Marie Osmond dolls are Diane's Dolls specialty.  We are a four-time winner of Marie Osmond Doll of Fame and Star Retailer Awards.  We are family owned and operated and want to share our passion for Marie Osmond dolls with you!

Welcome to Diane's Dolls!

Diane's Dolls specializes in Marie Osmond fine porcelain dolls, vinyl dolls and Marie Osmond Magic Attic play dolls. This line includes original sculptures by Marie Osmond, Lisa Hatch, Sonja Bryer and other talented sculptors!

  MARIE OSMOND DOLL NEWSLETTER - FROM DIANE'S DOLLS - July 15, 2008

Greetings Dollfriends!

Does anyone know where the first half of 2008 went?   First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for visiting my website.  For those of you who have shopped with me both over the years and as new dollfriends, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  We are blessed to have you sharing your love of Marie Osmond dolls with us.

Marie Osmond is back on National Television to show her dolls at the end of August.  We do not have the date yet, but I'll update you as soon as I know it.  Perhaps the most anticipated doll of the fall is Baby Olive Marie which is sculpted by Marie Osmond herself.  Although I don't have a photo yet (it will be launched by national television and then available at retail 4 weeks later), I'm sure it is stunning.  We are taking reservations and will price match national television.

I'm sure as you have been mailing packages, you have noticed the large increase in freight prices because of higher transportation/fuel costs.  Because these dolls come in from overseas, then are shipped to retailers (our dolls come in via United Parcel Service), we have been painfully aware of these rising costs.  Utilities (heat, lights, and telephone) for the shop in 2007 ran about $6,000 (and that doesn't include property taxes, insurances, and other overhead).  As many doll shops have closed, I am so grateful that we still have customers willing to wait patiently for their dolls to keep us here.  While we've experienced a very steady decline in sales each year (I suspect National Television is experiencing a rise in sales as the Marie Osmond brand remains a strong brand), we're still here and really appreciate your support.  Most of our profit from the sale of the dolls goes to pay the overhead and bring in the new inventory. 

Crystal is working 1/2 time now as an RN while she goes to school full time.  Unfortunately, her position will only last through the fall, as the hospital is facing serious cutbacks due to its budget.  Crystal asked me to thank you for your support over the years of her Savings Galore page.  As many of you have children in college (or that have attended college in the past), you know all too well about these expensive years!  Crystal is still a pet lover, enjoying her 3 cats and 2 Chihuahuas!

Speaking of pets, we still have Gizmo, a ShihTzu, Harley, a Labrador and 2 cats (Smokey & Tiger Johnson) who are kind enough to allow US to live with THEM! 

My mom and dad are aging, but still living in their own home. I am so lucky to have them close by and so enjoy them.  Of course, my schedule gets a little more crazy all the time, because the shop is 30 miles (one way) from my home.  I've added the cell phone to the website (218) 410-0013.  Please feel free to call it, weekends included - I pick it up any time that I can.  I have 900 minutes available to use on the cellphone (I share those minutes with my husband), and I usually manage to go through all of them (laughing!).  We still have the regular shop line with voice mail (218) 984-2072 also. (I know I've cut back on many things, but I haven't cut out the necessities of operation!)

I hope you and your family are having a great summer.   This is the 11th year since my husband and I came back to the area and I started the shop.  I count my blessings and appreciate your sharing your love of dolls with us!! 

With my love, Diane, Owner

June Wedding - the Cline Family -- What a Beautiful Family & Wedding!

 

Here we are  (above) - July 22, 2006 - Marie Osmond doll collectors - Mary W., Diane (Diane's), Kim H., Kathy R. Dorothy B., Joyce F., and Carolyn K. (We call her Kelli!)  We had a great time (Thank you!!!)

Here are our precious dollfriends DeAnn & Gail (love those smiles) enjoying a beautiful California day!

My darling friend Cheryl sharing a special Disney moment with Marie!

Handsome grandbaby Markus Cain (right) and Grandma & Sage (on right).  Grandkids are the best!

 

Our dollfriend, Maude C., looking as beautiful as ever - dollfriends are the best! (Also in the photo next to Maude are a couple of photos of her beautiful tiny tot collection in her bedroom!

Dollfriend Michelle sharing her pre-engagement ring with us while Bev Stoehr signs her doll - too cute!

Meet Miles - The Labradoodle who travelled many miles to live with the Schutts family in California!  Miles has personality plus (and you all know what a pet lover I am!

