I've noticed a comment a few times in various threads where people say that FL has no US dealer or they don't know who it is.
That person is George Guerriero of Minuteman Toy Soldiers from Massachusetts. He is the authorized dealer for shows.
I'm posting not as the moderator but because George is a good friend of mine and I think a certain bit of FL's success is due to George's hard work at shows.
I just want to add to this a bit and apologize to George as I would have immediately responded to the post that he responded to had I seen it. The posts in the WWII thread sometimes fly in so fast and furiously, that I missed the original quote he is responding to. And thank you Brad for starting a new thread for this as I believe that this issue might get lost in the WWII thread as obviously I missed it myself and it's important enough to be highlighted on its own.
Just to clear this up once and for all, no, First Legion does not have any US Dealers and will never have any US dealers, at least not in the traditional dealer sense of the word. What First Legion does have is a unique and Exclusive relationship with George of Minutemen Toy Soldiers to be our trade show/figure show representative. We are a direct sales to the customer company but formed this relationship in order to have our figures represented at the shows so that people can see them in person and purchase them there and we can think of few people who work as hard at the shows or attend as many as George does. George does not sell mail order, so please don't ask him to, and we don't go to shows and sell direct. Even if we go to shows, which I personally hope to over the coming year, it would only be to meet customers, put out some displays, and provide support to George. As far as we are concerned, he owns all shows and IS First Legion at the shows (though he wears other hats as well of course given the breadth of the ranges he stocks!) and will be the only vendor with our figures at any North American show, including us, and that is how it will stay because it is clearly defined and works well for both of us.
Further, I have heard some comments about George not displaying enough of our figures both on this forum and sent to me via email. If that has been the case in the past, then that's the past - we move on. Really, it's only been recently that we have had enough product available to fill a table with. Clearly from what I saw in the photos of this past weekend's shows, there was no shortage of stock on his tables of First Legion product and i expect this will continue from now and forever and that our product will take up more and more of his space as we continue to release new ranges, particularly WWII (which take up far more display space than Napoleonics do in any case).
Suffice it to say, Brad is right - George has most definitely played am integral role in any initial success we've had because he is the man on the front lines and the only one in North America who puts our figures in front of collectors before they buy them. As such, and with our direct sales model, he is an important part of our overall sales strategy and because of this, we do what we can to treat him well and do extras for him like sending him the new Staff Sets for the shows at our cost to make sure that he had them. The value we get from his driving those 7 hours and putting those sets out in front of customers far outweighs the cost to get him those sets.
I realize that our sales model has caused confusion a bit because of how unique it is to this industry, but this is how it is, and this is how it will stay. Selling direct to the customers with limited worldwide distribution and a US trade show rep who only sells at the shows is really the only way we can keep our retail prices down and bring you the quality that we provide at an affordable price. George my apologies for not jumping in sooner and straightening this out, thus forcing you to have to come on and say something. As I said, I just missed it. And thank you for the long hours you put in and the tirelesswork you do and will continue to do representing our figures and the other ranges you carry. Frankly, it sounds like a real asswhip and it always amazes me how hard you work and the fact that you're always smiling in the photos! I think 2009 is going to be the First Legion coming out party as far as George's displays are concerned, so be sure to go and see him at Chicago and the other shows coming up this year as I can guarantee you'll be blown away.
Regards,
Matt
First Legion Ltd
Just what sort of Toy Soldier Shows do you guys have in the states 
