The quinceañera industry in the U.S. is valued at about one billion dollars—and Mattel wants in on the action. Some families are spending “$20,000 or $30,000” to celebrate their daughter turning 15-years-old and the brand has a new Quinceañera Barbie to get in on the profitable coming-of-age celebration, and tap into the tradition of giving the quinceañeras birthday girl a doll (her last doll). While this sounds like great news for Mattel, there’s a catch: the doll is supposed to “look just like” its teen owner. Customization Nation needs to be able to personalize the doll, and if Mattel can make that happen, then (as one mother put it) people “would go wild.” (Marketplace)
