G.I. Joe: Retaliation - Where Do We Stand, Now?

In an effort to get a head start on sales, Hasbro gave retailers the green light to start putting G.I. Joe: Retaliation  branded movie product on shelves in time for the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend. That all changed with this week's announcement that the release date of  Retaliation was being delayed from June 29, 2012 to March 29, 2013, causing a flurry of rumors and speculation on how this would impact the toy line.

Hasbro to Expand Rhode Island Offices

Hasbro, Inc announced plans to develop a $24 million expansion of its Rhode Island operations. The expansion would create 284 new jobs over the next three years and save the toymaker $1.6 million in tax breaks, as part of a state economic development program. Hasbro, which employees 1,400 people at its Rhode Island headquarters, has outgrown its Pawtucket and East Providence offices and is considering a downtown Providence location, for the new facility.

SOURCE: ABC News

Does Made In China Mean Imminent Price Hikes?

A three-consecutive day protest among truckers in Shanghai disrupted operations at its seaport, a major distribution hub. With inflationary pressures outpacing wages, unrest among Chinese workers grows and the toy industry is paying attention. Strikes such as the one in Shanghai can disrupt logistics for companies like Hasbro, maker of G.I. Joe, which manufacturers and ships from China. Consequently, if the Chinese government offset wages for inflation, toy companies would see an increase in labor costs, cutting into their bottom lines and almost certainly resulting in price increases in the toy aisle for U.S. consumers. As the Chinese economy continues its exponential growth, is it time for toy companies to start weaning off Chinese manufacturing?

SOURCE: GlobalToyNews.com via Raving Toy Maniac

Hasbro's First Quarter Profits Down

G.I. Joe toy maker Hasbro, Inc. reported its first quarter profits were down 71 percent. Weak revenue--especially in games and puzzles, and girls' toys--increased spending on product development, and investment in the HUB television joint-venture were cited as contributing factors.

The first quarter is typically slow for toy makers, but a decrease in demand for toys during the holiday season forced retailers to hold back on first quarter orders, as they tried to unload excess holiday inventory.

Revenue of boy's toys increased 25 percent on the strength of Beyblade, a spinning top toy based on a Japanese manga series.