Barbie sales weak, Mattel reports

by Karen Walrond (Subscribe to Karen Walrond's posts) Jan 31st 2006 10:29AM

Categories: Money & Work, Development, Media

Last month, I brought to your attention a story about girls attacking their Barbie dolls. Well, much to Mattel Inc.'s dismay, girls are showing their disapproval of Barbie in more economic ways: they're just not buying them.

According to an Associated Press report (as presented by Salon.com), yesterday Mattel, the world's biggest toy manufacturer, announced that its fourth-quarter profit fell 2%, in part due to a slump in sales of Barbie and HotWheels brands. Apparently, sales for Barbie fell 11% worldwide.

Personally, I'm in the anti-Barbie camp, as I think it sets the wrong expectations of body image for girls at a very young age. But hey, Mattel? Feed Barbie a sandwich or two, and give her some science-oriented jobs (like, say, Engineer Barbie, or Astrophysicist Barbie, maybe?), and I'll happily help your sales figures.

I'm just sayin'.

Comments (9)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

angelica 1-31-2006 @ 12:28PM

I am also in the anti-barbie camp. Self image is so important and I don't want to instill this fake, tall curvaceous, blond and white is the only beautiful image in my girls. My problem is this: my mother in law buys them these type of dolls. I honestly think she just wants to buy them "pretty dolls". But it's so annoying whenever we come back from LA, they've got some other, in my opinion, ugly blond blue-eyed plastic thing. Of course I don't say anything (to preserve my marriage!) Just wanted to vent.

Mary 1-31-2006 @ 1:00PM

Hey, Angelica: see if you can get your mom hooked on "Groovy Girls" - they're fashionable, funky, with tons of fun accessories, and they're little girls - no curves to be seen. Tons of hair and really HUGE feet! My kids loved them.

Karen: have you heard about Ruby? I read about her a while back - a sort of anti-barbie, a doll made, like Barbie, of bendable plastic, pretty, and with lots of dark hair and cool clothes, but full-figured.

Get the name?? It's short for "rubinesque"!

I don't know if she was ever actually manufactured or if she was only an idea - but what a great idea, huh?

Amanda 1-31-2006 @ 1:05PM

I grew up on Barbie. My daughter is three and loves playing with Barbie. Maybe if they brought Ken back their sells might increase. They do have Barbies in the science field and they have come out with a teacher.

Kate 1-31-2006 @ 1:06PM

I'm sorry, but I will take Barbie any day over Disney Princesses. These helpless damsels never have a strong mother figure (usually beautiful & dead), don't have jobs, and sit around waiting for princes to save them. On top of being physically unrealistic. At least Barbie can earn her own living and doesn't need Ken for support. I still have my Day-to-Night Barbie who was a successful executive with her own office.

angelica 1-31-2006 @ 1:27PM

I don't like the Disney Princesses either. Yes, Barbies, Disney Princesses, and tiaras with tutus. Of course my daughters own all of those. So sad.

LS 1-31-2006 @ 3:04PM

At least the current Barbies have a job, and know how to apply make-up. The ones that REALLY frighten me are the Bratz dolls. What are THEY teaching our kids? That being over made-up and promiscuous is the way to go? Nice. And don't get me started on those ridiculous Baby Bratz things. *shudder*

eden 1-31-2006 @ 3:17PM

I think a lot of people overlook a very simple fact about Barbie: she's shaped like she is so that little hands can hold her!

I'm pro-Barbie, mostly b/c I was a very Barbie-loving little girl. I grew up with a healthy body image and I don't think Barbie had any effect, pro or con, on that. Right now my 2 1/2 year old loves her two Barbies and her My Barbie (that big, soft Barbie for toddlers) for one reason: she can disrobe them. "Barbie naked" is her only doll-oriented goal.

And I agree: I would far rather have my kids play with Barbie dolls than those trashy Bratz dolls.

Jenn 1-31-2006 @ 3:34PM

I agree with the comments about the Bratz dolls...scary. I loved Barbie when I was young and my daughter has quite a collection now. My biggest complaint now is that barbie doesn't have anything to do. When I was young, I had a ski-hill, boat, camper, tent, car, pool, and furniture. You just don't find those things anymore, unless you are lucky to find them at a garage sale. Dressing and undressing barbie gets a little boring after awhile, she needs some activities.

Caitlin 1-31-2006 @ 4:21PM

I'm so glad I have a boy, because I would have a really hard time justifying buying a barbie or bratz doll for any child of mine. I never got into barbie when I was a girl. She just wasn't fun. Dress her up, change her outfit, rinse, repeat.. Where's the fun in that? The actual barbies aren't all that expensive, but if you want to get them all the activities, it can get expensive.

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