I know for sure that AG uses several survey companies because I have done surveys for them through other companies. Survey Spot is one I think - I did one today on financial institutins and recently on cars - but occassionally it will be toys and in some I"ve done 75% of the questions were about AG products, so it was obvious who the client was. I do Harris Polls and Zoompanel - it might have been one of them too - I didn't expect to be asked later, so didn't make a note of it!

AGforum is so well established wiht them that they have a website just for this. It looks just like an AG website but I think the company name is Childstudy.

As for how often things really get made, I was told by the head of CS recently that every product they make has a 3 year evolution before it hits the market. I joined the forum in August, and I did not see Marisol, but a future doll of the year - I assume it is 2006

Sometimes you can sense the doll has been definately been chosen to be in the line because of how they run the survey. In the case of this doll, the whole survey was about her - not general questions like would you like a doll that is Aisian, African or Dutch, but do you like this doll with earrings or a bracelet (not actual questions I've been asked, but similar). Do you like green, blue or red shoes on this doll? The whole time they show no other doll. Then you pretty well know.

If you belong to the Club you periodically are asked to respond to a survey and it is always the same questions we on the forum have already been asked.

I agree with Kim that what we were shown today was gorgeous, even if it was not what anyone seems to have expected. I think some people will be pleasantly surprised. I wanted something completely different, but I will be very happy if they do this.