As well as becoming a star of the silver screen, Barbie could also become emblematic of the paradox of today’s supply chains
It is a business turnaround story, too. If the film is a hit, it could crown a comeback for Mattel, one of the world’s biggest toymakers, with brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price in its toy box. Five years ago it was in a funk, having lost threes in four years, and a decades-old licence to produce dolls for Disney to its rival, Hasbro. Under Ynon Kreiz, itssince 2018, its cost base, balance-sheet, manufacturing footprint and morale have all improved.
That makes Barbie emblematic of something else entirely: the paradox of today’s supply chains. As well as bringing some production closer to home, Mattel is maintaining global manufacturing operations in Asia. In a business landscape where demand is increasingly hard to forecast, the environment is fragile and the geopolitics unstable, this is the new reality for multinational manufacturers.
To understand Mattel’s two-pronged strategy, consider Mexico’s pros and cons. On the plus side, it adjoins the world’s biggest market. It has a free-trade agreement with America and Canada, which eases the cross-border flow of goods and services. The cost of labour has become more competitive with South-East Asia . Its workers may not be as target-oriented as their Asian counterparts, but they tend to be more collaborative.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inside UK's plan to cope with national power outage amid supply fearsALARMING gaps in the UK’s ability to cope with a national power outage have been revealed in an emergency test. Concerns included “inconsistencies” in plans to manage impacts across society. Govern…
Read more »
'I told 40,000 people not to move to Manchester city centre'Manchester city centre is experiencing huge growth - but can supply keep up with demand?
Read more »
Trading Giant Expects Copper Prices To Hit Record High | OilPrice.comCopper prices will hit record highs this year according to commodity trading giant Trafigura, driven by short supply and China's rebounding economy
Read more »
North American LNG Projects Plagued By Price Volatility | OilPrice.com🚀 US & Canadian LNG projects pick up steam, but future bets uncertain due to price volatility ⛽ BC approves Ksi Lisims & Cedar LNG, US plans $100bn in facilities 💰 Balancing domestic needs & exports crucial 🌐 EnergyMarket GasPrices
Read more »