Why can't adults have more pony merch?

[ManaMinori 4,149]

 

Hasbro makes merch mostly geared toward younger audiences, Pkayskool pony plushes and Play-Doh figures, brushables, higher quality plushies, and bedding for slightly older ones, Equestria Girls and glorified barbies for even older kids, and now Guardians of Harmony for the male demographic.

 

But it has been 7 years, and those kids who got into fun back in 2010 have grown up, and perhaps they still like MLP. When will we see full fledged chapter books that aren't for little readers? Or more widely distributed adult clothing? Or MmoRPG's that aren't fan-made?

[Unikitty 1,212]

Probably because the main demographic is for children. Also, you're making the age claim under the assumption that the show only picked up an audience when it first aired. Whereas, the show is still constantly running on major TV stations, and thus still picking up more young children.

As children grow older and leave the target audience, the same number are growing into the target audience. 

 

Primarily, their biggest market is still young children. Therefore, they still market to them more than the older children who're more likely to outgrow the series anyway.

 

Older folks still have things like Funko, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to collect the normal pony merchandise anyway. 

[Luminance 2,187]

I think that Hasbro start appealing to adult fans too late. Adults have the money to certainly buy but where's the merch?

[Steve Piranha 29,496]

Probably because the main demographic is for children. Also, you're making the age claim under the assumption that the show only picked up an audience when it first aired. Whereas, the show is still constantly running on major TV stations, and thus still picking up more young children.

As children grow older and leave the target audience, the same number are growing into the target audience. 

 

Primarily, their biggest market is still young children. Therefore, they still market to them more than the older children who're more likely to outgrow the series anyway.

 

Older folks still have things like Funko, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to collect the normal pony merchandise anyway. 

Not to mention that is far more likely for 'em kids to lose interest and move on in other things . Really, how many children back in 2010 still watch ponies? I think is far more prudent to appeal to the newcoming children instead of an old audience who chances are, they don't watch ponies now. About the adults, yeah, we are big, but we aren't the mane  :-P source of income, and not all of us buy tons of merch, so appealing us too much is a waste of cash 

[Glacies Frost 428]

Not to mention that is far more likely for 'em kids to lose interest and move on in other things . Really, how many children back in 2010 still watch ponies? I think is far more prudent to appeal to the newcoming children instead of an old audience who chances are, they don't watch ponies now. About the adults, yeah, we are big, but we aren't the mane  :-P source of income, and not all of us buy tons of merch, so appealing us too much is a waste of cash 

 

Not too sure about that, there. If there were merch for a reasonable price with a reasonable quality (see the Guardians of Harmony posable figures of Nightmare Moon, Celestia, and Discord), there'd be a higher chance of adults buying the merch. However, a lot of us aren't really all that interested in the frankly badly designed toys and terribly designed (see: terrifying) plushes. 

 

I own the Nightmare Moon figure. It was literally the very first piece of pony merchandise I've ever bought, though I would gladly buy more if they were of the same or better quality (it's ok, but a little more precision on the paint job would have been appreciated, especially around the horn). 

 

This is just conjecture based on my own personal experiences, but I'm certain others share my opinion... and also don't want to drop $100 on a show-accurate plush. Not saying I won't eventually do it, but that blow to my wallet will hurt quite a bit. I'd rather have a more show-accurate plush with a price point closer to the $25-$50 mark, personally.

Edited January 8, 2017 by GlaciesFrost

[They call me Loyalty 1,955]

Social stereotypes might harm their marketing target.

Being an adult wearing something identifiable with some form of childish mentality, might be conflictive for some people.

[Kiri 7,295]

As others have stated above, children are the target audience for shows like MLP, so it makes more sense to continue catering towards their interests. Also, say for example that a more complex novel of MLP comes out. What if a parent buys it and gives it to their child, not realizing that the book is geared for an older audience? It is highly likely that a parent would see the MLP logo and assume that all pony-related merchandise produced by Hasbro is suitable for little ones. I could see Hasbro getting a lot of flak from angry parents who would feel misled. 

 

 It is safer to continue producing merchandise with the target audience in mind. MLP was originally intended for a certain age demographic, so I don't see why they would need to adjust their marketing because it happened to catch on with an older crowd as well. Besides, fans of all ages have enjoyed consuming current pony merchandise!

[Steve Piranha 29,496]

As others have stated above, children are the target audience for shows like MLP, so it makes more sense to continue catering towards their interests. Also, say for example that a more complex novel of MLP comes out. What if a parent buys it and gives it to their child, not realizing that the book is geared for an older audience? It is highly likely that a parent would see the MLP logo and assume that all pony-related merchandise produced by Hasbro is suitable for little ones. I could see Hasbro getting a lot of flak from angry parents who would feel misled. 

 

 It is safer to continue producing merchandise with the target audience in mind. MLP was originally intended for a certain age demographic, so I don't see why they would need to adjust their marketing because it happened to catch on with an older crowd as well. Besides, fans of all ages have enjoyed consuming current pony merchandise!

About the novel, I think we are at loss here:

1- What you wrote, they say it's pony, parents buy it, realize it's for an older audience, Hasbro get flak. I'm not claiming the story has to have grim-dark elements, but surely the more complicated way of writing won't be too suitable for children because they won't understand much regardless 

2-They can change the tittle while disclaiming that it's still a pony work, but that'll come with disadvantages: Non bronies see it and dismiss it. Bronies might not notice it's a pony work (that's exactly why Doom 64 has it's name instead of the original planned one"Absolution", they've feared no one would've recognized it)

3-I don't think we are big enough to sell a pony novel

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

I don't think this is Hasbro's fault actually. I see it more of a fault on the companies that stock these items and request them. There are quite a few stores that still don't really care about the fandom at all and see would prefer being stuck in the past. By this I mean focusing on entirely one age group and one gender. Hasbro supplies what the stores ask for. The stores ask for the same cliched crap. 

