FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contacts:
Laura Tomasetti, ltt@acm-pr.com
Stacey Roberts, str@acm-pr.com
617-437-7722
HASBRO ANNOUNCES TOY COLLECTOR WEB SITE
HasbroCollectors.com Goes Live November 10, Highlighted by Online Charity
Auction
PAWTUCKET, R.I., November 9, 1998 - Hasbro, Inc. (AMEX: HAS) announced
today it is launching HasbroCollectors.com, a Web site developed for the
millions of toy collecting households. The site, which goes live November
10, will provide collectors with a steady stream of information about toy
collecting and Hasbro’s collectible brands, including G.I. Joe®, Star
Wars(TM), Starting Lineup®, Batman®, BeastWars® Transformers(TM), Action
Man® and Winner’s Circle(TM). In addition, collectors will be able to
purchase a select number of products directly from HasbroCollectors.com.
The Web site kickoff will be highlighted by an online auction of
one-of-a-kind Hasbro collectibles, including the opportunity to bid for an
autographed Mark McGwire Starting Lineup action figure and a G.I. Joe
figure made in your likeness. The online auction, which will be hosted by
leading online auction provider eBay(TM), will begin on November 10 and
culminate in the announcement of winning bids on November 17. All proceeds
from the auction will go to the nationally recognized Hasbro Children’s
Hospital in Providence, R.I.
"HasbroCollectors.com leverages our powerful portfolio of collectible
brands, our expertise and understanding of action figure collectors, the
growing popularity of toy collecting, and the power of dynamic Internet
technologies," said Wendy Riches, Hasbro’s President of Global Direct
Marketing and E-Commerce. "We believe that this site will result in better
informed, even more enthusiastic collectors -- which is good news for our
retail partners."
Site Highlights
HasbroCollectors.com is a robust site with customized content about Hasbro
collectibles and collecting in general, features that help toy collectors
build Web "communities," and an online store with exclusive and
hard-to-find items. In the community area of the site, collectors will be
able to chat with each other through links to the Tripod Web site. Site
visitors can also create their own home pages to showcase their
collections, an extremely popular activity among collectors. Through a
partnership with The Password Web site, collectors can created their own
"e-zines" that retrieve requested information from a variety of Web
sources. Site visitors can also e-mail Hasbro with questions, or check out
the FAQ area for answers on hot collecting topics.
HasbroCollectors.com visitors can register to receive additional, tailored
information through an e-mail newsletter called Hasbro Insider. All those
who register will receive a free gift - and be the first to experience
something totally new - Hasbro digitals. These "digital collectibles"
feature Hasbro’s collectible brands, such as Starting Lineup and BeastWars
Transformers. They were created by Parable Corp. and are powered by
Parable’s proprietary Thing(TM) technology, which is available for download
in the registration area of HasbroCollectors.com.
Hasbro Collectibles Available for Purchase
In addition to information and the latest technologies,
HasbroCollectors.com will also give collectors an opportunity to purchase
a select number of products directly. Currently featured at the site are:
Starting Lineup Muhammad Ali figure; Action Man Roller Extreme; Clayface
(from the Batman brand); and the Universal Monsters Signature Series
"Phantom of the Opera" figure. Each of these collectibles will feature a
source file that provides collectors with relevant facts and a closer look
at the item. Consumers can purchase these items in a secure manner by
completing and submitting a simple online order form, or they can order by
phone or fax.
HasbroCollectors.com is designed for rapid page load, so visitors don’t
have to wait for information they want. All pages within the site are
generated dynamically - instantaneously created on demand, based on the
information requested by each individual visitor. Hasbro has also included
all the relevant privacy features on the site to help parents with children
who want to visit Hasbro.Collectors.com. HasbroCollectors.com uses
Internet Commerce Corporation’s secured socket layer (SSL) technology for
safe Internet transaction processing.
For more information, visit www.HasbroCollectors.com beginning November 10.
Hasbro is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of
toys, games, interactive software, puzzles and infant products. Both
internationally and in the U.S., its Playskool® , Kenner®, Tonka®, OddzOn®,
Super Soaker®, Milton Bradley®, Parker Brothers®, Tiger(TM), Hasbro
Interactive(TM) and Galoob® products, provide children and families with
the highest quality and most recognizable toys and games in the world.
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