Eleanor Mak

Jillian is now five, Jilly Jillian.

Jillian is now five, Jilly Jillian.

Jillian is now five, Jilly Jillian.

Every lead led to the same thing, which is they've closed. They no longer create dolls.

Every lead led to the same thing, which is they've closed. They no longer create dolls.

Every lead led to the same thing, which is they've closed. They no longer create dolls.

Doll manufacturing is a heavily manual process. The rooting of every doll's hair is done manually. Wow. They would weigh the hair, right, to make sure there's consistency, and someone would freeform, like, sew it, putting through the sewing machine until, like, the doll's head was fully rooted. There is tremendous precision required.

Doll manufacturing is a heavily manual process. The rooting of every doll's hair is done manually. Wow. They would weigh the hair, right, to make sure there's consistency, and someone would freeform, like, sew it, putting through the sewing machine until, like, the doll's head was fully rooted. There is tremendous precision required.

Doll manufacturing is a heavily manual process. The rooting of every doll's hair is done manually. Wow. They would weigh the hair, right, to make sure there's consistency, and someone would freeform, like, sew it, putting through the sewing machine until, like, the doll's head was fully rooted. There is tremendous precision required.

You know, someone is manually placing these tiny little doll's head, right? So my doll is 14 inches long. So the head, I'm guessing it's like two to three inches. So someone is manually putting this onto the assembly line, which then they stamp the eyes and the blush.

You know, someone is manually placing these tiny little doll's head, right? So my doll is 14 inches long. So the head, I'm guessing it's like two to three inches. So someone is manually putting this onto the assembly line, which then they stamp the eyes and the blush.

You know, someone is manually placing these tiny little doll's head, right? So my doll is 14 inches long. So the head, I'm guessing it's like two to three inches. So someone is manually putting this onto the assembly line, which then they stamp the eyes and the blush.

And even if it's just like one one-hundredth off, that doll is suddenly like, I have some Jilly dolls that look like party Jilly because her eyeliner is like... I save those. Like, I save those. They're special edition. But, like, the eyeliner is just a little bit off on some. It's like, okay, this is not the adorable, like, you know, wholesome.

And even if it's just like one one-hundredth off, that doll is suddenly like, I have some Jilly dolls that look like party Jilly because her eyeliner is like... I save those. Like, I save those. They're special edition. But, like, the eyeliner is just a little bit off on some. It's like, okay, this is not the adorable, like, you know, wholesome.

And even if it's just like one one-hundredth off, that doll is suddenly like, I have some Jilly dolls that look like party Jilly because her eyeliner is like... I save those. Like, I save those. They're special edition. But, like, the eyeliner is just a little bit off on some. It's like, okay, this is not the adorable, like, you know, wholesome.

Jilly, I call her the party Jilly.

Jilly, I call her the party Jilly.

Jilly, I call her the party Jilly.

How many dolls in this house right now? Three or four hundred. We started out with close to 2,000. So she has a little chef's hat.

How many dolls in this house right now? Three or four hundred. We started out with close to 2,000. So she has a little chef's hat.

How many dolls in this house right now? Three or four hundred. We started out with close to 2,000. So she has a little chef's hat.

My husband texted me. I remember him saying, have you seen the tariffs? And I was like, what are you talking about?

My husband texted me. I remember him saying, have you seen the tariffs? And I was like, what are you talking about?

My husband texted me. I remember him saying, have you seen the tariffs? And I was like, what are you talking about?

And also after yesterday's... Our doll retails for $68. So that is considered a premium doll already. To think that I would charge, you know, $150 plus for this doll, I just... It was like putting a nail to the coffin of our business.

And also after yesterday's... Our doll retails for $68. So that is considered a premium doll already. To think that I would charge, you know, $150 plus for this doll, I just... It was like putting a nail to the coffin of our business.

And also after yesterday's... Our doll retails for $68. So that is considered a premium doll already. To think that I would charge, you know, $150 plus for this doll, I just... It was like putting a nail to the coffin of our business.

And that whole process nearly broke us, right? Just really kind of rushing inventory in and starting work with a new factory. And I thought that was going to be the worst of it. So when the tariff announcement came, it was almost like, wow, it just felt debilitating.

And that whole process nearly broke us, right? Just really kind of rushing inventory in and starting work with a new factory. And I thought that was going to be the worst of it. So when the tariff announcement came, it was almost like, wow, it just felt debilitating.

