Encouraging New Blood into the Hobbie. (3 Viewers)

[Desertkiwi]

Based upon a recent conversation I had with a fellow collector and other interesting comments on other threads, I thought it timely to kick this Thread off.

I'm sure I'm not alone, when I say I get a real kick & a wee smile, when someone shows an interest in my own tiny collection, regardless of age.

The interest & questions are often varied, but it always seems to end up at the same point......cost.

I try not to discuss that because I've found it usual ends up with a big WOW and heck there's no way I could afford that etc......It's a shame really because with a little creativity the hobbie doesn't have to be expensive and this leads me to the guts of this Thread.

If asked how would you encourage 'newbies' into the hobbie?

I'm not only asking fellow collectors, but also TS companies and associated manufacturers, store owners and of course the new collector themselves....

I'm not after trade secrets, just thoughts, suggestions and idea's.

For example, I operate on a very tight budget and in theory I probably shouldn't collect the figures I do, however I find with a little creativity I can make dio's with a small handful of figures from a wide range of era's from several different companies.......it's great fun.

So lets have some fun guys.....fire away and lets not get into who collects what, why and when......this Thread is about 'encouraging others'....so lets see some cool pic's and some thoughtful feedback.

Cheers!!:salute::

 

[waynepoo]

Based upon a recent conversation I had with a fellow collector and other interesting comments on other threads, I thought it timely to kick this Thread off.

I'm sure I'm not alone, when I say I get a real kick & a wee smile, when someone shows an interest in my own tiny collection, regardless of age.

The interest & questions are often varied, but it always seems to end up at the same point......cost.

I try not to discuss that because I've found it usual ends up with a big WOW and heck there's no way I could afford that etc......It's a shame really because with a little creativity the hobbie doesn't have to be expensive and this leads me to the guts of this Thread.

If asked how would you encourage 'newbies' into the hobbie?

I'm not only asking fellow collectors, but also TS companies and associated manufacturers, store owners and of course the new collector themselves....

I'm not after trade secrets, just thoughts, suggestions and idea's.

For example, I operate on a very tight budget and in theory I probably shouldn't collect the figures I do, however I find with a little creativity I can make dio's with a small handful of figures from a wide range of era's from several different companies.......it's great fun.

So lets have some fun guys.....fire away and lets not get into who collects what, why and when......this Thread is about 'encouraging others'....so lets see some cool pic's and some thoughtful feedback.

Cheers!!:salute::

Toddy,
Mate that is one of those 'Big Bang' questions isn't it for which nobody as yet has a valid answer, unfortunately price is the great stumbling block for any newbies. I know for me at least it was after years of ruining well build kits with my non existent painting skills I discovered these prepainted and preassembled miniatures and the rest is history..:rolleyes2: but when down on my luck this year I haven't bought any figures (just two last week) 'no mon no fun' so to speak. So how do we attract new collectors to the hobby...I have no idea at all apart from buy one and get one free..:wink2: which of course is silly. I think the makers are trying to figure that out and it will always come down to affordability I'm affraid.
Wayne.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I think one way new blood enters the hobby is through ebay. Someone with an interest in history stumbles across an ebay auction for a set, and gets it for considerably less than retail. They buy a few other sets on ebay on the cheap, get hooked, and then graduate to websites likes this one, where they see the bredth and depth of the hobby, and start collecting in earnest. Bargains are still available on ebay, even to a long time collector like me - I regularly find wonderful items on ebay for way less than original retail, keeping the hobby affordable for a man who started collecting when single, and is now married with two children.:wink2:

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

Unfortunately, price is the premier determinant whether someone, even with an enthusiastic interest in history, will enter this hobby. I know that it has been said before on this forum that the toy soldier hobby has always been an expensive one and that may be true to some extent... The difference in the last several years though, has been that wages for the common folk has just not kept up with the increasing prices!

If I were just beginning in this hobby, I would most likely start my collecting with alternative options such as smaller scales (28 or 30 mm figures), painted plastics or even glossy metals instead of matte-painted which seem to be the ones appreciating in price the fastest! As a history buff myself, I would not let the appreciating prices in matte-painted figures stop me from participating in this hobby. There are choices out there you just have to look for them and appreciate the hobby in whichever way you can! Although, I don't have or collect smaller scales, I have a good number of painted plastic and glossy figures and appreciate them just as much as the matte-painted metals.

 

[OzDigger]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, console and computer games based on military history are VERY popular with the younger generation.

Both of my sons had little interest in my (then) extensive military collection until they started playing FPS (First Person Shooter) and (RTS) Real Time Strategy games on their Computer/Xbox/Playstations. Some of the more popular series are Battlefield, Call of Duty, Command & Conquer, Medal of Honour etc. And of course there are also Flight Simulation games including combat aircraft of WWI, WWII and Modern. RTS games include the Civilisation series and other historical based games, Napoleonic games are popular.

