Ok.....Only a very few months ago, we saw Hasbro fight and fight with fans over the prospect of an internet exclusive line of action figures. It was made clear again and again that Hasbro would not be able to afford to produce a set of website figures for the Indy line based on it's current production contract with the factories.
The subject sort of ended with a can't be done kind of mind set.
Little did Hasbro understand the type of storm that was brewing over at Mattel.
Mattel decided that with appropriate contracts in place and the correct type of system on-line that they indeed CAN sell a series of action figures and exclusives for other lines on their website with a shared portion going to selected Comic shows like NYCC and SDCC.
Mattel is the 1st to tell you..Exclusive ON-LINE TOY LINES WORK!! It started with selling a portion of SDCC exclusives on mattycollector.com...then, it moved to He-Man: Masters of the Universe. BOOM!! EVERY FIGURE that was allocated for on-line sales SOLD OUT!
The exclusive On-Line action figure market worked so well that Mattle went for broke and has now included a NEW line of figures to it's on-line offerings this year ( GHOSTBUSTERS ).
Well, Now we get to Toy Fair..and Lookie at who is now making exclusives for thier website / Comic Con stores....HASBROTOYSHOP.COM!
Yes, the initial figures will be Star Wars, Gi Joe, Marvel Comics, and Transformers ( not sure if any lines other than Star Wars have listed exclusives yet ). However, Mattel has generated the spark that was needed. Now, with the proper marketing and proper contract for production...The chance of seeing Indy continue as an on-line exclusive is NO LONGER Impossible!!
Will it happen? Who knows...However, it is no longer something we can't demand.
The subject sort of ended with a can't be done kind of mind set.
Little did Hasbro understand the type of storm that was brewing over at Mattel.
Mattel decided that with appropriate contracts in place and the correct type of system on-line that they indeed CAN sell a series of action figures and exclusives for other lines on their website with a shared portion going to selected Comic shows like NYCC and SDCC.
Mattel is the 1st to tell you..Exclusive ON-LINE TOY LINES WORK!! It started with selling a portion of SDCC exclusives on mattycollector.com...then, it moved to He-Man: Masters of the Universe. BOOM!! EVERY FIGURE that was allocated for on-line sales SOLD OUT!
The exclusive On-Line action figure market worked so well that Mattle went for broke and has now included a NEW line of figures to it's on-line offerings this year ( GHOSTBUSTERS ).
Well, Now we get to Toy Fair..and Lookie at who is now making exclusives for thier website / Comic Con stores....HASBROTOYSHOP.COM!
Yes, the initial figures will be Star Wars, Gi Joe, Marvel Comics, and Transformers ( not sure if any lines other than Star Wars have listed exclusives yet ). However, Mattel has generated the spark that was needed. Now, with the proper marketing and proper contract for production...The chance of seeing Indy continue as an on-line exclusive is NO LONGER Impossible!!
Will it happen? Who knows...However, it is no longer something we can't demand.