PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: playmofire on February 03, 2008, 20:27:03
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I found this on another board and so thanks to Svea for finding it originally and posting it. It makes interesting reading and answers the often asked question - why knights and pirates etc but not modern soldiers?
There's one error in it - there was a black pilot in the international police set, 3908.
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Very interesting reading. Thanks for posting1 :yup:
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I enjoyed reading this article. This is the reason for joining your forum, to learn and expand my knowledge base about this wonderful toy. I hope they never lower their quality or play standards especially in gaining stature in America's toy industry. I do not buy American toys (Barbie, Bratz, GI Joe, Etc.) because I see our children learning materialism and greed as well as violence in these toys. As it is I am frustrated by Toys R Us and Target for only carrying Pirates, police and Knights. What happened to the girls?? and all the other themes? Oh well...thanks for an interesting read!!
Janice
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Thank you for the Article. I would like to share it further . I sure do wish playmobil could crack the market in US. I would love to see the toy as popular here in the states as it is in Europe. I certainly had no idea it was a 90% - 10% split. I guess that does leave a lot of room for expansion. If only people here would start to appreciate the finer things in toys :P
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Also the article says that LEGO is the top toy in Germany, that's not what I have seen from other sources in the past.
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Thank you for the article, that was very interesting.
Gepetto
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Very interesting, thanks for posting.
Some of this has been covered in "Story of a Smile", such as the lead times and quality control issues involved in China-based manufacture. In Playmobil's case it's not the cost of labour that's forcing them to go to China, or rather the desire for greater profit margins, as we see with Mattel and others.
It's good to know that Geobra have a medium-term plan and are trying to live up to it - at the same time it's a grey area. They produce modern armed police and hunters carrying high-powered telescopic rifles, but shy away from modern armies. Of course if they also said they'd never produce Romans or Dinosaurs, so it'll be interesting to see if the company can continue to thrive, or even survive, without resorting to military means. ;) Unfortunately if they do produce modern military stuff, i'll be buying it. :-[
I'm disappointed, but not suprised, thay the UK is seen as having more Americanised tastes than the rest of Europe. A stroll around the toyshelves quickly reveals the surfeit of licensed products and cheaply manufactured dross that won't last the kids till next Christmas. We've already had four gun killings this year, and in the last fortnight there was a murder less then 1/2 a mile from my home.
At least, with Europe on our doorstep, it's not that expensive to hop across the Channel and soak up some European culture. If you like in the US, it's far less easy to leave your country and experience other tastes and values, which is a great shame.
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What an interesting article! Thank you so much, Gordon, for posting this and thanks to Svea for bringing it to your attention in the first place.
The article seems to imply that Playmobil no longer uses manufacturers in China - does anyone know more about this? I wish Geobra would open some factories in the U.S. - the time is ripe with the dollar currently so low against the euro and with property prices depressed over here. The U.S. could really use some good manufacturing jobs as well.
At least, with Europe on our doorstep, it's not that expensive to hop across the Channel and soak up some European culture. If you like in the US, it's far less easy to leave your country and experience other tastes and values, which is a great shame.
That's why we so enjoy our virtual trips to places like Playmofriends! ;D And, of course, we do have Canada. (That may sound like a bit of a joke, but I have spent a lot of time in Canada and I really do admire their outlook. :-* )
- Anne
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The article seems to imply that Playmobil no longer uses manufacturers in China - does anyone know more about this?
The only sets I know were ever manufactured in China are the Micro sets. If you look at the boxes for anything else, it's Germany, Malta or, very rarely, Spain.
The Micro sets still being fairly new, they may setill be manufactured in China, but it won't be everything, just some of the parts and the final assembly.
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Thanks for the info, Martin!
I have not bought very many of the newer sets in recent years so I was not sure how much of their stuff was being made in China. I seem to recall that it has only been a short time - a few years, perhaps, that they have been out-sourcing further than Malta. Maybe those China-made (or assembled) sets will be collector's items themselves one day, just because they are few and a bit different from the rest. 8}
- Anne
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Thanks for the info, Martin! Maybe those China-made (or assembled) sets will be collector's items themselves one day, just because they are few and a bit different from the rest. 8}
- Anne
Yes ant they should last a bit longer as well , with the lead and all :P
As much as i would love to be able to bask in the broken mismatched bonanza of parts from a factory i surely doubt playmobil will ever make its way to the US . I would like to see a more aggressive campaign to target the American market . I had a hard time believing it was a 90% to 10% split
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I totally agree with you Anne, we always looked forward to a trip to B.C.. I lived in Canada for about 10 yrs. and I still feel it is calmer and more civilized in some respects than the U.S., but with all the upcoming border changes I don't know.
Gepetto
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I think in order for Playmobil to make a dent in the US market they would have to make pro-football and baseball teams and then spring board into films (which would give Sylvia more keychains than she would know what to do with).
