Subject:
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Re: Polybag Racks (was: Shopping Anecdote and Suggestions (Long))
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego.direct
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Date:
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Fri, 9 Mar 2001 16:24:12 GMT
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Viewed:
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760 times
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"John Neal" <johnneal@uswest.net> wrote in message
news:3AA8FCCE.A96D4C00@uswest.net...
[ ... snipped ... ]
>
> (Although I am not a TLC spokesman) TLC has *already* instituted a • marketing
> strategy like what you and others in this thread are discussing-- Brad • Justus said
> TLC calls them "HTOs" (High Traffic Outlets). They have some chrome • castle sets
> and others which are placed in high traffic retail establishments such as • super
> markets, convenience stores, etc and other non-toy businesses. Their • price point
> seems to be about $5, which I think is not bad, considering what you could
> actually get in a set that only costs $2 (heck, a minifig is valued around • $1!)
>
> I wouldn't be offended if somebody at LD doesn't respond to this thread-- • you guys
> are just a little behind on the time curve.
>
> For more info about HTOs, read Brad's post:
> http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=22981
>
> -John
I wouldn't call it being behind the curve, just a different perspective on
the same subject.
I think HTO sets are a decent start but I think at $5 the price point is too
high for impulse buys. Now $5 is certainly a better price point than $10 or
$20 is. The real problem with HTO sets is their unpredictable availability.
There is a Food Lion near my house that has had the most regular presence of
HTO sets that I am aware of. They also sell every last one of them within a
couple of days of them showing up. Obviously there is a demand. It has
typically been several months between loads of HTO sets.
For the HTO concept to really work the sets need to be visible and widely
available. One shouldn't have to go on a grocery store tour in a five mile
radius every other week in search of them. Every grocery store around me
has a decent supply of Hot Wheels near the checkout lines. When the LEGO
HTO sets show up and are near the checkout lines they sell quickly.
In my area the first HTO sets to show up were the Ninja Polybags. They were
oddly placed and took a while to sell. The boxed sets had their own
displays and sold quickly. I wonder if LEGO has to "buy" shelf space in
grocery stores for the HTO sets? If they do, it would explain why they
don't have much presence.
Mike
--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring dot com
http://www.nclug.net - North Carolina LEGO Users Group
http://www.nclug.net/ctb - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.brickbay.com/store.asp?u=mpw - Brick Depot
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