Items like these provide insight into Kenner’s relationship with their buyers. This letter was sent to their customers announcing a new pricing structure for the 1986 season.
The mid 80s were an interesting time in Kenner’s history. The successful Star Wars and Strawberry Shortcake lines were ending, and there was no clear replacement. Super Powers, Care Bears and M.A.S.K. were all popular, but not on the same scale as their predecessors. It’s not a huge leap of logic to conclude that Kenner’s price increases were to offset losses expected from the decline of the Star Wars and Shortcake juggernauts, in addition to normal cost increases associated with the production of current toys and the development of new lines.
From the collection of Chip Cataldo.