Ideas for Herr Brandstätter to mull over

[Martin Milner]

5) The Easter Eggs and Pumpkins are great items, but many people don't want to pay for multiple eggs and pumpkins they don't need when they just want the contents. If the contents could be made available as add-ons they could sell very well.

[playmomac]

el jefe!

Playmobil used to be a "specialty" toy.  Recent comments in other threads about the decline of the appearance and quality of the product is evidence that Germany is now catering to the masses.  What I would like to see from them is a return to the "specialty" market with exclusive, high-quality, unique product.  

And that's my 2 cents  

I hadn't actually realized that the "decline" of the quality of PM has to do with reaching the masses, catering to larger chain stores, but it makes sense. I too feel that the appearance/design has been going downhill for many years now (commented in another thread), and would love to see PM take it's adult collector/fan base seriously.  If Richard is right about our votes counting in the HELP PLAYMOBIL thread, dont forget to vote people!!!

[Justindo]

5) The Easter Eggs and Pumpkins are great items, but many people don't want to pay for multiple eggs and pumpkins they don't need when they just want the contents. If the contents could be made available as add-ons they could sell very well.

Here, here!

[Richard]

Great ideas! And, very reasonable because they don't require "new" product!

We're improving Playmobil's average score almost hourly, but were still in third place.

Please ask your friends and family to vote for Playmobil!

We're so close. Let's try for number one by Monday!
(That gives us all day tomorrow to get everyone we know to vote!)

[Indianna]

I am not sure how many times I have actually voted  but several, anyway (the first time I visited the voting site I just kept hitting the vote button until I realized I had gone through the four selections a few extra times - since then I have been back every day.)

I thought I might add a few items to Martin's list of excellent suggestions:

1)  In addition to being able to order all parts ever made, give the option of different colors (if there is sufficient demand) and keep and display a running tally of such requests along with the minimum number needed to produce a particular color.

2)  Create a "Collectors Club" for serious collectors and allow them to order direct from Germany to receive new items as they are released in Germany.

3)  Rethink the idea of special relationships with the big retailers such as Target and TRU, in the US anyway, when these relationships allow the big stores to have limited product lines and "exclusives."  This arrangement undercuts the small toy retailers who are the backbone of the Playmobil selling operation.

4)  And, of course, STECK STECK STECK!!!!

[Martin Milner]

Great ideas Indy! The adult collectors club I particularly like.

I encourage everyone to add their own, this isn't meant to be a thread just for me but for all of us to voice our thoughts.

[Justindo]

I like those ideas, Indianna!

[WarriorOfToys]

Me too!
Those ideas are great Indiana!!!

[Emma.J]

  I Love the idea of a collectors club - oh to be able to get my hands on the new stuff.

  I WANT A NEW MANSION

[playmomac]

 

I think the Collector's Club idea is great, and if adopted by PM, they could create exclusives just for the club (available worldwide).  I think it would be good if PM made steck pieces available for purchase, via DS or this Collector Club, so we could order as many castles walls, framework buildings, mansions, etc. as we wanted.  Doing it this way, they could keep making current sets/themes and NOT alienate the adult fans who also contribute to PM's sales.  They must have the molds for the older sets, and if they understood the demand, perhaps its just a matter of time. 

And speaking of mansions, what is the deal with the new dollhouse 5302?  I don't see much difference between that and the other modern family house 4279, other than the size.  The whole appeal of the 1900 theme was that it was historical as opposed to just being a house with furniture it in.  It would be nice to see PM bring back this theme to distinguish it from the other house(s), and introduce more sets/figures to go with it.