On March 9th, National Barbie Day celebrates an iconic toy that premiered on this day in 1959. Barbie debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
In 1959, Ruth Handler created the
Barbie doll and launched an American icon. Barbie's full name is Barbara
Millicent Roberts, and she came with a full array of accessories. While
toymakers mass-produced toys for years, before Barbie, none of them had adult
features. Barbie's adult features made the toy a first of its kind.
Interestingly, Barbie's marketing strategy relied on television advertising.
For example, Barbie was the sole sponsor of the Mickey Mouse Club, marketing
directly to children. At the time, the approach was unique. Estimates place
over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries.
