Barbie Sales Down!

 From Fortune:

Stan Honda, AFP/Getty Images

Iconic doll is facing pressure from Disney’s ‘Frozen’ line, which has become a juggernaut in the toy aisle. by

• by 
• John Kell

• @johnnerkell 

January 30, 2015, 8:00 AM EST

Sales of Mattel’s iconic Barbie fell for a third consecutive year in 2014, the company said Friday. The decline puts pressure on the toy maker’s overall results at a time when the preschool Fisher-Price line is also facing some challenges. Here are some of the key points from the company’s quarterly earnings report, released this morning.
What you need to know: Barbie’s sales slumped 16% in 2014, with sales falling by the double digits for each quarter throughout the year. Barbie has faced pressure from Disney’s DIS -1.14% “Frozen” line, which has become a juggernaut in the toy aisle, but the doll’s recent downturn is also due to some broader trends in the toy aisle that are almost out of Mattel’s MAT 0.58% control. Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of toy-focused website TTPM.com, said Barbie’s core demographic used to be between the ages of 3 to 9 but is now a more narrow 3 to 6.
“Kids grow up much faster than they used to, and they move on faster,” Silver said. Other fashion dolls, including some lines that Mattel has developed, have stolen market share and attention. The sales decline for Barbie, and similar problems at Fisher-Price, led the toy company to oust its CEO earlier this week. Barbie’s sales decline also accelerated in 2014, as the brand’s sales only slipped 6% in 2013 and 3% in 2012.
Silver said one potential solution to Barbie’s decline is to add more diversity to the doll lineup. He said it is also notable that Mattel has brought back Richard Dickson, now co-president, as he previously ran Barbie during her heyday.
The big number: Net income for the fourth quarter tumbled 59% to $149.9 million, or 44 cents a share, with sales falling 6% to $1.99 billion. Excluding some charges Mattel booked, profit in the latest period was 52 cents, still far short of the 92 cents projected by analysts. Wall Street had also projected revenue to total $2.12 billion.
What you might have missed: Barbie’s downfall is getting a lot of attention, but the problems in Mattel’s portfolio are broad. In the key fourth quarter, when sales are supposed to strengthen during the holiday season, Fisher-Price sales slipped 11% while American Girl doll sales were down 4%. Only Hot Wheels grew. Fisher-Price is also facing pressure, as some analysts and toy insiders say price points for the line are too high, and competitors have been able to take advantage by undercutting Mattel and stealing key shelf space.
Learn more about sales in the toy industry from Fortune’s video team:

Cotillion Auction Press Release, Courtesy of our Friends at Theriault's

Rare, 20" Halopeau, realized $56,000. Chair was $850, Dance Cards, $550.

Theriault’s Press Release

Record Prices for Antique Dolls at Theriault’s January Auction

Theriault’s annual January auction even in Newport Beach, California, has become legendary over the years in its offering of some of the world’s most prestigious collections.  This January was no exception for the firm, which specializes exclusively in the auction of antique dolls and childhood ephemera, and is now celebrating is 45^th year.

Featuring the storied collection of Beverly Hills socialite, Susan Whittaker, whose 40-year collection became a legend in the world of dolls, the auction fetched prices that would shatter previous record marks set by Theriault’s.

It was the high profile doll by Albert Marque that truly stole the show. The fabulous example, dressed in its period historical costume of Lorraine, fetched a record $310,000 (Including 12% premium) making it an American record for a doll at auction and a world record for a French doll.  Heated bidding ensued from the moment it started at $150,000 and quickly finished off in a battle of a phone bidder, who was the ultimate winner, and an internet bidder which interestingly became the highest online bid every registered at Theriault’s.

But it was not just one doll that people remembered.  The bidding pace was something to behold and the clamor that ensued between online and onsite bidders was a dance of back and forth that had the first day of 300 lots taking nearly 6 hours to complete.  In that time, Theriault’s shattered its own record with the most online bids ever recorded as thousands of buyers from across the world competed for prized objects from the collection.

The auction included six rare bebes by French dollmaker Andre Thuillier, whose dolls had been a favorite of that sophisticated collector.  “Today, it’s difficult to fined even one example of these dolls”, noted Theriault’s president, Stuart Holbrook.  The dolls sold consistently over high estimate with two examples at $60,500 and $65,000.  An exquisite 20” bebe by Aristide Halopeau sold far above estimate, fetching $56,000.

Susan Whittaker’s collecting emphasis was in three major categories: elegant bebes, captivating googly dolls, and all-bisque mignonettes.  The googly collection included rare examples of the Oscar Hitt-designed model, marked “Virginia, Ginny for Short”, the two perfect examples selling at $23,500 and $27,000. Designed by the 1920s cartoonist, Oscar Hitt, who also created the popular tin toy, Hi-Way Henry, little is known about the origin of the doll or the meaning of its mysterious name “Virginia, Ginny for Short.”

More than 150 rare all-bisque mignonettes and miniature dolls were featured in the two-day event, with prices consistently doubling or tripling their pre-sale estimates; a dainty slightly smiling model in original wedding costume and coiffe (pre-sale (900-1300) soared to $3800, for example.

Collectors were equally enamored with doll ephemera.  A 13” French Cinderella coach went to $7800 (pre-sale estimate $700/1200), a 15” French citrine with painted decorations topped at $3200 (pre-sale estimate $1100/1500), and a rare 2” ormolu frame display by Erhard & Sohne soared to six times its pre-sale estimate of $400/600, topping at $3600.

The $2.5 M total result demonstrated the continued demand and exciting energy within the doll collecting world.  Holbrook commented, “One of the most encouraging and positive signs for our industry was not only the record prices, something that we are seeing now on a regular basis, but the number of new collectors coming into the bidding for high-end pieces.”

The dolls were presented in a hardbound 204 page keepsake book with exquisite photography and detailed descriptions   Very limited copies of the book are still available, or collectors can visit www.theriaults.com to view auction details and prices.

Theriault’s will now turn its attention to yet another landmark legacy collection when it offers the lifelong, fine antique doll collection of Berta Leon Hackney at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas on March 28 and 29, 2015. For further information, visit www.theriautls.com or call 800-638-0422.

Monster High Cleo De Nile

Doll Collecting Newsletter

From Ellen Tsagaris, your Guide to Doll Collecting Today a doll hospital was featured with a billionaire stamp collector on a Sunday news show.  Just goes to show that in the heart of winter, we find consolation in our hobbies.  The annual UFDC convention will be here before we know it, info. is below. Also, read more auctions, snowmen,and more.

66th Annual UFDC Convention Information Hotel and Reservation information for UFDC Convention Search Related Topics:  doll convention collectilbe dolls july events 66th annual  dolls  doll history

Armand Marseilles: An Update For many collectors, a Marseilles doll is their introduction to antique dolls. Search Related Topics:  armand marseilles  googly  cotillion

The History of Snowmen The History of the Doll's cousin, the Snowman, dates to the Middle Ages and earlier. Search Related Topics:  snowmen  frosty  plush dolls

Cotillion Marque Brings $280,000! A lovely, melancholy Valentine doll brings an impressive bid at last weekend's Cotillion auction by Theriault's. Search Related Topics:  marque  louise of lorraine  theriault's

Related Searches Creating Newsletter Newsletter Templates Email Newsletter Newsletter Service Porcelain Dolls Featured Articles Blog Madame Alexander Doll Types Social Media and Doll Collectors Doll Collector's Calendar Beating the Winter Blahs with Dolls International Costume Dolls

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