"Don’t want no Merc… don’t need no Maserati too!" (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

Just got back from a very long, very enjoyable three weeks sortie to the good old U.S.A. with a little side trip to Mexico. As usual it was the ideal time to meet and talk with many K&C collectors and dealers on both coasts and a few bits in between. That’s what is so great about “The WestCoaster”… “The Symposium” and our own little “Merlot & Miniatures” at Kings X in San Antonio. We got to preview some of our new stuff and, at the same time, get to hear what you guys might like or want to see in the future from K&C or, indeed, any of our competitors.

And that, very neatly brings me to a small point in another thread on the Forum.

My friend Rick of Figarti has often compared his own company to K&C as a Maserati versus Mercedes situation.

Numbers wise he mentions 1 million Mercs being sold as against just 15,000 of those nifty little Italian jobs (by choice).

The inference being that the much smaller number is therefore more exclusive… more unique… and somehow more hand-crafted... than the more popular… less exclusive… less unique German ones.

Obviously I don’t see it in quite the same way… Yes, K&C, at this stage in the game produce more items than Figarti… and that is also by choice (not necessity).

Yes, we also produce on a regular monthly basis… a regular number of releases. That’s our business plan, developed over a long number of years, to satisfy a growing customer base not just in North America… but all over the world.

Many years ago we tried our own little bit of “Shock ‘n’ Awe” when we held onto most of our new releases until either the Chicago or WestCoast Shows. We found however, that most of our collectors liked to be able to rely on a steady stream of new product throughout the entire year rather than the gush at either September or March.

Now, Rick and the boys up in Shanghai have their own plans and agendas and that’s their business… and that’s also fine by me… We’ve got ours.

And that brings me to a final point… I don’t want K&C to be Mercedes… I’m not even interested in flashy cars (Italian or otherwise). But I am passionate about toy soldiers and King & Country and that’s why, for the last 15 years, I’ve devoted 150% of my professional working life to this great hobby and business.

Quite frankly, I don’t need no Mercedes Benz… I sure don’t want no fancy Maserati either… I guess I’ll just stick with my little army guys and the occasional tank or two…

Best wishes and happy collecting!
Andy C.

 

[Vezzolf]

I don't want a Mercedes or a Maserati......I want a "winter tiger" tank and a "german grey tiger" tank to roll off the assembly line..........

 

[jazzeum]

This is sort of a play on the old Janis Joplin tune.

I wouldn't even compare Figarti to Maserati (they have a very nice website by the way) because at least Maserati has a plan and I'm sure they deliver on what they promise. The plan in Figarti land seems just to do whatever pops into your head, make a big splash and then not fully deliver. If that's the plan, fine, just seems an odd way to run a business.

 

[Eazy]

Seems a harsh *****sment Brad. Maybe the moderator should be a bit more impartial?
Figarti have made some fine products that have complemented my own K&C collection. Plus at the end of the day as far as i know Figarti is very much a sideline business.

 

[jazzeum]

Eazy,

I have no complaints with the products they make. They are fine products and I have several. It's the business model I question. It may seem harsh but as I've mentioned before Figarti will introduce a product here and there but in some of their effort there doesn't seem to be consistency. I realize that at the end of the day, this is a small business for Rick so perhaps it's more of a hobby for him than anything else.

 

[oberstoskar]

Andy is a sensitive man.

For me...
K&C is Toyota
Figarti is Hyundai
First Legion is Aston Martin
St Petersburg is Ferrari

 

[Spitfrnd]

Just for the record, there is not much wrong with a Mercedes or a Jaguar either for that matter.

 

[gk5717]

Forget the outstanding quality of K&C products, but one of the things I really like about K&C is their consistancy.
Every month we can look forward to new products. I don,t collect every line K&C does, but every month there is something released that I get, every month.
Hard on the wallet, yes. But I,m a big boy and know what I can afford.
Brad, maybe you don,t mean to sound harsh on Figarti, but it sure comes across that way.
No Figarti does not have a monthly release plan as K&C, but as stated previously I think they pretty well stick to what they are doing.
I will say this, Figarti can no longer say they are a young and learning company. They have been around long enough now that the glitches should have been worked out.
Gary

 

[Louis Badolato]

Andy is a sensitive man.

For me...
K&C is Toyota
Figarti is Hyundai
First Legion is Aston Martin
St Petersburg is Ferrari

With the exception of your *****sments of First Legion (overly generous) or St. Petersburg (fair) that's ridiculously harsh.

