Photo: AFP via Getty Images
In an attempt to bolster lackluster sales figures, Hasbro has brought back a toy that made a killing for the company a quarter of a century ago.
The Furby, the top-selling toy of 1998, has returned – only with a few tweaks for a new generation, says Kristin McKay, a vice president and general manager at Hasbro. "Over the past few years, we've done a lot of research to understand what kids would want to see in a new Furby," McKay says. Whereas the original Furby had infrared eyes that allowed the toys to communicate with each other, Hasbro has replaced them with tiny LCD screens. And while the original could be taught to say a selection of words, the new model is programmed to give more than 600 responses, according to the company. It also reacts to commands, imitates sounds and “eats,” McKay adds.
More than 40 million Furbies were sold between 1998 and 2001. Hasbro is hoping the new version will recapture the public’s interest after reporting a 14 percent drop in revenue over the first three months of the year.
What does Hasbro need to do to make Furby attractive to a new generation?