First K&C Store outside of Hong Kong? (1 Viewer)

[Steven Chong]

According to the latest issue of Toy Soldier Collector (Issue 8), K&C has purchased Kings X Toy Soldiers in San Antonio, Texas, and that it will be the first K&C store outside of Hong Kong. K&C stopped selling at shows several years ago partially due to complaints about K&C competing against its own dealers. Given some sets are all pre-sold within days of being announced, I hope this new development does not make it harder for dealers to get enough products to meet their customers' demand.

 

[Tony Neville]

Steven knowing Andy as we all do i am sure there will not be a problem.

The store in San Antonio is awesome and a lovely place to visit. I think you will find it was a store that needed some well deserved TLC and Andy saw this opportunity. It is also a close one for him to keep an eye on with his regular trips there.

I was there with him in September and look forwarded to seeing it K&C'd up after Chicago this year.

Tony

 

[Rob]

Hi Tony,

I read the same article and was wondering if you think there will be any chance of a uk shop possibly in London?.

Rob.

 

[Bob Neville]

Hi Tony,

I read the same article and was wondering if you think there will be any chance of a uk shop possibly in London?.

Rob.

...and you would like a job working there....or should I say playing!
Rob everything is possible but will would make sure there is no conflict of interest with any of our retailers... we need a breather after the move up north!
Cheers
Bob

 

[Rob]

Bob,playing would be the right term,at least the wife would know where i am!!

Rob.

 

[nmrocks]

Thats Great news for us in the southwest, the shop though small is located in a historical Hotel where people like Teddy Roosevelt stayed and is walking distance to the Alamo. Will make for some great trips for those who have never seen the canals of San Antonio, Great Mexican food and Margarita's.
Would be great if andy sponsored a show there.
Congratulations Andy

 

[Alexdakar]

Its the Menger Hotel and the mall is right next to the hotel. Everything is in walking distance. I stay there once a year because San Antonio has a plastic model convention called Model Fiesta and its really great to see people's creativeness. Actually the Model Fiesta is next weekend.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I think that Andy has wanted more flagship King & Country specialty shops in high profile locations for some time now. In fact, he spent a good portion of the symposium last year trying to convince Hans, Larry and myself to open just such a store in midtown Manhattan. I told him that with the extremely high rents I didn't think such a shop could turn a profit. Perhaps the San Antonio shop is an experiment to see the kind of exposure K&C can get from such a shop in a location thousands of historically minded tourists visit each year. Even if the shop itself doesn't turn a big profit, it could draw many new collectors to the K&C line who otherwise might not be exposed. If it generates new collectors, this could be the first of a few flagship shops in expensive high profile locations (where a dealer solely looking to turn a profit could not afford to operate) such as the business districts of Manhattan, London or Tokyo.

 

[Gideon]

In fact, he spent a good portion of the symposium last year trying to convince Hans, Larry and myself to open just such a store in midtown Manhattan. I told him that with the extremely high rents I didn't think such a shop could turn a profit.

Interesting.

 

[jazzeum]

This news can't make dealers happy.

 

[Steven Chong]

... Perhaps the San Antonio shop is an experiment to see the kind of exposure K&C can get from such a shop in a location thousands of historically minded tourists visit each year. Even if the shop itself doesn't turn a big profit, it could draw many new collectors to the K&C line who otherwise might not be exposed ...

The K&C Hong Kong store is in a very high traffic shopping mall, and certainly attracts many first time buyers who never knew K&C existed -- I have seen countless people in Hong Kong stop to see the beautiful dioramas and displays, then go in and purchase a set. Andy has always believed dealers could attract more new customers if they had eye-catching dioramas in the windows and displayed the figures better. A constant flow of new collectors is great for long time collectors since some of these new collectors will want to get all the retired stuff -- keeping prices for retired stuff high.

 

[ucla1967]

Interestingly enough, Kings X is where I discovered, in 1991, that there were metal toy soldiers being made and sold again. My wife and I flew into San Antonio to attend my son's graduation from U.S. Air Force basic training at nearby Lackland AFB. We were visiting the Alamo and found Kings X in the Menger Hotel next door.

I bought my first four sets: three from Tradition (British & French Napoleonic Infantry and the French Foreign Legion) and one Alymer of the 24th Regt. in the Zulu Wars. Now, 5,000 toy soldiers later.......

Smart move Andy!

 

[Combat]

Anyone know if there are any decent soldier shops in Las Vegas? I am going out shortly.

 

[binder001]

We're missing a couple of very important questions here!

Andy - do you need store staff? What are you paying?

Our local heart surgery program is being mismanaged to death - I could be induced to move <grin>.

Gary

 

[sceic2]

WILL WORK FOR TOY SOLDIERS, NO BENEFITS NEEDED. Michael