Board Thread:General Nerf discussion/@comment-39814790-20190901221740/@comment-27306930-20190902052057

Sorry, I don't think we should believe in this "seasonal" sales cycle propaganda anymore. I've got a Fall 2019 Titan CS-50 sitting in a box in my living room that will be released on October 3rd. Unless I've inadvertently become the world's first time traveler, this "Fall Release" stuff is just marketing gimmicks and head games. The reality of it is much more complicated these days.

Before the global digital economy, manufacturers, distributors and retailers had to blindly anticipate purchasing demands months ahead of time. Supply chains had to be established, production runs planned, distribution strategy arranged, and retail consumption anticipated in many different markets. It took time, patience, and a lot of pre-planning in the age before computers.

As a result we had seasonal product releases. Parkas came out in the Fall, rain boots in Winter, swim suits in Spring, and many, many, toys came out in the Fall in anticipation of X-mas buying. It worked for nearly a century, but it wasn't perfect. That's why we ran out of toilet paper in 1973, then ran out of gasoline in 1974. Poor anticipation, bad distribution, and horrible planning. Google it.

Today, products are ordered in real-time. Demand is known in advance. The supply chain is global. Production is on-demand. And distribution is door-to-door. I can order a winter coat in Spring, X-mas lights in May, and a Fall release Nerf Titan CS-50 in early July and get it on my doorstep on August 31st.

So go ahead, believe in seasonal blasters, crystal healing, rainbow unicorns, and affordable Telsa Model Ys. The rest of us will get our Nerf stuff whenever we want. Often with next day delivery 😛

America. What a country !