06-13-98: GINGER SPICES HOPE FOR DOLL COLLECTORS
By Rick Bentley, "The Fresno Bee"
A silver lining has appeared in the recent heartbreaking announcement that Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell) was leaving the preteen-fave Spice Girls. But while the music and pop-culture industries mourn the parting, the toy industry celebrates, because what doll collectors want - what they really, really want - is a Ginger Spice doll. Ginger Spice, one of a new set of five "Spice Girls on Tour" dolls released by Galoob, has been flying off the local shelves. A check of Fresno's Toys R Us showed plenty of Baby Spice and Sporty Spice dolls. Even a Scary Spice. But, Ginger's dolls were as absent as the singer. The "Tour" set features 12-inch plastic versions of the singers complete with microphone and a miniature version of their doll. The "Spice Girls On Tour" actually is a second series. A few first-set Ginger Spice dolls - featuring her dressed in a trademark Union Jack outfit -- were still available as this was being written at the Kaybee Toy & Hobby store in Fresno Fashion Fair Shopping Center. The price of the dolls ranges from $12.99 - $14.99. Once doll collector suggests that price will double for Ginger within the year. Forget the money. What Ginger addicts want to know is if there will be more dolls made. A spokesperson for Galoob, was diplomatic, saying, "All the Spice Girl dolls sell so rapidly, the company can't tell which is selling the fastest."