It’s the 1960s and Hasbro is struggling. The pencil manufacturer turned toymaker hasn’t had a major success since Mr. Potato Head hit the shelves in 1952, and it’s starting to lose money. If the company doesn’t act fast, it’ll be headed for bankruptcy in no time.
Mattel’s “accessories sold separately” approach to Barbie has revolutionized the industry. Now ... Show More
Dec 2020
Encore: Hasbro vs Mattel | The House of Cards | 3
<p>Sizzlers, Mattel’s new motorized Hot Wheels, were supposed to be the top toy this Christmas. But sales have fizzled, leaving Mattel $30 million below target. For the last ten years, Mattel’s done exceptionally well by its investors, but now the toymaker is facing a stock price ... Show More
24m 28s
Jan 2021
Encore: Hasbro vs Mattel | The Shotgun Wedding | 5
<p>A few months ago, Mattel’s revenues were just fifty million dollars behind Hasbro’s. But now that Hasbro’s swallowed Tonka—the classic maker of Nerf, Play-Doh, and Monopoly—Mattel is half a <em>billion</em> dollars behind, and CEO John Amerman isn’t happy about it.</ ... Show More
23m 58s
Aug 2023
Building Lego | Out of the Ashes | 1
<p>A small Danish toy company survives World War Two thanks to its quality craftsmanship, but behind the scenes all is not well. Despite its good reputation, Lego teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, and a choice to change production methods threatens to tear the family-owned compa ... Show More
35m 40s
Mar 2024
🍨 “The Best Deal in History” — Ben & Jerry’s Unilever deal, undone. MrBeast’s Amazon game show. Nvidia CEO’s wild origin story
<p>Unilever is spinning off its $9B ice cream biz into a separate company, they’re unwinding Ben & Jerry’s 24 years after they acquired it — We’re looking at how Ben & Jerry managed to get rich and stay king.</p><p>The biggest YouTuber on earth, MrBeast, is partnering wit ... Show More
22m 25s
Jul 2023
The Disappearance of General Magic | The Pocket Crystal | 1
<p>Almost two decades before the launch of the iPhone, Apple Executive Marc Porat launches a project to develop the world’s first smartphone. But to fulfill his ambitions, he will have to launch his own company: General Magic. There, he will assemble a team of brilliant engineers ... Show More
34m 33s
Feb 2024
🥽 “Mickey’s Metaverse” — Disney’s Fortnite investment. Build-A-Bear’s adults-only website. America’s new trade bestie.
<p>Fortnite, the world’s biggest video game, just got a whopping $1.5B investment from Disney — Because when it comes to innovation, evolution is easier than creation.</p><p>Build-A-Bear newest teddy bears are laughably for 18+ — It shows the power of the “Velvet Rope Effect.”</p ... Show More
20m 4s