K&C makes a consistently excellent figure, a good to excellent armored vehicle, an excellent wheeled vehicle, an excellent diorama and the best aircraft in the industry. They were the innovator that launched the matt military miniature market, without which none of the other toy soldier companies doing matt production would even exist. Comparing them to an economy car from Toyota in an automobile analogy is weak. To me, they are the "solid luxury car" of the Toy Soldier industry, like BMW or Mercedes.

Figarti's figures while much improved overall, are still hit or miss (i.e. the best of them are as good as anyones, but there are still many that just aren't right), but their vehicles are the best in the industry, they make a nice aircraft, good diorama materials, and they make unbelievable "shock and awe" pieces no one else is willing to go out on a limb and make. Comparing them to a bottom of the market car like Hyundai is equally unfair. To me, they are like a small Italian or British luxury car maker, brilliant at best, but sometimes a mechanic's dream, so I would compare them to Aston Martin or Maserati, as Rick himself does.

First Legion makes an excellent toy soldier, but I don't see them making a vehicle that compares with Figarti, King & Country or Honour Bound, or any diorama materials or aircraft, so its hard for me to see them as the "Aston Martin" of the hobby. The small number of figures they do make are only slightly better quality than K&C, and they make so few products, that I would see them as perhaps a more expensive limited edition Mercedes Benz, like a 600 SEL or something.

St. Petersburg is a top quality very limited production ultra expensive exotic collectible, so Ferarri, Maybach or Buggati are fair comparisons in the automobile industry.

 

[Rob]

Must say having enjoyed the constant release of superb products from K&C month after month, i wouldn't want them to go back to a 'shock and awe' type thing at all,for me K&C provide both quality and quantity.

As for Figarti they do make some excellent products,however i do think they could keep us updated a bit more to whats going on.

Rob

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

I cannot believe I am even going to get into this fray... but here I go.

I do not think there is a value to ranking the various products in such a general manner. This is so subjective that without an in-depth defense of your opinion it means very little to someone else. At the end of the day it is always about your personal perception.

I am sure that Rick Wang will attest to my reaction when he said where he thought his companies products ranked at the Chicago Show. I was caught off guard and did not respond as I should have. Perhaps it was that none of the companies I ever worked for even ranked.
I am always embarrassed when I respond to someone in such a harsh manner in public as I did...and I apologize for it. The market place should always be ruled by professionalism and gentlemanly behavior.

The long and the short of it is that Rick really believes in his products and decisions, and he should.
I think we can also agree that all of the other companies... whether we personally agree with their decisions or not... believe in what they are doing.

Even tough I have worked for several companies in this industry, I think each one has some special merit in one area or another. With that said however, most of them also have some weakness in one area or another.

Areo Art, K&C and John Jenkins Designs have the strength of a focused offering that is in part, a result of the passion and interests of the management. This strong vision of direction always comes from the top in any successful organization. This is often reflected by the products they offer.
I cannot comment on First Legion at all, as the staff and owners on a personal level, remain a mystery to almost all of us.

I think this has been lacking with some companies that have come and gone in the past, and it is not always easy for the owners to understand what is missing. This may also be the Achilles Heel for some of the newer companies, but that is not for me to say.

Within the collectibles industry there are very special needs and interests... and just because you can make a good doll or farm tractor, it does not mean you can produce a good railroad or military collectible.
I could point to countless failures over the years, combined with unrealistic corporate expectations that put nails into caskets prematurely.

Here is what I believe... and remember that this is my personal perception... so it's OK to disagree!

1. The owner of any focused collectibles line must understand the product and the end use.

2. They must be willing to learn, retain and utilize the information they gather.

3. The companies should lead with ideas and products... not follow.

4. That most products designed by committee have no soul.

5. That trends in the marketplace change periodically and the products should also reflect this.

6. There must be a willingness to not only market the products, but to support them.

7. That you not become too comfortable to the point that you miss opportunities to grow.

And the single most important factor...That the owner and creative staff have a real passion for what they do every day.
When you have this you can never turn it off. You can never leave the office and the work behind, and as a result you are always thinking about how to improve the product and the business. All of the companies that have survived and prospered have some, if not all of the above listed characteristics.
I do not think that King & Country, Jenkins Designs, Aero Art or even W. Britain should worry about automotive analogies...They make historical miniatures and the collectors vote with their wallets.

