Thread regarding Mattel Inc. layoffs

What is wrong...

Wish I had the pleasure of meeting Herm Fisher, Irving Price and Helen Schelle. They would probably be more than disappointed in the current state of affairs. And I do believe that Ruth and Elliot Handler would probably feel similarly. Fisher-Price was founded and grown on products that are made with great quality and good play value. Today, we're trying to outsource more and more to China. Lowest cost wins. No more product models - ability to optimize the product for the child before it goes out the door is going away. And 20+ year veterans of the company are being escorted out the door by security guards like they are criminals. This feels very wrong.

Not sure about the other business locations but people here work damn hard. I regularly see cars in the parking lot at 6, 7, 8 and I have even left at midnight to see people still here. We're not doing this for our health, or free internet access, or the shitty break room coffee. We want this company to be successful.

A couple things to think about

VPs are supposed to set the expectations at a high level, and communicate that to their teams. They should monitor, guide, and ensure the team delivers. They should NOT be choosing colors, radiuses, music, writing scripts or wanting to be a video producer. They should not be directing, editing, performing as talent or anything else. They should be leading, guiding, and preparing their replacement. NOT doing. Replace the 'do-er' VPs with VPs that lead, please (from a very high level). and VPs who do an effective job.

You hear on the news that Mattel is unsuccessful due to "too many meetings" and "not enough innovation". Thanks, Brian Stockton, PR, and HR for that. Meetings - I agree. Innovation - don't agree. Many, many, people here are extremely creative and innovative. Wanna know why not enough innovation? It was squashed by profit margin requirements. Lighten up!! Too much priority on a short term gain. Sometimes to make $$ you gotta lose a little $$ especially when your lunch is being eaten.

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| 631 views | | 7 replies (last March 13, 2015) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+AuXpvzE

7 replies (most recent on top)

Been there for a bunch of years, met herm. He is rolling in his grave as to how Mattel has raped and pillaged his good name. The demise of FP was Mattel. We fisher pricers know this and it hurts, but you have to keep food on the table.

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Post ID: @koa+AuXpvzE

We lost Disney Princess and Froze, two huge licenses that have sustained the company when our own in house brands failed to deliver. Let's see what kind of blackeye mattel gets next year when the financials are read. You think Kevin Farr will get fired then? Hell no, Mattel will hand him over more RSUs or stock options and go to Bermuda. What a shit show.

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Post ID: @ufU+AuXpvzE

Excellent post. Mattel has tried to bleed dry their products to cheapen them and it SHOWS. Take a look at a Barbie ten years ago and one today, sheesh, stop with the resculpts already and just stop cost reducing the fun and magic out of the toy. The only thing I can ever hope for is that all the SVP's get tossed. Between the cronyism and crap that is spewed from their mouths, I can't believe they can sleep tonight. I saw innovation all the time, then saw it crushed out of the toy like a bug. The worst part is it's happening still in Toy Box where they were supposed to break the rules!

Bullshit

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Post ID: @yDc+AuXpvzE

"Everyone knows we lost a major license/partner" - what are you referring to?

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Post ID: @y9E+AuXpvzE

This post is gold. I wish I can follow your posts Anonymous80853. Kudos.

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Post ID: @FFk+AuXpvzE

This post is gold. I wish I can follow your posts Anonymous80853. Kudos.

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Post ID: @Bax+AuXpvzE

Great post! You hit everything right on the nail. The company has sacrificed quality in favor of quantity. Poor decision making over the past few years have brought the company down. Everyone knows we lost a major license/partner when we basically bit the hand that fed us. All for what? Now, the competition has that license and they are kicking our ass. Good call, Mattel. Prepare to drop out of the Top 5 of toy companies.

I've read most of the comments and replies, I only wish that the leadership could read and see how they are destroying the dreams of our founders...all to pad their wallets. In the meantime, make more crap with less money/people.

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Post ID: @ei0+AuXpvzE

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