And that whole process nearly broke us, right? Just really kind of rushing inventory in and starting work with a new factory. And I thought that was going to be the worst of it. So when the tariff announcement came, it was almost like, wow, it just felt debilitating.

Yeah, I think there was a part of, you know, speaking to a lot of founders who are also in like consumer products sourcing from China, Vietnam, I think a lot of us just said, this can't be, right? This won't pass. This is a political move. You know, this won't actually go through. So I think it was disbelief. But there was also a need to start actioning, right?

Yeah, I think there was a part of, you know, speaking to a lot of founders who are also in like consumer products sourcing from China, Vietnam, I think a lot of us just said, this can't be, right? This won't pass. This is a political move. You know, this won't actually go through. So I think it was disbelief. But there was also a need to start actioning, right?

Yeah, I think there was a part of, you know, speaking to a lot of founders who are also in like consumer products sourcing from China, Vietnam, I think a lot of us just said, this can't be, right? This won't pass. This is a political move. You know, this won't actually go through. So I think it was disbelief. But there was also a need to start actioning, right?

Calling our factory, calling the freight forwarders, trying to understand what the impact was. And I would say it was just chaos. No one really knew. Right. There was speculation this is what it could look like or if you get it in by this date. But at the end of the day, there was this risk that by the time our imports came in, we would be hit with this 145 percent price increase.

Calling our factory, calling the freight forwarders, trying to understand what the impact was. And I would say it was just chaos. No one really knew. Right. There was speculation this is what it could look like or if you get it in by this date. But at the end of the day, there was this risk that by the time our imports came in, we would be hit with this 145 percent price increase.

Calling our factory, calling the freight forwarders, trying to understand what the impact was. And I would say it was just chaos. No one really knew. Right. There was speculation this is what it could look like or if you get it in by this date. But at the end of the day, there was this risk that by the time our imports came in, we would be hit with this 145 percent price increase.

Oh, of course. My first doll was Ada. I took Ada with me everywhere, like to the park, to dim sum. I tried to bring her to school. But I also remember she was beautiful in a way that I felt I never could be. This is Eleanor Mack. She had these beautiful blonde curls. She had big blue eyes. She had that porcelain skin.

Oh, of course. My first doll was Ada. I took Ada with me everywhere, like to the park, to dim sum. I tried to bring her to school. But I also remember she was beautiful in a way that I felt I never could be. This is Eleanor Mack. She had these beautiful blonde curls. She had big blue eyes. She had that porcelain skin.

Oh, of course. My first doll was Ada. I took Ada with me everywhere, like to the park, to dim sum. I tried to bring her to school. But I also remember she was beautiful in a way that I felt I never could be. This is Eleanor Mack. She had these beautiful blonde curls. She had big blue eyes. She had that porcelain skin.

Absolutely. So for me, you know, now that I'm walking down memory lane, we were about to sign a purchase order, right? So April, and then that way we'd get the goods in by sort of August, September, right? Right before the holidays to have it arrive into our warehouse. Right. But once we sign that purchase order, that becomes binding.

Absolutely. So for me, you know, now that I'm walking down memory lane, we were about to sign a purchase order, right? So April, and then that way we'd get the goods in by sort of August, September, right? Right before the holidays to have it arrive into our warehouse. Right. But once we sign that purchase order, that becomes binding.

Absolutely. So for me, you know, now that I'm walking down memory lane, we were about to sign a purchase order, right? So April, and then that way we'd get the goods in by sort of August, September, right? Right before the holidays to have it arrive into our warehouse. Right. But once we sign that purchase order, that becomes binding.

And then, you know, once it arrives on the port, whatever the prices are, I am responsible for that. So for me, the decision was to not issue that purchase order.

And then, you know, once it arrives on the port, whatever the prices are, I am responsible for that. So for me, the decision was to not issue that purchase order.

And then, you know, once it arrives on the port, whatever the prices are, I am responsible for that. So for me, the decision was to not issue that purchase order.

Yeah. So, you know, I think it was pure exhaustion. It was a feeling of like, oh, my gosh, how many more of these like boulders coming downhill can the small business, right? The sort of it's largely me who was full time on the business. And I think just from a mental capacity, I was burnt out.

Yeah. So, you know, I think it was pure exhaustion. It was a feeling of like, oh, my gosh, how many more of these like boulders coming downhill can the small business, right? The sort of it's largely me who was full time on the business. And I think just from a mental capacity, I was burnt out.

