come up with an idea for the next GL package insert. He wants you to cover the following three ideas so all the other staff can do a "think tank" based on your ideas. The format is.......

1. The insert idea you like the least.
2. The insert idea you like the best.
3. Most importantly, (your future raise depends on this) the new insert idea you would like to launch.


Here are my answers.

1. Photocards. Overused, very limiting and when needed to base castings off of are often photshoped to the point the card looks ridiculous. A poor attempt at a way to use packaging as a faux insert item.
2. Patch. Of the car, of the car company, of the car name, of the die-cast company name....any would be killer. I realize cost is a major issue but has anybody, ANYBODY ever thrown away the patch when it came as an insert in any series? I think not.
3. Take this to the bank. I swear, if you come up with a snap on/snap off wheel and tire variation and include an extra set of wheels and rims in each blister that you will in fact change die-cast, sell more die-cast and help create people to take interest in customs and other related aspects of collecting. Now I'm not saying, add a set of Mudders or Dubs or Donks but rather a stock/custom, rubber/hard plastic, option that could also be applied to theme series like street legal/weekend drag, even perhaps new tires/flat or bald tires. The possibilities are almost endless and fun. I'd bet my raise on it now to implement it with the agreement to double it when sales goes through the roof. Then you can put VP in front of my name too. lol:thumbsup:


Others? Have fun with it.

Pass on cards or patches.
Number 3 idea is ok.
I would like to see more realistic looking diorama assortments, ie: gas pumps, people, jack stands, coke machine, etc.

1. The insert idea you like the least.
Photocards (see Mark's above), also, if it's a bad picture in the first place, it degrades to whole packaging presentation. Also trinkets, worthless fillers (car keys, coasters, calanders, etc.)

2. The insert idea you like the best.
Honestly, I like the illustrations. I'm severely bias, but whether it's, GL, HW, or Jada, just adding a stylized art element to the package really adds new life to the package. If the art is cool, you look at the car in the package in a whole new light. I guess it brings out the kid in me.

3. Most importantly, (your future raise depends on this) the new insert idea you would like to launch.
I'm not a huge fan of blistercard inserts that aren't apart of the overall design. I see the packaging as a single element where the car, art, layout, and logo's all work in unison as a single work of art. However, if I had to choose some inserts, I would choose "garage" type objects, in scale with the car. Lifts, engines, jacks, cherry pickers, tools, etc. Just make sure to keep it in the "garage" family"

:thumbsup:

some good ideas there.

pros-
I support the idea of garage,people diarama trinkets,if there has to be trinkets AT-ALL.
I'm definitely down with simplifying wheel changes and realistic-choice and racing wheel kits would be a HUGE benefeit for diecast/customizing/racing world.
cons-
Enough already, with the 3 pound plastic cards!
Isn't there middle ground for cards, that are not thin cardboard and not hunkin plastic recepticles?
Picture cards are nice to reference 1:1 to 1:64,rather see real photos vs abstract artwork.
(Not talkin about your work,Mike,you rock!)

Enough of the "Custom" cars.
Everybody and thier Grandmother are putting out cars that are not necessarily "good"customs.

Cartoon cars hold no historical significance to me,unless you are referring to them as a by-gone trend

They are customs that apply to a certain demographic.
Make the cars bone stock and give the consumer/collector the option of Customizing them....hell,throw in the tires, for those who dig low profile....
Hell,if ya want,throw in a whole customizing kit..but make the cars stock!

Hey Mark,

Patches, license plates, stickers/decals, window clings... not so much. I like your idea about different wheel and tire combos though. Perhaps GL could work with the different auto makers and include hat pins/tie tacs like these ones for example...

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/110039660032.jpg http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/1/9/3/7/6/webimg/14462288_tp.jpg

Given that GL cars are slightly larger than Johnny Lightning, Matchbox,Hot Wheels as well as other brands, we "collectors" are also going to need something to display the waves of Mustangs & Impala's not to mention the upcoming Mopars that are coming.

How about creating an egg shaped or oval, stackable, interlocking lexan display case that can grow as your collection grows.

Pass on cards or patches.
Number 3 idea is ok.
I would like to see more realistic looking diorama assortments, ie: gas pumps, people, jack stands, coke machine, etc.

We're on the same wave lenght Atencio! :thumbsup: I agree with you 100%.

wait till it's broke before you fix it...........the green machines so limited is just fine for now.

1. Forget about non-funtional car keys and playing cards.

2. One of my most favorite inserts was a little drag racing christmas tree.

3. Garage diorama pieces and interchangeable wheels sets are the way to go.....but only if they are the correct scale.

Forget all added items. Just give us the highly detailed car. :)

cons-
Enough already, with the 3 pound plastic cards!
Isn't there middle ground for cards, that are not thin cardboard and not hunkin plastic recepticles?


