Actually the article says LPS is doing well which might explain the direction MLPs are taking. "In part, weakness in the girls division is due to discontinuing some higher-priced items, like Kota the Triceratops, a robotic dinosaur, which retailed for about $249." It seems more like those crazy high end items like that lifelike pony and golden retriever are why Hasbro is hurting a little. However the core 7 better get some friends before ppl get bored.
If that is Hasbro's logic. Well that's just sad. Let me tell you why the G1 line was so popular and did so well.
First off, they started out simple with the original six. Then, the made some more exciting ponies like rainbows, unicorns and pegasus ponies. This was very smart because it encouraged little girls to "collect them all" because all the ponies were special.
Then came baby pony. aaaawww. Very smart. Again, attracting girls to buy more ponies because now there were adult
and babies. What fun!
Then, they made a movie for the ponies and a TV show. Bingo. You now have an even larger fan base. They made even more
different ponies that were each very special. They even made new accessories for each new "set".
With each new set, they were keeping the girls interested because the ponies kept changing and there was always
something new to collect.
Also, Hasbro in the 80s was very bright. They kept trying to appeal to the
same group of girls that had been collecting and playing with ponies since the beginning.
They did this by not only creating new and exciting ponies and story lines that kept building on each other, but the ponies starting having different features that would appeal to
older girls.
For example, MLP is the 80's were not mean for children under 3. They were not pre-school toys. In order to keep up with the little girls that has always been playing with them, they made the ponies grow up a bit.
They made boy ponies and families. This appeals to older girls who are starting to notice boys and maybe also play with Barbie.
They made clothes and make-up for you and for your pony. This was very smart. As girls get older they are very attracted to older girl things like fashion, make-up and boys.
Towards the end of the line they always set out to appeal to that same group of original collectors. The ponies made during the last couple of years were brilliant.
They made the bride pony, because older girls are stating to think about this already.
They made the sweet heart sister ponies. This was genies. They even came with perfume and a hair scrunchie for you! Older girls care about make-up and hair!
The SHS ponies, were over all a very smart move to appeal to older girls.
They made the ponies brighter and flashier. Like the tropical ponies and the sparkle ponies. Again, very smart.
The best idea, and I don't think it gets nearly enough credit. The Dream Beauties. Although... it kinda doesn't make sense "all grown-up my little ponies" (because.. doesn't that mean the other ponies weren't already adults?
) it does. These were beautiful model horses. Very well done. This would easily appeal to the same girls who collected ponies and now, they collect older and more mature "horses". And once again, these came with make-up for you.
This way of making toys was why the G1 ponies did so well. MLP, NEVER had to worry about competing with other toys in the same group. Because they had smart ideas and marketing.
G1 ponies changed and grew up along with the little girls that collected them.
This is the main difference between the G1s and G3s. G3s are only being made for the younger girls. G3s aren't growing up along with the little girls that are playing with them.
G3s don't have different and special ponies that make little girls want to "collect them all"
This is sad to me. G3 ponies seem more "disposable" to the little girls that play with them now then the G1s that I played with. Little girls are outgrowing them faster and loosing interest in them because they never change and they are for "younger" girls.
I bought a G3 collection from a little girl who couldn't be more than 11. Wow, 11 and she's already done with ponies? Oh.. right... they are "pre-school" toys now. That's why she doesn't want them anymore. And that's why Hasbro is killing the G3 line.
They are not encouraging collecting anymore. All they want is to attract a few little girls at one moment, have them buy up a bunch. Then loose interest and move on to a new toy.
