darkSpyro

So I went to my local TRU (Cary NC) yesterday to kill some time before picking my wife up from work (flat tire). While there I casually notice that they redid the layout for skylanders and Disney Infinity. I don' think too much of it. I pick up my son and my wife and we go get dinner.

I tell her about the re-arrangement and she says "I guess they are making space for Trap Team". Then it hit me.

Do you realize how much retail space Trap Team will take up? I did the math for her when she said that

Starter Set Boxes - 3DS/Tablet, Wii, Wii U, PS3, PS4, X360, XBOne
Dark Starter set Boxes - Wii, Wii U, PS3, PS4, X360, XBOne
Then we have the column of pegs for just Skylander Minis
Then we have a column or two for the Adventure packs and triple packs
Then we have all the space for the actual new figures, including the pretty large looking boxes for the Trap Masters
Then we have 2 traps for each element, and there will be lots of traps on display

That is a metric ton of figures and boxes. My TRU is equipped to handle it as I'm sure others are, but I wonder how places like Walmart and Target are going to setup to sell this stuff - or as I'm concerned about now, will they keep significantly less of EVERYTHING in stock, making it harder to get stuff?
- Unreall

I expect stores like Target and Walmart will give it the same amount of space as always, so it will end up jam-packed and cluttered beyond hope. And messy.

They could use the method that most UK stores are using, just don't bother having any in stock.

Back during the peak of Giants I had the choice of at least half a dozen stores close to me with a pick of figures.
I don't think there is a single shop around me with any figures now.

It's like trying to find WiiU stuff on the shelf. More and more I just have to rely on the internet for everything.

My guess is that there is gust gonna be a box of traps,kinda like the box of discs for DI

TRU is equipped to handle it, they will probably have two areas like they usually do - one in video games and one up front in the "promotional" area.

Other stores, well that'll be interesting. They are already stocked a great deal on the previous three games, AND Infinity. When Trap Team hits, Infinity 2.0 will be about two weeks old and is going to need space of its own. Infinity 2.0 is going to be HUGE this year, with the Marvel tie in given that Marvel is so hot right now with Guardians of the Galaxy being such a big hit (and Infinity having GotG content/figures). Even if you aren't a fan of Infinity you have to admit they are sitting on top of a gold mine this year, the figure selection is amazing, I'd buy some of those even if we didn't get that game.

So, in a few weeks we are going to have two brand new figure based games on top of the leftover stuff from three previous figure based games. My closest Walmart has one side of a display for both Infinity AND Skylander stuff right now. I have no idea what they are planning to do accommodate it. My closest Best Buy is a little better on space, Skylanders and Infinity shelves are getting thin on stock so they have plenty of room, and Target is fairly similar.

TRU still has a TON of stuff left over. I have a feeling we have reached the point where retailers are going to discount/clearance stuff much faster than previously, then favor whichever game takes off better. They never really got rid of old Wave 1 Swap Force Triples/Adventure/Battle Packs, which resulted in them never really stocking later packs all that much (I don't think they got ANY Triple Packs after Wave 1, and Sheep Wreck/Arkehan Crossbow only came in a couple times).

I imagine Activision will provide cardboard display case(s) for the release. Walmart will put them in the aisles. Target will give it an extra end cap. I have no idea what gamestop will do.

This is what really worries me. I mentioned in the Gearshift unboxing topic about all the pros and cons with the new boxes and one I mentioned is how much space each box will occupy on the pegs. I counted the pegs at Target and if those pegs can carry no more than 4 or 5 swappers each, I have no idea how many Trap Masters they will be able to carry on each peg and finding them in the back will now be even harder. You'll have to wait for them to sell if you want to find more which could be hidden in the back and will have more trouble finding some characters now thanks to the mass of these new boxes.

My local Walmart has stopped carrying Skylanders, it even says so on their website. All they have is a couple of triple/adventure packs and a few Zoo Lou single packs. I wonder what they're doing for Trap Team.

