Another Message from Andy on King and Country's Business Strategy (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Over on Toy Soldier Chat there were some questions or discussion about Andy's business strategy and how he does it and here is his reply:

Re : KING & COUNTRY’S BUSINESS STRATEGY

Hi Guys,

It’s been extremely interesting to read your comments and thoughts about what K&C do and how we do it from a business point-of-view.

1) Re “Opinion 12’s” opinion that I have “no plan at all” and that I “shoot from the hip”.

Does he really think K&C and myself run our business in such a haphazard way? If that were the case we would have been “out-of-business” a long, long time ago.

A lot of time, money and effort has gone and continues to go into what K&C does and how we do it.

Of course, no one’s perfect and we occasionally make mistakes and misjudgements but I honestly believe we get things right a lot more often than we get things wrong.

And that means we don’t just let events happen by chance or fly by the seat of our pants!

2) DMNamiot’s concern that we might go the way of “Imperial” or take on a partner or go sit on a beach, is a bit of a non starter.

K&C didn’t get to where we are today or where we’re going tomorrow only to “throw in the towel” suddenly.

Why also do we need an outside partner at this stage when we’ve built the success of the company by ourselves and our loyal band of collectors?

And who wants to go lie on a beach? I’m having too much fun doing this! I’m the luckiest guy in the world – making all the toy soldiers and fighting vehicles I always wanted as a kid but my parents couldn’t afford.

3) Back to Opinion 12’s other earlier point about my overall business strategy for the future.

It’s very simple … K&C wants to continue to be the best it can be with products that are quality-driven… original… and at a price most collectors can afford and, of course, that those same collectors want to buy.

Now, that’s not exactly brain surgery, but it’s what me and the rest of the K&C gang are trying to do.

If I tried to tell you more I’d only have to kill you to keep my ‘master plan’ top secret. So, that’s the story so far…

Best wishes to one and all and …happy collecting!

Andy C.

 

[binder001]

Thanks for posting. I went and looked at a few of the comments there. One guy was worried about his "investment". I guess that's where I break off, I think Andy has great products and I enjoy the heck out of getting them, but if K&C went out of business tommorrow, I would still have the pieces that I bought to admire and display. I didn't buy them BECAUSE they accure value, but because I ENJOY the little figures and vehicles. I think the collectors need to work less on trying to tell Andy how to run HIS company than to just enjoy the hobby and the collecting that we have. I hope Andy gets enjoyment out of running K&C - my guess is that he does because the products show it. I'm just glad he took a risk years ago, started King and Country and let the rest of us enjoy his passion for miniatures. Andy, it's your outfit, run it however you want (as long as you keep making all my WW2 GI figures!)

Gary

 

[Njja]

I agree, investors belong in the Stock Market, or become a dealer, it is an entirely different point of view then that of a collector. And the collector that buys an extra piece or two on occasion for future trade or to finance a desired "Retired" piece is not an investor.

Njja

 

[jazzeum]

Agree 100% with Gary. Actually, if he stopped making them tomorrow since they were the last ones, they might be worth more in the long run. Don't stop Andy, keep it going

 

[sceic2]

As my hero Popeye would say, "I likes what I likes." If this is an investment, where oh where did I go wrong. I thought it was a hobby and a passion. Previous comments about the stock market apply. Andy, keep healthy and make sure the company has a good owner's transition plan in place. Michael

 

[Rob]

Couldn't agree more.I buy K&C simply because they are by far and away the best product on the market.I can honestly say i don't think of them as an investment,i would never dream of selling them(although the wife might!).I think Andy should continue to run his company excactly how he wants to,it has been a huge success and as they say "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

 

[boot51]

Ditto! A hobby is all about enjoyment and buy something because you like it, if you want to speculate immerse yourself in Pork Bellie Futures.

Fred

 

[desk11desk12]

Hello Andy C.:

I hope things are going well as planned. Speaking of plans, will you or any of your dealers have your new Afrika Korp sets available at the West Coaster Show in Anaheim, March 5th? If so, which ones?

Singed anxious (Carlos)

 

[CannonFodder1971]

If Andy ever floats on the Hang Seng stock exchange then shareholders and investors would be entitled to information. I'm baffled at collectors expecting the same sort of treatment.

That's not to demonise speculators (I've grumbled about that on endless posts) but really I think that if Andy were feel the need to divulge information on business strategy, contingency plans and so forth to all his friends, Romans, countrymen, (and thus also to rivals and barbarians just waiting to watch him fall) then I think he'd be mad to do so as it'd become a self-fulfilling prophecy and a one-way bet for the speculator.

 

[Njja]

Yes, its nice that Andy C reads the Forums and responds as he does. I certainly think the bulk of us agree that the information he provides us it responsive and genuine. I also believe the majority of us as collectors are more interested in the new releases then top secret business plans.......except the one about the comet hitting the earth, hmmmmm.



Njja

 

[sceic2]

Yes, its nice that Andy C reads the Forums and responds as he does. I certainly think the bulk of us agree that the information he provides us it responsive and genuine. I also believe the majority of us as collectors are more interested in the new releases then top secret business plans.......except the one about the comet hitting the earth, hmmmmm. Njja

NJJA, now you've gone and done it. Nobody was suposed to know until the special kool aide was ready...Michael

 

[Njja]

Man I'm staying away from that stuff. I'd rather catch the comet in my high school Mickey Mendle outfielders glove, the one with the hole in it.

Njja

 

[Eazy]

Man I'm staying away from that stuff. I'd rather catch the comet in my high school Mickey Mendle outfielders glove, the one with the hole in it.

Njja

You know I have no idea what you guys are talking about. It must be American english.


I've noticed today that over on the Toy Soldier Chat forum this thread has gone crazy. I had a quick read of it and to be honest couldn't see what the problem was with everybody but then maybe i'm missing something.

Everything seems much saner over here. Thankfully.

 

[jazzeum]

I think a few posters over there who also happen to post over here are making some sense. Otherwise, I don't see it. Their big beef is about being informed. Andy keeps us informed to the extent he can but he certainly isn't going to publish info about releases six months down the road. If he wants to share that, that's fine but I'm not asking him to give out info which he doesn't give out to his dealers, for example. As I'm fond of saying lately, it seems much ado about nothing. We and Andy have a symbiotic relationship: if we like his products, we'll buy them, and if we buy them, Andy will continue to make great things.

 

[sceic2]

I think a few posters over there who also happen to post over here are making some sense. Otherwise, I don't see it. Their big beef is about being informed. Andy keeps us informed to the extent he can but he certainly isn't going to publish info about releases six months down the road. If he wants to share that, that's fine but I'm not asking him to give out info which he doesn't give out to his dealers, for example. As I'm fond of saying lately, it seems much ado about nothing. We and Andy have a symbiotic relationship: if we like his products, we'll buy them, and if we buy them, Andy will continue to make great things.

Agree, agree, agree.

Also, (I am assuming this part) the toy soldier market it not as large as some other markets, say cars or electronic games and that with a smaller market, as new producers enter (and we are seeing new producers) the market shares for all producers must get smaller. Unless more customers can be attracted to the market.

Attracting more customers is a function of quality, quanity, and marketing. We are seeing more of all three. If K&C were to kept the forum fully informed of their future releases, what they would be doing is giving market shares to their competition. What I think Andy is doing is teasing us to make the anticipation levels greater, there-by marketing his product. It makes sense to do that given all the other factors I have just mentioned.

I really don't care if K&C tells us or not what the new releases are and how they intend to conduct their business, as long as the quality continues to improve (which I believe it is) and that the new releases are something that I choose to purchase. Michael