Parts of old newsletter:

For those of you who are new to this newsletter, I would like to introduce who we are at Diane's Dolls.  I,  Diane, am the shop owner and the year 2006 marks our eighth anniversary of Diane's Dolls.  It will also marks my  28th wedding anniversary to my husband, Michael.

We live in a small home on Lake Vermillion with our two ShihTzus, two cats, and most recently, a Labrador Retriever that Crystal rescued.  The shop is located approximately 25 miles away in Embarrass, MN.  I generally work the shop alone.  Because of the slow local economy, most of our business is mail order/internet.  Michael, my husband,  (an Emergency Room doctor serving two local hospitals located in areas of need) and daughter (Crystal - age 21 ), do help out sometimes when we have large shipments of dolls arrive.  

I would like to say a special thank you to both Michael,  Crystal, and Daryl (Crystal's fiance)  for helping me with some of our larger doll shipments.  Michael has come into the shop after working 14 or 24 hr. shifts and helped me pack  dolls.   Although at times, I think Crystal is majoring in "social" (laughing), she is a good student and currently is studying classes that might help her toward an advanced nursing program.  We returned to this area after being away for approximately 20 years because of our parents were aging and wanted to be closer to family.  Although most of my background is in working with County government administration, I did study Business at the Northeast Technical Institute in Green Bay, WI.  This, combined with my life long love and passion of collectibles and dolls led to the beginning of Diane's Dolls.  (and for those of you I've met or have spoke with - you know I love people!)  Without your support, I would not be here, and I truly thank each and every one of you for visiting my website.  For those of you who shopped with me - thank you!  I have so enjoyed the friendships I have made and for being able to have Diane's Dolls - especially when many doll shops are closing due to the downturn in the collectibles industry.  It is certainly my hope to celebrate this five years and to continue into the next decade with you.

We are continuing to take advance reservations on any any of the new dolls that you see that you might like.   You may feel free to cancel, however, we encourage you to make cancellations early.  Once the dolls arrive into and we are in the process of shipping them, it is very difficult for us to cancel order.  When the dolls arrive, we are inventorying, running receipts and credit cards and with only myself and sometimes the help of another family member, it is difficult to "stop" orders currently in process.  I value each and every one of you and hope you will continue to shop with me and share your love of doll collecting with us.  

It is Diane's Dolls commitment to offer quality, sought-after collectible products at fair and stable pricing.  We do not ever sell on auction websites as we feel we want to offer you, our cherished doll friend,  a fair value everyday - not one price one day and another price the next week.   We do price match national television.  On orders already shipped, the difference must be $4.00 or more to receive the price match, and the price match is applied as a store credit. 

All of the product we sell is first quality, new in the box with certificates of authenticity, etc.

We do have a Savings Galore Page which is merchandise that we have been authorized to mark down (there are pricing and advertising guidelines that must be followed with the company) - generally this merchandise has existed in the Marie Osmond line for over a year. These items offer wonderful values to the collector and many times make great gifts.

I  have listed all of the new upcoming dolls that we know of on our New Doll Preview Page (click on above button at the top of the Newsletter).   We will add additional photos as soon as we have them.  I do not have more information on the dolls listed on the New Doll Preview Page other than what is currently posted.  As more information comes out, I will update the website.  We are very excited about the upcoming dolls.  

 I do get many inquiries on Marie Osmond Disney dolls. I regret to inform collectors that Marie Osmond Disney dolls are only available from QVC and/or Disney.  As part of the licensing agreement, retailers cannot carry the Marie Osmond Disney collection.  

Because we are a small shop and wish to continue to specialize in current Marie Osmond dolls and Virginia Turner dolls, we are not dealing directly in any second market dolls (retired).   However, I am in the process of typing a short list which will be posted on my website of dolls which may be available secondary from another source.  

 Although sometimes the dolls arrive on schedule, it is not uncommon to experience production delays.  (Some of the items can be delayed by several months).   As  one of the larger Marie Osmond dealers in the country, our shop is on Marian's priority ship list for when product does arrive.  We will update our website as anticipated arrival dates change or we receive notice from the warehouse that a shipment is arriving or being delayed.  

 We are currently accepting Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express payments when dolls ship.  We regret we cannot accept layaway or special arrangements.  If you wish to pay by check and are a new customer, please see our order page.  

Again, thank you for your support of my shop, and for your sharing your love of doll collecting with me.  

Hugs,

Diane Pettinelli, Owner

To reserve a doll:  if you are an existing customer, we just need your name.  If you are a new customer, we do need your shipping address, telephone number, e-mail address and credit card information/expiration date.  We do not charge you for your purchase until your doll is shipping and you will be notified via e-mail with the tracking number of your shipment.  Thank you!

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