A company based in Toronto that produces inclusive dolls faced a major setback when its entire holiday shipment was destroyed in a train derailment, resulting in a loss of almost $200,000 in anticipated revenue.
Samantha Ong, the owner of Joeydolls, revealed to CityNews that the devastating incident occurred after a CN Rail train derailed due to a sudden rockslide in a remote mountainous area near the Alberta-British Columbia border on November 5.
The shipment, which contained new product launches and restocks eagerly awaited by families, was completely crushed, leaving Ong grappling with the financial repercussions. She had placed a significant manufacturing order for the holiday season in May, soon after the company’s appearance on Dragon’s Den.
Facing a tight budget, Ong shared on social media, “I scraped just enough personally to make it work,” emphasizing the personal investment involved in running their small family business without cargo insurance.
Despite the setback, Ong expressed determination to support their customers during the holiday season, with plans to personally retrieve any available stock from their U.S. warehouse to fulfill Canadian orders.
However, the prospect of restarting production to replace the lost stock poses a six-month delay and significant additional costs. Nevertheless, Ong remains resolute, acknowledging the importance of the dolls to children and their representation in play.
Through Joeydolls, born during the pandemic with the goal of fostering pride in every child’s identity, Ong aims to create a world where cultural diversity is celebrated through play. Their website describes Joeydolls as more than just a doll brand but a movement promoting cultural connections and offering a diverse range of cultural dolls.
Despite the challenges, Ong remains hopeful, emphasizing the company’s commitment to its mission of empowering children to see themselves reflected in the toys they engage with.