What a blast from the past! Lmb3.net has obtained a 1986 Transformers The Movie Ziploc Promotion Salesman’s Sample Kit. As kids, most of us probably never saw this back in the day. So it’s interesting to see just what exactly was in this kit.
The kit itself came in a backpack. These kits came with promo sheets, copies of coupons to be used, a thermos, Powerdasher, iron-ons and amongst other items, sheets containing some revealing information. Just how well was the Transformers brand doing back in the 1980’s? Here’s the answer to that question:
The third sheet in the packet actually has some really interesting information on it (or at least, interesting to me. It talks about the Transformers brand expecting to make $300 million in 1986. It also states that Transformers made $100 million in 1984, the most for any first year series ever at that time. I’m sure that record has probably been broken, but I’d love to know how that stacks up all time.It says that there would be $20 million spent on advertising, and an additional $3 million spent promoting the movie. Maybe I’m thinking about it by today’s standards, but $3 million to promote a movie doesn’t seem like a lot, even in 1986.
As we near the 30th anniversary of the Transformers brand, it’s quite a revelation to know just how successful it was almost 30 years ago!
The author at lmb3.net was missing the Powerdasher figure and thermos from the kit. However his article has scans of several articles contained within the kit, including the iron-ons, promo sheets, and much more! Head on over to it to get a glimpse into the glory days of Transformers Generation 1!
President Prime
Yeah, I'd forgotten about that. I wonder if the internal materials regarding that were equally as hilarious.
LordGigaIce
Which was itself pretty funny.
DecepticonSpike
No more so than the 2007 lunchables tie in.
President Prime
Definitely a cool piece of history. But am I the only one to find a Ziploc movie tie in to be kind of funny?
airfox
Very interesting info. Always like finding these obscure bits of TF history.
Since I store most of my toys in Ziploc bags, I'd love to have a TF Ziploc Box.
P.S.: wonder is Hasbro reached the $300 million goal in TFs for 1986 and how much they got for TFs in 1985.
-airfox
Superquad7
I had the 1984 version as a kid, and it's still in my collection. I actually purchased the 1986 one a few years ago.
The dinner tray was something I used up through high school even, just due to functionality. I was often eating meals and watching a show, so it was very practical.
madhatprime
Transformers was so popular in the 80s… check out this craigslist ad showing a tv tray… I would love to get this.
Vintage TV trays: Transformers, Rainbow Brite
Anyone have this as a kid?
MC Rap Throne
Wasn't the G1 Optimus Prime toy the best-selling action figure of all time, selling one million units worldwide or something like that?
The Takara G1 DVD set bonus track has a video showing how TFs took the world by storm back then. I thought that TFs as the #1 toy back then was a well known fact.
Born 2B Alive!
I got to admit… I was going to ask the guy to sell me that entire Kit first… then post it on this TFW2005 site once it was in my hands. I suspect now that he has been contacted with several offers. Now it will be sold for much more… LOL Ohh well.
Backscatter
Hmm, never saw those Zip Lock promotional Iron Transfers in 1986. I did get the mail-away Power Dashers though. In 1986 Transformers lined the toy shelves. Since then only 2007 came close.
Optimist_Prime
I'd love to know how much he paid for this. He says he didn't know if it was rare or not, so I'm guessing he didn't invest way to much in it.
ptrckcrw2
This is so cool. Did I miss where he said he was able to get ahold of this and how much he paid
Protoman
Interesting indeed…….
DecepticonSpike
I remember the ziploc promotion when I was a kid. I begged my mom to buy a box because it said "Transformers" on it. I think I got the Springer iron on.
TFW10
Wow, I don't really collect anything but I would love to have that.
I too would search for that.
Nevermore
Poor Sales May Deal Toy Robots Fatal Blow
Grandum
Had to look it up – it's $227 million in todays money or about what Hasbro made of Transformers in 2010. $300 million in 1986 would be more than any
of the live movie years…
…now that we have facts on this maybe we can finally stop the myth of "OMG, nobody had never even heard of TF before Bay made it popular, G1 was nothing compared to how big Bayverse is, etc, etc, etc"
Superquad7
Things like this are why I continue to be enthralled with G1. This is such a great find!
Snake_eyes1975
this is possibly my most favorite "lost" artifact I have ever seen for Joe or TF. I a sales guy..I LOVE sales..this kit brings sales and transformers into one bag of awesome. If I would have seen that on ebay..I would have tried my ass off to own that.
wonder why Hasbro does not do this anymore..Everytime we used something like this it worked..
GIJOE and TRANSFORMERS used to be on EVERYTHING in the mid 80's..
rodimuspwnzor
I got the Hot Rod Iron on from those thing!