overall: 12 1/2 in x 5 1/4 in x 4 in; 31.75 cm x 13.335 cm x 10.16 cm
Object Name:
doll
Description:
The American toy company Mattel manufactured and sold Cool Shoppin’ Barbie in 1997. The fashion doll came with her own clothing store that sold shirts, skirts, sunglasses, shoes, perfume, and purses and had a cash register, bar code scanner, and credit card reader. Barbie had her own MasterCard, and would say “credit approved” when a button was pushed.
Parents and consumer advocates complained that Barbie should not encourage excessive spending and credit debt or advertise the MasterCard brand to young children. While Cool Shoppin’ Barbie sold well during the 1997 holiday season, the contract between Barbie and MasterCard was not renewed the next year—making the toy a sought after collectible.
Related Publication:
Sewer, Andy; Allison, David; Liebhold, Peter; Davis, Nancy; Franz, Kathleen G.. American Enterprise: A History of Business in America
