[André]

Hi Bill and Maureen,

which stores do usually sell Schleich smurfs in the US?

If there will be new displays with 5 smurfs each in the stores in US next month that is a awesome step forward for Schleich. Since recent years they just have less and less smurfs in the catalogues.

And since everything Schleicher told us have been correct so faar I am really excited. And this is a pretty easy way to sell them I assume. Just a new wrapping nicely packed and displayed with smurfs and accessories they already sell, just like they do with the animals.

You all know these old displays with 5 smurfs each from 1989. Could be something similair?? I am hoping more for a displaybox like the scenerypacks they have sold for wildlife or farmlife. With both buildings, accessories and smurfs!!

So if they sell new displays! Which smurfs and what themes do you think they will have in these?? A movie display would be my first guess.

Maybe one with indians.

Party???

What do you think??

[André]

Wouldn´t it be nice to get a large Schleichbox like this with many Schleichwrappings ("layers") before finally get a large nice smurfy display with large house, garden set, and many nice smurfs.

This must be a very cheap and easy way to sell them. No new molds!!

And I bet the children would love them.

So Schleicher if you have the possibility to "influence" the ones who makes the decisions go for a large display like this!!!
At least I would buy it!!! Probably more than one???

Regarding the playset above. Schleich sold 3 of these playsets but only for one year. Last year. So they could be nice also from a collectors view!!

[Smurfysmurf]

I've heard of several smaller toy stores up North that sell smurfs, but down here it's only Toys R us. I'd say if the store sells Schleich products, they should be carrying the new displays as well.

I do wonder why they are being released in the US and not in Europe where they'd have a better chance of selling

[André]

Maybe they just starts with the US since the movie will be shown there first.

And I don´t think Schleich should miss this opportunity to sell more smurfs. The shops will probably be filled with different smurf items when the movie is coming up just like with other movies???

So let´s hope Schleich releases at least a few new items. Even if only old ones in new displayboxes!!!

If I would deside, I would go for a large scenerypack with the large house, the garden tableset, a flower, stone, grass, mushroom and the basic normal smurfs, maybe between 5 and 10, like papa, smurfette, brainy, jokey, grouchy etc. Could be from the classic theme???

That would be a awesome playset for parents growing up with the smurfs to give to their children, right!!! So Schleich, that would be a garanteed success!!

[André]

If my children and their friends would be the ones to decide how a new display should look these would be the parts. Just for Schleich to make new displaybox and bring some old stuff back. Combine the 3 boxes on the pictures and add a few smurfs. Just like on the picture I would remove the wheelbarrow( only goes really good with gardener) and bring the flower instead.

It would be a great display for children to play with and also a great start for them to start collecting. Eventhough the zodiac-smurfs are great smurfs and I like them very much they are not so funny for children to play with. More for collectors.

How would you like the displays and how do you think they should look so children would want them, notr only collectors??

[steveparkes]

Maybe they just starts with the US since the movie will be shown there first.

Actually Andre, it isn't just the US that is getting the film first,

Belgium
UK
Switzerland
France
& the Phillipines

all get the movie released on the 3rd August

[André]

It is just me comparing to Sweden!!

I never looked at other dates so you are absolutly right, Steve!



Howcome the phillipines are getting this before Sweden?

[Schleicher]

It's nice to see all the good ideas you all have. I'll post some more details in a few weeks. By the way: I've never seen that old display before. From what year is it? Edit: reading helps, it was 1989 as written in the first post. sorry..

[André]

It's nice to see all the good ideas you all have. I'll post some more details in a few weeks. By the way: I've never seen that old display before. From what year is it? Edit: reading helps, it was 1989 as written in the first post. sorry..

Awesome news Schleicher!!

The most important thing for both collectors and the Schleichcompany must be to get children to start wanting to buy smurfs. Or to get their parents to buy them!! And my guess is that most children want toys to play with, not to put on a collectorsshelf??? But that off course is just my opinion!! So if you would ask me, I would tell you to ask the children what they want!!?? What I want is of no importance!!

Enough with the lobbying for more smurfitems!!!


Regarding the playsets from 1989, Gerda has all 7 of them on her website! I only have one.

http://www.kickingtheblues.com/pvc/boxedsets.html

[steveparkes]

Howcome the phillipines are getting this before Sweden?

