Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Determine who you are starting the collection for.
Purchase at least two Barbies (with different colored hair), one Ken and at least one other doll from the Barbie family if you are starting a collection for a child.
Start the collection slowly.
Add clothes, furniture and accessories as the child becomes more interested in Barbie.
Listen to what the child asks for once she becomes familiar with Barbie. She may just "have to have" Happenin' Hair Barbie or Hollywood Nails Barbie or may tell you that Barbie has "nothing" to wear.
Notice what kinds of interests the child has and purchase Barbies that relate to them.
Make sure the child has a place to store Barbie and all of her things.
Branch out into Barbie houses and vehicles when you feel the child can take care of them and when you have room in your home for them.
Read Barbie pricing guides and collector books to get information about buying collectible Barbies for older girls or adults who want to start a valuable collection.
Buy collectible Barbies that appeal to the person collecting and that have some value. Avoid buying things like the 1998 Holiday Barbie that was so overproduced that it no longer has any collector's value.
Determine where the collection will be kept. Make sure valuable dolls are kept in protective cases and that dolls bought as NRFB (never removed from box) remain that way.
Refrain from making any alterations to collector dolls; this will lessen their value.