Zapf Creation AG is Europe's leading brand manufacturer of play, functional and mini dolls and accessories. Headquarters are in Roedental/Coburg (Germany). The company's most popular brands are BABY born, Baby Annabell and CHOU CHOU. The company's play concepts are successful all over the world and designed especially for girls between three and eight years of age.
Accessory and doll clothes designers follow trends in children's fashion and general lifestyle products to incorporate these into the approximately 70% of new products launched each year.
The United States represents the single largest market, Europe's top five toy markets of Great Britain, Germany, Spain, France and Italy make up more than 60% of the global toy market for the Zapf Creation Company. Their market segment is the global doll market, which includes:
o Fashion dolls
o Play and functional dolls
o Mini dolls
The core business of Zapf Creation is play and functional dolls with accessories. The most popular branded play concepts is the BABY born that is sold in 65 countries throughout the world.
The Zapf Creation AG employs 408 employees, of which 233 are based in Roedental and 175 work for the Group's international subsidiaries.
The original company was established in 1932 by Max and Rosa Zapf. The company was acquired by TA Triumph-Adler in 1992. The company is currently known as Zapf Creation AG.
The high-quality branded play concepts are produced by selected suppliers in China. In October 2002, the Zapf Creation was one of the first German companies to adopt the ICTI standard. The ICTI Code of Business Practices defines mandatory work and social standards which must be met by company's suppliers. Compliance is monitored regularly by Zapf Creation and its authorized auditors.
Zapf Creation is very much aware of their close relationship and connection to children all over the world who acquire and play with their toys. They are deeply committed to the welfare of children and support the SOS Children's Villages organization. They are a long-term sponsor of the nine SOS children's Villages in China. The Zapf Creation also supports the organization's German institutions.
The Brands of Zapf Creation
BABY born (for girls aged 3 to 8 years) is unique. The doll has eight life-like functions that require a battery for operation. BABY born's life-like functions makes role playing with BABY born particularly realistic. The functions include:
o Eating a special baby food
o Drinking water
o Shedding real tears
o The doll can be bathed
o The doll can use its potty or wet its diapers
Accessories for BABY born are exactly the same as everything that is needed for a real baby. The BABY born play concept places no limit on a girl's imagination. The doll will sometimes be an infant that needs care, while for other girls or at other times, the doll serves as a playmate and accompanies the girl wherever she goes.
Baby Annabell (for girls aged 3 to 8 years) is Zapf Creation's youngest baby. The play concept is focused upon mother-child role and is supported by the appropriate accessories. The doll is soft, sweet and functional, which encourages girls to pay attention. The doll reacts to sounds and movements, sucks on a bottle or pacifier and makes realistic facial movements. Baby Annabell also sheds real tears. This doll reacts randomly and differently to its environment and promotes girls' social skills of loving, caring and taking responsibility.
CHOU CHOU (for girls aged 1 to 8 years) is soft, cuddly and comes in various sizes with or without functions and is distinguished by a natural flexibility. There are accessories for mother-child role play and stylish clothes for the CHOU CHOU dolls.
The Love me CHOU CHOU is Zapf Creation's most active doll possessing many life-like functions that include:
o Kicking its feet
o Says "mama"
o Makes quiet babbling sounds
o Cries
o Sucks on bottle or pacifier and makes realistic facial movements
Cute Rock-a-bye CHOU CHOU can laugh, cry, make babbling sounds and drink from her bottle. When the doll is placed down, she yawns and she will go to sleep if softly rocked.
Although the dolls mentioned in this article are the newest creations from Zapf Creations, keep in mind, 40 years from now they will be in the same category as our Vintage dolls from the Baby Boomer years. Follow the link in the resource box of this article to see Zapf dolls from the baby boomer years.
Source: Zapf Creation AG Online
Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with the Zapf Creation AG Toy Company or any of its employees. This article is offered for information to the would-be and avid vintage doll collector.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com