I did wonder that myself too Andre, are the smurfs big in the Phillipines???

[André]

Howcome the phillipines are getting this before Sweden?

I did wonder that myself too Andre, are the smurfs big in the Phillipines???

I don´t know Steve??

But if look at it like this.

There are 9 millions living in Sweden. And at a smaller size, there are 90 millions living in the Phillipines. So more than 80 millions more compared to Sweden are living there.

So if 10% of them decides to go and see the smurfmovie, it would be like all the people living in Sweden???

[Smurfysmurf]

Andre,
It would make perfect sense to me if the Indian range were to be re-released in those boxes, as they wouldn't even have to change the boxes up by much (would fit very well with the Frontierlife), but I doubt Schleich will re-release a range they just stopped....maybe the classic smurf range? That would make sense to me as well..Other than the anniversary smurfs and the 2010 smurfs, I am not sure if a complete set is being produced right now?

One interesting observation I made when buying the play along smurfs in the stores was, that the kids seemed very fascinated with them when they saw them at the cash register...it was the parents who pushed them along and were not intersted at all...so I agree with the right marketing ploy (like these boxes) and the right price (Schleich does overcharge a bit for their things) it might be possible to revive them in the US

[André]

Maureen,

we have a few weeks to guess before Schleicher shows us the pictures.

He told us it they are from the existing smurfs and only 5 in each scenerypack. The other scenerypacks for animals are usually themed like wildlife baby animals, farmlife baby animals etc. So my guess is themed something like this:

A movie display. I would guess: director, producer, cameraman, actress smurfette and Charlie Chaplin????

A party display. Party Azrael and Gargamel, Party papa, Smurfette in cake and partysmurf.

A classic display. Papa, smurfette, brainy, jokey and Gargamel.

But off course the displays could be just "random" with no theme???

Another great new item coming in september is the airplane for the wildlife. My daughters are really looking forward to seeing this in the shops.


And if I would let my children and all their friends who played with the smurfs at our home the most populair item is by faar the snail carriage!!!! All kids love to put a smurf in the wagoon and drive around. So that would be their first choice in a large playset display.

[Gerda]

To answer you question about which stores there is a specialty store down in madison that sells schleich items including smurfs. The store reminds me of a european toy store and he sells mostly things from europe. also there is a store up here called fleet farm, it is mostly a hardware store catering to farmers but they also have alot of other stuff now. They carry schleich animals but have not carried the smurfs, but it could change (wishfull thinking)
then there is a store in the mall that has schelich items including smurfs but I was told he only orderd the smurfs because he wanted to get the schleich shelves and the company made him order those as well He might rethink that

I think the packs are easier to sell here because stores hate to carry small individual things. You rarely see small things off in the walmart or target toy eisle and I think toys r us has a better security to handle little hands walking off with things (just my opinion)

gerda

[André]

I think the packs are easier to sell here because stores hate to carry small individual things. You rarely see small things off in the walmart or target toy eisle and I think toys r us has a better security to handle little hands walking off with things (just my opinion)

gerda

That is a good point Gerda!! I agree and also think many stores don´t really like selling loose very small items and would prefer them packed like this. ??

[Gerda]

Toys r us now has the diaplays available for order and it says they are in stock. Still no pictures but I went ahead and orderd anyway.. no chance I would be disapointed in smurfs so blind order isn't a problem My order says it will be shipped in 1-2 days and I know from past orders they ship pretty quick. If no pictures showed up by the time I'll get them i'll post pictures on them once they arrive.

[Tintin]

Hi Gerda

Pictures would be nice..........

Good luck with your order !!!

Tintin

[André]

Great Gerda,

Do you know how many different displays Will be sold?

[Gerda]

There where 5 different ones listed, not sure if there will be more

[André]

I just checked. 5 displaysets with 5 smurfs each. That means 25 smurfs that are still in production. If you don´t count the zodiac there are 30 normal smurfs.

If only one is zodicsmurfs.

Schleicher wanted us to guess so....

I would guess if they are themed.

Movie. Camera, producer, Chaplin, actress smurfette, director
Classic. Papa, Smurfette, brainy, jokey, gargamel
Party. Party Azrael and Gargamel, Partysmurf, Smurfette in cake, party papa
"Family". Bride, groom, baby, smurfette with baby, smurf with flowers.

???