How do we apply that interest to TS sales? For starters, if I owned a TS store I would see if my local gaming shop (Electronic Boutique, Game Traders etc) would allow a small display of TS in their glass cabinet. It would be a win win imo, and even if the figures etc were too expensive for the kids, they often have their parents with them :wink2:

 

[waynepoo]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, console and computer games based on military history are VERY popular with the younger generation.

Both of my sons had little interest in my (then) extensive military collection until they started playing FPS (First Person Shooter) and (RTS) Real Time Strategy games on their Computer/Xbox/Playstations. Some of the more popular series are Battlefield, Call of Duty, Command & Conquer, Medal of Honour etc. And of course there are also Flight Simulation games including combat aircraft of WWI, WWII and Modern. RTS games include the Civilisation series and other historical based games, Napoleonic games are popular.

How do we apply that interest to TS sales? For starters, if I owned a TS store I would see if my local gaming shop (Electronic Boutique, Game Traders etc) would allow a small display of TS in their glass cabinet. It would be a win win imo, and even if the figures etc were too expensive for the kids, they often have their parents with them :wink2:

Oz, not a bad idea. Might mention that to someone I know......:wink2:
Wayne.

 

[OzDigger]

[/COLOR]
Oz, not a bad idea. Might mention that to someone I know......:wink2:
Wayne.

He's to old and backward in the way of the younglings :wink2: ^&grin

 

[waynepoo]

He's to old and backward in the way of the younglings :wink2: ^&grin

Oh dear, but mostly true.......{sm3}:rolleyes2:
Wayne.

 

[OzDigger]

Oh dear, but mostly true.......{sm3}:rolleyes2:
Wayne.

It's all good, the poor old bugger has Monday's off, has to take a Nanna nap after the hectic weekend trading :wink2:

 

[TomNT]

He's to old and backward in the way of the younglings :wink2: ^&grin

Oh dear, but mostly true.......{sm3}:rolleyes2:
Wayne.

It's all good, the poor old bugger has Monday's off, has to take a Nanna nap after the hectic weekend trading :wink2:

I see two people getting banned from the "Ye Old Toy Soldier Shoppe"!!!{sm4}

Tom

 

[OzDigger]

OMG, I just got back home to discover my computer had been hacked, strong smell of Haggis and electric soup in the air, must have been the usual suspects.

 

[waynepoo]

OMG, I just got back home to discover my computer had been hacked, strong smell of Haggis and electric soup in the air, must have been the usual suspects.

^&grin^&grin^&grin

 

[waynepoo]

I see two people getting banned from the "Ye Old Toy Soldier Shoppe"!!!{sm4}

Tom

Not likely........I haven't ever let his tires down, not yet anyway....{sm3}
Wayne.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Some good feedback thus far, although the Aussie lads seem to have gone 'walk-about' again.....typical^&grin:tongue:

 

[TomB]

Based upon a recent conversation I had with a fellow collector and other interesting comments on other threads, I thought it timely to kick this Thread off.

I'm sure I'm not alone, when I say I get a real kick & a wee smile, when someone shows an interest in my own tiny collection, regardless of age.

The interest & questions are often varied, but it always seems to end up at the same point......cost.

I try not to discuss that because I've found it usual ends up with a big WOW and heck there's no way I could afford that etc......It's a shame really because with a little creativity the hobbie doesn't have to be expensive and this leads me to the guts of this Thread.

If asked how would you encourage 'newbies' into the hobbie?

I'm not only asking fellow collectors, but also TS companies and associated manufacturers, store owners and of course the new collector themselves....

I'm not after trade secrets, just thoughts, suggestions and idea's.

For example, I operate on a very tight budget and in theory I probably shouldn't collect the figures I do, however I find with a little creativity I can make dio's with a small handful of figures from a wide range of era's from several different companies.......it's great fun.

So lets have some fun guys.....fire away and lets not get into who collects what, why and when......this Thread is about 'encouraging others'....so lets see some cool pic's and some thoughtful feedback.

Cheers!!:salute::

Schools are a good place to start....but you need the time to be able to arrange to take a small sample of your collection and what ever time period in History that is being covered....I did a fair bit of ALH for a chap that travels around the country schools promoting the history of the ALH......plastic figures would be the ideal starting point.....you could even give out a few free to generate intrest...just a thought...cheers TomB

 

[TomB]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, console and computer games based on military history are VERY popular with the younger generation.

Both of my sons had little interest in my (then) extensive military collection until they started playing FPS (First Person Shooter) and (RTS) Real Time Strategy games on their Computer/Xbox/Playstations. Some of the more popular series are Battlefield, Call of Duty, Command & Conquer, Medal of Honour etc. And of course there are also Flight Simulation games including combat aircraft of WWI, WWII and Modern. RTS games include the Civilisation series and other historical based games, Napoleonic games are popular.

