Toymaker Mattel Corp. agreed Friday to pay $2.3 million in civil penalties for violating a federal lead paint ban that resulted in the recall of millions of its Barbie, Dora and other popular-branded toys in 2007.
A federal jury has awarded Mattel Inc. $100 million in damages in a federal copyright lawsuit that pitted the house of Barbie against MGA Entertainment Inc., the maker of the saucy Bratz dolls
Many American families are already digging deep to pay for gas and food. Now they can add toys to the list of products they will be paying more for in 2008.
Bob Eckert, the chairman and CEO of Mattel, will never forget the way he spent his 53rd birthday August 14. He sat in front of a television camera set up in a conference room in Mattel's headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. Talking into the dark lens, he delivered the same bad news over and over, in as many live newscasts as he could: Mattel was recalling 18.2 million toys, the most in company history, because of lead paint and design flaws, and there could be more recalls to come.
Popular social networking site Facebook has been asked to remove the Scrabulous game from its Web site by the makers of Scrabble, agencies have reported.
The CEO of Mattel Inc. insisted Tuesday that his company has "rigorous standards" and apologized as the company was forced to recall millions of toys for the second time in two weeks.
Even though Mattel CEO Robert Eckert tried to pacify analysts on Monday by saying that "the recalls are behind us," in reality, those recalls are the least of its problems as the toymaker gears up for the critical holiday shopping season.
Mattel Inc., the world's largest toy maker, is nursing a black-eye after a series of high-profile recalls this summer. But some industry experts think the worst is over for the company and that the stock is now a bargain for long-term investors.
More toys with lead-contaminated paint will be recalled in the coming weeks, a source with knowledge of the announcements said Wednesday.
Analysis: The company admits that most of its toy recalls were due to its own design flaws, not Chinese manufacturers. Lesson: Mattel needs China as much as China needs Mattel
Toymaker Mattel Corp. agreed Friday to pay $2.3 million in civil penalties for violating a federal lead paint ban that resulted in the recall of millions of its Barbie, Dora and other popular-branded toys in 2007.
A federal jury has awarded Mattel Inc. $100 million in damages in a federal copyright lawsuit that pitted the house of Barbie against MGA Entertainment Inc., the maker of the saucy Bratz dolls
Many American families are already digging deep to pay for gas and food. Now they can add toys to the list of products they will be paying more for in 2008.
Bob Eckert, the chairman and CEO of Mattel, will never forget the way he spent his 53rd birthday August 14. He sat in front of a television camera set up in a conference room in Mattel's headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. Talking into the dark lens, he delivered the same bad news over and over, in as many live newscasts as he could: Mattel was recalling 18.2 million toys, the most in company history, because of lead paint and design flaws, and there could be more recalls to come.
Popular social networking site Facebook has been asked to remove the Scrabulous game from its Web site by the makers of Scrabble, agencies have reported.
The CEO of Mattel Inc. insisted Tuesday that his company has "rigorous standards" and apologized as the company was forced to recall millions of toys for the second time in two weeks.
Even though Mattel CEO Robert Eckert tried to pacify analysts on Monday by saying that "the recalls are behind us," in reality, those recalls are the least of its problems as the toymaker gears up for the critical holiday shopping season.
Mattel Inc., the world's largest toy maker, is nursing a black-eye after a series of high-profile recalls this summer. But some industry experts think the worst is over for the company and that the stock is now a bargain for long-term investors.
More toys with lead-contaminated paint will be recalled in the coming weeks, a source with knowledge of the announcements said Wednesday.
Analysis: The company admits that most of its toy recalls were due to its own design flaws, not Chinese manufacturers. Lesson: Mattel needs China as much as China needs Mattel
Mattel Inc. tried to save face Friday with Chinese officials, taking the blame for the recent recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys as it strives to mend a strained relationship with the nation that makes most of its toys and fattens its profit.
There will be additional recalls of toys with lead-contaminated paint in "the coming weeks," a source with knowledge of the coming announcements told CNN Wednesday.
Mattel CEO Robert Eckert made another public apology Wednesday over unsafe toys that were made in China, and sought to convince a Senate panel that the company was determined to avoid more recalls in the future.
Mattel and its CEO will face questions from House and Senate panels in the coming weeks about procedures for alerting federal regulators about hazardous toys and the problems of recalls of products made in China, according to a published report.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Mattel Inc., announced late Tuesday that it is recalling about 700,000 Chinese-made toys that have excessive amounts of lead paint.
Toy inspectors set fire to Elmo's bulging white eyes, tugged on Dora the Explorer's arms and scraped paint off a Barbie play set -- tests they called a routine part of efforts to make sure Chinese products are safe for American children.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Mattel, announced a recall of 844,000 toys that contain excessive levels of lead paint Tuesday night - the third such recall of Chinese-manufactured toys by Mattel this summer.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating whether Mattel "knowingly" withheld information regarding potential safety risks associated with its toys that were involved in a major recall last month, according to a published report Tuesday.
