The toy industry's love affair with the Obamas

October 14, 2009

Earlier in the year I posted a blog entry, "First Lady 1, Toy Industry 0." It was about Ty’s controversial Sasha and Maya dolls. The dolls, which depicted the Obama children, upset the White House and Ty withdrew the dolls from the marketplace.

It seems, however, that the toy industry is not through with the Obamas. According to a New York Times article, “The First Lady: A Toy Story,” the toy industry is pumping out a number of toys featuring the President and First Lady.

One of them is an action figure of Michelle Obama from Jailbreak Toys. Featuring six points of articulation and three outfits to choose from, it joins the Barack Obama figure in the company’s line up. Here is how the article puts it:

The president has been a gold mine for the toy industry. The new first lady dolls join hundreds of other toys on the market, such this samurai-sword-wielding, Darth-Vader fighting figure of the president made by Gamu Toys. Jailbreak Toys says it has sold more than 200,000 of its President Obama action figures, and expects Mrs. Obama’s doll, which costs $13, to surpass those sales.

A samurai-sword-wielding, Darth-Vader fighting figure of the president? You have to love this industry.

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on October 14, 2009 | Comments (5)

November 27, 2011

In response to: The toy industry's love affair with the Obamas
Rita commented:

Keep these atricels coming as they've opened many new doors for me.

November 26, 2011

In response to: The toy industry's love affair with the Obamas
Mahalia commented:

That's a mold-bearker. Great thinking!

October 15, 2009

In response to: The toy industry's love affair with the Obamas
PlayRUs commented:

How about Playthings love affair with Toys R Us? Anyone ever look into toy retailing news section. Really? Is that the only retailer with news?

October 15, 2009

In response to: The toy industry's love affair with the Obamas
smarmy punk commented:

Sorry to interject, but Gamu Toys is actually just a Japanese toy blogger; He takes images of toys he finds interesting in various poses and reviews them for the Japanese toy community.

October 15, 2009

In response to: The toy industry's love affair with the Obamas
toysforthought commented:

I would like to go totally off topic here if i may. I,and many of my fellow independent toy store owners,were shocked to hear that sam walton of wal- mart will be posthumously inducted into the toy hall of fame.Words cannot express how contrary wal-mart's sales policies and business standards over the years have caused harm to toy manufacturers,customers,the overall health of the toy industry,and even its own employees.Not only do they not embody the spirit of the toy trade,as those who have been honored in previous years,they have practiced in a predatory and unfair manner within the retail sector as a whole.The entire wal-mart credo, of profit above all else, by any means necessary, is based on the teachings of sam walton (may he rest in peace).i believe i speak for all independent toy stores ,and for many manufacturers of quality toys ,when i ask that the TIA reconsider bestowing this honor upon a man and corporation that has caused more harm than good to the entire retail toy industry,and is responsible for many of the negative aspects that have arisen from it as of late,such as, lack of innovation,patent and copyright infringement,quality and safety issues,violent imagery,child labor violations,etc, etc.How can you honor a corporation and its founder,that invented the idea that toys and games should be used as a loss leader to attract customers, to buy deodorant?Those of us who are truly devoted to selling,and or manufacturing quality toys that help children grow and enjoy their childhood,believe that toys are so much more than that. please reconsider. thank you, Harold H Toys For Thought,New Jersey