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Al Lutz reporting marketing push for 2011
- Thread starter bstiles
- Start date
Tigger1988
Well-Known Member
Like I mentioned they can't keep him in stock for more than like two days. During a trip my parents made in May (prior to TS3's release) Lotso plushes were EVERYWHERE. Now that the movie is out and people know who he is, there's not a Lotso to be found.
_Scar
Active Member
That's so awesome!
Here I thought I was the only person who would buy a Lotso plush!
SleepingMonk
Well-Known Member
First Captain EO comes back and now PedoBear toys are being pushed in the parks.
Coincidence?
I think not!
:drevil:
Coincidence?
I think not!
:drevil:
Castle Cake Apologist
Well-Known Member
Ehh... bad taste.
Really, this whole thread is pathetic.
The online community is quickly becoming a parody of itself. The fact that this thread has gone on for so many pages with nothing but negativity over a VERY MINOR marketing push speaks volumes.
No wonder Disney could care less what the fanbois think.
If board members would approach subjects with a little less rabid negativity, maybe Disney would give us the time of day.
It's like 90% of you disagree just to disagree.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
Perhaps some of us dont take Disney, theme park operation in general our the importance of what we post as seriously as your good self. :shrug:
lebeau
Well-Known Member
Your assertion that this is "VERY MINOR" is in direct contradiction to the report that this would be "major" :shrug:
stlbobby
Well-Known Member
While the Harry fan club is huge and very active right now it cannot even come close to the size of the Star Wars fan base. The Star Wars base has always been broader and is now pushing 35 years old.
The first Star Wars film was released in 1977 so the original adult fans are collecting social security while the Clone Wars TV shows appeal to the youngest viewers. In between there have been two distinct sets of films separated by decades, a massive set of books and comics, and one of the largest toylines in existence. Star Wars fans literally span generations.
Star Wars is more mainstream than Harry. While everyone knows who Harry is and he is by no means an underground phenomenon. Star Wars was and is a cultural force. The characters, even secondary villains, are societal touchstones. While many adults enjoy and respect the Harry stories, it is still considered a children's product, while Star Wars has always been embraced by adults first and children second.
Rowling did create an entire world that has ample opportunity for exploration, but Lucas created a galaxy. The diversity just in settings cannot be rivaled, when all the characters and races are added there isn't really a discussion.
And to say the merchandising opportunities for Harry are greater than what is probably the largest toyline in the history of the industry--I'd like someone with actual figures to post them--is kind of silly. Star Wars perfected the marketing of an ongoing self perpetuating toyline.
The Today Show - June 2010
From the article:
A study published in June 2010 by The Licensing Book, a trade magazine for toy manufacturers, asked boys aged 5 to 10 what their favorite movie-based toy was. The resounding No. 1 answer was “Star Wars,” beating out “Harry Potter,” “Transformers,” “G.I Joe,” “Avatar” and other recent blockbusters. Even more impressive? There hasn’t been a live-action “Star Wars” film in five years.
In the first quarter of 2009, “Star Wars” toys dominated licensed toy sales — more than 90 percent ahead of any other license — thanks in part to the new animated TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” according to Toy News online. The Christmas prior, the franchise moved 5.7 million units of toys, exceeding $450 million in toy sales for 2008.
Just bought my 6 year-old son Clone Wars pjs during our back-to-school clothes shopping trip this past weekend, because he "had" to get them. And when we went to DHS in June, all he could think of was the shop outside the Star Tours ride......
lebeau
Well-Known Member
I'm a huge Star Wars fan. The original trilogy more or less defined my childhood. But I totally disagree with you here.
The Star Wars fanbase has dwindled substantially. For a while in the early 90s Star Wars was becoming a footnote in the same way as ET is today. But then the novels and toys and various other projects started coming out which renewed interest in Star Wars building up to the prequels.
Then the prequels came out and underwhelmed. Lucas has been spending a lot of Star Wars' built-up good will over the last ten years or so. A lot of folks from my generation look back fondly on the original films. But have mostly moved on. To the younger generation, Star Wars is all about the Clone Wars. But that popularity probably won't outlast the cartoon by much.
I'm sure there will always be a place for Star Wars in American pop culture. But it's no longer white hot like HP is today. And unless someone comes along and revitalizes it in a big way, the franchise's best days are behind it.
As far as merch, the proliference of Star Wars merch is part of the problem. I have been able to get Star Wars merch anywhere I want for the last for the last 3 decades. Harry Potter fans, on the other hand, are starving for merch. That's why they will go to Universal and wait in line for an hour for a $30 plastic wand.
I think Star Wars has a lot of untapped potential and it's the only franchise Disney has that has any chance of taking on Potter. But for the time being, it falls short.
stlbobby
Well-Known Member
Thank you.
IWant2GoNow
Well-Known Member
Well said! :sohappy:
I can confirm this as my 3 year-old step son has become a HUGE Star Wars fan within the last month. We have no idea how he picked it up because he doesn't watch The Clone Wars, but I'm very proud of him. :lol:
He knows a bulk of the characters' names and where they fit in the story and constantly hums the Imperial March (ALL OF IT). He picked out a Star Wars theme birthday coming up in a couple weeks and is always wanting me to take him to WDW to see "the Star Wars people" and make his own "lightsaver".
We have no clue where he picked it all up but he now plays Lego Star Wars and wants to watch the DVDs all the time.
Even I underestimated Star Wars franchise and that is saying something. Here's hoping they expand on DHS for more Star Wars in the future.
Duffy though? Ehh, it's gonna happen regardless of what anyone on here says.
Embrace reality... it's what all us Cavs fans had to do after LeBron's move.
stlbobby
Well-Known Member
Thanks for back-up. I am not in anyway denouncing Harry. He sells a ton of books and movie tickets and is a genuine phenomenon, and while I think the WWoHP will cool it will be a draw at Universal for a long time.
But Harry just can't match Star Wars. Lucas is not only a creative genius he is a master marketer. The ancillary media associated with Star Wars is enormous and continues to grow everyday.
sublimesting
Well-Known Member
From what I can see by this link:
http://micechat.com/forums/tokyo-disney-resort/118708-story-duffy-disney-bear-pictures.html
This bear comes with a flask...sooooo....I declare WIN!
http://micechat.com/forums/tokyo-disney-resort/118708-story-duffy-disney-bear-pictures.html
This bear comes with a flask...sooooo....I declare WIN!
Well not to get in any of the discussion here. But hopefully he comes out in Oct. We will be there the last week. My 4 1/2 year old daughter has the original Disney Bear plush ( the one in the mickey pajamas) and its her security bear, she take shim every where. I guess they are highly collectible now because I have searched ebay for an emergency replacement and they are over $300 now.
Also we have gotten her the books and stuff and I would of sworn his name was Edgar, not Duffy, I have never heard that name. My daughter calls him Dis Bear. So if he is out the last week of Oct we will be in line to see him. I dont really care about marketing ploys, if hes there my daughter will be excited, so thats another disney magic win for me.
Also we have gotten her the books and stuff and I would of sworn his name was Edgar, not Duffy, I have never heard that name. My daughter calls him Dis Bear. So if he is out the last week of Oct we will be in line to see him. I dont really care about marketing ploys, if hes there my daughter will be excited, so thats another disney magic win for me.