David Tilley
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Posts: 38
(9/10/07 5:59)
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October ambassador report
Hello Matchbox fans,
Well, after a huge first ambassador report, there is not too much to catch on for this month. So let's get straight into it.
A number of people are eager to find the new 2008 1-100 listing. However, the Mattel team are still working on a few final additions and licenses to the listing, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be in the November report. But just as a little tease, we can let you know the 10 sub-sections that the series will be split into. However, please note that these sub-sections are not going to be identical groups of 10 models, but will contain different amounts of models per sub-section.
Heritage Classics
Sports Cars
Metro Rides
VIP Luxury (these 4 make up the "real" section)
City Action
Construction
Farm
Emergency (these 4 make up the "action" section)
Outdoor Adventure
All Terrain (these 2 make up the "adventure" section)
These sub-section names (plus the total amount per sub-section) will be incorporated into the band on the right of the package and will also be color coded too. There will also be a different design artwork center stage for each section too (well, on large blisters anyway, as small blisters do not utilize this artwork). Out goes the 3-vehicle group of models on the artwork, and in comes a fantastic different design artwork from Ryu Asada for each section. The "real" section gets a sports car, the "action" gets a construction vehicle and the "adventure" gets a 4x4 truck. The knack was to make them as realistic as possible without actually covering a licensed vehicle. But as they say, a picture says a thousand words, so here we get a preview of the new artwork....
The first batch of 14 models that will be available have already started production. Three of them are shown above in the packages, and will be joined with another 11 models too. All 14 are as follows....
MB515 2000 Chevy Corvette Convertible
MB588 Dennis Sabre
MB637 1968 Mercury Cougar
MB665 Scion xB
MB668 Mitsubishi Eclipse
MB674 Volvo XC90
MB676 Dodge Charger
MB680 Dodge Magnum Police
MB687 International CXT
MB697 1997 Land Rover Defender 110
MB704 Power Lift
MB706 Lotus Exige
MB709 Chevy Van
MB733 1955 Ford F-100 Panel Delivery (new casting)
Expect to find these in stores in December.
Mattel currently have no plans to expand on the poster/catalog that they have recently been doing. The plan for 2008 is to do another poster for general release, and a run of collector catalogs to place inside 10-packs and playsets. Whether the catalogs will be available to collector clubs is still unsure. Posters can be ordered from Mattel, but the 2007 catalogs were in short supply. Mattel will try to see if they can get a larger order of 2008 catalogs to send out to clubs. There are no promises though. Again, as with 2007, if an international subsidiary wishes to do their own extras (like the UK did for 2007 with the Best of British booklets) it is up to them. Each international Mattel subsidiary decides their own extras for the year.
It appears that collectors are keen to see more use of trailers in the future, and not just contained within the Hitch 'n Haul series. The guys at Mattel are hopeful that this will happen, as the latest trailers are really good. They are working on ideas that could see them added into 5-packs and other multi-packs. However, when it comes to models in different sizes to the normal 3" or 1/64 scale, there are no current plans to do anything different. Models in a larger scale will not be made in 2008. This means we will not see anything under the Dinky, Yesteryear or Superkings range. People have reported seeing Hot Wheels in a smaller scale too (1/87). This too, is something that Matchbox will not be doing. The guys at the Matchbox brand see the 3" range as being the highest priority to build the brand before diversifying. However, if a different size will be done later (maybe 2009/2010), Dinky seems to be the highest likelihood or moving back into at some point in the future. However, ideas keep floating around in the offices as to what to do, but nothing concrete has been penciled in for the future. For now, they are simply concentrating on diecast in the one scale. Please remember that the Matchbox team at Mattel is a small team, whereas that Hot Wheels team is much larger, and have the capabilities to do much more.
Now the US Classics 5-pack has recently surfaced, and many people have noted how the MB042 1957 Ford Thunderbird is in the pack instead of the previously announced MB342 1965 Ford Mustang. This was a small error in that the Mustang was going to be a part of the pack but was changed at the last minute. However, I received the original list instead of the updated one. The Mustang will not be a part of the set. I do apologize (as do Mattel).
Now distribution is starting to improve in USA, but a lot of collectors from outside the country are still reeling from the effects of Hero City. Now this does take time to build, and the US team is trying to help out other subsidiaries as much as possible in trying to improve distribution outside USA. But it is an extremely difficult task and they do have to rely on the Mattel personnel from these other subsidiaries to work as hard as they can too. Better sales in USA will have a knock on effect outside USA too, but this does take time. Please be patient as the brand rebuilds itself on a global basis. We are seeing it in USA (they said it would happen), so it is just a matter of time before the world catches up.
Many dealers are also asking about the possibilities of more dealer exclusives as well as the "Best of" range. Sadly, there is nothing in the pipeline for this, but please remember if you are a dealer, you can order some of the other lines (Hitch 'n Haul, Convoy etc) that do not tend to appear at the larger stores. These are more often aimed at smaller stores, and Mattel are hoping dealers would like to order these items too. Although in the case of Convoy, if a large store is willing to take these (none are for 2008 at the moment) they will sell them to a large store. But in the meantime, items like this are the perfect way to showcase "other" ranges from Matchbox that are not too easily found.
Finally, there is still no confirmation of a line preview, or East Coast toy show next year. They are still working on logistics for these, and fingers crossed I may have some news next time. But for now, this is me signing off for this month.
David Tilley
Matchbox ambassador V3
  
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