Which themes/sets have been least popular?

[Lindama]

Having just been highly entertained reading the space pod review and subsequent discussion about what has worked and new, unpopular themes, it made me wonder about what has been deemed a playmobil "failure"?

Whilst my first ever sets included the Dinosaur theme (and I found the dinosaurs themselves to be really well made and executed), would I be correct in saying that this has been unpopular?

[Martin Milner]

The Dinosaur theme seems to have died quicker than expected, but it's hard to see why. Many young boys love dinosaurs, and there have been many books and films putting dinosaurs and humand together, so there's a good excuse for Klickies to meet dinosaurs.

I think the underwater theme (with submarines etc.) may not have sold in big numbers, but I'm not sure if they were really expected to. The Ghost Pirates seem to have been very short lived too, maybe because they arrived too late to ride the "Pirates of the Caribbean" wave.

[Wolf Knight]

The dinosaurs theme is very popular for children in greece. The circus on the other hand, had no great appeal...you'll see piles of them being stashed on shelves and the same with the forest themes... The underwater expedition went well i think...

I believe how much a theme sells depends in the culture and everyday life of the people....for example, the farm theme did not go very well either because people are not that involved with farms at all, but also do not want their children to become farmers (this is bias of stereotypes that greek greek parents have...) on the other hand the hospital and police themes did very good as parents want to encourage their children in such professional encouragement....

I remember a father saying to his young one in a toyshop... You should get the doctor...Doctors are always great! They help people and earn a lot of money (nuts!!!)
I can recall a mother whose son wanted to get a dinosaur saying ''No, enough with monsters, you get so many ugly toys and then you have bad dreams...enough with monsters!!!''
And another father saying ''Oh look at that great cargoship son!!! Lets get that!!! You'll be its captain!!!'' --although i had the feeling he wanted it more for himself

[playmofire]

Wolf Knight is quite right - different themes will do better or worse in different countries and, of course, parents like to have their input and often to meet their play needs!  However, when you look at Playmobil over time and overall, certain themes have been long established - knights, construction, police, fire and rescue, pirates and Western.  In recent years, Western has become less popular in this group.

There are, however, some themes which have been short lived, notably the aliens, and the ghost pirates are another.  In recent years, however, Playmobil's marketing strategy has changed with themes, even popular ones such as the Romans, running for only a few years.  So today short life and unpopularity are not necessarily linked.

[Gustavo]

Difficult to say ... 

They don't let any themes long enough, nowadays, so as we can tell

For instance, Romans lasted little time, it doesn't mean it isn't popular.
Same with Vikings.

(Not to mention the 1900 ... which quite lasted ...)

I guess there's public for everything they launch.
One may like them better or less than someone else, but it is a successful toy.
 

Maybe Zirndorf's numbers could tell something real about it, but I don't have access to such papers. (Nor do I look for them, I confess.)
 

(Shop owners might give us a brighter thought on this question too ... There are a few among us, if I recollect accurately I hope they let us know of their practical experience onthe matter )

That's what I think ..
(The two cents, as they say )

Gus

[Gustavo]

(I recall now a fire brigade truck that was quite ill-spoken about, when it came out ...)

Does anybody think there can be a less popular set? I think it might be possible for us to find one, maybe ... (Easier than a theme.)

[socrates]

I think the winter sets did not go very well...
http://www.collectobil.com/catalogue/themes/wintertime.htm
Somewhere I read that they found out afterwards there is only a small time window in that children like to play wintersports.

Well, and the easter rabbit thingie klickies kind of seem not to be _the_ best-sellers... 

I think the dinosaurs went very well. At least in Germany. But I also heard that the toy companies negotiated with playmobil that they have only a limited number of sets in the actual program (to give them the slightest chance to have all articles in display) and at this time the dinos where released. I think that they dissapeared so fast is more a political decision than for bad sales...

best,
socrates

[playmofire]

(I recall now a fire brigade truck that was quite ill-spoken about, when it came out ...)

Does anybody think there can be a less popular set? I think it might be possible for us to find one, maybe ... (Easier than a theme.)

I think you're thinking of the ghastly 5843 fire engine made in China and released in the USA for Target.  Picture attached.


 

[Wolf Knight]

Wolf Knight is quite right - different themes will do better or worse in different countries and, of course, parents like to have their input and often to meet their play needs!  However, when you look at Playmobil over time and overall, certain themes have been long established - knights, construction, police, fire and rescue, pirates and Western.  In recent years, Western has become less popular in this group.

There are, however, some themes which have been short lived, notably the aliens, and the ghost pirates are another.  In recent years, however, Playmobil's marketing strategy has changed with themes, even popular ones such as the Romans, running for only a few years.  So today short life and unpopularity are not necessarily linked.

There are no westerns any more...in the 60's 70's and 80's you could see lots of them on TV or cinema..but not any more...thus no need for a western theme in playmobil. No visualisation to compare to...
The issue with aliens...the notions of space exploration and life on other planets are not popular any more...(i hope they will be again), but people tend to turn to more ''down to earth themes'' or themes that represent a past history or social trend...
Romans are still on sale in Greece and they do sell a lot strangely....I heard a young couple looking for a knight for their nephew, finally getting the 4272 officer on horse, arguing that the child will not know the difference between a medieval knight and ''a roman knight'' as they called him....
So sometimes it is not like people know what they buy, or even children buy it because they know what exactly it is...Its just looks cool!!! Lets buy it!!!!

[Wolf Knight]

...But I also heard that the toy companies negotiated with playmobil that they have only a limited number of sets in the actual program (to give them the slightest chance to have all articles in display) and at this time the dinos where released. I think that they dissapeared so fast is more a political decision than for bad sales...

I never knew something like that would be possible...to negotiate your production line as to help other companies into the market....