In responce to this blog, do youn think that kids will enjoy the toy
that is going on the market or will it be pushed aside?
Animated GIF Man wrote:
> http://shopping.aol.com/pages/Top-Secret-Elmo-Revealed/20215
>
> Top-Secret TMX Elmo Revealed
> by: Parija B. Kavilanz NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) --
> The much-anticipated top-secret 10th-anniversary Elmo, code-named
> "T.M.X. Elmo" is finally here -- and it's the hysterically laughing,
> belly-clutching, floor-thumping Elmo.
>
> Fisher-Price, a division of No. 1 toymaker Mattel, unveiled the new T.M.X. Elmo
> to the world Tuesday.
>
> "T.M.X." stands for two things - "Tickle Me Extreme" or "Tickle Me 10,"
> representing the toy's 10-year milestone.
>
> Click here to see the Gallery of Elmo through the years:
> http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/consumer/elmo/frameset.exclude.html
>
> Elmo fans should grab the new toy while they can because industry analysts are
> already anticipating a shortage of Elmo T.M.X. over the holiday shopping season.
>
> Some quick-thinking consumers hoping to make a juicy profit already put up their
> Elmo T.M.X. for sale on eBay at double the price.
>
> Fisher-Price has been extremely tight-lipped about the special Elmo. Only a
> handful of company executives and a few toy industry analysts had seen the toy.
>
> This new Elmo reacts to a "tickling" as soon as you turn it on. Its arms flap,
> it falls to the floor, rolls around and simply can't stop laughing.
>
> T.M.X. Elmo has three tickle spots on his chin, tummy or foot. When you tickle
> Elmo once on any of the tickle spots, he starts to laugh and slap his leg twice,
> then falls down into a sitting position and rocks himself back up to standing
> while laughing.
>
> When they tickle him a second time, he repeats the pattern, then sits down again
> and falls backwards, kicking his feet while laughing even harder. And on the
> third tickle he rolls over onto his tummy, thumping his hand on the floor in
> laughter and then stands back up again.
>
> The new doll is priced at $39.99.
>
> According to the Toy Industry Association (TIA), total annual toy sales last
> year totaled $21.9 billion, down 0.2 percent from the previous year.
>
> So can the furry red monster single-handedly turn things around for the industry
> this year?
>
> Some industry watchers speculate that it will take more than a brilliant
> marketing ploy from Fisher-Price to maneuver that.
>
> Indeed, toymakers like Mattel and Hasbro are fighting hard to expand their
> market share at a time when many more kids are shunning traditional toys in
> favor of consumer electronics like Apple's iPod and portable gaming platforms
> like Sony's PSP.
>
> Tough to get?
> Jim Silver, editor of Toy Wishes magazine, said Elmo T.M.X. has the potential of
> being one of the blockbuster toys of the year, especially in the pre-school
> category.
>
> However, the new Elmo could very well become "extremely" hard to find.
>
> "Because the technology is so complicated, it's taking longer to make the new
> Elmo. Fisher-Price is only making between 50 to 60 percent of the full-year
> production of the new Elmo," Silver said, adding that Fisher-Price typically
> produces a million and a half units of Elmo for the holidays.
>
> "There's going to be a shortage for T.M.X.," he said.
>
> If Fisher-Price scores a hit with Elmo, then a shortage could work in the
> company's favor by boosting demand for product. On the contrary, Silver said no
> toymaker wants to lose sales of an extra 500,000 units during the key November
> and December period that accounts for as much as 50 percent of toymaker's
> profits and sales.
>
> Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price Brands, said he's confident the company
> can meet this year's demand target as long as Elmo sells at the levels the
> company has anticipated for it.
>
> "If T.M.X. becomes a runaway hit then we may have to chase the demand with extra
> production," he told CNNMoney.com.
>
> Friedman said Fisher-Price worked 18 months to develop the technologically
> advanced T.M.X.
>
> "Our job is to be innovative," he said. "We'll use technology where we feel it
> can enhance out toy product and not just for technology's sake."
>
> There will be yet another new Elmo next year, "That's all we're saying about
> that. Stay tuned," Friedman said
>
> In the meantime, Wal-Mart, KB Toys and Toys "R" Us are keen to exploit the Elmo
> buzz to boost sales at their stores. These retailers already offered their
> customers preorders of T.M.X. without listing any of the product details.
>
> Wal-Mart and other toy sellers also plan to hold special Elmo events Tuesday at
> some locations to coincide with the launch
>
> Click here to see the Gallery of Elmo through the years:
> http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/consumer/elmo/frameset.exclude.html
> --
> Always,
>
> Bob Hare, Jr. aka 'Animated GIF Man'
> AGMLiteForU@aol.com [AMT creator]
> [ABPEGM + ABPEMBM NG co-moderator]
>
> ALL my 47,500+ tickling pix, stories & videos:
> (shown on rotating basis) [CyberAge AVS entry]:
> http://www.websexhost.com/amt/
>
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