1982 Kenner Strawberry Shortcake Toy Commercial

While reading Toyland: The High-Stakes Game of the Toy Industry* a mention of Kenner’s Strawberry Shortcake toys of the eighties really caught my eye:

“American Greetings delayed the introduction of Strawberry Shortcake for a year and teamed up with Kenner to create a major line of toys and an aggressive licensing campaign based on a brand new character.”

Okay, that’s cool. But it was the results of the combined push that really stood out:

“In the first year (1980), backed by $4 million in advertising and a television special, forty-eight companies brought Strawberry Shortcake products into the market and generated about $100 million worth of clothes, toys, housewares, sheets, and towels — some of which were even strawberry scented.”

So from just a few illustrations and an idea the two companies built a brand that was huge business. It’s the things like this from the eighties that really catch my attention these days and inspire me.