Mattel’s Eckert to parents everywhere: “I’m really sorry :( but for God’s sake, keep buying!”
Bob Eckert is really, really sorry about the, oh, 20 million or so Mattel toys recalled due to toxic paint and choking hazards over the past month. He’s so sorry, he’s putting big ads in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
Eckert says that nothing is more important than children’s safety. (Well, nothing except, maybe, stock prices?) That’s why Mattel deserves kudos for their voluntary toy recall. See, no one made them do it. There’s a company that knows how to manage change!
Eckert outlines what steps Mattel is taking to see that toys manufactured from this point forward are actually safe for children. Here’s a quick reference list in case you are confused by something he says in his video apology:
Mattel has recalled “some” toys = uh, I think I mentioned. it’s like 20 million?
better “magnet retention systems” = glue
Mattel is “one of the most trusted names with parents” = most trusted names, most . . . trusted . . . names . . . , you are getting sleeeepy . . . sleeeeeeepy.
And a quick project update:
Applied for an official name from the Secretary of State’s Office;
Contacted a cool web designer for the cool new site;
Started meeting with everyone I know who has any knowledge whatsoever about running a nonprofit;
Finished reading Consumer Boycotts: Effecting Change Through the Marketplace and the Media; Nobrow: the Culture of Marketing, The Marketing of Culture; and Born to Buy: The Commericalized Child and the New Consumer Culture.
Received much needed inspiration from Liz Strauss’ recent post in the Blog Herald.