Mattel Reports Profit Despite Recalls Feb 1, 2008
Mattel posted global sales increases during the quarter across all but one of its toy divisions, the American Girl unit. Favorable currency exchange rates overseas helped boost Mattel's international sales by 18 percent, but U.S. sales fell 3 percent. (ABC News -- Wire)
Mattel earnings rise despite toy recalls Feb 1, 2008
Mattel posted global sales increases during the quarter across all but one of its toy divisions, the American Girl unit ... Sales of toys in Mattel's American Girl unit dropped 2 percent to $241. (MSNBC -- Business)
Mattel Posts Higher 4Q Profit Jan 31, 2008
Despite the negative publicity over the recalls in the weeks leading to the crucial holiday shopping season, Mattel posted global sales increases across all but one of its toy divisions, the American Girl unit, during the quarter ... Sales of toys in Mattel's American Girl unit slipped 2 percent to $241. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Mattel Named One of FORTUNE's 2008 '100 Best Companies to Work For' List Jan 24, 2008
Employee Comments: Deborah Dicochea, associate manager of the Mattel Children's Foundation, said, "If anything, I think morale is even better than before. I've been working here 16 years. People are proud to say they work here, even through these recalls. We've come together as a family." John DeRubes, director of baby gear engineering at Fisher-Price, said, "What sticks in my mind is that our CEO said, 'How you achieve success is just as important as success itself.' I tell my kids that. We saw... (PR Newswire)
Trouble in toy land Dec 26, 2007
But the proud owner of an American Girl , and her near-infinite slew of 1904 accessories, is unlikely to then pretend that Samantha is a queen who orders the building of forts (made of Legos commandeered from a SpongeBob set) on the Amazon. That isn't in the pre-arranged storyline. (Yahoo News)
A year of Hollywood film crews all over Boston Dec 25, 2007
"You just go to the website and upload a picture of yourself smiling. That's it. For every photo, Duracell makes a donation." Breslin is on a break, having finished three movies including "Definitely, Maybe" with Pittsfield native Elizabeth Banks and "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl," with Boston College alum Chris O'Donnell, who plays her father. "He's a very nice guy," Breslin said, offering no Hollywood scandals from the set. (Boston Globe)
Students express their wants to ‘the man in red’ Dec 22, 2007
I want American Girl Doll suffe ... For Christmas I want a American Girl Doll. (Demotte Kankakee Valley Post News, IN)
Santa Letters Dec 21, 2007
Friday December 21, 2007. Star Tribune (434) 432-2791 Phone (434) 432-4033 Fax P.O. Box 111 28 North Main Street, Chatham VA 24531. (Chatham Star Tribune, VA)
Letters to Santa Dec 13, 2007
I want for Krism is a American Girl outfit, new Crox and a fish game. Love. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Senator moves into new home, toys with run for Congress Dec 2, 2007
Victoria is a coyote and a Native American princess, and Esther is a prairie girl, a Native American girl and a soldier, said Grace. Both girls are also in the Tucson Children s Choir. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
The Holiday Hot List Dec 1, 2007
Even some of the hottest toys this season have been around for decades the most popular searches include "Barbie," "Lego" and my favorite childhood toy, "Hot Wheels." New-guard toys, like "Bratz," "American Girl" and "Transformers," round out the list. The biggest difference between modern toys and those of yore is perhaps the webification of the former. (Time.com)
Holiday specials Nov 23, 2007
"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday," HALL, 11 a.m. ... Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas-- Movie," WTAE, ABC, WYTV, 8 p.m. "Rachael Ray's Holiday Feast," FOOD, 8 p.m. "More Crazy Christmas Lights," TLC, 8 p.m. "Deck the Halls," HBO, 8:15 p.m. "The Polar Express," ABCFAM, 9 p.m. "All Star Holiday Spirit," FOOD, 9 p.m. "The Note," HALL, 9 p.m. "More Crazy Christmas Lights," TLC, 11 p.m. "Prancer," ABCFAM, 11:30 p.m. "A Smoky Mountain Christmas," CMT, 11:30 p.m. "Silent Night," HALL, 1 a.m.... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
More of this story Nov 22, 2007
The Citizen, Auburn NY - TEST. The Citizen Voting Booth. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Girls flock to Barbie theme store Nov 21, 2007
Although Mattel subsidiary American Girl has been successful with U.S. stores offering cafes, photo studios and doll hair salons, American Girl sells its dolls directly, whereas Barbies are available at competing retail stores. "If Mattel suddenly goes into competition with its established channels of distribution, it's going to add a lot to cost and not to profitability," Byrne said. (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
Argentine entrepreneurs score a hit with the first Barbie entertainment theme store Nov 21, 2007
