Mattel Inc. Raring To Go

San Bernardino County Sun04/06/04

MATTEL INC. RARING TO GO Largest building in SB to feature year-round wholesale retail store

By JIM STEINBERGBusiness Editor Tuesday, April 06, 2004 – SAN BERNARDINO – Operations begin this week at Mattel Inc.’s 1.2 million-square-foot distribution facility at San Bernardino International Airport. The new structure is the largest building in San Bernardino and the largest distribution center in the Mattel organization. This summer, Mattel will open a 5,600-square-foot retail store within the distribution facility’s structure that will offer nearly the full line of Mattel and Fisher Price toys at wholesale pricing, said Lisa Marie Bongiovanna, a Mattel spokeswoman.Previously, Mattel officials had said the retail outlet store would operate only during the Christmas holiday season. Based in El Segundo, Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world.Mattel is consolidating warehousing operations in Chino, which are spread among three separate buildings.“Many employees, activities and inventories will all be relocated to the new San Bernardino site over a six-week period,” Bongiovanna said.The San Bernardino facility will service the entire U.S. market and employ about 135. Other Mattel Inc. distribution centers are located in City of Industry, Southgate, Laredo and Fort Worth.Mattel is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie, with more than $3.6‚billion in annual retail sales worldwide.