I am not sure that any of these musings have been useful, and if not I apologize in advance.
All the Best!
Ken Osen/Hudson & Allen Studio

 

[1879fanatic]

Ken,
Too true-and your philosophy is quintessential for all small business owners, whether plumbers, toy soldier manufacturers, or consultants. Your points have been copied and pasted into a word document for my employees and brother and father(co-owners of my company) to stimulate passion in product ownership and such.
Sorry but I must plagiarize you.
Mike

 

[Capitolron]

This is sort of a play on the old Janis Joplin tune.

I wouldn't even compare Figarti to Maserati (they have a very nice website by the way) because at least Maserati has a plan and I'm sure they deliver on what they promise. The plan in Figarti land seems just to do whatever pops into your head, make a big splash and then not fully deliver. If that's the plan, fine, just seems an odd way to run a business.

Brad

You keep saying this over and over and I am trying to understand where Figarti has not delivered ? They have developed their lines and produced some good stuff. Where is this lacking ??

On King & Country - Look I have said it before and I will say it again - THEY ARE THE BEST - IMHO.

Everyone has a number one competitor - K&C is it ! The quality, production, color, sculpts, action, the entire package - can be found with King & Country.

I think we are blessed with other Toy Soldier Makers - I collect them all and appreciate them all. John Jenkins has his style which is wonderful and Britains has GREATLY Improved over the past couple of years. Lots of great stuff out there in the Toy Soldier Food Table!

But, when you talk the BIG STEAK - Its K&C

 

[kilted vampire]

All of the products mentioned previously are all good even great. They are all produced by different people, different styles of painting and sculpting. I know and like Rick and Andy, both very different guys doing the same kind of thing. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. IF someone is passionate about their soldiers that is great. Andy is very passionate. Rick and his dad love this hobby too. Rick is very proud of their accomplishments.

I think Andy was saying that he did not want to make a competition out of this. I think this (considering his business history) is a wise thing. Leave it to K&C'ers to jump off the deep end with this. K&C makes up a large portion of my collection. But I have a lot of other toy companies represented in my collection as well. I love toy soldiers! There is room for all.

No harm in being a booster but let us be fair...... A good saleperson will acknowledge other lines whilst presenting the benefits of their line.

 

[jazzeum]

Brad

You keep saying this over and over and I am trying to understand where Figarti has not delivered ? They have developed their lines and produced some good stuff. Where is this lacking ??

Ausf J and Recovery Vehicle, unveiled in Chicago, still not available.

 

[Panzer ace]

Overall, Daimler/Mercedes achieved a net profit of 1.4 billion Euros in 2008, Maserati reported a profit of 72 million Euros for 2008. ‘nuff said.

 

[4th Hussar]

I tend to agree more with Ken and the vamp, this is a hobby made up of small businesses that target a small but diverse market. Ranking or *****sing the level of quality of these toys is a very personal and subjective thing. I prefer glossy soldiers and metal vehicles, so I don't spend much time looking at Kand C. I do know that a large segment of this forum's members are passionate about K and C and more power to them.

 

[kilted vampire]

I tend to agree more with Ken and the vamp, this is a hobby made up of small businesses that target a small but diverse market. Ranking or *****sing the level of quality of these toys is a very personal and subjective thing. I prefer glossy soldiers and metal vehicles, so I don't spend much time looking at Kand C. I do know that a large segment of this forum's members are passionate about K and C and more power to them.

Gee 4th I would prefer that you refer tome as Lord Vamp Or just his Lordship.

 

[Wraith]

OK, so I'm a bit confused.
Who's releasing the Maserati? Will it be polystone and will the wheels move on it? Also 1/30 or 1/32?
Does it come in green?

Simon

 

[nmrocks]

This is sort of a play on the old Janis Joplin tune.

I wouldn't even compare Figarti to Maserati (they have a very nice website by the way) because at least Maserati has a plan and I'm sure they deliver on what they promise. The plan in Figarti land seems just to do whatever pops into your head, make a big splash and then not fully deliver. If that's the plan, fine, just seems an odd way to run a business.

Brad,
You must have a real burr under your saddle about Figarti as you never miss a chance to criticize. I can understand some disapointment at some situations but there seems to be a pretty regular flow of new products.
It's too bad you can't just accept Figarti as they are and enjoy what you enjoy and ignore what you don't like.
Your comments smack of some kind of "Business Elitism" which I can't really understand.
Ray