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DIECAST
Collectible Model Cars And More
| Item# |
Description |
Stock
Status |
| 39500BK |
ERTL
Authentics - Dodge Charger R/T Hard Top (1969, 1:18 scale
diecast model, Black) 39500BK |
New |
| 91460 |
Jada
Toys Scarface - Buick Regal Hard Top (1987, 1:18 scale diecast
model, Black) 91460 |
Restock |
| 91822 |
Jada
Toys Dub City Heat - Chevy Camaro Concept Police Car (2006,
1:24 scale diecast model, Black) 91822 |
New |
| 91823 |
Jada
Toys Dub City Heat - Chevy Camaro Concept Police Car (2006,
1:24 scale diecast model, Black) 91823 |
New |
| 91795 |
Jada
Toys For Sale - Chevy Pickup (1951, 1:24 scale diecast model)
91795 |
New |
| 15067 |
Jada
Toys Bigtime Muscle - Chevy Camaro & Chevy Camaro Bumblebee
Concept (1981/2006, 1:64 scale diecast model, Yellow) 15067 |
New |
| 12006W13H |
Jada
Toys Bigtime Muscle - Wave 13 (1:64 scale diecast model, Asstd.)
12006W13H |
New |
| 12062W4H |
Jada
Toys VDUBS - Wave 4 (1:64 scale diecast model, Asstd.) 12062W4H |
New |
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Thank you
Lu
Toy Wonders, Inc.
www.toywonders.com
201-229-1700
God and The Art of Diecast Car Marketing
A Winter Storm Advisory
Lu Su
"Why did you call Hamlet a fishmonger?" inquired my wife after reading last weeks newsletter.
"Didn't Hamlet, in order to feign that he was insane, pretend he was a fishmonger?" I replied.
"No you dope, he called his father-in-law Polonius that," replied my wife.
I should know better than to argue with a history major. "What is a fishmonger anyways?" I asked.
"One who sells fish." she replied.
"Am I a toymonger?" I asked.
"I don't know, I guess you could be, but i've only heard the word 'monger' used in association with fish. But sure, if it will make you happy, you can call yourself a toy monger," replies my wife..
Well if my better half tells me I can have that title, I want it. "Lu the Toy Monger".
This week I didn't make time to calculate the probability of a monkey accidentally typing out Hamlet, but I will eventually get to that monkey business. However, one thing that I want to mention are some observations that I have made and perhaps these observations will affect how you operate your business in the next few weeks/months/years.
It appears that prices on all products coming out of China will continue to rise in price. Part of the reason is that the US dollar continues to fall against other major currencies. I know it is good for tourism in the US, but for us who are not involved in that industry, buying and reselling products at even higher prices than last year's record breaking prices is going to be challenging.
Economist are speculating that fuel costs are going to go up to $3.50/gallon within the next few weeks. Trucking companies and small package delivery companies like UPS and FedEx will hedge their risk exposure by raising their fuel surcharge rates. We on the other hand (that trade in product) will be forced to either eat the additional costs or build it into the cost of the product. We should all run an experiment. Next time just try make out an invoice for one of your customers, tack on an extra line at the end of your invoice that says fuel surcharge $X.YZ dollars and see what kind of reactions you get from your customers (maybe he'll call you a fishmonger).
Our buyers have recently returned from Asia. With the exception of a handful of companies that were innovative enough to tie in product with a interactive web site, 2007 was in general a poor year for those in the toy business (i.e. all levels: manufacturing, exporting, importing, retailing). The media's critical attention on the toy recalls probably drove much traffic away from traditional toys. I guess the Chinese government is trying to show that they too are doing something about safety and in many situations have put in place a new layer of bureaucracy which have increased cost, slowed production, and put many factory owners in the situation of uncertainty. If I produce it, there might be a chance that I will not be able to ship it. I have not seen that any of the new regulations have actually gone to improve quality/safety.
China has also recently started enforcing minimum wage laws and overtime pay. These laws, like ours, have always been on the books but were never enforced in China -until just recently. If the law was enforced uniformly, the factories would all be on the same playing field. However, this is not the situation. Moreover, many towns have laws were extra fees are to be paid if a factory runs more than one shift per day. Again, since this is not uniformly enforced, the playing field is uneven. Also many towns/cities have limited infrastructure (space, power, utilities) so they are now getting to a point where they are giving some factories the boot. Toy factories tend to make products that are inexpensive in value. Many growing cities want factories to produce expensive products and hire skilled and better paid workers. Better paid workers can spend more in their cities. This then gives impetus to their service industry.
Another development over the last few years is new factories opening further inland in China. Now workers do not have to travel as far as they did in order to find work; however this is now causing shortages in many well industrialized towns. Our buyers now see signs hanging outside factories advertising rates on what they will pay. Just a few years ago, this never happened. They were constantly turning away workers. It's put the factories in a difficult situation because they cannot determine at this time what their costs will be.
Recently California passed a bill #1108 banning Phthalates (I think I spelled it correct) from all toys by January 1, 2009. Phthalates is a chemical used to soften plastic. At this time I do not know the long term ramification of this, I do believe it is for a good reason, but I suspect that production costs will increase in order to meet this new standard. Since most of the goods that enter the country come through the ports in CA, this will be interesting on how this new law will play out.
The Chinese new year starts February 7th. It is the year of the Mouse. In the year of the Mouse, China will host the Summer Olympics for the first time in their history that goes back 5000 years. China wants to make a good and lasting impression to the world. Too much smog and electricity shortages during the games would be an embarrassment. If China gets a hot Summer, let's see who the Chinese government will divert electricity to -the cities hosting the olympics or cities manufacturing goods for 4th quarter sales.
"This is going to be an interesting year." is a phrase that I've heard from multiple people and in different languages. I think a storm is brewing on the horizon.
