Sponsored By

Amid changing fashion for toys and pressure from activist groups, sales of Barbie dolls continue to slump for Mattel.

14:26, UK, Wednesday 17 July 2013


Mattel, the maker of Barbie, has seen a 24% drop in quarterly profit - partly blamed on declining sales of the girls' doll.

The California-based company said second-quarter sales of its Hot Wheel cars and Fisher-Price products had also slid.

Mattel has been faced with changing fashions for toys such as Barbie, amid an increasingly vocal movement against gender stereotyping.

In May, activists from women's rights group Femen protested outside the company's 1,400 square metre "Barbie Dreamhouse" in Berlin.

A Femen activist holds a burning crucifix with a Barbie doll fixed on it as she runs during a protest action in front of the so called Barbie Dreamhouse in Berlin

They set fire to a crucifix with a Barbie attached to it while displaying the slogan "Life in plastic is not fantastic".

Greenpeace has also campaigned against Barbie after the company used packaging sources from Indonesia, which allegedly threatened the Sumatran tiger habitat.

Sales of the doll have now fallen for four consecutive quarters.

Mattel said its profit had also been hit by weak sales in North America, as the toymaker's revenue edged up slightly but came in below analysts' expectations.

Greenpeace launched a campaign against Mattel sourcing Asian rainforest packaging

An impairment charge has also dealt a blow to the firm's fortunes. Details of the charge were not disclosed, but it often reflects the reduced value of an asset.

In the April-to-June quarter, net income dropped to $73.3m (£48.1m), compared with $96.2m a year ago.

Revenue for the company edged up to $1.17bn from $1.16bn as international sales grew - partly helped by increased demand for Monster High and American Girl products. The Wall Street forecast was $1.22bn.

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain


Top Stories

  1. Boxing Day Snow As UK Slides Towards -15C
  2. Train Chaos: Major London Station Shut Tomorrow
  3. Mourners Remember Boxing Day Tsunami Victims
  4. Saved By The Bell Star Charged In Bar Stabbing
  5. City Link Jobs Blow Announcement 'Stinks'