Hasbro's 2010 financial report

[griffin]

For anyone interested, the annual report for 2010 for Hasbro is online, but the brief bits relating to TFs can be found here.

- Overall revenue was down in 2010 when compared to 2009, BUT operating profit was up, mostly due to lower taxes and depreciation.
- Sales for Transformers and GI Joe products decreased, but this loss in revenue was offset by an increase in Nerf and Marvel sales, in particular Iron Man 2.

Keep in mind that 2010 was a non-movie year for their biggest property (Transformers), so sales were expected to dip last year... and naturally will go through the roof this year - which was also mentioned for their 2011 forecast.

[LordCyrusOmega]

From what was scheduled to be released to what was actually released (at least in my area) was very different. I spent the majority of the year looking for things that weren't there so didn't spend half as much as I normally would ahve. It's no wonder sales were down.

[GoktimusPrime]

Wow, Transformers is Hasbro's biggest property now? I thought Star Wars was. <insert.cynical.comment.here>

I spent the majority of the year looking for things that weren't there so didn't spend half as much as I normally would ahve. It's no wonder sales were down.

+1. Made me go and purchase TakaraTOMY versions of some toys whereas I would've happy to get the Hasbro version if I could only bloody find it!

The fact that shelves are also flooded with shelf-warming crap like Stealth Force and RPMs probably doesn't help.

[Hursticon]

The fact that shelves are also flooded with shelf-warming crap like Stealth Force and RPMs probably doesn't help.

Indeed but if I remember reading correctly, they apparently identified that a lot of money was spent on items that made a substantially poor return, i.e. RPMs, Stealthforce, Activators, Endless Repaints... - So hopefully Hasbro has seen the writing on the wall and will concentrate development funds towards things that will actually sell, if Hasbro AU's analysis is worth anything it should spell gold for the Classicsverse!
(Though, I wouldn't hold my breath over anything Hasbro US does )

[UltraMarginal]

there is a discussion on Seibertron.com that covers this topic in a little more depth, it also points out a potential reason for there being a shortage of newer toys in the new year, which also relates to shelf warming as has been heavily discussed here.

it is interesting that they have had a downturn but I agree that the non-movie year is related to that.
I wonder if their sales rep's ever thought though of limiting items in the later part of the year and then allowing more in the earlier part of the year to ensure a turn over of different stock, then drip feeding the excess stock from the latter part of the previous year to where it's needed. may level out their profits a bit and also overall improve sales with shelf items being constantly different. of course there would then be warehouse expenses with this method that may be currently being avoided somewhat.

[griffin]

Wow, Transformers is Hasbro's biggest property now? I thought Star Wars was. <insert.cynical.comment.here>

TFs has been their bigger property since before the first TFs movie... just see how much product and shelf space is allocated between the two at Toyfair and in stores (it's now at ratio of about 3 to 1 in favour of TFs). The last big thing with Star Wars was RotS, and a small gasp with the Animated Clone Wars movie. Ever since then, it's been downhill for that brand, with year after year of a large portion of 'vintage' characters and vehicles.

[gdmetro]

there is a discussion on Seibertron.com that covers this topic in a little more depth, it also points out a potential reason for there being a shortage of newer toys in the new year, which also relates to shelf warming as has been heavily discussed here.

it is interesting that they have had a downturn but I agree that the non-movie year is related to that.
I wonder if their sales rep's ever thought though of limiting items in the later part of the year and then allowing more in the earlier part of the year to ensure a turn over of different stock, then drip feeding the excess stock from the latter part of the previous year to where it's needed. may level out their profits a bit and also overall improve sales with shelf items being constantly different. of course there would then be warehouse expenses with this method that may be currently being avoided somewhat.

Just had a quick browse through of that thread on Seibertron- pretty devastating. That's why I barely even visit retail stores for Tfs now... waste of time/money/petrol. Just order online/ pre-order the stuff you don't want to miss out on because that is the surest (most realistic way) to get em' rather than waiting for retailers.

On the other hand, I think it's a pretty interesting issue. Is this situation only true for movie year transitions? For me, I feel that this is an inevitable trait for movie transition years. But what about when the movies are long gone? I think that no one, not even Hasbro can know. Because even if one draws on pre-07 retail situation for guidance, the market for Tfs has significantly changed since then.

A significant question from the shelfwarming thread to ask here is: What is the current percentage we collectors make up of the TF buying market? The normal throw-around answer is "insignificant" or "under 10%"- are answers that I've seen. But is that really accurate?
What about in a non-movie year compared to a movie year- does that make a difference in the numbers?

The reason I ask is- what if demands from outburst of collectors are met, that is, the hypothetical situation where over half the shelves were stocked full of classics/RTS/Generations? Would that make as much profit for retailers/Hasbro then the current situation?