Resale Boutique for American Girl Dolls Supports Women with Autism

Girl AGain, a resale boutique for American Girl dolls and their accessories in Hartsdale, recently opened inside the Sweet Heaven Family Spa. The resale store is a venture of Yes She Can Inc, a nonprofit which provides job skills and employment opportunities for young women with autism.

Girls, parents, interns, and volunteers enjoy a reading from author of a new American Girl book about Caroline, an American Girl character from New York in 1812.

A resale boutique for American Girl dolls, Girl AGain Boutique, opened in Hartsdale in February. The store offers an array of gently used American Girl dolls, accessories, furniture, and books at prices typically lower than online resalers such as eBay.

Girl AGain is the first venture of Yes She Can Inc., a nonprofit that provides training and employment opportunities for girls and women on the autism spectrum. The girls work on everything from inventory and social media branding to sales-oriented social interactions. Marjorie Madfis, founder and president of Yes She Can Inc., referred to the internship program as an incubator or launching pad for future opportunities.

Madfis believes that the American Girl brand should be accessible and interactive. “It’s not just about buying dolls,” says Madfis, “its about understanding their important messages and seeing them as role models.” Each doll has her own book in which she faces challenges big and small. The stories show that the girls “are caring, thoughtful, creative, resourceful, and brave. Qualities I think any parent would want their child to emulate,” Madfis says.

The boutique also hosts monthly events, including a recent American Girl book reading. Next on the calendar is “Doll Hair Do’s and Don’ts,” a free workshop on how to take care of and style doll hair, from 11am-12:30pm. on April 17. Call to reserve a space.