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In an effort to boost sales, Hasbro has brought back a toy that created a fortune for the business a quarter-century ago.
According to Kristin McKay, vice president and general manager at Hasbro, the Furby, the top-selling toy in 1998, has returned with a few changes for a new generation.
"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.
Between 1998 and 2001, more than 40 million Furbies were sold. Hasbro is hoping that the new edition would pique the public's attention after the company reported a 14% dip in revenue in the first three months of the year.