Hasbr-uh-oh - Business and Tariffs Discussion

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Good question. Looks like Jersey.

Fortunately for me, the guy was kind enough to take care of it. I feel bad about it, though.

And I think this is like a tiny thing, too.

 

[Dekafox]

Catching up on the RFC stream from last week, turns out Hasbro did a 3% layoff early last week. Most of the other bits from that they talked about aren't really relevant to TF though since they're focused on RPGs as a topic.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

I can't read the original article, and the article I did find doesn't mention where the 3% cuts were targeted towards.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Their local workforce, or their global workforce?

 

[Magnusblitz]

According to this article, globally:

Toy seller Hasbro HAS.O has cut 3% of its global workforce in its latest cost-cutting effort amid higher U.S. tariffs on toys from China.

The job cuts amount to about 150 employees. According to its fiscal 2024 annual filing, the company had roughly 4,985 employees globally.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

We may have a trade deal with Vietnam. 20% tariff. Not great, but at this point just having some certainty would be an improvement.

 

[Princess Viola]

We may have a trade deal with Vietnam. 20% tariff. Not great, but at this point just having some certainty would be an improvement.

Until he changes his mind and decides to change it and then no one pushes back on it.

 

[Shadewing]

Until he changes his mind and decides to change it and then no one pushes back on it.

which will probably be by the weekend.

 

[Gizmoboy]

I know my BBTS email I just received about TF One Deluxes being subject to a $1 tariff charge. Not ideal, but also not as bad as I was fearing.

 

[Shadewing]

I know my BBTS email I just received about TF One Deluxes being subject to a $1 tariff charge. Not ideal, but also not as bad as I was fearing.

I got one as well, and Honestly, I'd consider that minimal of an increase to be the definition of ideal, outside of 'no tariffs' which clearly isnt happening.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Hasbro Q2 and first half 2025 results, Toy Book has a good overview for us non-business people:

Hasbro’s Q2 Packs a Punch With Magic Surge Amid Toy Slump

In Q2, Magic: The Gathering soared 23% while Consumer Products fell 16%, highlighting the divide as Hasbro reshapes its portfolio.

toybook.com

tl;dr- Gains in Magic (thanks to the Final Fantasy set) and Licensing offset declines in consumer products (aka, toys). Tariffs have not impacted margins yet, but Hasbro expects them to do so in Q3 as temporary reductions lift and the industry starts to ramp up for Christmas sales.

Hasbro's investor page with all the nitty gritty:

https://investor.hasbro.com/

 

[Platypus Prime]

Well, there's only one logical thing to do. Let's film a bunch of explosions with a shaky hand-camera, blurr out something in the background, and claim it was a Decepticon. Then do it a few more times till you have an hour and a half long movie.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

we are raising both top and bottom-line guidance for 2025 and reaffirming our mid-term outlook.

We're grading on a curve because of the tariff chaos but Hasbro seems to be doing well.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

Well, there's only one logical thing to do. Let's film a bunch of explosions with a shaky hand-camera, blurr out something in the background, and claim it was a Decepticon. Then do it a few more times till you have an hour and a half long movie.

Hasbro got out of the film business; they're just licensing that stuff to Paramount now.

 

[Sabrblade]

Well, there's only one logical thing to do. Let's film a bunch of explosions with a shaky hand-camera, blurr out something in the background, and claim it was a Decepticon. Then do it a few more times till you have an hour and a half long movie.

Well, that is one step above how both of the grand opening ceremonies for TF: The Ride depicted the Decepticons in their respective live dramatized performances.

 

[LordGigaIce]

We're grading on a curve because of the tariff chaos but Hasbro seems to be doing well.

The Transformers fandom assuming the worst case scenario that realistically won't come to pass? Say it ain't so

 

[CoffeeHorse]

The doom was pretty realistic in this case. It just turns out that our obsession is more powerful than macroeconomics. Despite toys being down this quarter, Transformers was flat.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

The doom was pretty realistic in this case. It just turns out that our obsession is more powerful than macroeconomics. Despite toys being down this quarter, Transformers was flat.

I think a couple big factors in that was failures on the part of Disney:
-Star Wars remains a thematically scattered brand that hasn’t been able to connect to younger consumers since The Mandalorian, and after six years, is losing its value. I want to say Star Wars posted declines for the past couple years, at least.
-While Marvel is largely flat, I think Hasbro’s general lack of support for the recent films is VERY much indicative of prior failures. I mean, Disney messed things up so bad with Eternals, Wakanda Forever, Thor 3 and Marvels…Hasbro opted NOT to make any mass market toys for Fantastic Four. Captain America got a whopping 5 or 6 products. All that has squeaked out for F4 has been a single Legends wave.

 

[Sabrblade]

I think a couple big factors in that was failures on the part of Disney:
-Star Wars remains a thematically scattered brand that hasn’t been able to connect to younger consumers since The Mandalorian, and after six years, is losing its value. I want to say Star Wars posted declines for the past couple years, at least.
-While Marvel is largely flat, I think Hasbro’s general lack of support for the recent films is VERY much indicative of prior failures. I mean, Disney messed things up so bad with Eternals, Wakanda Forever, Thor 3 and Marvels…Hasbro opted NOT to make any mass market toys for Fantastic Four. Captain America got a whopping 5 or 6 products. All that has squeaked out for F4 has been a single Legends wave.

Not to mention Hasbro's pitiful showing of a whopping three toy releases for Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

Star Wars has actually seen a pretty noticeable resurgence in the wake of Andor S2 and Revenge of the Sith being in theaters; several Star Wars games like Battlefront 2 and the Old Republic have seen massive surges in players.