ToyFare: Allen hints at something "so big"...

[WiGgY]

except sales for 8 and 9 are already in. By the time 9 sells at retail 10 would have already had to be in production (olds, paints, and the figures being made). The orders should be in by now and 10 should be up for pre-order.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I think some of you guys have the idea that the line is this huge money makin thing. It's not.

Back that up. Where's Ken's quote, or anybody else at Palisades' quote, regarding this?

I think it's doing better than you think it is, especially for a franchise like the Muppets, which is definitely designated to a collectors' market.

 

[WiGgY]

All I can say is I know something you don't know for certain reasons I am not allowed to say.

 

[Luke]

Back that up. Where's Ken's quote, or anybody else at Palisades' quote, regarding this?

Ken has kinda said it multiple times. Sales aren't as great as they would like and it looked like retail line could end at S10. On a positive note S8 sales have been better than expected but fewer figures were manufactured.

Right now the collectable action figure industry is about to go into a big slump. Companies like Palisades who focus mainly on the specialist side and the small comic retailers are going to be hit pretty bad. It's gonna come at a bad time for Palisades with Muppets, Zim, Crittaz and Freakables all due out and aimed at the hardcore collectors. I think Fairly Oddparents will be a big hit for them with the kid crossover though if they can market it right. Pink Panther is another license that has more mass market appeal but i haven't really heard anything yet to say if they've been accepted that well or not.

 

[WiGgY]

Luke, you have an e-mail.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Well, that stinks. I suppose by then all that we'd NEED in the collection will be made, but there is still so much that could come from the line. People need to start buying these toys!!! I wonder if the lack of more Kermit and main 5 is a reason the line doesn't pick up so well?

 

[Bean Bunny]

The Muppet Babies could help the line, alot.

 

[rexcrk]

For me, one of the biggest things would be if they re-released some of the stuff from the first three series w/o alterations or color changes what-so-ever... but I doubt that would happen

 

[Fozzie Bear]

For me, one of the biggest things would be if they re-released some of the stuff from the first three series w/o alterations or color changes what-so-ever... but I doubt that would happen

That's what I was wondering about, because a lot of folks won't pick things up without having all the main characters, and while we're still getting Sam and some other wonderful stuff, lots of folks (a friend of mine for example) won't buy them because they can't get main/signature characters like Kermit or Piggy anymore.

However, a few Star Wars fans I know did buy the Swinetrek playset and crew members, but that was all.

 

[Luke]

I suppose by then all that we'd NEED in the collection will be made, but there is still so much that could come from the line.

I don't think it's about the end of the line, more about things being slow at retail. They've set up www.palisadesdirectstore.com so they can start putting out things directly. It's probably at the point where most people buying them are the hardcore collectors and Palisades don't have access to the earlier sculpts but it'd certainly help people if they did a few signature re-releases (but in slightly different styles so as not to alienate the people who paid a lot earlier). I don't think the Muppet fans are ready for differing expressions though - that even went flat with the Simpsons. I've been kinda angling for more themed stuff - like horror/movie spoofs and more vacations and superheroes. I think that, with a mix of obscures and enhanced signature re-releases would keep up interest with the consumer base they have.

I'd love to see things like a "Men In Plaid" 2 pack, SuperShrimp Pepe, Vacation Gonzo, Universal Monsters Kermit & Piggy etc. Sometimes i think they've gone a bit too obscure for retail and some of the things we saw as exclusives would have made great selling figures at TRU/Target etc.