Is this tricycle really Playmobil?

[GrahamB]

I think the richness and diversity in the world is something to be celebrated and Geobra should look to create products which reflect this. However the following quote from 'The Story of a Smile' (p.52) rather suggests the company pursues a very different policy:

"Playmobil products are intended to be marketed worldwide. If we get a letter that says 'Heligoland needs a fishing cutter', it's certainly attractive to children living in Heligoland or on the coast, but children in the USA won't be terrribly interested", explains Bernard Hane.
Berhard Hane is described on p.50 as 'Head of Playmobil's secret development department'

I find this statement by Bernard Hane very disappointing. OK, that was in 2006, maybe things are different now. Maybe Bernard Hane no longer works there. But the numerous debates collectors have and suggestions we come up with are perhaps doomed to run aground on that disappointingly market-focussed policy. And is it actually true that Playmobil products are always aimed at a worldwide market? I can think of quite a few which aren't. Doesn't the USA have a coastline? Are children in the USA the only children whose opinions matter? etc. etc.

Mods- please feel free to split this topic to 'Brainstorming...'

[Macruran]

It's true that PM did start out as sort of "generic European" - the early sets were almost abstract in their design. So there's probably some company DNA that inclines them to say things like Hane said.

I agree with you though GrahamB, I think it would be not only cool but also a quite successful strategy to go local and specific. The runaway success of the special klickies such as Martin Luther suggests this.

I think this is a path that would help PM differentiate themselves from L*go. Imagine that, instead of Star Wars klickies, we got medieval Russian sets, Renaissance Italy sets, and so forth. I'd go ape for that stuff.

[Keesinho]

Definately not playmo, looks way to cheap.

[GrahamB]

Thanks for moving this topic, Pynedor.

Geobra seem to make local, specific sets when they are commissioned to do so by other companies. This however, is no guarantee such sets will be recognised by (or sold to) people outside Germany. THW anyone?