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Post by LA Times on Dec 9, 2018 0:31:14 GMT -5
Harley Race was last relevant as a wrestler in about 1987. Even then, he was one of the least colourful, interesting characters in the WWF. And he hasn't been celebrated by WWE history the way that guys like Andre have. Hell, he hasn't spent the last decade and a half turning up in memes and Wrestlecrap compilations like Shockmaster. Fans from the Bret Hart era are in their 30s now. Fans from the Monday Night Wars/Attitude era are in their late 20s or 30s, if not older. Kids who were watching Harley Race wrestle are now pushing 40, and fans from his NWA glory days are in their 50s and 60s. How many 60 year olds are buying wrestling dolls? Not many. Harley Race is basically there to appeal to Legends figure completionists - he's the perfect candidate for something that will go for triple retail on eBay but would rot in stores if packed heavy. He's an extremely niche addition to the line. Harley race got his ass whooped by hulk Hogan on a Saturday night main event in 1988. Taking a famous leg drop from Hogan back then=$$$$$$
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Post by Next Manufactured’s Sweater on Dec 9, 2018 1:00:56 GMT -5
Harley Race was last relevant as a wrestler in about 1987. Even then, he was one of the least colourful, interesting characters in the WWF. And he hasn't been celebrated by WWE history the way that guys like Andre have. Hell, he hasn't spent the last decade and a half turning up in memes and Wrestlecrap compilations like Shockmaster. Fans from the Bret Hart era are in their 30s now. Fans from the Monday Night Wars/Attitude era are in their late 20s or 30s, if not older. Kids who were watching Harley Race wrestle are now pushing 40, and fans from his NWA glory days are in their 50s and 60s. How many 60 year olds are buying wrestling dolls? Not many. Harley Race is basically there to appeal to Legends figure completionists - he's the perfect candidate for something that will go for triple retail on eBay but would rot in stores if packed heavy. He's an extremely niche addition to the line. Harley race got his ass whooped by hulk Hogan on a Saturday night main event in 1988. Taking a famous leg drop from Hogan back then=$$$$$$ He didn't get much chance to capitalise on it though, he was injured. After the SNME match, he wasn't even in the WWF title tournament at WrestleMania IV, he was in the battle royal instead. He jobbed a few times to Warrior on the B house shows and was out for most of the rest of the year. When he came back for a couple of months to finish his WWF career, he wasn't even King anymore.
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Deleted
Joined on: Sept 25, 2024 7:24:18 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2018 11:50:56 GMT -5
I'm just not buying that children are as much of the toy demographic as in years past. In the IPad/Kindle/Switch era, we account for more sales of these toylines than we realize. Look how many things are marketed to us in the toy section. Again. A dude who works for the company and runs the wwe line has said otherwise. Nothing is really marketed towards us.The things that actually are, sit in the back of electronics at target. So you are saying that all the legends figures Mattel has released (they have released a ton since the start of the line) are marketed at kids?! What about the legends-only exclusive lines (Legends, HOF, Flashbacks)- were those marketed at kids as well?! Try and spin it all you want but the facts tell a different story IMHO. Mattel's target audience is first and foremost kids and fans of the current product in general. However, they also have a second target audience (much smaller, more niche) in adult collectors who are interested in figures of wrestlers from past eras- eras that they grew up with be it Golden, New Gen or Attitude. They would be stupid not to cater to legends collectors because they are older, have more disposable income then kids do and they are a very fanatic fan base who buy A LOT of figures. Kids lose interest very easily (especially the kids of today who are mainly obsessed with mind numbing gadgets), today they might like wrestling, tomorrow they might move on to something else whereas the adult collector is more set in their ways and if they are satisfied with the product, they will remain loyal customers and keep buying figures.
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Post by LA Times on Dec 9, 2018 20:39:24 GMT -5
Again. A dude who works for the company and runs the wwe line has said otherwise. Nothing is really marketed towards us.The things that actually are, sit in the back of electronics at target. So you are saying that all the legends figures Mattel has released (they have released a ton since the start of the line) are marketed at kids?! What about the legends-only exclusive lines (Legends, HOF, Flashbacks)- were those marketed at kids as well?! Try and spin it all you want but the facts tell a different story IMHO. Mattel's target audience is first and foremost kids and fans of the current product in general. However, they also have a second target audience (much smaller, more niche) in adult collectors who are interested in figures of wrestlers from past eras- eras that they grew up with be it Golden, New Gen or Attitude. They would be stupid not to cater to legends collectors because they are older, have more disposable income then kids do and they are a very fanatic fan base who buy A LOT of figures. Kids lose interest very easily (especially the kids of today who are mainly obsessed with mind numbing gadgets), today they might like wrestling, tomorrow they might move on to something else whereas the adult collector is more set in their ways and if they are satisfied with the product, they will remain loyal customers and keep buying figures. It says Age 8+ on the packaging for elite flashbacks
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Deleted
Joined on: Sept 25, 2024 7:24:18 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2018 17:15:10 GMT -5
It says Age 8+ on the packaging for elite flashbacks That is an age recommendation that has to do with safety regulations- it has nothing to do with the target market of the product.
