Thanks for bringing this up – it’s actually something I’ve been meaning to talk to you all about.
We’ve got a bunch of prototype test heads sitting around – new characters, skin tone variations, and other experimental ideas like this photo of Transcendence Anime in Black Navy. While we’d love to make more of these available, the process of figuring out the best wig and eye combination, taking product photos, registering SKUs, and prepping batches for the site takes up a fair bit of time and resources. This can be especially tough when we’re not sure how well a particular prototype will be received.
That said, sales aren’t the only factor we consider. For instance, Marvel Vitiligo is a character we’ll release regardless of projected popularity – representation matters, and that’s something we’re committed to.
So here’s an idea I’d like to float: a sort of “off the menu” approach – like the secret menu at In-N-Out.
We’d have a single page listing Smart Dolls by title only – names like “Transcendence Anime Black Navy,” “Prowess Coffee White Whiskers,” “Not My Problem (Cinnamon),” or “Ce La Vie (Tea),” for example. Folks who place an order would be trusting us to choose the wig and eye combo. Having an order in hand would justify investing the time and resources, rather than preparing stock and hoping it sells – especially since storage space is limited.
This wouldn’t be a system where we can accommodate custom requests for wig and eye combinations – so I totally understand this won’t appeal to everyone. It’s really for those who are comfortable with a bit of surprise and want early access to experimental or rare characters.
Just thought I’d put the idea out there and see who’s interested. If enough folks are up for it, we can open access to this off-the-menu lineup only to those who want in.
We don’t plan to discount off-the-menu items, but we also won’t charge more just because some may be prototypes.
Let me know what you think.
#smartdoll
