luke314pi Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 On 2/14/2020 at 3:57 PM, thereasonsy said: I debated sending this all week but as the youth say "it's for the culture". Zach, in reviewing their channels and press mentions they seem to have a strategy that revolves around dripping of information that is usually one or two characters a wave each convention. If you follow the pattern instead of announcing a whole wave at once they have been announcing a figure or two a few days before major conventions internationally. They also have a content calendar that honours the anniversaries of the subjects. 25 anniversary of AOA here's a wave. 40th anniversary of Alpha Flight, here's a box set. They leaned in heavily into the 80 years of Marvel and also tapped into 90's nostalgia hard with the "Classic waves on ToyBiz cards" and their character selections. They also have been completing teams. Just some quick hits but in the past year, they had over 359,053 mentions with a projected reach of 108, 825,690 of the #MarvelLegends hastag. Their brand sentiment is over 90% POSITIVE. Add in Neutral and you are looking at a brand that is in the high 90s. The majority of these mentions can be attributed to photos with instagram leading the way but with pinterest, flickr, reddit, and daily motion being the most important websites*. Cavat- not all comic sites are pulled into the media tool I am using so these numbers are actually higher. also checking on trends the summer is their most active time period and most searches in the US are from West Virginia. In the same time period, Collect DST as a WHOLE, got only 20K mentions with a reach of 241,350,159. Twitter is actually driving that volume. What I care about is Minimates. In the same time period the term Minimates has barely 8K mentions with a reach of 40K but a high sentiment score of 90%. #Minimates barely has 3,633 mentions with a reach just north of 3,402,043. Users of the hash have an even higher sentiment toward the brand at 93%. This is dominated by photos on Instagram. Three websites were pulled in pcgamer, actionfigureinsider, popcultureinsider. There are API limitations with the tool but even with that I can tell that the top conversation drivers are myself, Luke, btdatdbs, heinousfigures, professor_minimate.and the previews video with Walt and Weezie. In checking trends, your search volume is mostly on the coasts and not in middle America but Indiana and New York are the states that search the term the most. And since this is "for fun" Buffy. Buffy the term has over 131,155 mentions with a reach of 531,492,275. Brand sentiment is at 84% but that is mostly due to the revamp news and Joss Whedon's ongoing issue. The show itself is doing well. The driver of the conversations is photos with gifs coming second and twitter is the channel of choice. . I understand that you are saying preference is an issue and I don't disagree that it isn't a factor but the numbers tell me awareness is the actual issue. Archie may be cheap but I would recommend slicing that and putting the money into SEO, retargeting off of Walgreens properties and actually leaning in harder into your FB/Instagram including paid. You need to increase your reach and your frequency. Also you need better influencer partners and to give them materials way ahead of time. You need a clear social strategy and cadence to the channels. I would actually look at to what Luke is doing because it has a pretty good rhythm. I would also be in my insights every day. That's your free advice. These are amazing insights. And don't look too closely at what I have been doing the past year - I have been slacking compared to years past! I have had to devote more and more time to my other business, partially because of the drop in Minimate releases. But Zach has been very supportive of my marketing efforts, and I will always appreciate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSTZach Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 11 hours ago, MisterPL said: Do Marvel Series 80 and 81 seem like a last hurrah to anyone? Series 78 was Spider-Man. Series 79 was X-Men. Series 80 doesn't really have a theme but is anchored by Iron Man and has some oft-requested collection-fillers. Series 81 catches up on more X-Men and some X-adjacent characters. Now I'm wondering if DST's license with Marvel is up for renewal. I'm also wondering what Walgreens will be taking, if anything. I'm still on the hunt for Series 11. Are you saying that because Series 80 and 81 are relatively successful in the number of desired characters delivered they must indicate a wrapping-up of sorts? And not just a greater attention to making each wave a must-have for collectors? Just making sure I understand. Walgreens currently has three more assortments of Marvel Minimates, Animated and movie, in the works. They are not the last three that I am aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 10 hours ago, DSTZach said: Are you saying that because Series 80 and 81 are relatively successful in the number of desired characters delivered they must indicate a wrapping-up of sorts? Yes. It seems to be catering to the existing consumer base here, one we've been told is a small fraction of the overall base. It feels more like a break-up note than a love letter. I'm happy to be wrong. Glad to hear Walgreens still considers Minimates a viable brand. In the absence of TRU, they should be enjoying decent sell-through. Hopefully meetings at Toy Fair confirm that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youbastards Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 This is the first time that I can recall where BBTS doesn’t have any full waves of Marvel Minimates in stock to order. it makes me sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 I was recently trawling through all of my BBTS order history which amazingly goes back to 2007 .......now that makes me sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 4 hours ago, youbastards said: This is the first time that I can recall where BBTS doesn’t have any full waves of Marvel Minimates in stock to order. it makes me sad. Are they sold out? Or did they just not order at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padrino Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 1 hour ago, thereasonsy said: Are they sold out? Or did they just not order at all? Or is this likely related to the fact that everything slowed due to COVID? