2. Discuss the competitive forces that influence profitability potential in the toy industry. Potential entrants Threat of entry in toy industry is moderate. To develop, produce, and market a new toy takes large capital investment in research, development and marketing a product. Within the toy industry, there are large economies of scale, specifically in the marketing segment. Mattel has many well known brands in the marketplace such as Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels, and Barbie. To have the buyers
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09/15/08 UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN: MATTEL’S TOY RECALLS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT We apologize to everyone affected by this recall, especially those who bought the toys in question. We realize that parents trust us with what is most precious to them—their children. And we also recognize that trust is earned. —Robert Eckert, CEO of Mattel, Inc.1 On August 2, 2007, Mattel announced a voluntary worldwide recall of 83 products in its Fisher- Price toy lines, including characters such as Dora the
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The 2007 Mattel Toy Recall RESEARCH About Mattel Mattel, “the world’s premiere toy company,” began in Southern California in a garage workshop that manufactured picture frames. When the company started selling dollhouse furniture made from picture frame scraps, they realized the market potential and decided switch to toy manufacturing. In 1959, Mattel created their most popular toy, the Barbie doll. Inspired by paper dolls, Barbie was a three dimensional doll with which “little girls could
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Mattel Toys. Just the thought of those two words brings to mind fun, a trusted brand, and children playing happily. Right? Maybe not. In 2007 there was a massive recall of toys, eighty-percent of which were made in China and coated in leaded paint (Lawrence/Weber). These were toys for little children. Little children usually put toys in their mouths, the toys get slobbered on, the leaded paint chips, little children obviously eat the paint chips and little children get become very ill. While Mattel
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Kimberly Tucker, Chris Salt, Ashley Solomon Case 7: Mattel: Overcoming Marketing and Manufacturing Challenges 11/01/2010 Marketing Management 6800 Section 004 The Problem: The problem surrounding Mattel Inc., one of the world’s largest toy companies, is their mismanagement of international subcontractors and vendors and the production of certain toys (the manufacturing process), as well as their inability to adapt their marketing strategy or product to the constantly changing “demographic
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War II had caused. They went after the toy market and founded the Mattel Brand. They started out simple with a few essential toys such as Barbie and Hot Wheels. The reception was great and their brand of product took off in the toy market. Throughout the years, the Mattel Company saw profits along with facing many hardships. Management changes brought uncertainty and even more hard times to the company as the world’s focus shifted to the quality and safety of products (Teagarden, 2008). Oversight
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Mattel is recognized as the global leader of toys design, manufacturing and marketing. Company’s product lines includes the brands such as Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica® and Tyco R/C®, as well as Fisher-Price® brands family. Mattel has been putting significant focus on corporate responsibility resulted in the recognition in the various rankings, including FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s "100 Best Corporate Citizens"
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Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000 system. An external quality systems consultant validated our QMS and Mattel also sought to benchmark our practices and learn from others with leading quality controls systems. Taking an Integrated Approach As we reviewed existing standards, we saw an opportunity to integrate the various requirements contained in our product quality and safety procedures with our Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP), and combined them into one comprehensive system
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Mattel’s Chinese Sourcing Crisis of 2007 Bob Eckhart, CEO of Mattel (US), had a problem Mattel had discovered on July 30 that a number of its toys manufactured in China contained lead paint The following month had seen a series of recalls, rising political tensions between the United States and Chinese governments, and a suicide But no company had been in China longer than Mattel; the original Barbie had been created there in 1959 Mattel had a depth of experience and a longevity of relationships
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Case 1 Marketing Strategy Jasmine Hall Mattel 1. Yes, Manufacturers of children’s products have a special obligation to not mislead consumers and society. One responsibility to the society that Mattel is performing is their commitment to protecting the privacy of their online customers when visiting their website or purchasing a product online. By assuring parents that their children’s privacy will be respected, Mattel demonstrates that that is takes its responsibility of marketing to children
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