A combination of special retail promotions and large-scale
licensor-driven consumer awareness efforts help retailers draw
consumers in-store and boost Madeline Holiday sales.
Bolingbrook, IL (August 15, 2003)-RC2
Corporation (NASDAQ: RCRC), makers of Madeline™ dolls under
the Learning Curve brand, announce several unique retailer-focused
programs designed to draw consumers in-store and boost Madeline
sales in Q4. The new programs are innovative, retail-focused
promotions calculated to dovetail with other licensor-driven
consumer promotions. Additionally, Learning Curve's Madeline
will debut exciting new product offerings for Q4 designed to
garner increased sales and grow Madeline's devoted
fan base during the crucial holiday shopping season and beyond.
The Q4 retailer programs include:
Free T-Shirt Gift with Purchase (GWP)
Promotion-Retailers can offer customers a free Madeline
T-shirt with purchase of specific items that retailers select.
This promotional package includes 25 GWP stickers and 25 Madeline
T-shirts. The ability to tailor this GWP promotion to retailer-specific
inventory helps make this a strong consumer effort that works
from a business perspective as well.
Design a Dress Play Day Kit-Hosting
an in-store play day is a great way for retailers to get consumers
in their store and excited about new Madeline products. With
this program, young girls design a dress for their 8-inch
Madeline dolls using fabric markers. Each pack comes with
25 activity kits, in-store poster and ad slick.
These programs combined with innovative new products fuel Madeline
retail sales in Q4. Highlights for Q4 include:
Storybook Doll House: This innovative, portable doll
house features a fold-for-easy-storage design that contains four
different room environments. Ages 4 and up.
Madeline's Old House in Paris Doll House: The completely
re-furbished Doll House reflects classic French influences and
features an all-new detachable staircase and interior door for
even more realistic role-play. Ages 4 and up.
Madeline Ragdoll Holiday Limited Edition Collectible:
Available Holiday 2003-only 10,000 pieces of this adorable 18"
limited edition Madeline Ragdoll will be available! Doll comes
with a dated "2003" Holiday ornament. Ages 2 and
up.
Madeline Ragdoll Soft Furnishings: These new soft furnishings,
covered in playful feminine fabrics, foster the nurturing play
pattern so popular among young girls. The Dream Time Bed and Comfy
Cozy Chair will provide Madeline and her Ragdoll Friends a comfy
place to sit and sleep. Ages 2 and up.
"We are dedicated to supporting our key specialty brands through
innovative, retail-focused programs such as these which further
highlight our continued commitment to the independent specialty
retailers," says John W. Lee, executive vice president, RC2
Corporation. "These exciting retail-driven programs coupled
with thrilling new products and licensor-driven promotions such
as the Dream World Sweepstakes, Travel Sweepstakes, and My
Fair Madeline video release, are sure to energize and encourage
more consumers to bring Madeline home for the holidays."
About RC2 Corporation
RC2 (www.rc2corp.com) is a producer and marketer of high quality
collectibles, toys and hobby products targeted at adult collectors,
parents and children. The company's diverse product offerings include:
traditional children's toys; agricultural, construction and outdoor
sports vehicle replicas; automotive, high performance and racing
vehicle replicas; sports trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs;
and collectible figures. These products are sold under the Company's
market-focused brand names, including Racing Champions®, Ertl®,
Ertl Collectibles®, Learning CurveSM, American Muscle™,
AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®, Eden®, Feltkids®
and JoyRide Studios™. RC2 builds consumer loyalty by fulfilling
the passions of targeted consumers with its branded products that
encourage repeat purchases and are fun to own and use. The Company's
goal is to achieve leadership in targeted markets worldwide by acting
on significant consumer trends, continuously applying innovation
and developing consumer preferred brands and products distributed
through multiple channels. These channels include chain retailers,
specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, corporate
accounts for promotional purposes and direct to consumers. The Company
sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets located primarily
in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. For more information
about any of the products in the RC2 Corporation portfolio, visit
www.rc2corp.com or contact retail customer service at: 888-281-1824.
