Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 1984, Page 132

Description: Shoppers vye for Cabbage PatchersPlease fill out my application papersand send them in so my friends at theCabbage Patch can send me a birthdaycard.So reads the message on the outside ofa Cabbage Patch box. Effectivelyenough, the meaning of this message issaid to be the prime factor in the consumer frenzy to get what is inside thebox—a Cabbage Patch doll.The Cabbage Patch doll, which retailsfor $20 at most stores, has many uniquecharacteristics, including adoptionpapers, a birth certificate, and disposablediapers. Accessories, such as doll wardrobes and snuggle-ups (baby carriers) , are available at extra cost. Thedolls are computer made, and it is saidthat no two are alike.Bill Coppernoll, general manager of Circus World, said he feels the adoptablefactor is a major reason for the popularityof the dolls. According to Coppernoll, a5.5 million doll demand was recorded atthe end of November, while only 2.5million dolls were manufactured.Coppernoll cited uniqueness and goodadvertising as other reasons forpopularity.He said good business policy dictatesthe customer always know best.Bloomington South senior Terry Hall, abuyer of a Cabbage Patch doll, agreed.Hall bought his doll from Circus WorldDec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. after waiting in line forfour and a half hours. Hall and Southsenior Angie Summers were first in linebut not for long, Hall said. A lady pulled up right behind us. By the time thedoors opened, accompanying Hall andSummers were approximately 100 otherhopefuls. However, only 12 dolls wereavailable.Hall put his much coveted doll up forsale, but Summers gave her CabbagePatch tyke to her younger sister Brandy.Brandy received the doll under the treeChristmas morning; however, Angie lether sneak a peek before it was wrapped.She liked it, Angie said. No selling is inher plans. It would take a lot of moneyfor me to sell it—$75 or so, shecommented.Hall ran a classified ad in thenewspaper asking for the best offer forhis Cabbage Patcher. Hall sold his dolland earned a $30 markup after receiving40 to 50 calls in a seven-and-a-half-hourperiod. Although many of the calls wereprank or obscene, Hall believes that if hehad waited, he would have received moremoney because people are still hunting. However, Hall felt the markup was afair price.THIS PUNK Cabbage Patch tyke was adoptedby senior Therron Thomas.Peter DilcherGreg DimmettTimothy DrakeBridget DroastJeff DuffMarquetta DukeDaren EadsG. Todd EastonDebbie EdwardsSusan ElkinsJeff ElliottElizabeth Ellis132 Seniors
Source: http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/1849
Collection: Bloomington High School South

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