I was thinking about this too; you forgot about the Nintendo amiibo figures which will also need some space later this year!
So in total, somewhere like Walmart/Target will likely have:

Giants
Swap Force
Trap Team
Infinity
Infinity 2.0
amiibos

To be honest, I think it's going to get a little crowded in Electronics. If it was up to me, I'd boot all of the figures into their own separate aisle in toys. With some rekajiggering of the current toy areas in the stores (like maybe cutting down the Barbie/girlie stuff to a smaller section or something) they should be able to easily make a "Toys to Life" aisle. It'd include displays like you'd have over in electronics, but with all of the figures and such. Extra stock of the games would be over there while starter packs will be over mainly in the actual electronics/video game aisles.

It'd probably really be difficult in all honesty to get them out of electronics since right now many stores have an part of an aisle dedicated to them.

TRU and Gamestop have the benefit of the doubt in this case; TRU has their larger "front" display which will likely have Infinity then Skylanders stuff (or maybe a combo? wonder who won that bidding battle lol) for a majority of their stock. Gamestop has their little section which should be plenty for their things (and they can always add more thanks to the way stores are set up)

Walmart and Target (and other places similar to them) will likely suffer with space because of all the different toys to life figures. So...I think it'll be interesting to see what they did. I'm sure they're probably sweating this a bit too.

Or mybe the trap masters will be placed like some place hanging and some placed on the shelf like they did with giants

Quote: defpally

TRU is equipped to handle it, they will probably have two areas like they usually do - one in video games and one up front in the "promotional" area.

Other stores, well that'll be interesting. They are already stocked a great deal on the previous three games, AND Infinity. When Trap Team hits, Infinity 2.0 will be about two weeks old and is going to need space of its own. Infinity 2.0 is going to be HUGE this year, with the Marvel tie in given that Marvel is so hot right now with Guardians of the Galaxy being such a big hit (and Infinity having GotG content/figures). Even if you aren't a fan of Infinity you have to admit they are sitting on top of a gold mine this year, the figure selection is amazing, I'd buy some of those even if we didn't get that game.

So, in a few weeks we are going to have two brand new figure based games on top of the leftover stuff from three previous figure based games. My closest Walmart has one side of a display for both Infinity AND Skylander stuff right now. I have no idea what they are planning to do accommodate it. My closest Best Buy is a little better on space, Skylanders and Infinity shelves are getting thin on stock so they have plenty of room, and Target is fairly similar.

TRU still has a TON of stuff left over. I have a feeling we have reached the point where retailers are going to discount/clearance stuff much faster than previously, then favor whichever game takes off better. They never really got rid of old Wave 1 Swap Force Triples/Adventure/Battle Packs, which resulted in them never really stocking later packs all that much (I don't think they got ANY Triple Packs after Wave 1, and Sheep Wreck/Arkehan Crossbow only came in a couple times).

TRU is the only local place that can handle this effectively. And yes, those triple packs should've been marked down 8 months ago...my understanding is that they have BOXES of it still in the back somewhere.

Or they might just move the skylanders to a bigger part of the the store altogether

My store pretty much takes about 25% of the first isle of the store end to end...so that's a huge commitment on space. They put stock that would take me 2 Target, 2 Wal Mart and 2 Gamestop visits all together.

Normally the stores by me take up the front area you first hit when the games come out then after xmas they move it all to electronics. With trap team coming 2 weeks after Disney I 2.0, i am going to be interested how they will lay this out. Should be a fun site

My store actually has 2 whole sections dedicated to Skylanders. I'd say 1/3 of an isles length. Granted the first section is mostly SSA, and SG.

I'm doubting that DI is going to gain any extra shelf space om TRU at their release launch. I just thinking that Disney is too cocky, and won't spend the money for extra space if they don't think they need to. They also don't need the space, since they have less characters and types of products to sell. Third, as pointed out, Skylanders is two weeks later, and I doubt they would outbid Activision for the space. TRU seems to be more in bed with Skylanders, so I doubt they would really let them. And if you can only get the space for two weeks, is it really worth it?