How do we apply that interest to TS sales? For starters, if I owned a TS store I would see if my local gaming shop (Electronic Boutique, Game Traders etc) would allow a small display of TS in their glass cabinet. It would be a win win imo, and even if the figures etc were too expensive for the kids, they often have their parents with them :wink2:

There aint no age limit on PC games.....I play all the shoot em up games..though with limited success...my forte is Flight Simulator........have all of microsofts Flt Sims Games and aint a bad pilot...though microsoft flt sims games are more for pilot training than shoot em up....and not that popular amongst the rev heads....my grand son loves to zoom around at ground level in a F18 or a simple Tigermoth....and ofcourse he like the shoot em up flt sims as well......for history buffs...Age of Empires is a beaut game...specially if you have a cheat sheet.....can sit for hrs playing that game....I love PC games....barely fit in time for mucking around with sculpey...cheers TomB

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Not likely........I haven't ever let his tires down, not yet anyway....{sm3}
Wayne.

I am trying to be good . Brought a smile to my face. Chris.

 

[OzDigger]

There aint no age limit on PC games.....I play all the shoot em up games..though with limited success...my forte is Flight Simulator........have all of microsofts Flt Sims Games and aint a bad pilot...though microsoft flt sims games are more for pilot training than shoot em up....and not that popular amongst the rev heads....my grand son loves to zoom around at ground level in a F18 or a simple Tigermoth....and ofcourse he like the shoot em up flt sims as well......for history buffs...Age of Empires is a beaut game...specially if you have a cheat sheet.....can sit for hrs playing that game....I love PC games....barely fit in time for mucking around with sculpey...cheers TomB

I still prefer Halo for FPS play and for RTS it's The Battle for Middle.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Toddy,
Mate that is one of those 'Big Bang' questions isn't it for which nobody as yet has a valid answer, unfortunately price is the great stumbling block for any newbies. I know for me at least it was after years of ruining well build kits with my non existent painting skills I discovered these prepainted and preassembled miniatures and the rest is history..:rolleyes2: but when down on my luck this year I haven't bought any figures (just two last week) 'no mon no fun' so to speak. So how do we attract new collectors to the hobby...I have no idea at all apart from buy one and get one free..:wink2: which of course is silly. I think the makers are trying to figure that out and it will always come down to affordability I'm affraid.
Wayne.

Yeah know what ya mean Wayne when it comes to painting kits etc....unless it comes out of a spray can, I'm stuffed...^&grin

As a kid I'd spend hours building kits and mucking about with Airfix and Britains deetail figures to name a few. That all stopped of course as a teenager I discovered girls, cars, sport and the beach, as ya do{eek3}. Everything got packed away of course, to re-emerge many years later as a happily married bloke, having discovered the world of TS on the internet many moons ago.

I agree price is a factor, but I see what 'magic' you and others regularly create, with just a few figures and some imagination and it demonstrates to me that you don't have to spend big bucks to get into this hobbie.

Yeah the top of the line Matt figures can be expensive, be there are other cheaper options out there too. I look at FOV and some of the Conte painted plastic's as an example. I still think there is plenty of scope for new collectors to get into the hobbie with a little encouragement and some guidence......to me price shouldn't necessarily prevent newbies from having a go......

 

[waynepoo]

Yeah know what ya mean Wayne when it comes to painting kits etc....unless it comes out of a spray can, I'm stuffed...^&grin

As a kid I'd spend hours building kits and mucking about with Airfix and Britains deetail figures to name a few. That all stopped of course as a teenager I discovered girls, cars, sport and the beach, as ya do{eek3}. Everything got packed away of course, to re-emerge many years later as a happily married bloke, having discovered the world of TS on the internet many moons ago.

I agree price is a factor, but I see what 'magic' you and others regularly create, with just a few figures and some imagination and it demonstrates to me that you don't have to spend big bucks to get into this hobbie.

Yeah the top of the line Matt figures can be expensive, be there are other cheaper options out there too. I look at FOV and some of the Conte painted plastic's as an example. I still think there is plenty of scope for new collectors to get into the hobbie with a little encouragement and some guidence......to me price shouldn't necessarily prevent newbies from having a go......

Yes if you aren't a fussy bugger I like myself the cheaper options are OK, but I got beaten by the 'bug' of top of the line miniatures and nothing else will do. In just approx 18 months of finding these addictive bloody things I estimate I've spent $15,000 which is a lot of lolly! But I had given away the fags, the grog and some other nasty habits that would have cost me a lot, lot more and at least what I now have will get me back what I paid if I ever sell. Being single also helps...:wink2:
Wayne.