Our sales of Gifted Bears from Skansen have fallen following the switch to the new display unit and the separation of the package.
Whereas in the past shoppers could make one decision to purchase a bear as a gift for birthday, graduation or some other life event, now, shoppers have to choose the bear and the top to place on the bear to create the desired package. Also, the new completed bear costs close to 50% more than the older product.
The Skansen response has been to advise us to dress some bears ready to purchase.
I expected the new stand to work well and happily took it on. It hasn’t. Not only for the reasons noted above but also because of the size and design. It is taking up too much space and acting as a physical barrier to traffic flow.
I think Skansen needs to take the Gifted Bear offer back to where it was in terms of packaging and price point. Either way, we are removing the current stand and two-step purchase process.
I like Skansen as a company and I love most of their products. On this Gifted Bear move, they have got it wrong for me.
Interesting…wholesalers need to realise that retail floorspace is shrinking in all genre’s..not just newsagency and large, if not cumbersome outposts are unwanted and unwarranted..