I like the package design of HWs G-Machines, which are made of a full plastic front glued to a full cardboard back.

http://www.milezone.com/ProdImages/J2719G.jpg

This design provides a wide space on the front to hold the car, since there is no thick sealing bead around the entire package.

This design also prevents bent cards, since the plastic front stiffens and protects the entire cardboard backing, from top to bottom and from side to side.

I wish more companies would use this design, since it includes the best aspects of both the all-plastic and all-cardboard designs, plus it eliminates the problems with each one (the thick sealing bead and the fragile cardboard corners.)

Check one out and see if it satisfies the middle ground approach that you mentioned.

(Thanks to Milezone for the borrowed picture; I hope you don't mind, Russ)

I also dont like the fake keys & such junk .

I like the artwork photocards .. It aint broke - dont change it ...

I like the idea of extra wheels & tires . No ugly gold or black custom stuff !! Resealable blisters like JL's Gold series are nice too ...

I like the Illustration Cards in the MCG S&C series. They add alot to the package. Forgot trinkets as we can get those from gumball machines.
Please make sure you can view the serial # without opening the package. Current GM's obscure the seruial # with the GM Base foil insert.

Regards, DrDeal

How about an actual miniature metal or plastic replica emblem/hood ornament that would be on the particular model, or perhaps a high quality vinyl sticker of the same?

Pass on cards or patches.
Number 3 idea is ok.
I would like to see more realistic looking diorama assortments, ie: gas pumps, people, jack stands, coke machine, etc.

Yup that's the ticket, I know the first company to do this will come out the winner.

Russ

The only thing wrong with a car coming with window stickes, patches, or garage items is we dont want to end up with 50 of the exact same thing. If you do something like this it is best that you never repeat yourself. As cool as a gas pump would be, I wouldnt want the same 12 pumps to came with the whole series. It would be a requirement to have variablilty.

these are all ideas that should be taken into consideration as well as improved on or lead to other ideas that could turn into something potentinally better.you wont be able to satisfy every diecast collecter out there every time but their favorites will come around one day so they to can bask in the glow of diecast collecting. have fun guys. :thumbsup:

I like the cards, but wish they also carried the performance specs for the typical and most optioned up models.

Good:
Patches
Decals/Stickers
Garage Diarama Items

Bad
Photo Card of Car
Tacky playing cards
Fake Keys
Things that come out of gumball machines


PSST Us import guys would like to see Greenlight VWs!

I like the suggestion of scale diorama display/garage/racetrack items. JL assembly kits came with extra wheels/tires and decal sheets. It'd be nice to see something along that line. Retro or insignia jacket patches could be very interesting. Also, I like miniature metal licence plates.

'No thanks' to photo cards, fake keys, pogs, poker chips, game markers, coasters, etc.

Everyone has their own individual take, but most seem to agree that scale accessories are the way to go.

1. The insert idea you like the least.

Anything that has been overly used.

2. The insert idea you like the best.

The diorama peices and car covers.

3. Most importantly, (your future raise depends on this) the new insert idea you would like to launch.

Redemption cards. You collect so many cards and turn them in for an "exclusive" casting. The "exclusive" casting should be limited, and not already on the shelves or pegs. I.E. The car or vehicle should be from a future series. This would make it the first release of the car or vehicle before the series it is in goes to retail. A vehicle alot of people I would like to see is a "true" to scale hauler of some type. Possibly something that you would see on a typical delivery to a dealership, or even a racing team set up going to the local strip.

Another redemption idea if not a vehicle would be to have a pre-made diorama scene. It could be of an old drive-up diner, seervice station, a city block with businesses for the "Lets see what ya got!!!" street drags, or even a drag strip itself.

1. The insert idea you like the least.

Just a plain average photocard is getting a little old, but I don't mind it (sorry kids, you can't send all of your extra cards to me) with just a DECENT pic of the car. Artwork cars are still fine like the one's in S&C series 1 & 2.

2. The insert idea you like the best.

Keep the current system that is in Stock & Custom. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The artwork is great and I don't mind it.

3. Most importantly, (your future raise depends on this) the new insert idea you would like to launch.

Dioramas that instead of sitting on the current clear plastic base, make it into a solid plastic base of a side of a road / dragstrip with the name of the car on the outside as with the current stands. Could have them all connect together to form a road of some sort.

Old speed parts stickers. Used to love collecting those when I was a kid.

You can tell the President that he should start sending GL to Canada and not to exclude us Canadians or at least Manitobans. Then you can use idea #3.

Sinc this is a die cast business, and they already have the licensing needed in place to use the name and likeness of each vehicle they produce, I'd like to see a die cast replica of the vehicle's emblem come with the package(not nessecarily 1:1, but a scaled version). I'd be willing to fork over a couple extra bucks to cover the cost of casting etc. As vehicles evolved from year to year, the emblems changed, so there could be a never ending variety, and perhaps a GT line, SS line, RS line, Z28 line, Cobra Jet line etc. on top of the Vehicle model lines themselves...