1945
Harold Matson,
Elliot Handler and his wife Mrs. Ruth Handler founded Mattel in a small
garage. (hence the name "matt-el" from Matsons nickname “MATT” and
ELliot).
The first products the made were wooden picture frames and doll furniture.
The expansion to offer doll clothing proved very successful, thus the Handler’s
decided to concentrate more on toy production following the separation
from their partner Matson.
1959
The first Barbie-doll
appeared initiated by Ruth Handler as the president of the company
1961
The first Ken-doll
appeared (Barbie’s Friend).
1966
The first
European branch office: Mattel G.M.b.H. was established and the first Hot
–Wheels Toy car model appeared.
1968
And three Years
later 1971 the highly successful card game „ UNO „ was produced.
1972
Appeared
the Action-Figure: « Big Jim « on the U.S. market.
1975
Ruth and Elliott
Handler retired from Mattel
1978
Mattel started
developing the first 16-Bit-VideoGame, called: Intellivision, which
was introduced two Years later.
1982
The first Masters
of the Universe-Figures are introduced.
1993
Mattel took over
the Fisher-Price toy company.
1997
Mattel merged
with Tyco Toys and simultaneously took control over the Trade Marks: Matchbox,
Tyco R/C and View-Master.
2000
Mattel became
the main licenced producer for the Harry-Potter-toy-line.
2006
Mattel announced
the takeover of Radica Games Ltd. a electronic toy manufacturer.
2008
Mattel Inc. defeated
MGA Entertainment Inc. in a conflict over the creation of the Bratz doll
line. The U.S. District Court in Riverside ruled that Bratz designer CEO,
Carter Bryant, violated the terms of his exclusivity contract with Mattel.
It was decided that he created the Bratz doll concept while he was working
for Mattel. This decision will lead to the possibility for Mattel to claim
right to the Bratz doll line as well as the right to receive damages.
Recalls
and Penalty
On August 2,
2007, Mattel's Fisher-Price subsidiary recalled almost 1.5 million Chinese-made
toys, including because of potential hazards from parts of the toys which
were colored using lead-based paint that may have exceeded the US Federal
limit of 600 part per million.The CEO of the subsidiary committed suicide
following this Toxic toys scandal. The loss for the corporation was estimated
to 30 million USD. this case. Just two weeks later on August 14.2007 the
company started the largest recall action in their history. More than 18
million dolls, toy cars and other toys again made in China were taken back
from the market, because Children who suck on or ingest toys or jewelry
with high lead content may be poisoned. Mattel’s shares lost more than
3,3 percent of their value and in June 2009 the Consumer Product
Safety Commission fined Mattel and its' Fischer-Price division $2.3 million
dollars for violation of Code 16 of the Federal lead paint ban. While Mattel
agreed to the fine, no wrong doing was admitted on the companies part,
despite the company knew that they had imported and sold toys from China
covered in lead paint.
Criticism
From the black
book of the brand manufacturers – the crucial machinations of the
world’s largest companies, the group was blamed to exploit most of his
Asian suppliers, i.e: by accepting conditions that: minimal salaries of
11 Cents per hour and 16-hours working- days, without
any right of trade unions were standards in China. Although Mattel
announced its Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP) in 1997, designed to
set safe and fair treatment of employees.
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