Mattel slashes more than 2,200 jobs worldwide
With revenue falling for a fourth straight quarter, Mattel announced on Wednesday it is cutting more than 2,200 jobs, about 22 percent of its global non-manufacturing workforce.
The company is dealing with Toys R Us shutting down all of its stores, and CEO Ynon Kreiz said the job cuts started this week, part of a plan to save $650 million. The layoffs primarily targeted employees working in support and back office positions, the Los Angeles Times reports. As of Dec. 31, the company had roughly 28,000 employees.
Kreiz also said Mattel is selling its factories in Mexico. "Our core expertise is in creative," Kreiz said. "We've been overly focused on putting resources behind manufacturing." Mattel's two biggest brands, Barbie and Hot Wheels, did have a good quarter, with Barbie increasing its sales by 12 percent and Hot Wheels by 21 percent.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The history of US nuclear weapons on UK soilThe Explainer Arrangement has led to protests and dangerous mishaps
-
Tea with Judi Dench: ‘touching’ show is must-watch Christmas TVThe Week Recommends The national treasure sits down with Kenneth Branagh at her country home for a heartwarming ‘natter’
-
Codeword: December 24, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Tariffs have American whiskey distillers on the rocksIn the Spotlight Jim Beam is the latest brand to feel the pain
-
TikTok secures deal to remain in USSpeed Read ByteDance will form a US version of the popular video-sharing platform
-
SiriusXM hopes a new Howard Stern deal can turn its fortunes aroundThe Explainer The company has been steadily losing subscribers
-
Unemployment rate ticks up amid fall job lossesSpeed Read Data released by the Commerce Department indicates ‘one of the weakest American labor markets in years’
-
How will the Warner Bros. bidding war affect the entertainment industry?Today’s Big Question Both Netflix and Paramount are trying to purchase the company
-
Texas is trying to become America’s next financial hubIn the Spotlight The Lone Star State could soon have three major stock exchanges
-
US mints final penny after 232-year runSpeed Read Production of the one-cent coin has ended
-
How could worsening consumer sentiment affect the economy?Today’s Big Question Sentiment dropped this month to a near-record low