Quote: melvimbe

I'm doubting that DI is going to gain any extra shelf space om TRU at their release launch. I just thinking that Disney is too cocky, and won't spend the money for extra space if they don't think they need to. They also don't need the space, since they have less characters and types of products to sell. Third, as pointed out, Skylanders is two weeks later, and I doubt they would outbid Activision for the space. TRU seems to be more in bed with Skylanders, so I doubt they would really let them. And if you can only get the space for two weeks, is it really worth it?

I don't anticipate DI2.0 taking up more space really. Looking at my local TRU and Target, and Walmart, especially with phasing of the release of figures, they never increased the space, and the space was always 'more than they really needed. A cardboard isle 'thing' for the old figures with the new figures on the pegs will suit DI2.0 just fine in most locations - as you mentioned, they don't really have 'much' in the way of figures - especially at launch. They have 2 starter sets, they have like 5 disney originals 2 boxed sets, and like 5 Marvel figures. Disc will most likely be done like they were last time...either left in the box or shoved on a few pegs.

The concern is really Trap Team. As it stands, due to the volume of Swap characters, Swap Force took up a lot of space, but the trap masters take up Giant level space, and there are a LOT of 'Add ons and accessories' from the minis, to the traps, to the boxes for traps, to re-re-released versions of storage bins and options. TRU will be JUST fine...all of them will. They have the flexability to carve out an isle for temp space, they usually have a frontal display along with a side area for overstock and clearance that can be used, and they keep enough space usually to put up multiple card-board stands. But I'm thinking about my local Walmarts, they have one side of one isle for BOTH DI & Skylanders as WELL as other video game stuff. They've shuffled things to make more room, I noticed it already, but it doesn't look like its sustainable...so after the holidays, how hard it is going to be to find something? Oh and Target is even worse, tey have very very little room for reorganizing - or at least seem firm in their ways, they could move the Toys to Life figures to where they keep clearance items, computer games, or TV wall mounts, to generate more room, but they have used the same space for the better part of 3 years for the Toys 2 Life category.

One side note, I don't think any of the stores will move them to a true 'isle of their own'. Most isles don't have cameras, and with things like power disc being easy to steal, traps being small enough to fit in pockets if opened - no store wants the shrink headache of not being able to keep a physical EYE on that stuff.
- Unreall

Quote: SlayerX11

Normally the stores by me take up the front area you first hit when the games come out then after xmas they move it all to electronics. With trap team coming 2 weeks after Disney I 2.0, i am going to be interested how they will lay this out. Should be a fun site

Yep but TRU Skylanders is first aisle, all the time!

Quote: GhostRoaster

Quote: SlayerX11

Normally the stores by me take up the front area you first hit when the games come out then after xmas they move it all to electronics. With trap team coming 2 weeks after Disney I 2.0, i am going to be interested how they will lay this out. Should be a fun site

Yep but TRU Skylanders is first aisle, all the time!

Well after the front area m stores have them in all in one aisle with disney on the other side. The SSA and Gaints go to end aisles. First row of items in most toysrus by me are there tablets and othr radios and crap witht eh games and skylanders in the back area.

Quote: melvimbe

I'm doubting that DI is going to gain any extra shelf space om TRU at their release launch. I just thinking that Disney is too cocky, and won't spend the money for extra space if they don't think they need to. They also don't need the space, since they have less characters and types of products to sell. Third, as pointed out, Skylanders is two weeks later, and I doubt they would outbid Activision for the space. TRU seems to be more in bed with Skylanders, so I doubt they would really let them. And if you can only get the space for two weeks, is it really worth it?

This cause let's be honest, statistically, Skylanders sell better than Disney Infinity. When I go to my stores I tend to see more people buy Skylanders and only very few times I see them buy Disney Infinity plus the DI figures are more expensive there so it's no wonder Skylanders does better in Toysrus.

