Like the fact that it’s getting smaller? HissCommander from The Terror Drome points out an interesting article on ToyDirectory.com which lays out some drastic changes that the largest retailer has been making in their toy departments nation wide. A smaller overall size, reflecting in a 25% decrease in overall stock. The writer hypothesizes that this will have some affect on the major manufacturers (such as Hasbro and Mattel), but will likely have severe, back-breaking impact on the smaller toy manufacturers.
Knowing Wal-Mart’s love of high profit, low-budget toys, one has to wonder whether G.I. Joe will be sacrificed in favor of the CORPS, or if the big budget movie will finally convince Wal-Mart that the Joe brand is a viable one going forward? Interesting times ahead.
Check out the article here.
there is a worse growing trend in major retailers, target excluded. the store management get paid performance bonuses based on inventory turns. wal-mart’s long standing goal has been to turn the inventory once per month, or sell it before they have to pay for it. the problem with these “performance” based bonuses, is that it very easy to manipulate the numbers, by reducing stock and not reordering. this of course is counter productive, but for the few months to a year this is going on the numbers look great. i see this trend with kmart, napa distribution centers, o’reily’s, autozone, wal-mart, walgreens, etc. it is however up to the share holders of these corporations to enact rules to prevent this from happening.
I hope they don’t replace G.I. Joe with The Corps!. Everything the Corps! releases Peg Warms.
Well, I’ve noticed that the Walmarts I go to have no vehicles, no new figures, and peg warming comics. Target has some new stuff. But even TRU doesn’t seem to have alot of stuff.
the various targets i frequent seem to be pretty well stocked. they leave me with the impression that they are dedicated to keeping the shelves full.