Barbie Movie

Mattel distributes the Cabbage Patch kids Dolls

In 1995 Mattel acquires the rights to manufacture and distribute Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls. With the rights being granted, Mattel was able to continue the line of these dolls which have been popular for many years. Now, more children can have a cabbage patch kid doll for themselves and they aren't a thing of the past.

History of Barbie cont...The Barbie Timeline

As mentioned in our previous post, Barbie made her first appearance in 1959.

The 1960's

• By the start of the new decade in the early 1960's, Barbie began by wearing elegant and sophistacted wardrobes, which were inspired straight from the runways of Paris (designed by Charlotte Johnson).
• Mid sixties fashions included the bob haircut (inspired by First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy)
• As the sixties progressed, the couture looks gave way to the mod looks and Barbie began to undergo dramatic costmetic changes with the new "Twist 'N Turn Waist"
• The American Girl Dolls were also the first to have the new bendable legs

The 1970's

• Malibu Barbie makes her appearance and the trademark long blonde hair hits the shelves
• Barbie becomes even more lifelike in 1970, with bendable ankels, elbows, and knees.
• In 1972, the new Walk-Lively Barbie makes its appearances on shelves
• Barbie turns 16 in 1974, and to celebrate a section of Times Square in New York Barbie Boulevard for a week.

The 1980's

• The Barbie Collecting Phase begins!
• First annual Doll Convention held in 1980.
• First Black and Hispanic Barbies are produced.
• Dolls of the World Collection begins
• Blue Rhapsody Barbie makers her debut in 1986 (first doll designed specifically for collectors)
• Barbies 30th anniversary in 1989 - Pink Jubilee Baribie

The 1990's

• Barbies wardrobe puts new meaning in elegance, sporting originals by Christian Dior, Vera Wang, and Bob Mackie...
• Barbie welcomes the launch of www.barbie.com
• Various CD-Rom products are released
• 1999 marks the 40th anniversary edition of Barbie

The 2000's

• Most collectible dolls in the world are released including the Millenium themed dolls
• Mattel reduces the number produced of collectible dolls in response to feedback from collectors
• In 2001, Barbie stars in her first feature film "Barbie in the Nutcracker"
• Malibu Barbie Returns in 2002!

Please visit, http://www.barbiecollector.com/collecting/about/history.aspx for more information on the history of Barbie, including her family tree and the history of her boyfriend Ken, and other family members.

Barbie Collecting 101: Labels & Production Numbers

This is a quick lesson for all you dedicated Barbie Collectors out there...

In 2004, Barbie Collector introduced a colour-coded tier like structure, in which each tier represents an identifiable level of doll collecting. This includes special retail destinations, elegant packaging which enhances each doll's beauty, and also communicates which tier the doll belongs to. The tier begins with the "Pink Label" (being Barbie's signature colour), which continues onto the "Silver Label", then onto the "Gold Label" and finally onto the "Platnium Label". Each colour represents the high standards of each tier.

In greater detail, the tier can be broken down as following (Pink being lowest level, Platnium being highest):

• Platnium Label: the dolls are produced in editions of less than 1,000 world wide, which include one-of-a-kind premium dolls...
• Gold Label: distinct dolls which are featured only at fine retailers, with no more than 25,000 dolls produced world wide...
• Silver Label: includes classic themes available at select retailers, and no more than 50,000 are created world wide...
• Pink Label: includes Keepsake Dolls sold at quality retailers...

For more information, please visit http://www.barbiecollector.com/

Where We Came From...

Mattel was founded in 1945 by Harold Matson and Elliot Handler thus the name Mattel was created by combining the letters of their names. Originally the company produced picture frames and doll house accessories. With the success of the doll house accessories they soon began to focus on toys.

Today, Mattel is the world's largest toy company (revenue based) and is known world wide. Some of their best known products are: Barbie, Hot Wheels, Cabbage Patch Kids. Mattel holds licensing agreements with Disney and Harry Potter, among the many recognisable names. Through their dedication in safe and reliable products as well as philanthropic programs, Mattel continues to pave their way to success whether it be in the past, the present or the future.

Rights to Products

In March 1997 Mattel intiated the aquistian of another major toy industry, Tyco toys inc., the third largest toy manufacture in the United States, Tyco successful products such as Sesame Street toys. Mattel also was able to receive rights to another Tyco toy, Hot Wheels. Later, Mattel was able to expand their horizons with rights to Disney and Harry Potter which allows them to develop more toys throughout the years.

Fisher Price Joins the Mattel Family

1n 1993 Fisher Price joins the Mattel Family. Fisher Price is the number one brand in infant and pre-school toys. Smart Cycle is a stationary bike, gamming, and learning system all rolled in to one. This is just one of the many toys Mattel develops through Fisher Price to bring ultimate learning to children at any age.

Transformers

Transformers' movie was realeased in 2007 and has continued the toy lines extreme popularity. Transformers featred by toy vehicles that could transform in to robots. This toy was most popular throughout the eighties with the help of the cartoon television show. Today, we can continue to find joy in these toys as they are a more "up to date" version. Mattel still continues the most popular Transformer, Optimus Prime.