Mattel Inc., whose reputation has been battered by two high-profile toy recalls this summer, will announce on Wednesday the recall of a third batch of Chinese-made toys because they may contain excessive amounts of lead paint, The Associated Press has learned.
When it comes to consumer recalls, do we care more about our pets than our children?
China lashed out Wednesday at the U.S. by claiming its soybean exports contained pesticides, poisonous weeds and dirt
A class-action lawsuit was filed Monday against Mattel related to its recent recall of more than 1 million lead-tainted toys.
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer vowed Friday to take legislative action on the recent federal recall of lead-contaminated and hazardous toys because it does not require retailers to take the products off store shelves.
Mattel announced another major recall of toys made in China, feeding international worries about the safety of products made in China. What can you do to keep your child safe?
Toy recalls are no longer relegated to discount bins and no-name brands. The recent rash of toy recalls have included some A-list celebrities of the children's toy world, including Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Tank Engine, Polly Pocket and Barbie. In the last two weeks alone, Mattel has recalled over 100 types of toys totaling 10 million units.
Mattel Inc. Tuesday recalled more than 9 million toys made in China and sold in the United States, including "Polly Pocket" and "Batman" dolls and other popular figures, because of loose magnets and lead paint - its second major recall in less than a month.
An Indianapolis girl may have been among the first victims of Mattel's magnet mishap at the center of Tuesday's recall of millions of dolls made in China.
Mattel recalled 9 million Chinese-made toys Tuesday, including Polly Pocket play sets and Batman action figures, because of dangers to children from lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed
Amid mounting recalls, a factory owner's apparent suicide highlights pressure on China over food and product safety
The second big toy recall from No. 1 toy maker Mattel this month will undoubtedly raise questions again about why these recalls keep happening and who's to blame.
The boss of a Chinese toy manufacturing company involved in a Mattel recall after its products were found to contain excessive lead levels has hanged himself, Chinese media reported Monday.
Mattel Inc. said Thursday it expects the recall of Chinese-made toys, such as popular preschool characters like Sesame Street's Elmo and Big Bird, to cost the company about $30 million.
China leapt to the defense of its products Thursday after Mattel Inc. said it was recalling 1.5 million Chinese-made toys worldwide because their paint may contain too much lead.
As many more U.S. companies outsource their production base to China, their poor oversight there is exposing American consumers to greater safety risks, according to some industry experts.
Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price division is issuing a global recall of 1.5 million toys made in China because their paint may contain too much lead, marking the latest in a string of recalls that have fueled U.S.-China tensions over the safety of Chinese products.
Toymaker Mattel Inc. reported higher second-quarter profits Monday that met Wall Street expectations, although U.S. sales of its flagship Barbie brand fell in the period.
Toymaker Mattel on Monday posted first-quarter profits, versus expectations for a loss, as strong sales of its pre-school Fisher-Price toys and its Hot Wheels toys for boys offset a 21 percent drop in U.S. sales of Barbie dolls.
Mattel, the No. 1 toymaker, on Monday reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter profits and sales, boosted by improved sales of its flagship Barbie brand and strong sales of its Fisher-Price pre-school toys division.
Sony, Apple and all the other gadget pioneers better watch out. Eager to win back market share lost to hot gizmos like the iPods and PSPs, toymakers are fighting back with more innovative "tech toys" slated to debut this fall.
Sony, Apple and all the other gadget pioneers better watch out. Eager to win back market share lost to hot gizmos like the iPods and PSPs, toymakers are fighting back with more innovative "tech toys" slated to debut this fall.
If Mattel was hoping that Princess Barbie and Fairytopia Barbie -- its two big doll initiatives for 2005 -- would light a fire under sagging Barbie sales over the holidays, the toymaker may be in for another rude awakening.
Two years ago, Bill and Stacey McGuire were looking for the perfect toy for their 7-year-old daughter, Maggie. They wanted to find something fun, of course, but they also wanted it to have educatio...
Mattel may be giving its Ken doll a turn in the spotlight with hints of a makeover on the horizon, but the toymaker's move to revamp Ken could end up bringing the focus back to Barbie.
A merger of Mattel and Hasbro, the No. 1 and No. 2 toymakers, could become a real possibility as the toy industry struggles to boost sales and counter the significant threat from discounters like Wal-Mart and Target, according to a published report Thursday.
A trademark case brought by Mattel against Barbies Shop, a Canadian store selling bondage clothing has been dismissed by a New York court, but the nation's largest toymaker said Thursday the case "isn't resolved."
