Bedford Lorrys, Austins and other requested vehicles (1 Viewer)

[Steven Chong]

Fellow forum members,

We have all seen (and posted) numerous posts requesting all sorts of vehicles and figures from K&C. While there are prototypes of some of the vehicles, they are ultimately not produced because it is determined there would be little demand, and K&C does not want to waste capital and resources on vehicles and figures that will not sell well.

Well, I am also interested in model trains and have an idea from that hobby. Manufacturers of brass train engines and cars sometimes announce potential products with the caveat that it will not be made if there are not sufficient orders. The announcement is put in all the major model train magazines and sent to all the train dealers and hobby shops. Many of these products are made but occassionally there is an announcement that something has been cancelled because of insufficient demand. I think sceic2 (Michael) used to have a train layout, and I know Njja (John) collects (or used to) Lionel and other model trains, so they both may be familiar with this type of marketing.

What I suggest is that K&C determines how many units they need to sell to justify production, then announce a potential vehicle or figure making it VERY, VERY, VERY clear that it will only be made if there are a certain number of orders. It would be up to individual dealers whether to take a deposit, which would be taken only if the vehicle or figure is to be produced.

I am not in the model train business, so I have no personal knowledge on how well this type of marketing works. I am also not in the military miniature business, so I also do not know if this idea would work for a company like K&C that subcontracts production to 3rd parties. Is most of the cost in producing a requested vehicle in the sculpting so a company would slowly go bankrupt on prototypes that do not get sufficient orders and therefore never recover their initial expense? I do not know. Can K&C get orders based on Andy's or someone else's sketches to save on sculpting expenses? Again, I do not know, but I would think many collectors would believe any proposed set would have the present K&C quality. Will some collectors be confused and not understand that the set is only proposed? Yes .. but when they go to a dealer or website to order, there should be plenty of explanations or warnings. Will collectors be upset if a proposed set is cancelled and somehow view K&C negatively afterwards i.e. they were teased? I would not, but I do not know if others will. Will collectors loose patience waiting the months it would take to possibly sculpt and produce the set and cancel their orders? Again, I would not if the requested vehicle is something I want, but again, I do not know if others will.

Would this type of marketing allow companies like K&C to make vehicles and figures requested by collectors? Only Andy really knows. What do people think of this idea? Are there potential problems I have not mentioned?

 

[sceic2]

Steven, I believe you may have a good suggestion for not only K&C, but for all the miniature soldier manufacturers as well. My only suggestion would be that in order to ensure that the pre-orders were valid, perhaps a small down payment, refundable if the vehicle is not produced or used as credit towards the purchase of another would give the manufacturer the assurance that the order was real. This is what a lot of the train companies do for their potential products. And for you other collectors who are unfamiliar with brass trains, the prices for toy soldiers is minor compared to what can be spent on just one locomotive. Many sell in the thousands of dollars and some even in the tens of thousands. Some of the best miniatures are trains and rolling stock. They too are works of art. When I win the power ball, .... oh well. Michael.

 

[jazzeum]

I think it's a great idea but the one caveat is that King and Country needs to make more of these to show a profit than do smaller companies, such as Honour Bound, who can make fewer copies of an item. It's more likely that a smaller company will make these kinds of different vehicles.

 

[panda1gen]

Really interesting post - how does Andy do his market research? Or is it a trade secret

 

[maddadicus]

First off, I am also a train guy with an operating layout..My feeling is that right now, almost anything K/C makes will sell out, regardless of what the vehicle may be....A preorder system probably would become a logistics nightmare because Andy produces many items each year, whereas a train mfg. might only be entertaining 2 or 3 of particular engines in question...If Andy starts basing his marketing strategy on preorders alone, it could end up being a long wait for anything being produced ( ie; 6 vehicles proposed, only 150 each preordered, therefore none made ,mos.wasted...) The collector then might gravitate to those mfg. that have an item on hand...Right now, as is, if he makes it, we will buy...Andy continues to take a chance with his product selection and we will vote with our dollars if he was right...NOTHING SHOULD BE A SURE THING IN A FREE MARKET SYSTEM. Michael

 

[Steven Chong]

... If Andy starts basing his marketing strategy on preorders alone ...

Dear Michael,
I am not suggesting that K&C base their entire marketing strategy on preorders alone. K&C continues its present design process and marketing, which we all agree is very successful; but maybe adding one or two "Collector Requests" per year based on the preorder strategy. King Tiger tanks and Grief vehicles quickly sell hundreds of sets, but would a Bedford Lorry? Of course, Brad may be right that only a smaller company like Honour Bound with their own shop can profitably produce small qualities of vehicles like the Bedford or Austin. What I hope I am suggesting is a possible method that could make it easier for K&C to produce requested vehicles or figures that it initially thinks may not sell well.

 

[fishead19690]

I thing it would be cool if K&C and other companies could post a picture(art, sketch, or demo)on there web sites of the pieces that they were thinking of making and have a pole to see what the buyers thought of the them. This would give them a better feel for what we want. The only draw back is it might take the surprize element out of it for some. A suggestion box at the web site would also give them a better feel also. _________________________TIM

 

[maddadicus]

Dear Michael,
What I hope I am suggesting is a possible method that could make it easier for K&C to produce requested vehicles or figures that it initially thinks may not sell well.

I understand what you mean now. That could almost be like a contest for his loyal customers to be able to pick that extra special vehicle..The only drawback might be the depression that would set in if that special request vehicle missed forever being made by a handful of non-orders...Michael

 

[Steven Chong]

...The only drawback might be the depression that would set in if that special request vehicle missed forever being made by a handful of non-orders.

K&C or other company using this preorder method could always announce they are within a "handful" of orders, so those collectors with the financial resources could order a few more and make the quota.

 

[Steven Chong]

I thing it would be cool if K&C and other companies could post a picture(art, sketch, or demo)on there web sites of the pieces that they were thinking of making and have a pole to see what the buyers thought of the them. This would give them a better feel for what we want. The only draw back is it might take the surprize element out of it for some. A suggestion box at the web site would also give them a better feel also. TIM

The problem with a poll is that a company can never be sure whether all the people who vote for an item will order it. That's why Michael's (sceic2) suggest of a refundable downpayment or deposit makes business sense.

 

[Njja]

Looking at Andy C's shop, and taking into consideration the considerable

success he has had in this marketplace, I think its time to give him a little

credit. I think he as stated is quite happy with his present situation. I don't

think he is really interested in making special items for a "Selected Group"

I think he has a wide variety of items to choose from when planning his next

release, and I think he enjoys releasing items he feels his market will

appreciate.

If he was to allow pre-orders to decide what he was going to make that

might take some of the fun out of the proccess for him.

And of course it is just my opinion but I think Andy C is in this as much for

pleasure, and fun as he is for profit.

Njja

 

[Steven Chong]

... I think he has a wide variety of items to choose from when planning his next release, and I think he enjoys releasing items he feels his market will appreciate. If he was to allow pre-orders to decide what he was going to make that might take some of the fun out of the proccess for him ...

But Andy is still choosing the item with the pre-order method. Based on his own interests, practicality of making the item, requests, feedback, comments, wish lists, etc., Andy decides what he wants to make and announces it for pre-order. Now, instead of worrying about whether a produced item will sell well enough to generate a profit, he gets pre-orders with the clear understanding that the item will not be made if there is not enough orders. Hopefully, this method would reduce the financial risk and encourage K&C to produce items that are thought by it to be marginal sellers.