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 There wasn't much shown at Toy Fair and it's not like there was a glut or upcoming Minimates properties outside of Marvel at SDCC. I don't expect to see anything new at NYCC beyond the X-Men Animated assortment. The sad thing is DST has licenses for other properties in this category. They're just not pushing the brand after what happened with Bruce Lee and John Wick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Was anything ever going to happen with those 2 licenses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Didn’t Wick get selects? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashmaster12 Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Wick and Bruce Lee both got Selects and statues that made it to retail, and I believe the fourth variant of Wick was just recently solicited. I guess "Guy in suit with guns" sells better at that scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 15 hours ago, Smashmaster12 said: I guess "Guy in suit with guns" sells better at that scale. Certainly better than Hobo Kirk might, though we'll never know unless DST tries.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 (edited) On 8/19/2020 at 5:46 PM, buttheadsmate said: Was anything ever going to happen with those 2 licenses? This. And yet the Rocketter, Buffy, and more. So many options. I think we are down to three LCS waves and then whatever Walgreens will buy from the MCU and animated. Edited August 21, 2020 by thereasonsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Well, this was a depressing read: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/tears-r-us-the-world-s-biggest-toy-store-didn-t-have-to-die?utm_source=pocket-newtab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nandoninny Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 18 hours ago, thereasonsy said: Well, this was a depressing read: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/tears-r-us-the-world-s-biggest-toy-store-didn-t-have-to-die?utm_source=pocket-newtab there was a TRU walking distance from my house. i could sneak over whenever i wanted to look for new minimates. even though its been a while, i remembered it recently and missed it. probably b/c it just now has been converted to a different store. the space had been vacant since TRU went out of business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 My TRU has been bastardized into an Ocean State Job Lot. I made the mistake of wandering in while my wife was at Joann Fabric next door. It was heartbreaking. They don't even stock toys. You can never go home again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkguerilla Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Well, if it's any consolation, TRU probably wouldn't have been able to survive 2020 anyway. Lousy retail apocalypse. That said, I still deeply miss my trips to those aisles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 It does make me feel a little better but I also think of all the exclusive minimates which would’ve been made in that meantime. So tired of this literally godforsaken year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 3 hours ago, Trekker 42 said: It does make me feel a little better but I also think of all the exclusive minimates which would’ve been made in that meantime. So tired of this literally godforsaken year. Weirdly I'm with you. The brick and mortar apocalypse was coming and the need for a good online store had already caught up with DST but the thought of what if... that will always be haunting. We could have had several waves of goodness. Or maybe just the same waves that ended up at Walgreens. Hell, it would have ben great to have a 30th anniversary wave celebrating the New Warriors but we rarely get nice things anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 C'mon ,cheer up things could be worse Much to my surprise Minimates are still being made .....that's good . As a long-time online purchaser ........everything in my collection was sent to me......I don't miss 'stores' although I understand why many people do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 12 hours ago, buttheadsmate said: C'mon ,cheer up things could be worse Much to my surprise Minimates are still being made .....that's good . As a long-time online purchaser ........everything in my collection was sent to me......I don't miss 'stores' although I understand why many people do. True we do still get them. Now I always buy a set from a LCS but the majority I buy from Luke. For Walgreens stuff I buy and ship out to anyone in need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterPL Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Has anyone been to one of the two TRUs in NJ or TX? The one in NJ seems like a glorified kiosk with an extremely limited selection. All style, no substance. I'm thinking they should be pandering to consumer nostalgia aesthetically while focusing any rebuilding efforts on infrastructure. I'd sooner drive five hours to the one in Ontario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 2 hours ago, MisterPL said: Has anyone been to one of the two TRUs in NJ or TX? The one in NJ seems like a glorified kiosk with an extremely limited selection. All style, no substance. I'm thinking they should be pandering to consumer nostalgia aesthetically while focusing any rebuilding efforts on infrastructure. I'd sooner drive five hours to the one in Ontario. Nope. I’m with you on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nandoninny Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 3 hours ago, MisterPL said: Has anyone been to one of the two TRUs in NJ or TX? The one in NJ seems like a glorified kiosk with an extremely limited selection. All style, no substance. I'm thinking they should be pandering to consumer nostalgia aesthetically while focusing any rebuilding efforts on infrastructure. I'd sooner drive five hours to the one in Ontario. i hit the one in houston and honestly, i forgot all about it until you asked this. its bad. very limited selection and just not at all like what we had growing up. i don't think i saw any marvel legends or starwars (i could be wrong, its been a while). i remember legos and nerf guns and a lot of board games which surprised me but the action figures were not well represented. i don't recall if they had video games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thereasonsy Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Well... in not great news Amazon Pharmacy has launched and Walgreens stock prices dropping I hope DST gets its online sales figured out. https://www.barrons.com/articles/cvs-and-walgreens-have-new-rival-in-pharmacy-business-amazon-51605626655 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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