What Are Some Interesting Facts About American Toy Companies?
The largest American toy company based on revenue is Mattel, whose products include ‘Barbie’ and ‘Hot Wheels’. Barbie accounts for 80% of Mattel’s profits, as one of the most successful toy brands of all time. Elliot Handler, who co-founded Mattel back in 1945 had two children called Barbie and Ken. This is where the names for the Barbie brand originate from. Mattel is also the parent company of Fisher-Price following a merger of the two global names in 1993. Founders of the US company Hasbro – the Hassenfield Brothers – introduced Mr Potato Head in 1952, having bought the idea from it’s inventor. The brothers went on to achieve astounding success within the toy industry. They branded the first “action figure”, G.I Joe in 1964, especially for boys who didn’t want to play with dolls! Hasbro is the largest board-games company in the world, with ownership of the companies that produce household names such as Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble and the most successful board game of all time, Monopol