During launch last year, we had 40%+ of store front....even have space on a second isle. Yep our Disney stuff is on opposite wall of Skylanders, you just have to turn around

I never thought about this until now. My Walmart, although a Supercenter, carries a significantly less amount of Skylanders/DI than some larger stores, mainly because they don't have a lot of space for them. Together, they probably take up only about less than a half of the shelf space, and they don't even have a demo display set up. They did recently move the Skylanders/DI figures from one side of the aisle to the other, presumably for a little more space, although it's still not much.

One thing that my Walmart has is a secondary Skylanders section in the toys department, for overstock. So for Trap Team, they'll likely have some stuff by the video games, and other stuff in toys. That still might not be enough for all the stuff this game offers though. Maybe they'll just carry significantly less of each type of item.

Quote: GhostRoaster

During launch last year, we had 40%+ of store front....even have space on a second isle. Yep our Disney stuff is on opposite wall of Skylanders, you just have to turn around

I don't envision this changing for TRU, at least not soon (although they will probably resurrect the Infinity section on the right as you come in for release). But they still have a lot of Infinity stock (and a TON of SSA/Giants/SF stock). I wonder about Walmart/Target/Best Buy though. Infinity is now established and has a significant draw this year with Marvel. Kids are all about Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers, I haven't heard any of my son's friends talk about Trap Team. The kid hype is definitely favoring Infinity this year from what I have seen.

I don't expect many immediate change in displays, but in the long term we might see some adjustments. But that's after manufacturer marketing dollars thin out and they start making decisions on what is selling.

What right-minded kid DOESN'T like heroes? Will be interesting to see this dynamic in action this year.

Quote: GhostRoaster

What right-minded kid DOESN'T like heroes? Will be interesting to see this dynamic in action this year.

Lord help us if the next one is Infinity 3.0: Star Wars. Remember we have a new Star Wars coming out next year and Disney owns it now, so a tie in is very probable for next year's entry.

I love Skylanders, but Marvel is on fire. Skylanders doesn't tie into some of the hottest movies in recent years and characters that are up to 80 years old everyone knows and loves. It will be very interesting to watch it play out.

Oh yeah, expect 3.0 to be Star Wars and to coincide with Avengers 2 (Ultron!) and Star Wars 7 (Yoda...maybe even a crystal one, though what I really want is a red crystal Hulk). It's pretty obvious that's the disney plan, especially with the phasing of the movie releases and the game release.

But on 'this' topic, I don't think DI is too much of a headache really, they don't have many accessories, the power disc are compact (a bit too compact, I haven't worked at Best Buy since like 07, but it still screams 'theft target' to me), they are doing away with triple packs, and they have MUCH fewer figures. At MY TRU the issue is they simply have too much stock, so the volume is larger than it should be.
- Unreall

Yes, and in my opinion it is wise. Focus on the figures, make "collecting them all" a reasonable goal if that's your thing, don't try to fleece parents too hard with accessories and extras, and don't force retailers to dedicate overwhelming sections of the store to stock your game. Last year they had too many options - Singles, Triple Packs, Toy Box Packs so many ways to buy the same figures. This year they focus back down to singles and playsets (from what I've seen they went down from 6 medium sized ones (3 included) to 3 big ones (1 included) and really fleshed out the ability for the Toy Box to generate content for the less artistically inclined (or download other's creations). I haven't even heard of any Crystal variants this year, so I don't even think they are doing the variant thing at all this time.

This whole figures to life thing is in a precarious position. They need stuff for people to buy, but if they go too far it's going to hurt retailers. I see all these Trap Team things to buy and I have to say I hope they haven't jumped the shark. That's what will kill Skylanders, if retailers get burned and have to clearance out everything. Activision isn't known for their subtlety or their ability to judge when they have gone too far in their attempts to sell plastic game add ons. Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero were both incredibly popular franchises, right up until stores had to fire sale skateboard controllers and drum sets.

We didn't get many discs for the first game, but they were a cool option for kids to trade duplicates/etc like trading cards. I get the feeling that's kind of what they were going for with Traps, so you could trade trapped villains/etc..

