Xavier Robert's Legacy: Twenty Years of Cabbage Patch® Kids

By Lorinda Bateman

The line stretched halfway around the building. Early arrivals chatted like old friends as they waited for the doors to open. Promptly at 10 a.m., all camaraderie ceased. The pushing, shoving, shouting crowd of 1000 surged inside, effectively mowing down everybody and everything in their path. Minutes later, the frenzy subsided. The lucky ones hurried off with their treasures. The not so lucky stood by in disbelief, many crying or cursing. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries this time. In the fall of 1983, this often-repeated scene had come to be known as Cabbage Patch Madness.

This year marks both the 20th anniversary of the original handmade soft sculptured Cabbage Patch Kids (CPKs) born at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, GA, and the 15th anniversary of the mass-produced version currently licensed by Mattel. In 1998, CPKs no longer generate that level of excitement, and many may believe that they were just a passing fad. But the Kids have quietly remained one of the top-selling toys with sales of approximately 100 million to date.

The idea that a doll that has been charitably described by many as "homely" could cause such a stir, let alone retain such long term popularity, is almost as surprising as the identity of creator, Xavier Roberts. The sixth and last child of a poor North Georgia mountain family, young Xavier endured ridicule for his small stature and threadbare clothing. He inherited his mother's artistic talent, and he began at an early age to create quilts and pottery. Determined to become an artist, he never wavered from that goal. He also resolved to be rich, and with his mother's support, worked tenaciously and single-mindedly towards that end.

While working his way slowly through college, Xavier got a job at the Unicoi Park gift shop, giving him his first chance to display the soft sculpture dolls he was just starting to make. Xavier had always been able to sell. But when a customer first approached him to buy one of his dolls, his first response was "They are not for sale." This was followed quickly by "But you can adopt one for $30." Thus a major innovation in merchandising strategy was launched that continues to this day.

Xavier had not really planned to sell his "babies." He just wanted to see how people reacted to them. People reacted by wanting to take them home. Soon he had more orders than he could fill, and enlisted his mother and sisters to help him. College was now just a memory. Encouraged by the response to his dolls, he designed a birth certificate, envelopes, and nametags with the birthplace Babyland General Hospital (which did not exist yet). With the last of his money, he had 1000 of these identifiers printed. Knowing that he couldn't sell that many dolls at the park gift shop, he started to take his babies to art and craft shows. They were a sensation partly due to the fact that he displayed them in nursery settings (in playpens, in high chairs, and with toys), and partly because of the fantasy world he had created for them. People who thought he was silly when he began to spin yarns about the Kids' antics, often left with an adoptee in their arms. He began to call his babies "Little People."

Soon he had to hire more workers and raise his prices to an amazing $125. Still, the Little People were adopted as quickly as he could make them. By now Xavier was convinced that people loved his creations, but he longed to be recognized as an artist. That recognition came to pass in October 1977 when he won first prize in the sculpture category at the Osceola Craft Show in Kissimmee,FL, with a Little Person named Dexter.

Elated but realizing that not many people outside of North Georgia were likely to see his work, he decided to expand his business . Early in 1978, he developed a pattern, making the babies much simpler and less expensive to produce. Convinced that he would be financially successful at last, he quit his job at Unicoi State Park in March 1978. He continued to travel the Southeast with his babies, and in July of that year, he was intent on enlisting the help of five school friends and forming a corporation. The fledgling company was five years away from being an overnight success.

Although they knew nothing about business, their energy and enthusiasm carried them through hard times. They turned Cleveland, Georgia's unused medical clinic into Babyland General Hospital, which housed their factory, office, and gift shop by trading labor for rent. Fabric, thread, and stuffing were bought on credit, and sometimes quilt money from Xavier's mother, Eula, kept them afloat. Realizing that he must expand his horizons again to increase Babyland's income, Xavier decided to exhibit his babies only at national trade and gift shows. As they learned more about business, the partners also expanded the adoption fantasy to include an oath, birthday card, and a newsletter. They offered a hospital to perform surgery on "sick" babies, and people drove miles to bring in their Little People for "surgery." During the next several years, Original Appalachian Artworks Inc. sold thousands of Little People and many related items. But Xavier was not satisfied. To capture the volume market he was after, they would have to find a licensee. Turned down by Ideal, Tomy, and Mattel, they finally struck a deal with Coleco in July 1982.

The vinyl-faced dolls produced by Coleco were called "Cabbage Patch Kids" while the soft sculptured Little People were now called "Original Cabbage Patch Kids." Coleco licensed the dolls until it filed for bankruptcy in 1989. Hasbro then took over the license, but the company did little to promote the Kids and they did not sell well. Mattel has produced the Kids since 1995 with many interesting innovations.

Cabbage Patch collectors clubs are thriving, as are newsletters and many online sites. Conventions are held, and visitors to Babyland can still see their baby born from the mother cabbage. For those who live too far away, a Mobile Delivery unit travels the country, stopping at various adoption centers. Babyland's 20th anniversary was celebrated with a Cabbage Patch Expo. Mattel has issued a 15th anniversary doll that duplicates the original Coleco Kids. Those who enjoy the Kids can look forward to many more years of their charm. As for Xavier, he has fulfilled his dream of returning to art school and is pursuing a career as a painter. All the while, he keeps a close eye on the Kids he loves so much.

This article could not have been written without the help of Nancy Carolan, head of staff of the Second Chance Orphanage, a special place for abandoned Cabbage Patch Kids. The URL for the Second Chance Orphanage is http://www.enteract.com/~dancarol/

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