Hot Topic Phasing Out MLP in stores?

[nessa16]

Has anyone else noticed that their local HT stores are barely carrying MLP stuff anymore?  Mine has a few of the Funko vinyls and a handful of shirts and comics but that seems to be it.  It has been my mane place for MLP FiM stuff.  They don't even get the variant glitter Funkos anymore so I totally missed out on that AJ cause they never got them.  Even the HT exclusive comics seem to be dropping out.  I am disappointed in HT.  It is awesome that they are getting more Disney stuff but I want some MLP stuff back. 

[MilkyTaroMochi]

I have been noticing it, too. A year ago, they had a whole section and/or part of a wall dedicated to MLP and a ton of shirts. Now it's just the Funkos and a couple of shirts and comics.
Part of me is wondering if HT is slowing trying to phase MLP out. But why? Maybe due to possible lack of sales/popularity (HT is a pop culture shop, right?) ? The company owner not really wanting MLP merch anymore and wants to focus more on Disney merch? Either way, I too would want more MLP stuff in their store (provided they get in some more "not so obvious" shirts, if that makes sense.

I know a few years back, their anime merchandise went through a drought for a while (like at least six months to a year plus) before coming back with a ton of anime products, so maybe the same thing is happening with MLP?

[Sprinklecupcake]

Mine keeps gettin in all kinds of new shirts and random merch! We just got comic books and a ton of stuffed animals. Now they keep getting all this stuff, but dont bothergetting Funko restocks LOL. Theres seriously like 2 Princess Twilights, an AJ, and 1 BM. Ugh D: ORDER MORE! Lololol

[Noxxbunny]

Yeah, it's the same in the area I'm in too. They even keep the Funkos on the very bottom shelf(the ones that are practically on the floor) behind a bunch of shirts. I barely even found them. Other than that, they have a few shirts, old comics, and empty boxes of the mini funkos. It's really disappointing.

[Shenanigans]

Mine still has a lot of everything except the Funkos. Only ever a few of them on the very top shelf where no one can reach them

[achab1984]

This is sad to hear! I dont have one in my town but I like to go to the bigger town that I live by and see what they have.

[sd_dreamcrystal]

I don't check my HT... mostly because I'm uncomfortable even going there.. even more so due to the fact it's in the mall...

[spottedslug]

Ours is the same. Is it sad that this pleases me. Maybe the trendiness is fading some.

[Sarah Jo]

Yep, there used to be a whole section and now it's just the various types of figures and comics. Maybe some shirts. For awhile it was same old same old stuff, nothing new, and getting kind of boring.. so maybe it wasn't selling ? Around here, Adventure Time has been tossed aside as well.

Newest things I've seen getting their own sections now are Harley Quinn, and Studio Ghibli ! Both of which are very cool with me. I'm hoping with Mockingjay fast approaching that they'll do another wave of merchandise for Hunger Games.

[Foxtale]

Same. Most hot topics used to have an entire pony section but now the pony items are just scattered randomly around the store.

[Rainbowrific Renia]

Mine used to have a whole section dedicated to MLP but they've since just moved all the Funko figures to one shelf at the very veeeerrrry top above all the POP! figures, and they have a few comic books, shirts, and other small things in various places throughout the store.  There are 6 Hot Topic's near me that I frequent (usually when the Funko figures are released so I have a better chance of running into a glitter) and they're all the same.

I'm okay with this though, as I only went to HT for the Funko figures and ever since the Octavia/DDJ Pon-3 wave, I've been pre-ordering the ponies and the last three times I had them sent to the store.  So my only reason for stepping into an HT is to pick up my pre-order and look around/ask about glitters. This keeps me from wanting to spend all my money. 

Although it was a little disappointing that not all of them seemed to have all 3 of the newest Funko figures or series 2 of the Mystery Minis.

[MintamenaPie]

I don't feel there's any real reason to worry. HT still sells a slot of Pony stuff, and just got in the new Aurora S1 style Luna and baby Spike plushes. They seem to be rotating the hot things in more. Doctor Who just started, as well as the new TMNT movie and its nostalgia merch wave, and now its Halloween next month so its costume time. When S5 starts up I'm sure they'll have a large dedicated section again.

Also look at all the website merch, including the stallion backpack that comes and goes pretty quickly! http://search.hottopic.com/search?p=Q&lbc=hottopic&uid=268569939&ts=custom&w=pony&isort=score&method=and&view=grid&af=tab:products&cnt=300

[hathorcat]

I actually remember this being spoken about not that long ago when other people had noticed some reduced displays. I think its too early to say for certain to be honest - it could simply be a reduction in shelf space while other ranges come in or it could indeed be a change in direction. Because they stock merch from multiple licensees it could also be a change in what they are buying and who they are buying from.

[xeevee]

Maybe it's a demographic thing?  Some areas are because bronies are either not that common, or don't like to advertise the fact they're bronies.  Some aren't because there are still lots of bronies?

[sheena]

I had an employee of a different store that used to sell pony stuff tell me they aren't carrying it anymore because the brony phase was over.  I didn't know it was? 


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