I hope DI2.0 is more fun than 1.0, which I found downright boring. Walk here, walk there. Is was the Disney video game equivalent of Lord of the Rings. zzzz.

That being said, I do think Marvel as a tie-in is much stronger than Pixar was. I know I've got my 2.0 preorders in, especially the Guardians of the Galaxy stuff. Still hoping it's more exciting than 1.0 was...

As for Skylanders, I'm confident it will be fine. Lots of people like the characters being original.

Yeah, Skylanders will be fine, I'm looking forward to playing it. I'm just a bit worried a bit for the future of it. I think they have way too many SKUs, and too many things to collect. Parents and collectors are getting weary and retailers are starting to get antsy. The Skylander section at TRU is 25% SSA, 25% Giants and 50% Swap Force with a TON of stock PLUS cases up top of unsold Triples and another section on the action figure row. They have SSA Triples and Adventure Packs on clearance for $10 this week. There is a veritable Ninjini and S1 Whirlwind army on the pegs (I knew Ninja Barbie would warm shelves once she shipped in larger numbers, pre-teen boys just aren't fond of the girlie figures - I made the mistake of getting Infinity Rapunzel for my youngest and he refuses to even use it).

Infinity 1.0 was decent, but as you said a little boring unless you are into the whole Toy Box thing, which my kids are but I am not so much. I prefer a directed story for the limited time I get to play, and if I were just buying for me I'd get Trap Team, but my sons are big on Infinity now and I have to admit I'm looking forward to the awesome figures (really considering buying a couple duplicates for my desk, particularly Hulk). The Playsets in 2.0 look more varied and meaty this time and the procedurally generated Toy Box worlds will be nice. I just think they are doing the wise thing by focusing on single figures.

Quote: defpally

Yes, and in my opinion it is wise. Focus on the figures, make "collecting them all" a reasonable goal if that's your thing, don't try to fleece parents too hard with accessories and extras, and don't force retailers to dedicate overwhelming sections of the store to stock your game. Last year they had too many options - Singles, Triple Packs, Toy Box Packs so many ways to buy the same figures. This year they focus back down to singles and playsets (from what I've seen they went down from 6 medium sized ones (3 included) to 3 big ones (1 included) and really fleshed out the ability for the Toy Box to generate content for the less artistically inclined (or download other's creations). I haven't even heard of any Crystal variants this year, so I don't even think they are doing the variant thing at all this time.

This whole figures to life thing is in a precarious position. They need stuff for people to buy, but if they go too far it's going to hurt retailers. I see all these Trap Team things to buy and I have to say I hope they haven't jumped the shark. That's what will kill Skylanders, if retailers get burned and have to clearance out everything. Activision isn't known for their subtlety or their ability to judge when they have gone too far in their attempts to sell plastic game add ons. Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero were both incredibly popular franchises, right up until stores had to fire sale skateboard controllers and drum sets.

We didn't get many discs for the first game, but they were a cool option for kids to trade duplicates/etc like trading cards. I get the feeling that's kind of what they were going for with Traps, so you could trade trapped villains/etc..

They are doing a Crystal Mickey Mouse, I assume there wil lbe a crystal Donald Duck. But irregardless, you are rspot on about Disney's methods, they went overboard last year, the price of the playsets was ridiculous, the triple packs were 'eh' (though the Villain pack was a good look for me), etc. This year though they've scaled back in a smart way.

Skylanders is just 'too dominating' of retail space. It HAS hurt them in some stores already - most Walmarts don't seem to give a damn about them because of the mess, Target never has enough inventory to be worth going to unless "its a new wave!". It is extremely overwhelming, and the worst part of their being too much (just like a menu being too large), people often don't know what they want or what they should get - especially for someone else. You can spot parents new to the phenomenon as their eyes glaze up like Crispy Creme Donuts.

However, I don't think the 'saturation' aspect is any different here than other things.
- Unreall

Anyone have any idea if TRU will have their exclusive Trap Collector's Storage Box at launch? It's up on their website, but has no information on dates or availability.

PurpleSnurple I hope they do cause it looks pretty good