Stargazer Lottie doll-maker Ian Harkin expects footage of doll from International Space Station
Produced by Donegal company Arklu, Stargazer Lottie is currently on board the International Space Station with British European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake.
Company CEO and co-founder Ian Harkin expects to have footage of her on the space station on its website by Christmas Day.
Stargazer Lottie is one of 18 versions of the company’s Lottie doll, which is based on a nine-year-old child and, according to Mr Harkin, is the only fashion doll on the market which resembles a child rather than an adult — she doesn’t wear high heels or jewellery.
Since launching on the market in August 2012, Arklu has sold 300,000 Lottie dolls and now exports to 30 countries, with the US and the UK accounting for 75% of sales.
Up until now, Autumn Leaves Lottie had been the company’s biggest seller but she is about to be ousted by Stargazer Lottie, who has featured on Canadian and Irish TV this Christmas.
This is not the first time that Arklu has come up with an innovative idea for a doll which would sell without the need for a big advertising spend.
The company’s first product, in 2010, was a Kate Middleton doll, which it launched before the royal wedding.
She was followed by Kate and William dolls in 2011.
Examining the doll market, Mr Harkin and co-founder Lucie Follett identified a gap for a doll resembling a child, which unlike a fashion doll would stand on its own.
“Our aim was to create a doll which would empower girls through imaginative play,” says Mr Harkin.
A year after launching Lottie in 2012, the founders moved Arklu from London to Letterkenny.
Raising funding in London would have led to the Lottie becoming more commercial and a loss of the company’s values, says Mr Harkin who sold his London home to finance the move.
Securing a loan from Enterprise Ireland to match its own investment, Arklu set up in Letterkenny where it now employs eight people.
“In 2013 we had sales in eight countries, now we are shipping to 30 countries though 16 different distributors and selling in 3,000 stores,” says Mr Harkin.
US customers include Hallmark card chain and Barnes & Noble bookshops while UK customers include Toymaster and Debenhams.
In developing new Lottie versions, the company has sought suggestions from the little girls. who play with them.
This led to the launch of Fossil Lottie, Superhero Lottie, Gone Fishing Lottie and Robot Girl, as well as Stargazer Lottie, which was developed, with the help of a six-year-old Canadian space enthusiast called Abigail.
Earlier this year Mr Harkin asked the European Space Agency if Stargazer Lottie could go to the space station.
“In August, we got approval form NASA and in early December she arrived at the space station on Wednesday, December 9.”
Stargazer Lottie had sold out in the US even before she arrived in space.
Mr Harkin says that by the end of last week only limited numbers of Stargazer Lottie were left in stores.
Her success is expected to help push Arklu’s sales to over €1 million.
It is anticipating growth of 30% in 2015, but is making plans to up the ante next year and double sales.
In 2016, we plan to build a whole world around Lottie, to produce houses for her and to launch the first of six new Lottie books in March,’’ says Mr Harkin who will start the New Year by taking Stargazer Lottie and the other Lottie dolls to the world’s largest toy fair at Nuremberg.
Company: Arklu Location: Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Set up: 2010. CEO: Ian Harkin. Staff: 8 Product: dolls. Website: www.lottie.com
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