Although Mattel subsidiary American Girl has been successful with U.S. stores offering cafes, photo studios and doll hair salons, American Girl sells its dolls directly, whereas Barbies are available at competing retail stores. 1. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Shoppers ready for the season Nov 18, 2007
30-day news archives. The price of gas is just tearing us up. (Florida Today)
What an inspiring story! It is wonderful to know someone cares enough to take this project on for all our girls to learn from and enjoy. The friendship theme I think is often overlooked and it is so important. More... Nov 1, 2007
Necochea sought an antidote to the Bratz dolls, which she thought were "sexualizing young girls." She wanted to make a contemporary version of the American Girl dolls, which are set in time periods such as the Revolutionary War. "I thought you could hip up the American Girl doll and make it more about friendship," she said ... Necochea, who worked in the health care industry for nine years before becoming a stay-at-home mom, was inspired to start the business by the story of a former teacher who... (North County Times)
Time Flies During Busy Holiday Season with Scene It? Travel Editions Oct 31, 2007
The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, American Girl, Radica: and Tyco R/C, as well as Fisher-Price brands, including Little People, Power Wheels and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel isrecognized as one of the 100Most Trustworthy U.S. Companies by Forbes Magazineand is ranked among the 100 Best Corporate Citizensby CRO Magazine. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Oct. 16 Kid stuff Oct 16, 2007
Members of the American Girl Club at Barnes Booksellers, 3040 S. Evans St., will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. Participants and their American Girl dolls can join the meeting, which will feature Meet Julie, a book about the latest American Girl character, who is from the 1970s. (The Daily Reflector)
Mattel says profit dip from recalls could last through holidays Oct 16, 2007
There will be a Christmas and Mattel, Fisher-Price, Radica and American Girl toys will be under the tree, Eckert said of his company's brands. I'm confident that this year's toys will be the safest ever. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Rowland's impact on Aurora still a touchy subject Oct 15, 2007
who made her fortune creating The American Girl doll pricey toys with homespun historical biographies (Kirsten, a pioneer girl of strength and spirit; Addy, a courageous girl during the Civil War; and others ... Even at the height of her American Girl doll fame, she granted few interviews. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
No storybook ending after tycoon... Oct 15, 2007
Founder of The American Girl doll brings her wealth, vision to picturesque town ... The savior was Pleasant Rowland of Madison, Wisconsin, who made her fortune creating The American Girl doll -- pricey toys with homespun historical biographies (Kirsten, a pioneer girl of strength and spirit; Addy, a courageous girl during the Civil War; and others ... Even at the height of her American Girl doll fame, she granted few interviews. (CNN -- Law)
Unhappy moms protest dolls Oct 9, 2007
"I don't want my daughter viewing herself that way," says Gloria Baca of Tempe, who has steered her daughter, now 10, away from Barbie and Bratz in favor of an American Girl doll by Mattel named Josefina. Discerning moms are buying dolls that are hip-looking but without the fishnet stockings and crop tops. (AZCentral)
2007 holiday bazaars Sep 28, 2007
Look for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations and ornaments, teddy bears, moose pins, quilts, jewelry, fun socks, American Girl doll clothes, purses, hats and scarves, salmon-stamped pillows, hand-woven baskets, moose and bear clocks, bear paw salad servers, cutting boards, cake testers, beaded salad servers, handmade clay flowers, stained glass, fused glass, framed Alaska wildlife pictures, Alaska Wild Kenai smoked salmon, hand-painted mugs, wineglasses and furniture, soaps,... (Anchorage Daily News)
Globalism and Barbie's butt Sep 5, 2007
As a Chinese American girl growing up in the 1970s, I was fascinated by Barbie's rear end. Not only was it plump and round, like her prominent breasts, but my doll carried this inscription: "Made in Hong Kong.". (Los Angeles Times)
Porn Star Sued For Using "Barbie" Name Aug 23, 2007
Mattel said it has sold more than 1 billion Barbie dolls worldwide, and a typical American girl owns eight of them. China Barbie's site says she's a curvaceous, "cordial young lady" who worked at leading investment banking firms and advertising agencies in New York before getting into porn. (CBS News)
Local girls help Ronald McDonald help others Aug 18, 2007
SHABBONA It didn't take the Shabbona chapter of the American Girl Club a long time to transform the ordinary brown cardboard boxes into symbols of hope ... They formed the club earlier this year after Lexi and Sarah visited the American Girl store in Chicago and saw a play about a group of girls who formed a club based on the series ... American Girl is a series of books for younger children that chronicle the lives of young women from various periods of the county's history. (DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL)
