd be fun to run around and check everything out; goodness knows I can already spend so much time in yarn and bookstores.

What would you expect to find there?
Dolls - probably some nude, some fullsets. Clothes, shoes, wigs, eyes, props, maybe some furniture.

What would you want it to have?
A nice variety of doll styles. Some different companies, a range of prices, etc.

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?
No problem at all! Heck, it would be super fun if it had hobby supplies, patterns, or general nerdy things.

 

Would you go to it?
Yes absolutely!! Though I think I might get intimidated.

What would you expect to find there?
Maybe a smaller selection of dolls, or something similar to what other stores do, and have some physical dolls along with some paper slips you can take up to order. Also absolutely a lot of accessories.

What would you want it to have?
I personally would love to see more doll sized props for specific sizes, even if they werent specifically made for dolls.

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?
Of course! I feel like, at least in my area, a store for just BJDs might not be very financially manageable, and would probably expect to see other kinds of dolls and possibly other collector items.

 

Would you go to it?
YES!! I miss being able to go to doll shops and see things in person before I buy. I would save so much money if I could see what I am getting in person!

What would you expect to find there?
All types of BJD's, clothes and wigs that fit them, eyes in different sizes, shoes and accessories for them.

What would you want it to have?
Pretty much what I stated above as well as props and furniture, roomboxes would be cool too!

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?
If it was all doll related.

 

I have been to a physical bjd store though it was a couple years ago. I went to the volks store in Akihabara when I was visiting japan to learn about animation back in 2013. I was blown away by how many beautiful dolls there were but I couldn't afford to get any and I didn't want to get anything too big since I was traveling with a group. Before that, I went to Denver Doll in person on a family vacation, that's where I picked up my Dollchateau Bella as another birthday present I believe? I still have the original receipt so I could see the more specifics. It definitely was a lot smaller than the volks store and it felt like a hole in the wall, I think we drove past it a couple times before finding. I mostly remember the clerk disappearing into the back room and reemerging holding my Bella in her box. It was love at first sight, she's a bit of the black sheep of my collection but I just adore her and treasure that memory.

 

I would absolutely go to a physical store, but I don’t think there are any in New York. I would expect to find brands like fairyland, luts, souldoll, etc....not really artist brands though. I’d want the store to have a wide selection of dolls plus clothing and accessories. Also, a drop off station for restringing :-) think of it like shoe repair LOL Small related action figures and azone dolls would be good too...maybe related pins and t-shirts. Basically anything doll related or closely related.

 

I would love to visit a store with BJDs! I haven't seen any in person besides my own, since I joined the hobby during the time when meetups don't exist >_> I generally like buying things in person, even if I was just window shopping it would be worth a drive to visit
It would be cool if they carried dolls, clothes, props, accessories, and customization supplies all together
I wouldn't mind if the store space was shared with other types of dolls, or with other import/specialty collectibles as well. The more the merrier! BJDs only would make it pretty niche and would probably struggle more to stay open

 

I would love to go to an actual brick and mortar store. I would like to see all the things others have talked about - clothes, wigs, eyes, furniture. Plus the ability to order dolls and have them shipped there. Perhaps a small meeting room for local clubs, or a room with props and good lighting to take pictures. I would go if within 2-3 hours of where I live.

 

Hahaha, I wish! I bought my first BJD without ever having seen one in real life at all! Worked out fine, but it would've been easier on me if I had a frame of reference. Love what I've picked, feel confident now but I would've liked knowing before paying a large sum for something I've never seen before.

 

I would love visiting BJD related physical stores, when I got into the hobby I realized DDE was only about an hour away from where my brother moved to. I'm really hoping they can reopen to the public again in the future so I can swing by on one of my vacations out there

 

There are few years ago, I think I would have say yes, but, I prefer meetups. Meetings are more friendly, we can to exchange, to learn, to discover... Even if, we can to buy and to sale, it's a detail.
In BJD store, I think is most marketing.
And I'm difficut on dolls, there is little chances I find what I'm looking for.

 

I actually went to a meet-up at Mint on Card about a decade ago. It was a lot of driving, but made for a great all-day trip. I believe I only just received Genji in as a floating head; I don't even think I had his face-up done yet. It was really nice, and organized basically as you would expect. A section for eyes divided up into sizes and stores, clothes the same way, et al. There were even a few dolls on display they got out for us to inspect and try out the posing with. I would go back if I could, but I was sad to learn they closed in 2018.