When toymaker Mattel announced the shocking Barbie-Ken split two days before last year's Valentine's Day, was it a savvy marketing ploy or a big branding bungle?
It looks like Barbie's in trouble again.
The winning toy from last week's episode of "The Apprentice" not only received a thumbs-up from boss Donald Trump, the remote-control toy car they designed also won the approval of the world's largest toymaker, Mattel Inc., which is actually putting it into production.
TICKER MAT PRICE $17 P/E 15 52-WEEK RANGE $17 to $21 YIELD 2.3%
If Britney and J. Lo can replace love so easily, so can Barbie.
With names like "B.O. Brian," "Skunk Punk," "Butt Breath Bob" and ""Broccoli Bill," you know these dolls mean trouble.
A new Barbie doll is sold approximately every three seconds. The average American girl has ten Barbies. And 100% of mothers with daughters ages 3 to 10 can identify the doll by name (and, let's fac...
Just over five years ago we launched a column called Look Back, which usually appears on FSB's last page. The conceit couldn't have been simpler: Each story would explore the entrepreneurial roots ...
"The parties are advised to chill"
Lately the shares of Mattel (MAT) have attracted buyers such as Robert Uek, co-manager of John Hancock Large Cap Growth, who bought in the high teens. Mattel now makes up 2% of his portfolio.
Mattel Football, which the company claims is the first handheld electronic game, was a big hit in the '70s. But the kinda lame technology--which doomed it by the mid-1980s--makes it all the more fu...
With anthrax at the post office, terrorists in the skies, and cryptic warnings to steer clear of malls, it's no wonder the average American is finding the pleasures of home more appealing these day...
The MONEY 30 rose for the first time in two months as tech stocks made a strong comeback. Our index of stocks representing the New Economy posted an 11% gain for the five weeks that ended April 19....
Like the NASDAQ, the S&P 500 and even the less tech-dependent Dow, the MONEY 30 was slammed during the month that ended March 14. Our index of stocks representing the New Economy fell almost 14%. T...
Does anyone believe in good old-fashioned value anymore? Growth managers these days dismiss the concept altogether; it'd be tough to buy tech stocks otherwise. Now even some value managers are look...
David Brady may manage money for children, but you won't find their favorite playthings in his Stein Roe Young Investors Fund. Brady doesn't have a single toy stock among his top 25 holdings, and w...
The MONEY 30, an index of blue-chip growth stocks that are at the forefront of today's economy, fell 1.8% from March 17 to April 27 to 4,119 (January 1996=1000). Most tech stocks in the index poste...
After periods of merger mania, there are always repercussions--mistakes will be made. The shakeout from recent rounds of consolidation has started, and it's not pretty. Two companies once known for...
This writer ordered a CD-Rom from Mattel's Website in mid-February, and here is what ensued:
Could Robert Sanborn be poised for a comeback? In 1998 and early 1999, the manager of the Oakmark Fund was on the defensive. But in April the market suddenly rediscovered value stocks, and as of mi...
You turn 40, and all of a sudden analysts are poking around to see if your inventory is bloated or your profits are sagging. Yes, life has been tough over the past few months for Barbie, who made h...
STOCKS
Say hello to Furby. It's here to save Christmas for Hasbro. A five-inch ball of fluffy fur, Furby looks like an Olympic mascot gone mutant. It blinks its eyes fervently before emitting a squawky "c...
A silent revolution is stirring in the way things are made and services are delivered. Companies with millions of customers are starting to build products designed just for you. You can, of course,...
It was Irish satirist Jonathan Swift who modestly proposed that his countrymen -- facing a glut of infant mouths to feed -- learn how to fricassee the tykes for supper. Happily, today's sky-high U....
You could say that Barbie is just another middle-aged dolly living in her own plastic world. But don't tell that to the preteen girls around the globe who embrace her as a forever-young friend. And...
Ten years ago Jill Barad, then a junior manager in the boys' toys division at Mattel, went to Tom Kalinske, the senior vice president who had hired her, and said, ''Okay, I'm ready now. Give me a b...
-- Even when the economy flickers, utilities can continue to surge. Two funds wired for profits: Eaton Vance Total Return (800-225-6265; 4.75% load; up 82% in the five years to July 1) and Pru-Bach...
Clad in a pink cocktail dress with iridescent trim, Friendship Barbie, a version of Mattel's 31-year-old superstar, recently made her debut in East Berlin, Budapest and other Central European hotsp...
-- Has Scrooge been selling toy company stocks short? They tumbled 41.8% in October, further than the shares of any other industry. Last year's sensation, Worlds of Wonder, maker of the Teddy Ruxpi...
Morris Smith, 28, manager of the 15-month-old Fidelity Select Leisure & Entertainment fund in Boston, calls his $73-million portfolio the ''fun fund'' for short. But he defines fun in the broadest ...
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