American Girl seen weathering economic, recall woes Aug 18, 2007
CHICAGO (Reuters) - As American Girl opens its fourth retail store this weekend in Atlanta, industry watchers say the doll is likely to sell well this season despite concerns over economic sluggishness and toy recalls ... American Girl dolls, like other premium toys, should weather an economic slowdown more effectively than mass market products, toy industry analyst Chris Byrne said ... American Girl is a high-end product, so the margin pressure is not the same as for a mass-market toy, he said.... (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Is the Bratz Movie Bad for Kids? Aug 17, 2007
From Figurine to the Big Screen - TIME. " But putting sole responsibility on parents, says Linn, doesn't address the increasing relentlessness of the marketing they face. Consider Disney's Princesses, a lucrative brand built on sub-par, straight-to-DVD sequels to animated Disney classics like Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Even the "parenting advice" section of Disney's Princesses website entreats mom and dad to "Cuddle up with your little princess and her favorite Disney... (Time.com)
Warning sign? Aug 16, 2007
The company has had at least 15 product recalls in the past five years, from jewelry at its American Girl doll business that contained lead to a Batmobile with dangerously pointy tail wings. More from BusinessWeek. (MSNBC -- Business)
Trouble in toy land: Mattel reels as millions more toys join recall Aug 15, 2007
The back-to-back recalls represent a one-two punch for the largest U.S. toymaker, famous for its Barbie, American Girl and Hot Wheels brands. They threaten Mattel's holiday sales and its sterling reputation with parents, grandparents and, yes, kids. (USA Today -- Money)
From Kewpie Dolls to Cabbage Patch Aug 14, 2007
American Girl is opening in metro Atlanta this weekend. Here's a sampling of other popular dolls and accessories that have captured the attention of girls in the past century. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Kmart Launches Multicultural Doll Brands Aug 13, 2007
"People want a doll and a story that reflects who they are," said Julie Parks, a spokeswoman for Mattel's American Girl, which includes Native American, Hispanic and black historical dolls, as well as dolls with myriad skin, eye and hair color combinations. "There is something about seeing a reflection of themselves in that character and in that doll that they can relate to.". (CBS2Chicago.com, IL)
Allegro Multimedia Announces Partnership for Debut of Mattel's I Can Play (TM) Guitar Jul 28, 2007
"The I Can Play(TM) Guitar, which features the Allegro Multimedia Guitar Wizard Method, includes a cartridge featuring six popular songs for the guitar. I Can Play(TM) Guitar will be released in August 2007 and available at major retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $99.99. Additional I Can Play (TM) Guitar song and game cartridges will be sold separately with a suggested retail price of $14.99 each. For more information about Guitar Wizard, visit . For more information about I... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
48 hours in New York...with kids Jul 22, 2007
For families with girls, book in advance for lunch at American Girl Place at 609 Fifth Avenue at 49th Street. The cafe's black-and-white decor and lunch designed for the pickiest of eaters makes it worth a visit. (Reuters)
Mattel 2Q Profit Rises 15 Percent Jul 18, 2007
But revenue from the American Girl line fell 10 percent worldwide ... American Girl boutiques are also scheduled to open in Atlanta and Dallas. (CBS2Chicago.com, IL)
Transforming themovie industry Jun 30, 2007
Get ready, if you can, for films already in the pipeline based on G.I. Joe, He-Man, American Girl dolls and good old Monopoly ... Frankly, I don't know how American Girl is going to be able to top it. (The Palm Beach Post)
ADDING MULTIMEDIA Warner Bros. Consumer Products Names Mattel Global Toy Licensee for Speed Racer and The Dark Knight Jun 20, 2007
The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, American Girl, Radica and Tyco R/C, as well as Fisher-Price brands, including Little People, Power Wheels and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel is recognized as one of the 100 Most Trustworthy U.S. Companies by Forbes Magazine and is ranked among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CRO Magazine. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Toys Gone Virtual Jun 16, 2007
American Girl Dolls, another standard in the marketplace, is also turning to the internet ... "We deepen a girl's connection to the brand andto a favorite doll or story through the interactive programs that are available," says Ellen L. Brothers, president of American Girl ... "For instance, girls can explore the worlds of their favorite historical characters, play a game related to the new Girl of the Year character or try a craft featured in American Girl magazine.". (MSNBC -- Business)
