Collectors pushing change! The #mymatchboxpegs Project is working, and Mattel is noticing...

Fellow collectors, we've gotten Mattel's attention, and it is looking like we can help take Matchbox in the right direction.

A follow up post to all Lamley readers and Matchbox collectors.  Let's keep the #mymatchboxpegs Project going!  In fact, let's push up another notch.

If you aren't familiar, we started the #mymatchboxpegs Project a few days ago, asking all collectors to take a pic of the Matchbox pegs at their local store and post the pic on Instagram with the hashtag #mymatchboxpegs.  The response has been fantastic, with over 100 stores already shown.

The purpose of doing this is to compile all these photos and show Mattel what we see in the stores everyday.

And we have gotten Mattel's attention!  I heard from the Matchbox Team last night, and they let me know that key people have noticed, and it has brought the stocking and product issue with Matchbox to the forefront.  This came from the Matchbox team last night, and I wanted to pass it on:

The key message is that there are many factors that take place from the time the car is made, to the point it hits the shelf. Ordering shipping, reordering, pricing etc. It's honestly a huge undertaking, but these photos send a very clear signal to the issues at hand. 

And this is Phase 1 in fixing. Just getting the new mixes out there so they can be purchased...

Phase 2 is providing new models and mixes that people care about.....which I believe we are doing! With a fresh new approach.

How cool is that!?!  Your photos are showing Mattel the problem, and pushing them to fix it.  The solution has always been simple.  Make realistic models, and stock the stores regularly.  Do that, and the product will sell.  If the generics hang like they are, new stock doesn't come in, and stores assume Matchbox doesn't sell, and pegs shrink.  That is the trajectory, and your photos clearly show that.

So let's keep it going.  Get to your stores!  Take those pics!  Don't doctor them!  If there is new stock, show it.  If it is bunch of generic pegwarmers, show them.  If there is nothing, show it!  Just MAKE SURE you mention the store and location, and add the #mymatchboxpegs hashtag so Mattel can find the pic.  This will help Mattel see what is happening.

The right team is in place at Matchbox.  They are listening, and they are passionate about making Matchbox great again.  What we are doing is providing the ammo to push change at the brand level.

Get those pics posted all through the weekend.  If you haven't joined Instagram, now is as good a time as any.  Let's keep this going!

Lamley Readers, it is time to show Mattel what we see. The #mymatchboxpegs Project starts today...

I hope that you have enjoyed Lamley's ongoing foray into how great Matchbox has been, and great it can be again.  It has been a blast for me to pull out some of my favorite Matchbox castings and give them some fresh new attention.

Based on the comments, a lot of you are Matchbox fans too.  Or at least want to jump into the Matchbox game.  Matchbox is hot right now.  The Tesla, Porsche, Lambo LM002, and BMW M5 Police are being gobbled up at the store.  The Skyline, Miata, and others in the 2016 lineup have many chomping at the bit.

But as much excitement as is out there right now, there is some frustration as well.  In many places, the pegs are clogged with undesirables, those unlicensed models that don't seem to interest collectors and kids alike.  When these don't move, new product stays out, and retailers might get the wrong impression that there is little interest in the orange brand.

Because there is no way for Mattel to decipher one model from another (all have the same SKU number on the back), it is hard for them to know what is selling and what isn't.  They can't be in every store at all time.

BUT THEY CAN NOW!

Sorry to yell, but we can show them.

So today we are starting the #mymatchboxpegs Project, where we show the folks at Mattel what we see on a regular basis.  All you need to do is take a pic of the pegs at the store you are visiting and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #mymatchboxpegs, mentioning the store chain and location.  That way Mattel can use that hashtag to see what we see.  It is that simple.

And be objective.  If the pegs are stuffed with brand new product, show it.  If it is all licensed models and the generics are gone, show that too.  But before you touch those pegs, take a pic and post it.  Don't stage them.  Just take the pic, good or bad.  And if you are not on Instagram, now is the time to join.  If you tag your pics, Matchbox will see them.

This is in no way scientific, but it can give Mattel an idea of what is selling and what isn't.  If they see a lot of generics, it might compel them to push more licensed, realistic cars.  It could be eye opening to the powers that be.

Matchbox has a whole new team in place that is committed to bringing Matchbox back in a big way.  We can help, and they will listen.

Who is in?