Barbie’s Russian Rival Is Knocking ‘em Dead
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MOSCOW — She’s short on clothes, lacks a beau and doesn’t know what a surfboard is, but Veronika is something America’s Barbie doll isn’t: inexpensive for Russians.
“Veronika disappears as soon as she hits the shelves, “ said Dmitri Arkhangelsky, chief designer of the country’s hottest doll.
Slightly taller and wider than Barbie, she is the Russian response to growing demand for Western goods.
And she’s the key to the success of the Krugozor toy factory, one of thousands of Russian businesses testing free-market reforms.
At $1.60, Veronika is a bargain compared to Barbie. The U.S. doll costs $10 without extras like more outfits.
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