October 2012 News

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Mattel Reports Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Mattel Reports Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results and Declares Fourth Quarter Dividend

Third Quarter Highlights

  • Worldwide net sales up 4%;
  • North American1 gross sales up 6% and International gross sales up 2%;
  • Worldwide gross sales by core brands: Barbie® down 4%; Hot Wheels® flat; Fisher-Price® up 6% and American Girl® up 16%;
  • Gross margin increased 590 basis points of net sales; SG&A increased 200 basis points of net sales;
  • Operating income of $487.4 million compared to operating income of $397.6 million in the third quarter of 2011; and
  • Earnings per share of $1.04 vs. prior year earnings per share of $0.86.

Capital Deployment

  • Board declared 2012 fourth quarter cash dividend of $0.31 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend of $1.24 per share; and
  • The Company repurchased 139,000 shares of its common stock during the third quarter at a cost of approximately $5 million.

New Book: The Art of Todd McFarlane

The Art of Todd McFarlane

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ART BOOK SURE TO BECOME MOST COVETED ITEM OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Todd McFarlane Productions and Image Comics to release Todd McFarlane's long awaited visual biography

Tempe, Ariz. - October 18, 2012 - At long last, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil's in the Details, Todd McFarlane's first and only art book, is scheduled to hit shelves nationwide Wednesday, November 21, 2012.

A visual biography celebrating almost 30 years of artwork from one of the comic industry's most popular and iconic artist personalities, The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil's in the Details, is not just another art book. It follows McFarlane's journey from a young comic book fan mimicking his favorite artists, to his subsequent rise to comic book stardom. McFarlane, himself, provides hundreds of anecdotes throughout the 400-page book, walking the fans through his groundbreaking career.

Beta Phase Outer Space Men Variants

Outer Space Men Variants

BETA PHASE OUTER SPACE MEN UP FOR SALE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20!

October 2012 - The Outer Space Men that were previously a shared 2012 New York Comic Con exclusives between Toy Tokyo and Action Figure Xpress go up for sale in VERY limited quantities October 20 at 9pm on the Four Horsemen's online retail outlet - Store Horsemen (http://www.storehorsemen.com)!

Only 100 of the Beta Phase versions of Orbitron, Gamma-X and the first deluxe OSM figure - Cyclops will be up for grabs for $65.00 for the set of three, plus shipping & handling.

So be sure to be there early so you don't miss out. Any orders accidentally taken over the 100 pieces up for sale will have to be cancelled.

Minimates, Knight Rider, ArtFX, PlanetX at Big Bad Toy Store

Big Bad Toy Store

October 20, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi - A few new preorders of note listed in the last day or so:

'Best of' Minimates Wave 02
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11861&mode=re...

Knight Rider - 8" David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11863&mode=re...

Alice - Madness Returns- Royal Guard
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=DMC11862&mode=re...

Batman - Killing Joke - ArtFX Statue
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT11004&mode=re...

Mass Effect - Commander Shepard - ArtFX 1/6
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT11001&mode=re...

New 52 - Aquaman 1/10 ArtFX Statue
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=KOT11003&mode=re...

BlackFriday.fm's 2012 Black Friday Price Matching Tips

Tricky Price Matching Policies for Black Friday 2012

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 19, 2012 -- With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, competition is growing among retail stores looking to attract consumers on Black Friday 2012. Retail giants Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us all recently announced that they will be price matching their online competitors, which they hope will discourage "showrooming." The term "showrooming" was coined to explain the phenomenon of consumers scoping out items in stores only to go home and purchase them at lower prices on competitors' websites.

Some of the price matching policies are tricky, making it especially important for shoppers to take the time to understand each stores' guidelines and limitations. At Best Buy, the online price matching policy will begin on November 4th, but it will not be in effect from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Best Buy will only match online prices on appliances and electronics, and at the discretion of the Best Buy sales staff on the floor. They will only be matching pre-tax prices from 20 online retailers, including Amazon.com.

Toys'R'Us Extends Free Layaway Offer to December 16

Toys"R"Us® Extends Free Layaway Offer, Will Pay It Forward When Layaway Orders Are Paid Off As An Act Of Kindness To Others This Holiday Season

After Significant Positive Consumer Response to New Free Layaway Program, Company Continues Popular Offering with No Upfront Service Fees through December 16

WAYNE, N.J., Oct. 18, 2012 -- Toys"R"Us® today announced that it will continue its free layaway program through December 16, the result of significant positive response by consumers. In September, the company became the first retailer to offer a free layaway program to help customers stretch their gift-giving budget. Extending the program, which was originally slated to end on October 31, allows customers to take advantage of the flexible payment terms offered by layaway, with no upfront service fee, throughout the remainder of the holiday season.

DST On Sale October 17: X-Men Minimates, Universal Monsters and the Walking Dead

In Stores This Week: X-Men Minimates, Universal Monsters and the Walking Dead

October 17, 2012 - It's New Toy Day at your local comic shop, which means you need to head down there and stake your claim on the latest action figures from Diamond Select Toys! This week brings Minimates, 7" action figures and retro-style figures based on Marvel Comics, Universal Monsters and the Walking Dead! It's exciting and horrifying at the same time!

diamond select toys

diamond select toys

Marvel Minimates Series 47: X-Men vs. Brood

DC Comics Super Heroes Join HeroClix TabApp

dc heroclix

DC COMICS SUPER HEROES JOIN HEROCLIX TABAPP™

Hillside, N.J. & Cary, N.C. - October 17, 2012 - HeroClix TabApp™ developers, NECA/Wizkids and MFV, a subsidiary of NECA, are partnering with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment to welcome DC Comics Super Heroes to the scenario-based iPad game featuring physical toy figure recognition.

"We are pleased to announce some of the first DC Comics figures to be integrated with HeroClix TabApp™, including DC Comics Super Heroes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, and 'The Dark Knight Rises' Batman, Catwoman and Bane," said Justin Ziran, president at Wizkids. "We're looking forward to working with DC Comics to include even more popular super heroes for HeroClix fans."

The DC Comics HeroClix TabApp™ miniatures are slated for release this November.

Beatles SCRABBLE Board Game

Beatles SCRABBLE Board Game

USAOPOLY Introduces The First Ever Beatles SCRABBLE Board Game!

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 16, 2012 -- The SCRABBLE® Beatles Edition makes its debut this fall, giving Beatles fans an opportunity to interact with the Fab Four in a whole new way. Made by USAOPOLY under license from Hasbro, Inc. and Apple Corps Ltd., the deal was brokered by Live Nation Merchandise, The Beatles North American licensing agent. The SCRABBLE Beatles Edition fits the bill for fans who have a way with words.

Beatles SCRABBLE Board Game

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