Star Wars Empty Box Sell at Walmart

[Bodyslide]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/28/news/midcaps/hasbro_starwars/index.htm?cnn=yes

Hasbro's hyping 'Star Wars'

Toymaker thinking 'inside the box' as it launches marketing blitz for exclusive Star Wars toys.

The nation's No. 2 toymaker wants to unleash the force for its new collection of "Star Wars" toys as the countdown begins for the sixth movie in the series, the upcoming "Star Wars Episode III: "Revenge of the Sith," due in theaters May 19. To do so, it's turning to a reprise of the "empty box" campaign from the first Star Wars movie in 1977.

That was "marketing genius by accident," said Jim Silver, who follows the industry as editor of Toy Wishes magazine.

When Kenner Toys picked up the merchandise license for the first Star Wars movie, shortly before the film opened, it didn't have much time to churn out toys and other merchandise.

As the buzz around the movie escalated, so did demand for everything Star Wars. Kenner, rather than let the opportunity slip away, decided to ship empty boxes with vouchers inside, redeemable for four Star Wars toys at a later date.

When consumers buy an empty box at Wal-Mart Stores early Saturday, they'll get a certificate redeemable for the four Star Wars action figures originally available in 1977: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2D2 and Chewbacca. Hasbro has produced only 50,000 boxes.

[lumis]

/me is selling a voucher for a high quality dvd version of star wars II which will be shipped at a later date.

fifty bucks.

[yoda313]

Hello,



I would have done it - but I was born in '78

Kevin

(the first time around that is, not this time :P :P :P)

[VCDHunter]

Gaze in bemusement as the herd duly follow.

[AlecWest]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/28/news/midcaps/hasbro_starwars/index.htm?cnn=yes

Hasbro's hyping 'Star Wars'

Toys-R-Us is even opening at 12:01 AM on April 2nd, just to sell the toys:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-28-2005/0003285515&EDATE=

No toys for me ... and I think I'll wait a month or so before I actually go out and see the film. I hate "mobs."

[Noahtuck]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/28/news/midcaps/hasbro_starwars/index.htm?cnn=yes

That was "marketing genius by accident," said Jim Silver, who follows the industry as editor of Toy Wishes magazine.

Actually the first "empty box" prebuy in 77 was not an accident, it was because demand ended up being WAY greater than supply
Well, i guess the rest of that quote does state that :P
So i really was not "marketing genius" in any way... it was just luck and not knowing it would end up as big as it still is 8)

Hello,



I would have done it - but I was born in '78

Kevin

(the first time around that is, not this time :P :P :P)

Now how did i know you were a young pup 8)
I actually bought one of those prebuy empty boxes in the store and was pissed when i got home and found that stupid little piece of paper in the box

[yoda313]

Hello,

Anyone know when the Episode 3 soundtrack comes out??? I own the soundtrack for both prequels and I bought the special edition soundtracks for the original trilogy (the first SE release in 97, not the new release targeting the dvd release - mine have the nifty engraved etchings on the cd that shine in the light).

Kevin

[Bodyslide]

http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/More_on_Revenge_of_the_Sith_Soundtrack_90349.asp


http://www.movieweb.com/news/news.php?id=7168


May 3 2005

[yoda313]

Hello,

THANKS BODYSLIDE!!!!!!!

A bonus dvd!!!!

I was gonna buy it just for the great music but now I can't wait!!!!

Kevin

[zzyzzx]

[lordsmurf]

I went to a Walmart yesterday that had about 50 of these empty boxes laying around.