Northgate Woods
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
- Messages
- 1,525
Guys,
Sorry for the delay on this thread but had to do some work to pay the bills. I have down loaded Andy's Q&A session that I taped from the K&C Dinner in Brisbane. Took a while, cheap tape recorder. Now, I have edited out the routine questions that you guys would all know the answers to, such K&C History, Pricing Policy, Shops v The Internet, Simmo's underwear question, etc. There were seven questions about these subjects being the room was full and about two thirds of the guests were new collectors. A great tribute to Brett's increasing customer base and rise in TS collecting in general in Australia.
Q. With your new Greek range coming out will there be an enemy and who?
A. Yes, probably the Persians but working on the Greek forces first.
Q. Will we see any 1918 Aussies on the Western Front?
A. Australia is a growing market and we have been very pleased with the results of the Lighthorse range both here and overseas. An Aussie Tobruk series is the new one to come spread over the next 12 months. With nearly the same uniform on the Brits as the Aussies in WW1 it is not likely in the near future. I have been asked many times from the US for WW1 Doughboys, so the Aussies maybe a great idea but a bit of over kill at this stage.
Q. Can we any Jungle (Pacific) Aussies coming?
A. Andy explained the history of the IWJ series was not a failure and sold reasonably but the Pacific does not have the same response as WW2 in Europe or North Africa. If I was to do any series in the Pacific it would likely be in Burma because I would love to do the Chindits.
Q. Any thoughts on WW1 Austrians?
A. Yes, I love the fancy uniforms of Austro-Hungarian WW1 soldiers but from a sales point of view WW1 is seen as between British and Germans. Andy when on to discuss how the early 1914 German releases out sold the later 1917 releases by three to one.
Q. Will you be doing any more Non-Military subjects?
A. We have had great success with SOHK, World of Dickens, AE and LoJ ranges as non traditional subjects. SOHK is very popolar with the ladies and tourists in HK.
Andy spoke about the history of each of these ranges and how important they were to K&C. Possible thoughts of revisiting the World of Dickens and today could do it far better.
Q. How do you compare Del Prado to K&C?
A. Andy explained the early history of Del Prado and K&C before they went out of business. How K&C learnt to handle big orders of half a million figures and the demise of Del Prado because they would not listen to what sells and what doesn't.
Q. Do you have a personel indulgence?
A. Yes, my favourite was Dunkirk hence the start of the FOB range. Andy spoke about his other personal figures. But nowadays has to be guided by his sales and marketing Dept. "I hope what pleases me, pleases you".
Q. Will we see anymore Dio Pieces like the Berlin Tenament?
A. Yes, Building pieces are a big part of K&C and help collectors to make their figures come alive. Andy spoke at length about past Building. There will more Dio pieces including Facades (for the collectors who have showcases) as well as full buildings coming.
Q. Could you do things like loose rifles, other weapons, euipment, etc?
A. Yes, but it has to be cost effective and of value to the collector. You just can't put a couple of loose rifles and some gear in box because the production costs may be the same as a single figure and may not be seen as value for money.
Q. The Kriegsmarine series - A conning tower for the current figures?
A. That series sold well, but there is nothing to add to the series at this stage. I would love to do something to put these figures on. I have picked up an idea on this trip from talking to a collector and if I could produce a cheap U-Boat, I would.
Q. Can you tell us about Retirement v Releases?
A. We have a large business plan with requires regular monthly releases but with this must in todays climate must come retirements. Maybe we have too many series running to please all the K&C collectors, but with a tight monthly schedule its not always possible to fit a release in for everyone. We do our best.
That covers the main answers to questions that may interest Forums members. I have started a new thread called "Melbourne - Questions for Andy", so if you have any get them in quick because I may only get a "quick fifteen minutes."^&grin
Cheers Howard
Sorry for the delay on this thread but had to do some work to pay the bills. I have down loaded Andy's Q&A session that I taped from the K&C Dinner in Brisbane. Took a while, cheap tape recorder. Now, I have edited out the routine questions that you guys would all know the answers to, such K&C History, Pricing Policy, Shops v The Internet, Simmo's underwear question, etc. There were seven questions about these subjects being the room was full and about two thirds of the guests were new collectors. A great tribute to Brett's increasing customer base and rise in TS collecting in general in Australia.
Q. With your new Greek range coming out will there be an enemy and who?
A. Yes, probably the Persians but working on the Greek forces first.
Q. Will we see any 1918 Aussies on the Western Front?
A. Australia is a growing market and we have been very pleased with the results of the Lighthorse range both here and overseas. An Aussie Tobruk series is the new one to come spread over the next 12 months. With nearly the same uniform on the Brits as the Aussies in WW1 it is not likely in the near future. I have been asked many times from the US for WW1 Doughboys, so the Aussies maybe a great idea but a bit of over kill at this stage.
Q. Can we any Jungle (Pacific) Aussies coming?
A. Andy explained the history of the IWJ series was not a failure and sold reasonably but the Pacific does not have the same response as WW2 in Europe or North Africa. If I was to do any series in the Pacific it would likely be in Burma because I would love to do the Chindits.
Q. Any thoughts on WW1 Austrians?
A. Yes, I love the fancy uniforms of Austro-Hungarian WW1 soldiers but from a sales point of view WW1 is seen as between British and Germans. Andy when on to discuss how the early 1914 German releases out sold the later 1917 releases by three to one.
Q. Will you be doing any more Non-Military subjects?
A. We have had great success with SOHK, World of Dickens, AE and LoJ ranges as non traditional subjects. SOHK is very popolar with the ladies and tourists in HK.
Andy spoke about the history of each of these ranges and how important they were to K&C. Possible thoughts of revisiting the World of Dickens and today could do it far better.
Q. How do you compare Del Prado to K&C?
A. Andy explained the early history of Del Prado and K&C before they went out of business. How K&C learnt to handle big orders of half a million figures and the demise of Del Prado because they would not listen to what sells and what doesn't.
Q. Do you have a personel indulgence?
A. Yes, my favourite was Dunkirk hence the start of the FOB range. Andy spoke about his other personal figures. But nowadays has to be guided by his sales and marketing Dept. "I hope what pleases me, pleases you".
Q. Will we see anymore Dio Pieces like the Berlin Tenament?
A. Yes, Building pieces are a big part of K&C and help collectors to make their figures come alive. Andy spoke at length about past Building. There will more Dio pieces including Facades (for the collectors who have showcases) as well as full buildings coming.
Q. Could you do things like loose rifles, other weapons, euipment, etc?
A. Yes, but it has to be cost effective and of value to the collector. You just can't put a couple of loose rifles and some gear in box because the production costs may be the same as a single figure and may not be seen as value for money.
Q. The Kriegsmarine series - A conning tower for the current figures?
A. That series sold well, but there is nothing to add to the series at this stage. I would love to do something to put these figures on. I have picked up an idea on this trip from talking to a collector and if I could produce a cheap U-Boat, I would.
Q. Can you tell us about Retirement v Releases?
A. We have a large business plan with requires regular monthly releases but with this must in todays climate must come retirements. Maybe we have too many series running to please all the K&C collectors, but with a tight monthly schedule its not always possible to fit a release in for everyone. We do our best.
That covers the main answers to questions that may interest Forums members. I have started a new thread called "Melbourne - Questions for Andy", so if you have any get them in quick because I may only get a "quick fifteen minutes."^&grin
Cheers Howard
