Speaking of FP, how did slapping Jonathan Adler's name on everything work out? Who's bright idea was that? Are they still here?
24 replies (most recent on top)
Last Poster...appreciate your insights. Understand, FP prior to being acquired, was profitable...delivered great revenue. Cash was not a problem.
Quality, appropriate features, price value, and aesthetic appreciation...it's called FP product.
Destroying brands, regardless of selling "collect" or " pre-paid," should not be a priority.
We've been our own worst enemy.
Last poster:
Mattel's takeover has only been about finding ways to increase FP's margin to get closer to fashion dolls. This is impossible to do for the following reasons:
1) mattel has spent 60 years focused on 1 thing - to drive efficiencies through fashion dolls in order to dominate the category.
2) Fisher-Price is "generic" Preschool, which has been on a steady decline since the rise of Preschool content-driven properties (like Mickey Mouse, Thomas and Paw Patrol).
3) Fisher-Price sells via "collect" while Mattel sells " pre-paid" which Finance refused to acknowledge in their analysis, further putting the company at risk and in further decline.
if you don't know the difference between collect and pre-paid, you should ask someone in Sales to explain it to you.
Yes, last poster it would appear that following through on key items seems to be a problem for Mattel. Not sure why?
I know at FP our problem is not about follow through...our challenge is meeting margin expectations while delivering product with price value. Price competitiveness has been eroding ever since Mattel took us over. Having to sustain Mattel's bloated overhead structure via the way products are costed has been painful...PLM without question has damaged our brand.
Last poster:
Agree with your stance, but my point is similar to yours - the like-mindedness MUST turn into positive financial results or it's just a kumbaya session (and that isn't sustainable for any business without results).
Fully agree about a positive, creative environment sets the stage for awesome product - but the follow through to ACHIEVE it is where Mattel often falls down.
Completely agree with points 1 and 2. Completely disagree with your 3rd point.
The probability for success increases dramatically in a creative work environment where ego and control are left at the door. Having passion for design and developing great products that consumers want to buy is key. If we continue to develop crap for product, points 1 and 2 don't stand a chance.
If you are not like minded, you've failed.
Look, no matter what campus you're on there are a few main points that are absolutes:
1) What you work on must make money (profit) for the company. No matter what department you're in, it's your job to know how the company makes it's money and how you impact it (directly or indirectly).
2) Tearing each other down only helps the competition. We're never going to win or even improve if we just keep bashing each other when the bottom line is, none of us has a spectacular profit making brand or even a single product to shout about.
3) Having pride in the activity of creating product is wonderful - but it ONLY MATTERS if it produces profitable results. Just loving your job and being around like minded souls is all well and good, but if it isn't profitable, then you're burying your head in the sand. One day, not far from now, the hard decisions will be made and they will all be based on profitable results.
No one gets a reward for showing up and doing your job. You only get rewarded when you out-perform the expectation (and by a sizable amount).
Our Aristotle and Thingmaker brands are truly the brightest stars in the Mattel Universe!
Again, sorry for you last poster...your tirade and angst furthers my point. You offer nothing...we don't fake it, nor do we let our egos get in the way.
We try as hard as we can to make the best of this most challenging time. We at FP view your trite criticism as ignorance...we look forward to further distancing ourselves from you, so you can see what great looks like.
Stop being a cry baby. There is no prize for second place and you can’t even claim that. Kitten hanging on a clothesline platitudes help no one. If you’re not angry about your situation then you are truly doomed. Positive thinking is for the weak. You’re either an active participant or you’re a casualty. You think keeping your head down at FP will save you? It won’t. You’re so far from HQ that you’re just viewed as an asset.
I’d rather be with a bunch of angry and risk taking a$$h0les than with a bunch of kumbaya singing hand holding fakers.
Wow last poster! You're one angry uninspiring sack of negativity. Certainly can't imagine hanging out with you...I would rather focus on the challenges that face all of us at Mattel. You offer nothing or add nothing.
I do work at FP, and i feel so fortunate to be working along side such a dedicated, talented, and passionate group of people.
Perhaps, if your were exposed to such a group you might get inspired to change your attitude?
Nope, you add nothing...good luck to you though.
When you’re done fellating each other or the opposite thereof go back to doing s piss poor job at making excuses why you can’t make a compelling product.
Oh wait what’s that? .... margins? .... mc’s? .... boo hooo. What you call responsibility to the dictates of your finance dept is a sad excuse for a crappy line. Oh and by the way how’s there guidance helped you so far eh?
FPers cue your baby pitchforks now and crow about how you’re the only ones dedicated. Baby gear my a$$.
Ok, other than the tirade about the Dino-Gator, I find the other responses interesting:
"AG is strong" - How is it "strong" when it's been declining for 4 years in a row? What's going to change it?
"Baby Gear...parents first introduction to our brand" - yet you had a recall on your Smart Swing because you rushed it to market on misinterpretation on when the baby gear cycle is (hint: it's NOT 4th quarter). You also don't make any money on the segment based on your total P&L. So what is there to be proud of?
"I don't have visibility to all the products....." - You don't have a phone or a computer? All of Mattel's products are all posted on the intranet and internet. You just have to want to go looking for them beyond your own little world. As for pride, what product do you think is so great? If it didn't make it's forecast, then why is it so great?
"Transformable Thomas" - Funny that you have to drag a knock-off into the conversation to have something "interesting" to say. The product you mention was created in China by the Wah-Ling factory over 10 years ago and has been knocked-off (again) by several others over the years.
"NYC folks flocking to ES to work on Barbie" - This is the most intelligent posting so far! SOMEONE has to fix the brand - it certainly ain't the people working on it now, or in the past 10 years. Heck, I'd love to see MGA take a run at it because ANYTHING is better than the strategy being executed now.
To the post under me: better watch it or the post under you might make more insults involving children's stacks. By the tone of there post they are definitely a very important highly educated tipe having adult conversations with decision-makers.
Yeah the Fan boys right! Dino-Gator is way to cool to me internal IP. Plus, God knows The big think tanks in ES couldn't come up with it. All thy could do is speck a new pink for Barbie (maybe). We must get rid of all the overpaid "talent" over there and start fresh. Need new ideas and we're not getting it from ES's Hell Mary pass called toybox.
Give it a rest, Dino-Gator fanboy. Here's a juicebox, now run along and let the grownups talk. Come back in a few decades when you actually have something interesting or funny to say. Toodles, Skippy!
I don’t have visibility to all of the products across the different campuses, but I think the East Aurora Fisher-Price office has particularly made some great items in the past few years. The younger, more educationally-focused products are a bright spot for the entire company, in my opinion.
We’re all in a tough spot these days, but there are some cool concepts from all of the offices, and some amazingly talented people throughout.
Was Dino-Gator internal or was it an inventor item?
Hold up.....Dino-Gator isn't going forward? Is it pushed back to 2019?
Right on last poster!
I'd say most FPers take pride in their brand and I think it shows in their products.
Baby Gear...parents first introduction to our brand!
Dino - Gator! How can you not love half Dino & Half Gator!!
AG is strong