Chapter 76: Toys and Merchandise
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
[Power—Heat Vision (Black Iron)]
[Power Description: Superman can emit high-temperature beams from his eyes, converted from stored solar energy. Its power can ignite and melt most objects.]
Main World, New York.
Churchville, Fisher-Price Toy Manufacturing Factory.
"Mr. Collin Roper, are you alright?"
Herman Fisher noticed Collin had stopped behind him and asked with a concerned look.
"I'm fine."
Shaking his head, Collin removed his hand from his eyes, indicating that nothing was wrong.
Fortunately, his powers in the Main World were always suppressed.
The unlocked [Heat Vision] merely caused Collin's eyes to feel slightly warm before quickly cooling down.
It didn't replicate a certain classic scene of slaughtering civilians.
Hearing Collin's reply, Herman Fisher nodded and didn't press the issue, quickly leading Collin to the Fisher-Price toy production factory.
It was called a factory, but in reality, it was more like a small workshop.
At this time, Fisher-Price toys were still in their initial start-up phase. A few months ago, the company's three founders had taken sixteen wooden toys to the American International Toy Fair in New York, where they had gained some fame. They also sold their first-ever toy at the exhibition—Dr. Doodle.
However, under the shadow of the Great Depression, industries across America had been hit hard, and the newly established Fisher-Price was no exception.
The new line of toys they created was not met with much enthusiasm in the market.
This immediately pushed Fisher-Price to the brink of crisis. If the company couldn't achieve success with its next generation of toys, then the company would very likely go bankrupt.
Inside the toy workshop, a few men and women could be seen gathered around a table, engaged in a heated discussion about the toy models in their hands.
These people were both the toy workers of Fisher-Price and the company's founders.
"Folks, we have a guest."
Looking at the arguing group, Herman spoke up to interrupt them.
Hearing Herman's voice, the three people in the toy workshop stopped arguing. They exchanged glances, looked at Collin standing behind their friend, and cast questioning gazes at Herman.
"This is Mr. Collin Roper, the owner of The Messenger and the author of *Superman*."
Under everyone's watchful gazes, Herman introduced Collin, who was standing behind him.
"The purpose of his visit this time is mainly to discuss the patent rights for Superman."
When he mentioned patent rights, Herman deliberately emphasized his words.
"Superman?"
"I don't think..."
Understanding the implication in Herman's words, a woman in her thirties or forties wearing glasses began to speak.
"Margaret."
However, before she could say anything more, a man beside her cut her off.
Faced with her husband Owen's interruption, Margaret's brows furrowed under her glasses, but she relented.
"This is Ms. Margaret, our first chief design and art director at Fisher-Price. The works Fisher-Price exhibited before and the first generation of toys were all born from her design concepts."
Following Collin's gaze, Herman made the introduction.
Hearing Herman's explanation, Collin nodded, a sense of understanding dawning on him.
No wonder her attitude was a bit strange just now.
After Herman's introduction, the other woman present spoke up. "So, Mr. Collin Roper, what kind of toy do you envision Fisher-Price designing for Superman?" she asked, then added, "You can call me Helen."
"Ms. Helen, may I see the toys you were just making?"
Collin didn't answer Helen's question directly. Instead, he glanced with great interest at the small figures on the workshop table and asked a question of his own.
"Of course."
Faced with Collin's request, Herman nodded. At the same time, Owen, who was standing in the workshop, immediately picked up a crude toy figure and handed it to him, not forgetting to explain, "These figures are still in the design stage, so we've only made some models to see how they work."
"Thank you."
Thanking Owen, Collin reached out and took the figure.
Toys from this era were mostly made from heavy metal parts and yellow pine. In terms of detail and decoration, they were far less exquisite than those of later generations.
The figure in Collin's hand was no different. It was carved from yellow pine, with some detachable articulation added to its limbs, making the figure more posable.
After scrutinizing the figure in his hand, a faint smile appeared on Collin's lips, and he said sincerely, "A very nice toy. I believe the children will love it."
At Collin's praise, even the expression on Margaret's face softened considerably.
Placing the figure back on the table, Collin looked at the crudely made figures on the tabletop and finally stated the purpose of his trip: "From this figure, I have fully seen Fisher-Price's ability in toy manufacturing. Therefore, I am also very happy to have Fisher-Price manufacture the first batch of Superman action figures."
"I promise, Mr. Collin Roper, you will not be disappointed with this decision."
Hearing Collin's words, the tense expression on Herman's face finally relaxed. He unclenched his fists, which had been tightened due to nervousness, and made a promise to Collin.
For the current Fisher-Price, securing the manufacturing rights for the Superman toys was nothing less than a lifeline.
The idea to sell the Superman toy patent was all thanks to Walt Disney. After all, when it came to merchandise, if Disney said they were second, no one would dare claim to be first.
From toothbrushes to tiny kitchen sinks, anything you could or couldn't imagine, Disney could make merchandise out of it. Essentially, if you had the money, Disney would grant you the license. As for the final product, well, they had already received the licensing fee. If the merchandise became a hit later on, Disney would still get a cut.
Collin was deeply inspired by Walt Disney's practice of aggressively licensing merchandise.
Although he couldn't be like Disney, who licensed merchandise to more than eight hundred companies in the single year of 1932 during the Great Depression, he nonetheless drew inspiration from it.
He sought out the Fisher-Price Toy Company, which was still in its start-up phase, and negotiated the production of Superman toys and merchandise.
In the initial licensing deal, Collin only released the production rights for Superman action figures. This meant that besides the action figures, Fisher-Price was not allowed to use the patented Superman image on any of its company's other toys.
This approach both ensured that the Superman patent would not be misused by the other party and also served some of Collin's own objectives.
Thinking of this, Collin's gaze lingered once more on the small figures in the Fisher-Price workshop.
(end of chapter).
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