 

There is the guardians of harmony thing that can at least alleviate some of the stereotype stuff but I want to see that go further.

[cmarston1 5,964]

Because they don't see it as a productive use of time and resources to create expensive merchandise for a group that doesn't make up the majority of their audience they are trying to attract.

Plus a lot of people in the fandom don't even watch the show legally, what makes you think that enough would buy the hypothetical expensive merchandise that would make enough of a profit, that the companies would count it as being a success?

Edited January 8, 2017 by cmarston1

[AlbaTross 1,586]

Hasbro and DHX struck gold when their show started appealing to an unexpected audience, but they didn't exactly have to bend over backwards to win over adults, nor should they start now. I mean, once at my work I saw a men's Power Ponies shirt come through my till. An attractive female made the purchase, but I kind of squandered the opportunity to strike up a conversation. Oh well. I don't see "adult" merch very often, but I can always count on seeing it at BronyCAN. In the meantime there's plenty of spinoff media to collect, so there's that. I also have some just regular "non-adult" merch, so not everything needs to be specifically designated for adults.

[trademark2 485]

Sure children are important, but let's not act like they shouldn't make some adult merch too. "They should only target children" is like a mantra of some people on here. But in reality, they SHOULD be targeting adults too. At least release a limited supply of things for them! Even if there are less adult fans, appealing to this group would result in a MUCH, MUCH higher percent of them going to buy things, since they have more money. 

[Black Sabbath 2,488]

Sure children are important, but let's not act like they shouldn't make some adult merch too. 

But why should they? I mean, I highly doubt enough adults would buy the "adult" merch for Hasbro to make an big enough profit.   

[trademark2 485]

But why should they? I mean, I highly doubt enough adults would buy the "adult" merch for Hasbro to make an big enough profit.   

well I am the opposite, I believe that there may be fewer adult fans, but dedication also matters. You can have 10 million fans and have 1% buy something, or you can have 1 million fans and have 20% buy something... and in that case it would be better to have 1 million fans than 10 million fans. It's kind of the same thing with bronies and main demographic fans. 

[Black Sabbath 2,488]

well I am the opposite, I believe that there may be fewer adult fans, but dedication also matters. You can have 10 million fans and have 1% buy something, or you can have 1 million fans and have 20% buy something... and in that case it would be better to have 1 million fans than 10 million fans. It's kind of the same thing with bronies and main demographic fan

But here's the problem, there's no guarantee that bronies are going to buy more. Sure, they got more money, but very few of the adults I know spend their money on any kind of merch. 

[trademark2 485]

But here's the problem, there's no guarantee that bronies are going to buy more. Sure, they got more money, but very few of the adults I know spend their money on any kind of merch. 

Of course that's true! Theres no guarentee that anyone is going to buy anything. But this is true for all type of buisness, for all products. Unless it's something like commission art. Maybe they are thinking that the convention merchandise fills the adult niche, and I guess that's true. If you are a huge fan youll probably go to a con. I am going to fly to seattle and go to EFNW myself, so I expect I'll get all the pony I want there . I feel bad for people that aren't near any cons though... but I guess I am further than anyone else, so I just am just feeling bad for me 

Edited January 8, 2017 by trademark2

[Concerned Bystander 2,905]

The fact is that MLP doesn't have as broad an appeal as say... Disney.  Disney can produce exquisitely sculpted figurines that sell for big money because they know that there is a large group of people out there that will buy them, I've seen things like Swarovski crystal figures of Tinkerbell and Silvermist that sell for £250, and it doesn't stop there.

 

Hasbro on the other hand may not be able to justify the expense of producing such items given the relatively small numbers of them that they are likely to sell.  I have quite a few of the Funko vinyls, and the GoH Celestia and Nightmare Moon, they are pretty cool, and I'm very happy with them, but I think that is just about the apex of things that will be produced with adults in mind.  That may change with future iterations of the franchise if they can not only maintain, but grow, the adult fandom.

Edited January 8, 2017 by Concerned Bystander

[Luminance 2,187]

At true though, the majority of merchandise are still targeted towards children. By making things cheaper in a larger scale returns better profits for them and rather than designing something that only a small market would only buy seems like a risk for Hasbro's behalf. It's simply not worth the amount of resources to make more exclusive adult merchandise, knowing the cost.

[Lil Pip 775]

What would adult mlp merch look like anyways?

[Derpaherpamerpa 160]

This show has existed for 7 years (almost. Holy fucking shit time flies by

 

I second Lil Pip

[ManaMinori 4,149]

What would adult mlp merch look like anyways?

chapter books, like actual novels, more adult sized clothing, shoes, robes, accessories, etc. Handbags, suitcases, and the like.

[Lil Pip 775]

chapter books, like actual novels, more adult sized clothing, shoes, robes, accessories, etc. Handbags, suitcases, and the like.

True. But I guess fans might still be making some of those, maybe for professional reasons hasbro doesn't want to. Or it'd require hiring designers which they may not want to do, then it might impact their initial image between the demographics. Or thats what they think perhaps.

[Crypty Scribbles 6,632]

Because even if adult part of fandom is notable big, anyways kids are bringing much more money. There's as much adult pony stuff as it's really required.

[Ganondorf8 11,730]

Hasbro's main directive is to cater to the proper age demographic for MLP, girls, and that's exactly what they've been doing since the current generation first started back in 2010. While they will acknowledge the bronies as being part of the show's unexpected success, they're not going to go out of their way and start making merchandise for adults. That will be left down to other companies who have the right to produce merchandise if Hasbro have given them the go ahead to do so.