Edit: I forgot to add that I couldn't afford much back then, but I did buy Genji's eyes from there. It was really nice to see them in person first.

 

Would you go to it? Yes! I wish there were more of them

What would you expect to find there? Lots and lots of clothes

What would you want it to have? a great selections of shoes

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too? I would prefer it to mainly be BJD hobby

If you have been to a physical bjd store, how was it?? I have been to Volks stores here in California. It was mainly doll parts on display then the location moved to a smaller store front and everything had to be requested to see in person. I get that they moved to save on cost (most likely) but I missed seeing the items I could glance at.

 

Would you go to it?

Oh my gosh, yes! Even if I can't afford anything at the time, I could see the dolls myself or the clothes and accessories and get a better idea of what I would want for my next doll.

What would you expect to find there?

Dolls, clothes, accessories, face-up stuff, books and such for learning, tools, etc.

What would you want it to have?

About all the same things I'd expect but not full lines of a companies dolls.

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?

Oh, absolutely. Other hobbies could help inspire new ideas and I love exploring new ideas.

 

Would you go to it?
Definitely! One day I hope I can go to the Fabric Friends and Dolls store or one of the stores in Japan.
What would you expect to find there?
Dolls, clothes, wigs, eyes, stringing tools, and other doll-related things.
What would you want it to have?
I would want it to have a wide variety of dolls from different companies on display. Sometimes I gawk at so many dolls from so many companies, I wish I could seem them in person before I decide!
Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?
I wouldn't mind having other hobbies there, too. But I'd prefer it to mostly be bjds.

 

If you had a physical store devoted to BJD in your area:

Would you go to it?

Yes, most definitely!

What would you expect to find there?

In stock BJDs, accessories, clothes, eyes, stands, displays of dolls out of boxes.

What would you want it to have?

See above.

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?

Yep.

If you have been to a physical bjd store, how was it??

Yes, I've been to Akihabara and I've visited the Volks (I think it's called Doll Point Akihabara), Dolk (I think it was Dolk), and Azone stores and was amazed! I didn't end up buying dolls, but I bought lots of doll maintenance stuff at Volks, and Volks store had areas set up for photos and I watched a number of male doll owners posing and taking photos of their dolls. I also spent a ton of time looking at the Azone collection. Azone store is one of the most amazing stores - it's practically a miniature museum with so many dolls in full costume and set rooms and the amount of stuff available is astonishing! Dolk had a number of BJDs behind a glass case, which allowed me to see some Ringdoll and Dollzone sculpts in real life. At the time, although I already had BJDs, I was more surprised and shocked at the Azones so I spent more time there. Azone also had a ton of books related to crafting for Azones, but they were all in Japanese.

The biggest issue I had with all the stores was that they disliked people taking photos of their displays (you can only take photos at specific locations). I wish they allowed photography without flash.

 

Would you go to it?
There are two small physical BJD stores in Beijing but I haven't been to any of them. It's not that I don't want to, but they're just a bit too far from where I live. Everything they have in the physical stores is also listed on their online stores and I can't convince myself to take a two-hour subway ride just to go and take a look in person.

What would you expect to find there?
Doll items as everyone else has already covered, in-stock dolls, photography backgrounds and props, restring service, etc.

What would you want it to have?
I just wish the stores could be bigger with more items. The ones in Beijing are really crowded and small in size and if they were bigger I probably would pay them a visit despite the distance.

Would you be fine with it having other hobbies in there too?
Sure why not

 

I'd love to go to one! Not for the dolls themselves, but for all the ancillary items and the crafting stuff related to it.

 

I found out that Fabric Friends and Dolls, the BJD and other doll-related site, has a physical store in MD, and it's not too bad of a drive (I drive long distances so my idea of "long drive" is a bit weird to be fair) and they're allowing people inside if you make an appointment.

I think once I'm vaccinated or after covid is a bit more under control, I'm going to make a trek out to visit it, if its physical location survives the pandemic. I think it'd be so cool to be able to actually see things in-person and maybe even take a few of my dolls to see what might fit (not trying on stuff in the store, but comparing them visually).

 

I would be so happy if there was a physical bjd store in my area that I could bring my dolls to and find the proper eye sizes, wigs that fit, clothes, etc. I'd shoot there so often and probably apply to work there. It's a shame we don't have physical stores for BJDs here in the states.