Local entrepreneur fulfills childhood dream Jun 16, 2007
She has modeled for Neiman Marcus and American Girl. Her film credits include "Blonde Ambition" with Jessica Simpson and Luke Wilson and "Harold and Kumar 2," in addition to several others. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
Save or toss childhood things? Jun 15, 2007
Anyway, my kids are older now, and out of the toy stage, but we kept my daughters American Girl doll and all accessories, as well as her Barbie collection. For my son we kept all of his Star Wars toys, Matchbox cars, and his Legos. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
It takes 3 villages Jun 14, 2007
And it's fun to browse the shelves for LEGO blocks, American Girl, Thomas the Tank Engine, Baby Einstein, Fisher-Price, Webkinz, and other classic and new favorites. Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company. (Boston Globe)
Move over Pilgrims Jun 12, 2007
I've been here many times, including with little girls clutching their Felicity American Girl doll and the books that depict her life growing up in Colonial Williamsburg. -- and I am convinced that the Historic Triangle is one vacation locale that can appeal to everyone who would like the chance to time travel through history. (CNN -- Travel)
Hollywood's toy ploy Jun 9, 2007
For girls, there's the "Bratz" movie that Lionsgate will release in August, and "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery," from HBO Films and Picturehouse, starring Abigail Breslin. The latter's based on Mattel's American Girl dolls. (Variety)
Boy, 5, prefers company of girls, playing with dolls Mar 9, 2007
Dear Annie: Should a little boy have an American Girl doll ... So, should we buy Danny his American Girl doll. (The Standard-Times, MA)
'American Girl' dolls: Bad values? Feb 14, 2007
Are American Girl dolls teaching wrong values ... The entry titled "Are American Girl dolls teaching wrong values?," and any of t 00004000 he comments about it ... Are American Girl dolls teaching wrong values. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Toys with online lives are transforming play Feb 13, 2007
Another friend likes to dress her Webkinz in the clothes made for her American Girl dolls. Date of Publication: February 13, 2007 on Page B01. (The Standard-Times, MA)
Arab doll beautiful and brainy Feb 9, 2007
Other doll companies, such as American Girl and Dolls Like Me, also have introduced ethnic dolls, including African American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian options. Named after a fragrant flower, the Fulla line includes a variety of dolls dressed in clothes that reflect different countries in the Middle East and Asia. (Charlotte.com, NC -- Living)
Toys with online lives Feb 8, 2007
Another friend likes to dress her Webkinz in the clothes made for her American Girl dolls. CONSUMER UPDATE. (AZCentral -- Business)
WP: It's Teddy Bear, Version 2.0 Feb 7, 2007
Another friend, 9-year-old Annamarie Lukish, likes to dress her Webkinz in the clothes made for her American Girl dolls. Then she makes believe her unicorn and pink poodle are mean girls terrorizing the other Webkinz. (MSNBC -- Technology)
DIC Entertainment Names Mattel, Inc. Master Toy Partner for 'Tween' Entertainment Brand ''SPG: The Slumber Party Girls'' Feb 7, 2007
The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels, Matchbox, American Girl, Radica and Tyco R/C, as well as Fisher-Price brands (), including Little People, Rescue Heroes, Power Wheels and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Mattel 4Q profit rises 3 pct on sales of Barbie, Fisher-Price Jan 29, 2007
By brand, worldwide core Fisher-Price sales surged 15 percent, Barbie sales edged up 3 percent, Hot Wheels sales grew 9 percent and American Girl brands rose 2 percent. Mattel said it was pleased with its results, which resulted from better Barbie sales, and improved margins. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Warhol's world revisited Jan 28, 2007
during a period when her dysfunctional family was living both there and in Cold Spring Harbor, she has resurfaced periodically as cultural icon -- notably in George Plimpton and Jean Stein's "Edie: American Girl" (1982), Melissa Painter and David Weisman's "Edie: Girl on Fire" (2006), and in the recent re-issue of the Warhol "screen tests." Now, in "Factory Girl," 21st century "it" girl Sienna Miller ("Casanova") plays the girl with the Colonial-era roots and the penchant for self-destruction.... (Newsday -- New York City)
American Girl's New 'Girl of the Year' Character Inspires Girls to Help Others Jan 3, 2007
Source: American Girl, Inc. ... A recent national survey of girls ages 8 to 13, conducted by Synovate and American Girl, found that volunteerism and social consciousness are at an all-time high ... To celebrate the caring spirit of girls, American Girl is proud to introduce Nicki -- 2007 Girl of the Year. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
