Are layoffs on the horizon? Getting so tired of all the lip service from upper management. Just SAYING things are going to be different or better or a certain way does not them so.
18 replies (most recent on top)
let's hope those golden parachutes are filled with massive holes.
Earnings out and Mattel missed what the street was looking for by almost 20 cents - big swing when Wall Street is looking for 71 cents and you report 52... Barbie down Q4 vs. Q3, as a result of massive discounts needed to clear the crap that was the WTF dream house off the shelves. More layoffs are coming, as margin pressures will increase - and someone has to pay for RD's golden parachute. Stock is up because CS is out in 3 weeks and the hope is the new Google CEO can turn it around. 2017 will be a tough year for friends left at Mattel, but hopefully RD and his cronies will leave now that he's not getting the nod for CEO...
To the previous poster, TRUE THAT..........although it wasn't nearly as bad/prevalent in the early '80's, I just watched it get worse year after year & I count my blessings that I was able to punch out when I did but do feel sorry for some of my talented friends that continue to hang on because of the tenure they've already put in.
Oh well, it is what it is.
To the previos poster; WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD. After spending 3 years at Jakks and 4 at Hasbro before that, I can tell you that's life in the corporate toy world. Mattel is no different. Trust me, I've seen it, as apparently you have. And no doubt the same with every other Fortune 500 company and below. Life in the real world. Corporate, that is.
Not quite sure that a new CEO will matter much as the people who are currently in upper/mid management got there and will stay there because of their superior no real talent/boot licking skills and Matthell where stay exactly where it's at.
The AKC aka a..kissingclub always prevails unlike real talent that dares to voice an opposing position to the no talent CD/TW sycophant team & their other counterparts within the DC.
Perhaps the first thing the new CEO should do is start reading this blog...........
You are right, Mattel must evolve. Everyone by now realizes that's a given. And there are some Neanderthals, possibly your "caveman-like" designer that posted earlier, that have been here since the mid 80's. Before a lot of us were even born, which a good enema could, and probably should, flush out. As well as a lot in upper mismanagement that have been promoted up through the ranks, as you say. Not sure what they're waiting for. God knows their 401k's must be huge after that many years. Don't you want to enjoy it a little before you keel over in a few years? Maybe they're just lonely.
Infusing a little fresh blood into the company, along with a new CEO, might just give us the jump start we need.
As in many companies, Mattel has some good people and bad people in groups, both design, development and yes marketing. Design ideas in a vacuum that aren't consumer driven are usually horrible and fail; marketing gimmicks that are either ripoffs or no real direction given are just as bad. Where marketing fails is planning a line from the beginning; marketing is not just a TV ad and "social media." Too many sublines competing for the same eyeballs. Retailers won't take everything Mattel makes in key categories (small dolls, for instance). Launching lines without the marketing plan (and dollars) to sell through is instant failure. On a brand like Barbie, there's been a talent void on both sides for now going on 5 years, where the teams have touted gimmicks as breakthroughs - posable feet? Talk with Me Barbie? Fetishing Barbie collector, which has zero relevance with kids and parents - but allows RD and RB to s--- up to stars? I hope that things change and get better for friends still there, but I'm still amazed how a company the size of Mattel can't s--- it up and put the right people on the ailing SS. Barbie to fix it - except there's no one there who can without making the current VPs in Design and Marketing insecure. Same on HW - there's a reason CD hired a marketing guy as head of design vs. all of the talented Design managers - CD didn't want to be challenged as a designer (which he isn't). Get good people in on both sides, figure out a franchise plan that isn't just toy development (toys are less than 25% of what kids buy of top brands they love) but brand development. Design is a part, but it has to be an overarching plan. MH was a good example and it was a good thing it was held back to have everything in place vs. when CS just wanted to launch it as a doll line. But then we can't just go back and do the same thing with Ever After High. Each brand has to feel unique and different to kids, parents and retailers, or it's doomed to fail.
Wouldn't know what to draw?!....
Yeah, with their, and no doubt your, "brilliant" input. Give me a break, you marketing jacka*s. More over-compensated slackers if ever there was. Now get back to work and figure out something worth peddling, damn it! You apparently haven't been doing such a good job so far, genius.
Hey, Banana-head:
Design is a commodity - you can get it from anywhere nowadays - Phillipines, China, Bangladesh, Russia, etc.. Lots of people looking to come up with cute designs at a fraction of the cost of US design monkeys who have nothing more to add than moping around and s---ing down Starbuck's. Meanwhile, Marketing is the ONLY function that you actually need "locals" to do because they represent the market. Can't outsource marketing.
Besides, without Marketing, you boneheads wouldn't know what to draw. :)
Look, pal, it's designers like us that create the product that supports you and everybody else in this company. I probably have more talent in my little pinky finger when you have in your entire body mass of useless sarcasm. Just keep s---ing on the corporate teet and shut the F up while we do all the fundamental work that's supporting you're useless a--. Cynical sack of sh*t.
Well, on my aisle alone here there's a lot of chaff that could be separated from the wheat. May be a blessing for those of us that put in the time and effort if they replace some of the slackers here.
That's right you negative has been's, go ahead and taught all your negative opinions on this site! Our new CEO, is just what we needed, along with JC's leadership, Mattel will be heading in the right direction. I'm a 30 year veteran who now more than ever is extremely optimistic about our future.
When key drivers like Barbies WiFi Dreamhouse underperform (duh, who didn't see that coming besides Mattel) there will need to be cutbacks. Hot Wheels Anki ripoff? Dud. Given RD didn't get the CEO job, hopefully he and his gang of useful idiots in the different groups will leave. But then again, you'll have a CEO from Google, a company that doesn't understand consumer products, who will want to bring in her own people. Buckle up people left at Mattel - it's going to be a bumpy 2017-18 and with an outsider, she'll want to separate the wheat from the chaff. Which hopefully means that people who have succeeded by failing upward will leave or be asked to leave.
The last poster must be a so called manager here................get outta here troll.
Like they must've done to yo' a--. Yo 😱😩
The toy industry was down last year for everyone - Mattel, being at the lower end of the industry, had a bad year and did not make it's numbers. Expect the announcement of office closings (NYC first, then EA, then Madison), multiple rounds of layoffs (more VP,s and SVP's will be cut) and the exit of RD and SL. It will all start right around Toyfair......
Not to worry all you workers who are going to get laid off/kicked in the a--, they'll just hire more VP's & SRVP's to fix it Yo............
We are all screwed. Get ready for layoffs and multiple rounds of them.