Yeah. So, you know, I think it was pure exhaustion. It was a feeling of like, oh, my gosh, how many more of these like boulders coming downhill can the small business, right? The sort of it's largely me who was full time on the business. And I think just from a mental capacity, I was burnt out.

And to think about, you know, signing that PO, waiting for my shipment to come in and being like holding my breath until it arrived at the port to figure out what the price could look like. It was just, I think, more than I could bear. And I was devastated, right? Because I think for us, you know, it was always about giving more families choices, right?

And to think about, you know, signing that PO, waiting for my shipment to come in and being like holding my breath until it arrived at the port to figure out what the price could look like. It was just, I think, more than I could bear. And I was devastated, right? Because I think for us, you know, it was always about giving more families choices, right?

And to think about, you know, signing that PO, waiting for my shipment to come in and being like holding my breath until it arrived at the port to figure out what the price could look like. It was just, I think, more than I could bear. And I was devastated, right? Because I think for us, you know, it was always about giving more families choices, right?

I think one thing I wanted to share is this doll is meant to be Asian American. And our doll has brought joy to a lot of kids and adults. And it was devastating to think, you know, You know, this could end if I'm forced out of business. But for me, in the short term, we have inventory, we have the silver lining, and I can ride this out for some time, but that inventory also will not last forever.

I think one thing I wanted to share is this doll is meant to be Asian American. And our doll has brought joy to a lot of kids and adults. And it was devastating to think, you know, You know, this could end if I'm forced out of business. But for me, in the short term, we have inventory, we have the silver lining, and I can ride this out for some time, but that inventory also will not last forever.

I think one thing I wanted to share is this doll is meant to be Asian American. And our doll has brought joy to a lot of kids and adults. And it was devastating to think, you know, You know, this could end if I'm forced out of business. But for me, in the short term, we have inventory, we have the silver lining, and I can ride this out for some time, but that inventory also will not last forever.

I can only weather this if the policies change in the next year. And so as an entrepreneur, I think I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic. But I'm also practical when I look at my numbers, right? When I see my inventory, you know, the trends. So, yeah, maybe that's why you're not. It's like part of me is optimistic.

I can only weather this if the policies change in the next year. And so as an entrepreneur, I think I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic. But I'm also practical when I look at my numbers, right? When I see my inventory, you know, the trends. So, yeah, maybe that's why you're not. It's like part of me is optimistic.

I can only weather this if the policies change in the next year. And so as an entrepreneur, I think I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic. But I'm also practical when I look at my numbers, right? When I see my inventory, you know, the trends. So, yeah, maybe that's why you're not. It's like part of me is optimistic.

Things will sort itself out before my sort of, you know, self-imposed deadline of when we would need to place a PO comes out.

Things will sort itself out before my sort of, you know, self-imposed deadline of when we would need to place a PO comes out.

Things will sort itself out before my sort of, you know, self-imposed deadline of when we would need to place a PO comes out.

Yes, because with the current tariffs, there's just, I cannot survive.

Yes, because with the current tariffs, there's just, I cannot survive.

Yes, because with the current tariffs, there's just, I cannot survive.

And even then, you know, I think I was, you know, somewhere five or six years old, remember thinking, like, I wish I looked like Ada.

And even then, you know, I think I was, you know, somewhere five or six years old, remember thinking, like, I wish I looked like Ada.

And even then, you know, I think I was, you know, somewhere five or six years old, remember thinking, like, I wish I looked like Ada.

You're not really sure what they're supposed to be. And the only reason I knew some of these dolls were intended to be Asian was because they had a name like Ling, or they were holding panda bears or had a really bad haircut. Right. Like that bowl cut my mom did give me. But as an Asian-American mother, like I don't relate to any of that.

You're not really sure what they're supposed to be. And the only reason I knew some of these dolls were intended to be Asian was because they had a name like Ling, or they were holding panda bears or had a really bad haircut. Right. Like that bowl cut my mom did give me. But as an Asian-American mother, like I don't relate to any of that.

You're not really sure what they're supposed to be. And the only reason I knew some of these dolls were intended to be Asian was because they had a name like Ling, or they were holding panda bears or had a really bad haircut. Right. Like that bowl cut my mom did give me. But as an Asian-American mother, like I don't relate to any of that.