The Art of Doll Show Shopping
Doll shows are some of the best places to shop for your collection. Here's some tips and tricks to getting the most out of your experience!
One of my favorite things to do with my mom is shopping— specifically shopping at doll shows and conventions. We’re lucky enough to be close enough to attend the Chicago Toy Show, the Naperville Doll Show and the Kane County Doll Show, all hosted at least twice a year. For those who aren’t lucky enough to have shows near them, a doll show is basically a large room filled with doll vendors selling their wares. Sometimes, they’ll have special collections on display or panels to attend. But one thing is a given: You never know what treasure you might find!
Attending your first doll show can be a bit daunting, so in this article, I wanted to share a few tips and tricks to help curtail some of the apprehension you might have.
Use the Buddy System:
Shopping by yourself is fine, but it’s far more fun when you have a shopping buddy! Not only will you have someone to talk to and experience the show with, but you’ll also have a second set of eyes. There’s a lot to take in at doll shows and it’s easy to miss things. Many times, my mom and I will spot things for each other. As a side note, if you’re curious about what kinds of dolls you might see at a show, check out my YouTube channel. There, we chronicle our doll show expiriences to give you a taste of the show and show you what we bought!
Know What You’re Looking for:
Many times before a show, my mom and I will discuss what we might be looking for. As I mentioned above, two sets of eyes is very helpful at a doll show and the best way to know what someone is looking for is to talk about it! Making a mental note of what you might want to spend your money on is a great way to not go overboard and to stay on track with your purchases.
Be Open to Finding the Unexpected:
That being said, you should always be open to finding something unexpected! Some of my favorite doll show finds were ones I never saw coming. If there’s a booth full of dolls you typically don’t collect, explore it, because you never know what might catch your eye.
One of my most unexpected buys was a Nippon era bisque reproduction Hilda doll. I’m not a bisque doll collector— they’re not my style and definitely out of my price range— but after seeing this cutie at a number of different shows, I just had to take her home. She wasn’t at all what I expected to buy, but I adore her!
Bring Cash and Reusable Bags:
Not all vendors will accept card or online payments, so it’s important to have a bit of cash on you and to use it wisely! We stop at our local ATM before each show, not only to save on fees, but also because you should never rely on the venue having a full cash machine. Believe me, I’ve been to shows where the ATM was broken or out of money! It’s no fun!
On a similar note, while most sellers have bags, you might want to consider bringing your own in varying sizes. As it always happens to us, when we bring a bunch of bags, we end up not needing them and when we forget our bags, we end up running back and forth to the car! If you’re going to shows a lot (or you enjoy the occasional ‘thrift’), it might be worth tossing some reusable bags in your trunk so they’re handy at any moment! They’re good to have, though, especially if the vendor is selling their personal collection and isn’t a reseller. It’s eays to forget people may want shopping bags!
Ask Questions:
I get it, it’s hard talking to people, especially doll show vendors, but you can do it! They want to sell to you, and the first step to making that happen is having a conversation. Confession: I am the worst haggler, but even still, just asking “can you go a little lower” has garnered great results. So, as hard as it may be, try your best to ignore that fear of asking if they can do better (or of just saying hi), because you never know what will happen!
Know When to Bite and When to Take a Minute:
My mom and I have created a bit of a routine when it comes to doll shows. We rarely buy on the first trip around the show. The first walkaround is generally to see what we might buy so we can spend out money well. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, so you need to know when you spot an item that you know 100% that you want at the price you’ve negotiated and when you are okay waiting for your second go-around knowing the item might be gone. Don’t buy due to fear of FOMO (fear of missing out) unless you absolutely know you’ll go home sad having missed out on something.
These are just a few tips and tricks to help you feel better about attending your first doll show. Do you have any tips? Share them in the comment area!
Hello again! Love this post too! My favourite videos from your channel are the ones that show your experience at doll shows. I always appreciate that you girls include soooo many photos, and your hauls are always very interesting. As I've probably already mentioned a few times 😂 I'm from Spain, and the experience for European collectors is quite different. Although we do have doll shows, they are not as numerous nor as frequent as they are in the US. I always find doll booths in antique shows and fairs, but it's not easy to find shows dedicated only to toys or dolls. However, and fortunately for me, I live very close to two small cities that are the 'headquarters' of the Spanish doll industry. Most of the Spanish doll and toy brands (such as Famosa, Berjuan, Paola Reina...) are established there, and they have two beatiful museums, one for dolls and the other one for toys. They organize a doll fair every year. It's small, but very cute. It's held outdoors and I always find treasures ❤️ The next edition will be at the end of October, I can send pics to you in case you would like to see it!
Also, I'm very curious about the cash thing. Here, most of the vendors don't take cards, but they do accept payments through bizum, a system similar to venmo. It's not common or easy to pay this way there? It would be a pity to lose a sale (for both the vendor and the buyer) for not having enough cash! Thank you again for your posts!