I think it becomes a qualitative thing over a quantitative one, I just hope that their product integrity is rewarded with matching longevity in the marketplace.
Gepetto
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It's good to know that Geobra have a medium-term plan and are trying to live up to it - at the same time it's a grey area. They produce modern armed police and hunters carrying high-powered telescopic rifles, but shy away from modern armies. Of course if they also said they'd never produce Romans or Dinosaurs, so it'll be interesting to see if the company can continue to thrive, or even survive, without resorting to military means. ;) Unfortunately if they do produce modern military stuff, i'll be buying it. :-[
But, I think the real reason PM shies from modern military is the problem of WWII. It's a thorny topic for a German toy company. I don't think PM could make a toy that gives the appearance of commemorating vestiges of WWII. So, yeah, it's false when PM claims it won't make war toys (knights, Romans, etc contradict that). I think this is more than political correctness. Geobra operated during the Nazi era--even if it didn't collude with the Nazi party--and it's probably touchy to commemorate the time with a toy line.
I bet, though, after another generation, things will change. We humans have short memories...
I'm disappointed, but not suprised, thay the UK is seen as having more Americanised tastes than the rest of Europe.
Hey Martin, we Americans are just Britishers with some Dutch and German blood thrown in. It's not a coincidence that England, America, and Australia are close allies politically and culturally.
At least, with Europe on our doorstep, it's not that expensive to hop across the Channel and soak up some European culture. If you like in the US, it's far less easy to leave your country and experience other tastes and values, which is a great shame.
At the same time, we have Canada and Mexico. But I agree there is something oddly insular about the USA.
On the other hand, it's not fair to completely depreciate American culture. As a melting pot, America is far more heterogeneous than Europe or even England. Despite the 9/11 bombings, our Muslems enjoy greater assimilation and opportunity than their French equivalents.* (*But, I think Black Americans of American ancestry are less assimilated here than in England--I'm not certain)
I mean, we aren't all "ignorance and evil", a resurgent dark age casting its shadow across the face of the globe.
At the same time, I agree there is a sort of insularism about American culture. My environment is nearly entirely white protestant (though I don't live in a major city--even Belgium has its hick towns). Americans love athletes and dis-trust intellectuals. Surviving as a male appears to involve a litmus test of one's ardor for basketball or football--and contempt for life's more sedentary activities (minus television).
But, these are all stereotypes.
It was only 50 years ago that Europe was a nest of feuding totalitarian states. So enlightenment appears to be a fluid thing......
-Tim
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Hello, Gordon ...
There's one error in it - there was a black pilot in the international police set, 3908.
It's possible that they were talking about a commercial airline pilot.
I still fly a lot on a variety of commercial airlines and I cannot remember ever seeing a black pilot. I know that there are some, but the number must be very small!
Thanks for sharing Svea's post with us Gordon. I really enjoyed reading the article.
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Rasputin ...
I sure do wish playmobil could crack the market in US. I would love to see the toy as popular here in the states as it is in Europe.
I'm sure that Mr. Brandstätter shares your "wishes" ... :lol:
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Tim ...
Also the article says that LEGO is the top toy in Germany, that's not what I have seen from other sources in the past.
You are absolutely correct! Playmobil is still the top toy in Germany!
(And, I too have seen several other reputable sources to validate this claim!)
All the best,
Richard
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Hello, Timmy ...
Hey Martin, we Americans are just Britishers with some Dutch and German blood thrown in. It's not a coincidence that England, America, and Australia are close allies politically and culturally.
Hey, Timmy ... I think that a lot of other Euro, Afro, Hispanic, Asian, Eastern and Native Americans might take some offence to your comment ... :hmm:
My environment is nearly entirely white protestant (though I don't live in a major city
I am indeed very, very fortunate, Timmy.
In the winter we live in the United States Virgin Islands where the population is primarily black West Indian. They are a wonderful people. They are very kind, generous, accepting and giving. It is a joy and a privilege to be part of their community.
In the summer we live in Canada on Vancouver Island where the population is primarily white anglo-saxon. They are a wonderful people. They are very kind, generous, accepting and giving. It is a joy and a privilege to be part of their community.
All the best,
Richard
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It was only 50 years ago that Europe was a nest of feuding totalitarian states. So enlightenment appears to be a fluid thing......
-Tim
50 years ago? 1958? ???
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50 years ago? 1958? ???
I guess that it depends upon when he wrote his comment, Gordon ... ;)
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Thanks for posting it! It's my hope that Playmobil would continue to stay their course and not succumb to product licensing ... which might be their only hope to achieve some breakthru in the US/UK market(?) :'(
fwiw there's a +20min video interview on the 'net with the CEO of Lego, in which he's brought up the importance for Lego to expand their character/movie/product tie-in to increase market share and profitability, but he does mention that they will continue to cater to the Lego purist.