RTE Radio One’s Richard Curran was on hand this week to talk to Lottie founder Ian Harkin about Lottie’s rise to being named a ‘perfect present’ to her busiest season and what might be next for our ever-adventurous doll.

Speaking about where the idea for Lottie came from, Ian remembers a lack of a wholesome choice when it came to picking out a doll for his nieces. Just like that, the idea for Lottie was born:

“Over eighteen months in total, we spoke with child psychologists, did focus groups with Mums and kids and we took over a hundred points which we built into Lottie.”

Considering the most important aspect of Lottie being the fact that she is based on a child, Ian says this meant that when it came to designing her, they could place her focus on enjoying “childhood activities”.

That said, Lottie has plenty of ambition. Not content with travelling to space in 2015, in 2016 Fossil Hunter Lottie was shortlisted for ‘Action Figure of the Year’ at the Toy of the Year Awards in America.

While it’s a very, very busy time for the toy industry – it’s also a very exciting time especially in the run up to the Irish toy event of the year – the Late Late Toy Show. Looking ahead to 2018 and beyond, Ian hinted that after her success in the world of books, Lottie might be headed for another spinoff:

“The next big stage for us is animation. Earlier this year, we signed an option agreement with the team behind Puffin Rock which airs on RTE.”

Well whatever Lottie is up to next, with Christmas just around the corner, there’s one place she’s sure to be in three short weeks – under a few very special trees!

 Listen Back Here