Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina King.
Hi Gina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The idea behind Chef Gina’s ® Mini doll food was my mom’s idea. In 2000, I was laid off from a job and my mom said, Gina, I always wanted play food for my dolls. Why don’t you make food and try selling it on eBay? I said, Mom! That’s stupid! Barbie doesn’t even eat! Who’s going to buy that? That Easter my mom gave me an Easter basket full of clay and we worked hours thru the night making mini food.
It took off on eBay and we eventually opened a website and gained interest in Magazines like the National Bison, Barbie Bazaar, Fashion Doll Quarterly, and the Dolls Magazine, which you can find the entire list and read the magazines on our website. Our mini food is popular with doll collectors and animators for film and set design. Not only do we have mini food, but we also have life-size fake food as well which is great for theatre, movie props, and staging.
22 years later, we have grown further than I could imagine. We are thankful for all our wonderful customers and new ones that came along on our journey.
In, 2015, we opened a sister company called Pierogi Gifts that makes fake Pierogi Themed Gifts with a Polish and Ukrainian Flare such as Pierogi Earrings, ornaments, hats, and more. Pierogi Gifts is a spinoff of our fake mini food but is all about the Pierogi. Pierogi Gifts is home to the Elfski™ line. The Polish Elf from the North Pole. We are currently working to expand our line into big box stores, which is super exciting and scary at the same time!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I have to say the biggest obstacle is when people copy and steal your idea or design. The only advice I can give is when someone copies or makes fakes to just keep doing you. Every original designer gets copied, but there is only 1 you. People can imitate, but they can never duplicate.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Chef Gina’s ® Mini Food?
Chef Gina’s ® Mini Food specializes in 1:6th Scale food for fashion dolls. We are the original doll food creator and were the first to start making food from clay for fashion dolls. Our lines also include food for 16 inches, 18-in dolls, and life size. We do offer wholesale as well as welcome volume orders for conventions and custom orders.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We welcome collaborations, Chef Gina’s ® has a media kit available for social media for influencers. We also love reshares and likes!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chefginas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefginas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefginasllc
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chefginas
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CHEFGINAS/videos
