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News

October 31 2006 - Good news!  Gifina figurines will now be sold at Seagull Book.  For all of you who live in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and California, you no longer have to purchase online.  Instead of wondering if you will like the figurine you just ordered, you can make your way to Seagull Book and pick out the perfect doll, and know you made the right choice.  If you don't know where the nearest store is, check out their website at www.seagullbook.com.

We also got our latest shipment in from the DR yesterday.  You will notice many new figurines on the website:  the Caribbean Damitas are already up!

August 23 2006 - The bad news:  Today you will notice that the "30% Off Sale" has expired on some of the figurines.  Expect the rest of the figurines to be full price within the next 6 weeks.  The good news:  Gifina figurines are now for sale at Cover to Cover!  If you live in Roseville or Elk Grove, California, you can now see the dolls for yourself, before you purchase!

August 7, 2006 - Today we received a new shipment of figurines from the Dominican Republic.  Soon you will see new Victorian Ladys, Elegant Gardeners, and Guadalupes.  We are most excited about the new 7" Caribbean Damitas.  The bright colors are striking, and they will be for sale on the website this week!
 


FAQ


Do I have to have a PayPal account to purchase online?

No.  When you are checking out, there will be an option that says, "If you do not currently have a PayPal account, click here."   After you have filled in your shipping information, you can use a credit card to complete your purchase.

Do you give shipping discounts for multiple figurines?

Yes.  Simply email us with your order, and we can work out the shipping cost on a per order basis.

How long does it take to special order a figurine that you do not have in stock?

We get a shipment of figurines from the Dominican Republic every three months.  Generally speaking, we need at least two months, (in some cases, longer) to fill a special order.

Why are the dolls faceless?

It it said that they are faceless becuase no one knows what a "true" Dominican looks like since the Dominican people are such a mix of races and ethnicities. The Gifina shop owners say it is because they don't want to single out any one race; therefore, by being "sin rostro" or without faces, they represent harmony among all peoples and cultures.

What are the dolls made of?

A material called "Porcelanicron," or "cold porcelain."  It is an organic polymer, but the exact chemical make up of the material, or "recipe" if you will, is intentionally not mentioned here. The shop owners have requested this because many other shops in the Dominican Republic have tried to copy the manufacturing process of Gifina figurines.  Porcelanicron is breakable, yet extremely durable, resists temperature extremes, and is resistant to color fading.

Can the figurines get wet?

No. Water will damage the figurines.

Where does the name "Gifina" come from?

Gifina comes from the blending together of the names of the two women who originally started the company almost 20 years ago in the Dominican Republic. Giovanna (the "Gi") was the artistic creator, designer of the dolls, and teacher to the other employees, and Josefina (the "fina") was in charge of the books, sales and marketing. It worked well for many years, but each woman has now moved on to other ventures and interests. Ines and Yomaira, who both currently run the business, were two of Giovanna's "students."