The song and dance is about to begin. Place your bets on: Headwinds, Currency Exchange Issues, Back of the House, Campus Consolidation...
Any way you measure things, they all add up to the same result: More Layoffs.
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More smoke and mirrors because there was no real revenue as everything financially was flat when offset by overhead and production costs. As long as the dividend is paid they'll quietly let people go and not call it a layoff.
Sales of Barbie rose 16% for the period, continuing momentum after a 23% increase in the second quarter.
Sales at American Girl rose 14%, the first quarterly gain in a year.
Fisher-Price sales rose 6% along with a 6% sales increase in its Wheels division, which include Hot Wheels and Matchbox, and 16% increase in its entertainment division, which includes games.
Getting ready for the axe to fall in the next few days! Hope they sharpen the blades so the marketing & VP fools get their heads lopped off with one swing of the axe. Put Barbie in a RED WEDDING dress!!
It's all about the dividend and making the investors happy folks. Smoke and mirrors, fancy videos about virtual futuristic toys to validate one old timers paycheck so he can stay relevant. Make movies on the worst possible properties. All BS
You may have already seen sneak peeks on-line about how Barbie has bounced back. Please understand that this is true, but in order to have made it happen, Mattel has diverted advertising funds from every brand (Core and ToyBox) in order to artificially prop up Barbie. It's being over-invested in, so that Mattel has one thing positive to talk about. You'll notice that all other brands are flat or in decline and it's all due to shifting dollars to the flagship brand because she can't show a positive rate of sale without it.
Mattel is desperate to show how it is still making positive improvements without Disney Princess. Yes - they've cut overhead, but they haven't made their quarter number yet. Remember, it's not about making the quarter - it's about making the number EVERY quarter (or making it up in subsequent quarters). Mattel has no chance to make their annual number = no bonuses this year.
Nope! it was jimmy and johnny
I heard from a very reliable source that Jimmy totally made out with Jessica behind the dugout after AP math class.
I heard from a very reliable source that on Halloween, all of the seniors are going to give the freshman atomic wedgies...QUICK EVERYONE PANIC!
Confirmation of the closing of the NYC office and consolidation of brands to ES as a cost savings to improve overhead and appease investors will be one of the announcements. The deck was leaked this past week and one of the assistants who started reading it at the printer (you know who who never shuts up) started blabbing. There's going to be a quiet witch hunt in the tower next week and she's going to be gone (finally!).
when is the 3Q sh--show expected to take place?
Maybe it's time to dump SM. He hasn't actually done anything except sell off some HIT properties and set up Co-pros (which any monkey can do).
What he's failed at:
Integration of HiT - didn't get it done
Fireman Sam on Amazon - toy licensee didn't have compliant product nor able to meet Amazon's logistics terms, show wasn't fit for purpose with US audience.
Fuhu - what have they actually shipped in 18 months? Branded tablets? ho-hum, that market is over
Sproutling - supposed to be able to launch product in 6 months - 2 years later and they're starting over
Consumer Products - keep him away from it!
He doesn't know how to actually get things done and he just spends money. Guess it's good to be Chris's lap dog.
Here's where they announce the merger/buyout/takeover by disney.
ugh.
maybe they can get rid of a layer of EVPs...
hey how about getting rid of FUHU or fubu or fubar...
Maybe there should be a drinking game for the buzzwords management will use during the investor's call?
Don't worry, Thongmaker will save the day. Crotch Crochet!
I get nauseous from all the spin.