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erikg
Superstar
Joined on: May 31, 2016 9:41:59 GMT -5
Posts: 809
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Post by erikg on Dec 10, 2018 19:28:31 GMT -5
I'm just not buying that children are as much of the toy demographic as in years past. In the IPad/Kindle/Switch era, we account for more sales of these toylines than we realize. Look how many things are marketed to us in the toy section. Again. A dude who works for the company and runs the wwe line has said otherwise. Nothing is really marketed towards us. The things that actually are, sit in the back of electronics at target. He's doing PR speak to satisfy investors. They know about older collectors. Do kids want Mabel? Or even know who he is? I don't think so.
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Post by disorder on Dec 10, 2018 20:34:38 GMT -5
Again. A dude who works for the company and runs the wwe line has said otherwise. Nothing is really marketed towards us. The things that actually are, sit in the back of electronics at target. He's doing PR speak to satisfy investors. They know about older collectors. Do kids want Mabel? Or even know who he is? I don't think so. Listen, it’s the damn truth. It’s Mattel, not NECA. It’s a kids line
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Medieval
Main Eventer
@mattelwwe_medieval
Joined on: Jan 22, 2015 12:46:43 GMT -5
Posts: 4,638
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Post by Medieval on Dec 10, 2018 22:43:30 GMT -5
Just to play devil's advocate for a minute remember the elite all stars 2 packs with Jake and macho? On the front of the packages it said adult collectable or for the adult collector.😉
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TheBadGuyChico
POSSIBLE BAD TRADER
Joined on: Dec 3, 2012 10:34:41 GMT -5
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Post by TheBadGuyChico on Dec 11, 2018 0:00:53 GMT -5
When was the last time the Toy industry was actually dominated by children's interests? The original TMNT line?
Since the Star Wars Power of the Force line, we've been acknowledged. Yes their are things like Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles, but if you think Mattel and Hasbro don't cater to us as well.... you're misguided.
Black series, Marvel Legends, WWE Elites, all at a 19.99 price point and feature niche characters and internet/con exclusives. Are those for little Jimmy? C'mon, the freaking Flashback waves are not targeted at 10 years olds WTH!
This is without getting into the very real debate of whether or not the Toy industry even has a very healthy audience in terms of the child demo. Ipads and Playstations aren't adding to consumers.
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buddyboy101
Superstar
Joined on: Dec 26, 2004 12:34:57 GMT -5
Posts: 938
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Post by buddyboy101 on Dec 11, 2018 0:13:20 GMT -5
When was the last time the Toy industry was actually dominated by children's interests? The original TMNT line? Since the Star Wars Power of the Force line, we've been acknowledged. Yes their are things like Hot Toys and Sideshow Collectibles, but if you think Mattel and Hasbro don't cater to us as well.... you're misguided. Black series, Marvel Legends, WWE Elites, all at a 19.99 price point and feature niche characters and internet/con exclusives. Are those for little Jimmy? C'mon, the freaking Flashback waves are not targeted at 10 years olds WTH! This is without getting into the very real debate of whether or not the Toy industry even has a very healthy audience in terms of the child demo. Ipads and Playstations aren't adding to consumers. Global toy industry has steadily increased by $10b since 2007 (when iPhone was introduced): www.statista.com/statistics/194395/revenue-of-the-global-toy-market-since-2007/Same domestically: www.toyassociation.org/ta/research/data/annual/toys/research-and-data/data/annual-us-sales-data.aspxTRU closure was not a sign of the industry, just a sign of mismanagement and over-leveraging. I agree Mattel/Hasbro know they are catering to an adult crowd with some of their lines/products. Mattel's problem, though, is that they have failed to pivot their distribution/marketing. Instead they treat everything the same no matter who the audience is. There's a giant disconnect, which has led to the cognitive dissonance that is all over this board, leading to posts like this: forum.wrestlingfigs.com/thread/356157/why-all-on-mattel
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