The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on our honorees and their award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.
Melanie Corpstein created Adorable Originals for each of us. What began with $25 and an idea for a T-shirt business in 1989 evolved into a highly successful toy and book collection in 2008. Today, Adorable Originals are sold in more than 6,000 independent boutiques and department stores. And in 2009, Melanie added a Mom’s Choice Award® to the broad recognition and celebration of these wonderful products.
Melanie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and two sons.
MCA: Can you please tell us about the inspiration for Adorable Originals?
Melanie: In reflecting upon my own childhood, I found a special place in my heart for children who feel “less than” for how they look or what they have and in response to dolls that send mixed messages to girls about how they should look or dress, I saw an opportunity to create a collection of hip, huggable dolls that would be used as a tool to help parents teach girls while they are young about the value of “true beauty.” I began to imagine a world where girls are taught at a young age to feel proud about who they are and that there is great value to inner beauty.
MCA: What are your goals for Adorable Originals in the next year?
Melanie: My goal is to increase awareness of the importance of self –esteem and the recognition that true beauty starts in your heart. Through the continued development of Adorable Girl products it is my mission to spark conversations in homes across America about what makes a person beautiful and to use these dolls as tools to begin the process of teaching our kids about values – how to value others and well as themselves.
MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to purchas an Adorable Girl product (doll, clothing)?
Melanie: Low self-esteem is at the root of many of the problems that we see in our teenage girls today. In our society, today more than ever, through mass media there is a great emphasis on a person’s outward appearance over true beauty. It is my mission to teach girls at a young age to feel proud about who they are and that there is great value to inner beauty.
I created the Adorable Girl dolls to teach this positive message. The Adorable Girl dolls are a diverse collection of six hip, huggable dolls that are actually tools to help parents teach girls the value of inner beauty. Girls join the Best Friends Forever Club receive a matching pearl necklace that signifies “inside every girl is a pearl”, the pearl of inner beauty. Let’s make it our mission to teach girls what true beauty is!
MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning product line. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?
Melanie: The easiest part was designing the doll. I knew that I wanted it to be huggable, fashionable, and affordable. As a manufacturer, the hardest part has been conveying the mission and message of the dolls to the end user/consumer. What surprised me most was when I researched the doll market and saw the number of inappropriately dressed dolls that were sending the wrong message to our young girls and amazingly, the number of parents that were buying them.
MCA: Since launching your Adorable Originals dolls, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Melanie: As I began to promote self-esteem for girls, it proved to be a hot topic. I appeared on several local morning TV shows and interviewed with several local newspapers. One day I received a call from the producers of CNBC’S “The Big Idea” with Donnie Deutsch inviting me to appear on their show. They flew me to New York where I did the show and afterwards received many letters and e-mails in support of my mission. This was very gratifying and encouraging.
MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for Adorable Girls dolls?
Melanie: Moms are incredibly powerful when it comes to making a difference. The majority of decisions to purchase a product are made by mothers. The Mom’s Choice Award® is given for quality, family friendly products, and that describes my dolls exactly. Moms are like a sisterhood. To see a product with your mark of distinction adds credibility to my product.
MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Melanie: I am very proud to be included as a past recipient with so many amazingly creative business leaders. I am honored to have a product worthy of this prestigious award.
MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning dolls?
Melanie: When I started developing the product, I was motivated by what I saw other people experiencing, but as I got further into the mission I realized that I was deeply passionate about the message because of my own past experiences.
MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Melanie: Absolutely, if they provide a product or service that I feel would qualify for your quality and family friendly standards.
MCA: How have you/your company benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Melanie: Since my award is so new I can’t name specific benefits, but when I am showing my product to a prospective buyer they always ask me about the Mom’s Choice Awards® and the criteria for receiving it.
Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors
Adorable Originals Sporty Girl Doll
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