Thread regarding Mattel Inc. layoffs

My take on the whole M-Go technology connectivity initiative is this

My take on the whole M-Go technology connectivity initiative is this: I think the actual, number one, honest to goodness single issue from which all other problems stem from is the fact that the company has established unrealistic and uncompetitive margin requirements for its products. Margins requirements go up, price points stay the same, so of course quality suffers, which in turn makes the product feel cheaper and thus overpriced and so consumers turn to the competition. Sales fall, we lose market share, and in turn margin requirements go up in a desperate attempt to improve the bottom line. A vicious downward spiral.

The idea is that, if we just put some compelling tech into the toys, we wouldn't be competing with other toy companies becuase our products would be more advanced. People would be buying into a ecosystem or an experience, yadda yadda yadda. We could charge more, and people would gladly pay, our margins would be fat and so would our POS, we could finally breakout of the cycle. They see tech as the answer.

Its a risky bet, and the stakes are super high at the moment. So far consumers haven't shown much appetite for really expensive tech toys, but maybe that's because we've yet to crack that nut with a truly compelling must have feature yet. I wonder if it even exists, or if it will become this company's white whale.

by
| 1741 views | | 4 replies (last June 22, 2017) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+NTy01xF

4 replies (most recent on top)

What the OP describes sounds like a Marketing fever dream.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1pmu+NTy01xF

This last post nails it, as a millennial mom, I could not agree more. It's sad how clueless the decision makers are.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @aix+NTy01xF

Kids don't care, parents don't care, investors don't care, because technology is not a strategy, it's a tactic.

Imagination is the original augmented reality - it's free and infinite. No need to connect, set up, register, scan.

The thing is, parents and future parents will only want to connect less.

The age of adoption is over - the novelty of devices and social has worn off. It has become intrusive, suspicious.

The age of re-connection is upon us, but has nothing to do with connecting to the Cloud. It's about 'back to nature', real stuff, knowing where your food comes from, etc.

Millennial parents will aspire to create fulfilling, close relationships with their children. They will grow to hate technology, at least philosophically, and a swell will grow to reject it.

'Proudly anti-technology', simple, more human, more imagination, love -- that's a strategy. And a strategy Mattel could have won.

This new strategy is not a vision. It's a report of what would've worked 10 years ago.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @pcm+NTy01xF

If we don't keep the high margins and the low ex-factory, how will we pay all the millions to the army of VPs that we have?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @agt+NTy01xF

Post a reply

: