Note: Disney Auctions and Disney Deals no longer exist, they've been rolled into DisneyShopping.com, but because collectors are always interested in the history of how items were sold or distributed, this article (2003) is kept online for reference.
Part Two: Interview with Stephanie Ayars
Let's talk about one of the most popular Disney collectibles -- Disney Pins! When did Disney start producing pins for sale?
Disney has always offered pins in each of its theme parks, but with the kick-off of the Millennium Celebration in October 1999 at Walt Disney World, the tradition of Disney Pin Trading really began.
In 2001 DisneyAuctions.com launched their pin business, offering for the first time, limited-edition sizes of 100 pins in an auction environment. This proved extremely successful and limited-editions of 100 are still offered at Disney-Auctions.com in the auction format. In September 2003, we launched the Purchase-It-Now store on DisneyAuctions.com This is a fixed-price environment that offers limited-edition sizes of 250 ($14), 500 ($12) and 1000 ($10).
What are the most popular pin characters?
Tinker Bell and Stitch are two of the most popular Disney Auctions pin characters. But the Villains are also pretty successful. Last fall we released a pin of Stitch surrounded by little ducks that everyone loved and one of our most popular Tinker Bell pins featured her looking through a keyhole. The good thing about DisneyAuctions.com is that we offer a wide assortment of characters, so there is really something for everyone regardless of your favorite character!
We had a limited-edition of 500 pins that sold out in a record 46 seconds!
Who does the designing for DisnyeAuctions.com?
We have about eight freelance artists currently working with us.
Explain how the pins are offered each week?
On Mondays and Thursdays we roll out our new releases in the P.I.N.S. (Purchase it Now Store) which is a fixed-price environment. Each Monday and Thursday we typically offer three limited-edition pins of 1000 ($10), two limited-edition pins of 500 ($12) and one limited-edition of 250 ($14).
The limited-editions of 100 are released every Thursday afternoon around 3 or 4 PM, Pacific Standard Time. These are available in an auction environment and they all start at $18, but because it is at auction the price can go up. Occasionally we'll offer prototypes and pin artwork, these are typically limited to only one or two of a kind. Other products include limited-edition pin lanyards and pin bags.
Disney Auctions does NOT sell any open stock pins.
What do you think makes Disney Auction pins so collectible?
Disney Auctions pride ourselves on the fact that our pins are unique because of smaller edition sizes and larger physical pin size! Our pin designs are also very intricate. Disney Auctions is a new and exciting experience for people to obtain Disney pins, they're accessible to everyone. Folks don't have to go to the Disney theme-parks to get a great Disney pin. If you are participating in auctions, you are really competing for a pin.
Disney Auctions participates once a month as an exhibitor at the Disneyland Resort Pin Trading Nights. It's very inviting and we find families collecting -- a great hobby everyone can participate in. The kids will like one character and the parents will want to collect another character, it makes Pin Trading fun for the whole family.