Mattel Recently Named on Fortune 2008 Top 100 List

On January 23, 2008 it was announced that Mattel (the worlds largest company) was named one in the Fortune 2008 Top Companies To Work For list. Ranking 70th, Mattel was the only toy company to make the list this year. Some reasons Mattel has made this prestegious list are as following:

• They maintain very high levels of employee morale and pride
• They maintain this pride even in the midst of recalls
• They possess impecable leadership, integrity, and openness
  

Congratulations Mattel!

Magic 8 Ball

There are few toys, from generations past, that stand out from the rest. The Magic 8 Ball is one of them. Invented in 1946 by Abe Bookman, the Magic 8 Ball is still one of the most popular toys out there. The simple concept of your future being told just by asking a simple yes-or-no question intrigued people and soon enough Mattel took interest and started manufacturing it. The 20 sided icosahedral die floating in a dark liquid inside the black ball, contains answers such as ‘Ask again later’, ‘Most likely’, ‘Outlook is good’, ‘My reply is no’ and many more. Many variations have surfaced but the massive black ball with the giant white 8 is still the most popular.

http://www.thechurning.com/images/8ball.jpg

http://www.wikipedia.com/

Mattel Financial Information

Mattel is always looking to keep the commitment to their customers and investors up to date and ongoing financially. This information is accessable on their website http://www.mattel.com/ and is the current financial stock information for 2008.

MAT-NYSE

PRICE CHANGE Day's Range Volume/Exchange


$20.93 $ 0.33 $21.15-$20.58 1,496,300

This image references the one year stock price history of Mattel Inc. (MAT-NYSE).
For more financial information on Mattel, check out their website at http://www.mattel.com/

Toy Donations

Each year Mattel donates toys to needy children (ages 0-12) throughout the world. Mattel works along side Gifts In Kind International to administer this program.

Eligible Organizations:

• Serve children in the U.S. (International Organizations must contact their local Mattel Office)
• Public charities, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
• Be registered with Gifts In Kind International either through a local Gifts In Kind® program or directly.
• Must directly serve children in need.

Ineligible Organizations:

• Schools and Universities (including preschools)
• Daycares/Childcare centers
• Fraternal and Social Clubs
• Political and Business Associations
• Religious Organizations
• Third-party and fundraising organizations (such as United Ways and Volunteer Centers)
• Organizations holding toy drives (such as Toys for Tots or similar programs)
• Requests for gift bag items
• Requests from individuals or families

Mattel helped in relief efforts during South East Asia's tsunami in 2004 as well as during Hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005 sending approximately 2 million toys.

For more information check out : http://www.mattel.com/about_us/philanthropy/ci_mcf_philanthropy_toyDonations.asp#

Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Johnny Lightning and Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.
The original, and now famous, Hot Wheels logo was designed by California artist Rick Irons, who at that time worked for Mattel.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=O5775HI0vn4

Fisher Price

When talking about Mattel and the products that they produce one group that is over looked fairly often is Fisher Price. Fisher Price bring products to families who are expecting and to age 5. There are many products under the Fisher Price line such as the following:

• Ocean Wonders Aquarium with remote control (birth to 5 months)
• Laugh & Learn Baby Grand Piano (9 to 36 months)
• Little People Lil' Kingdom Palace (2-5 years)

There are products for all ages as well as on the Fisher Price homepage they offer parenting tips and ideas.


http://www.fisher-price.com/us/

History of Barbie

Barbie was developed by Ruth Handler after watching her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls. During this era, dolls were portrayed as infants "baby dolls" rather than grown ups.

Barbie had her first debut March 9, 1959 in New York at American International Toy Fair. The first Barbie doll wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette.

Throughout the years other "Barbie" dolls were developed, including Barbie's "boyfriend" Ken in 1961. Later many (many!) other various characters and personalities.

Polly Pocket

The New and Improved Polly Pocket and her band...

(Part of the Polly Pocket games)

Some of Our Favorite Mattel Toys

Everybody has a favorite Mattel toy, whether it's Barbie, Barney, Polly Pocket or Hot Wheels.
Scroll through this list to remember back to some of your favorite Mattel games and toys.

Girls...

• Dora the Explorer
• Sesame Street
• American Girl
• Diva Starz
• Barbie
• Kelly
• Polly Pocket
• My Scene
• Loving Family Doll House
• Etc...

Boys...

• Barney
• Power Wheels
• Hot Wheels
• Magic 8 Ball
• UNO
• Masters of the Universe

"100 Best Corporate Citizens" for 2007

In February of 2007, Mattel was named number 92 on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens". This is just another reason Mattel is an outstanding company. Those lucky enough to make the list are drawn from more than 1000 pulicly traded companies.


Mattel ranks in these lists yearly because of their core values, some of which are as following:

• Play with passion
• Play to grow
• Play together and Play fair

Mattel also believes that how success is achieved is equally as important as the success itself, (Robert A. Eckert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer). This is another huge achievment for the company, way to go Mattel!

Days For Blogging

Make sure that you write on the blog on your days!!!!!!!


Monday - Kristin
Tuesday - Dave
Wednesday - Launna
Thursday - Megan
Friday - Megan
Saturday - Launna
Sunday - Kristin

Hello to all!

Welcome!