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08-03-2003 08:25 AM |
Garbage Pail Kids are back
And many other 'retro toys' too, including Strawberry Shortcake, classic yo-yos, and Atari.
August 1, 2003: 9:52 AM EDT
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money Staff Writer
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Quote:
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Toy makers are keen on bringing the 80s back to life in their Christmas arsenal this year -- recruiting the likes of Strawberry Shortcake, Atari video games, and My Little Pony.
"I feel like I'm in a time warp, stuck in the mid-80s," said Jim Silver, publisher of industry monthly Toy Book. "In 1983, the toys that were hot were Creepy Crawlers, the Strawberry Shortcake doll, Care Bears, the yo-yos. On the back cover of our magazine we had Spiderman and the Hulk. What was old is new again."
Toy consultant Chris Byrne thinks that many more toymakers are falling back on the golden oldies as a quick-fix to their sagging numbers.
...
Here are just some of the retro-toys they're betting on.
Garbage Pail Kids. Remember the gross-out Garbage Pail Kids sticker fad from way back?
Kids loved them because they showed funny characters engaged in all kinds of bodily functions. Plenty of adults became fans of the stickers, which soon developed a cult following.
Now New York-based Topps Co. (TOPP: Research, Estimates), also the distributor of Pokemon cards and stickers, in August will re-release the hugely popular stickers after nearly 15 years.
The original cards debuted in 1985 but lasted only three years, after selling millions of cards and stickers, according to Clay Luraschi, spokesman with Topps.
...
The new stickers have been updated, and include a spoof showing "Harry Potty" holding a toilet plunger while sitting on the potty.
<center>http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/30/news...arry_potty.jpg
Harry Potty spoof sticker from the
new Garbage Pail Kids Collection,
priced at 99 cents for a pack of
4 stickers, including 4 sticks of gum.
(Courtesy: Topps Company)</center>
Strawberry Shortcake. A famous redhead from the 80's -- the Strawberry Shortcake Doll -- got a second lease on life this year when Cleveland-based American Greetings (AM: Research, Estimates) and its master toy licensee Bandai Co. decided to bring back the first-ever scented doll. It had been retired in 1985.
The spunky doll was a huge moneymaker, generating sales of more than $100 million in 1980, its first year. In its five-year life, it did $1.2 billion in sales, including accessories.
Now Bandai is hoping the new collection of scented five-inch dolls, mini-dolls and accessories turn into a phenomenon all over again.
...
<center>http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/30/news...erry_plaid.jpg
The new Strawberry Shortcake
Pretty in plaid doll is priced at
$8.99. (Courtesy: Bandai America)</center>
My Little Pony. Hasbro is anticipating a joy ride of profitability all over again with its My Little Pony collection.
Little girls couldn't get enough of the miniature pony dolls that debuted back in 1983, and it became a multimillion-dollar product for the toymaker that also spawned a television show and other licensed merchandise.
But the ponies were discontinued in 1992 after demand began to wilt.
"This was one of the first products that gave girls a fantasy-like doll to play with," said Audrey Desimone, spokeswoman for Hasbro. "We can't predict the demand the second time around, but we feel the market is ripe for it again."
<center>http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/30/news...tty_ponies.jpg
Hasbro's new My Little Pony
Rainbow Celebration collection,
priced at about $4.99.each.
(Courtesy: Hasbro)</center>
Atari. For its part, Jakks Pacific (JAKK: Research, Estimates) is making video games go retro. It released the Atari10-in-1 TV games, a plug and play 8-bit gaming system with 10 classic Atari videogames with a replica of the original Atari 2600 joystick.
Additionally, Malibu, Calif.-based Jakks in October will release a limited edition of Namco TV games, a unit that lets users play classic arcade games, including Pac-Man, Rally-X and Galaxian.
"We saw a groundswell for nostalgic toys and we acted on it. But we're seeing particularly strong demand for classic video games, " said Genna Goldberg, spokeswoman for Jakks Pacific.
<center>http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/30/news...atari_game.jpg
Jakks Pacific Atari 10-in-1 TV game
sells for $19.99. The Namco TV
games are priced at $24.99.
(Courtesy: Jakks Pacific)</center>
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I actually have a My Little Pony still in its original packaging... bought it as a gift for a friend's little sister all those years ago. I also used to have an entire collection of Garbage Pail Kids... I've seen Care Bears hitting store shelves, and I was wondering what other 80s toys they would be bringing back... this should get interesting.
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