Got a call from Andy this morning . . . (2 Viewers)

[Louis Badolato]

Hey guys,

Just as I was about to hop in the shower this morning, the phone rang, and mumbling under my breath, I ran to answer it. Well, lo and behold, it was our fearless leader, Andy, calling to make sure the Saracen Castle arrived, and to check on Hans (who was a little under the weather the last day in Chicago).

Well, the news is good from San Antonio is really good. The Kings X grand re-opening gala was a huge success. In addition to taking a number of orders for the small Alamo Chapel diorama, Andy and Gordon got 3 orders for the full (10 by 5) Alamo compound diorama, and complete sets of the figures to go with them.

Andy couldn't be more pleased, and expects to bring in a whole batch of new collectors who attended the gala, and who will be exposed to toy soldiers through the the new Kings X.

 

[Leadmen]

I am happy to hear their new store opening went well. This should bring more people into the hobby or at least make them aware of available figures and accessories. Leadmen

 

[Dragoon]

I wonder if Andy has any plans on expanding the new Alamo series to also include troops of the Mexican-American War?

 

[sceic2]

Hey guys, Just as I was about to hop in the shower this morning, the phone rang, and mumbling under my breath, I ran to answer it. Well, lo and behold, it was our fearless leader...

So I guess that makes you Boris and your bride Natisha, but who are Rocky and Bullwinkle (Shannon and Pete?)

 

[Beaufighter]

Looks like I will bid for some layovers at KSAT so I can head over for a first hand view of King & Country North America HQ!

 

[Louis Badolato]

We must keel moose and squirell!

 

[Shannon Reuss]

Moose and Squirrel are a bit concerned about Fearless Leaders new "North American Headquarters." Yes, it may bring in new collectors but how many collectors will rush from their friendly neighborhood (or internet) dealer to order "direct from King & Country"?
Will Moose and Squirrel watch K&C sales tumble?
Will Moose and Squirrel be forced to compensate by picking up still more new companies even though they are full to the rafters already and they really like being major King & Country dealers?
Where is Mr. Peabody to step in and make all things right?
Tune in next time when you will hear Bullwinkle say, "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a limited edition out of my hat..."

What are viewer thoughts on this?
And now for a commercial break...

 

[Louis Badolato]

Moose and Squirell should not waste time worrying about Fearless Leader. Andy has always sold via his website, and it hasn't taken away from your sales in the past. K&C's U.S. headquarters will draw in additional business from among the well to do Texans that get exposed to the wonderful new dioramas in his shop, but for the most part it will have little or no effect on your client base, many if not most of whom, I am sure, are members of this forum. If anything, should Fearless Leader's advertising scheme work out, a dealer like you, with a fantastic website, may be more busy than ever.

 

[OzDigger]

The new K & C 'North American' Headquaters being situated at The Alamo, San Antonio, a place held dear by most Americans, will be encountered by new and existing King & Country buyers from across the entire country.

Any initial sales are likely to lead to further sales after the new collector returns to their hometown. Clearly, this will have a negative impact on the sales of the current dealer network while generating more sales for San Antonio HQ.

Imo the actual amount of the 'potential' sales loss, is of less importance than the principle involved here. Surely the leader doesn't want all the nuts for himself, give squirrel and co a fair go.

 

[jazzeum]

Aside from the cute analogies here, if I were a dealer, I'd be concerned and having talked to a few of them, I know several are. Ordering from the King and Country website doesn't probably generate a lot of sales in the US due to time in arriving and costs of shipping.

Many dealers generate their prinicpal sales from the web. After new customers buy from Kings X, when they return home and want to order more, which web site do you think they'll go to? I've been scratching my head wondering why a manufacturer would compete with his dealers. It was one thing when the fox was away in the east, now the the fox has arrived in the chicken coop.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Aside from the cute analogies here, if I were a dealer, I'd be concerned and having talked to a few of them, I know several are. Ordering from the King and Country website doesn't probably generate a lot of sales in the US due to time in arriving and costs of shipping.

Many dealers generate their prinicpal sales from the web. After new customers buy from Kings X, when they return home and want to order more, which web site do you think they'll go to? I've been scratching my head wondering why a manufacturer would compete with his dealers. It was one thing when the fox was away in the east, now the the fox has arrived in the chicken coop.

At the end of the day... we must also understand how important 'brick & mortar' stores are to bring in new collectors. Nothing can replace the face to face interaction with fellow collectors and the ability to hold the miniature figures in your hand, slowly turning it to inspect every detail before you make your purchase. I see this all the time at the Michigan Toy Soldier store, and I am sure that the same thing happens at Paul Herman's, Toy Soldier of Williamsburg...and King's X. I am sure there may be some loss, or redistribution of K&C sales for dealers, but that might be good for the hobby over all. There are lots of other great products availible out there that need exsposure as much as the fine K&C line. Most true collectors collect what they like and not just a brand name...I know I do.

 

[boot51]

Aside from the cute analogies here, if I were a dealer, I'd be concerned and having talked to a few of them, I know several are. Ordering from the King and Country website doesn't probably generate a lot of sales in the US due to time in arriving and costs of shipping.

Many dealers generate their prinicpal sales from the web. After new customers buy from Kings X, when they return home and want to order more, which web site do you think they'll go to? I've been scratching my head wondering why a manufacturer would compete with his dealers. It was one thing when the fox was away in the east, now the the fox has arrived in the chicken coop.

Brad, I totally agreed with you on this one. The dealers I've talked also expressed dismay at this situation, they see only downside in this and little, if any, upside. I can see collectors thinking " why buy from just any K&C dealer when I can now buy one from direct from Andy in the good ole USA". Buying off the web site poses little if any competetion to US dealers with the big shipping charges, there are lots of dealers here in the states that offer free or very low cost shipping. But the idea of buying from Andy himself right here in America might be to much for some to resist (maybe Andy packed this one just for me, maybe he touched it.....ooooooh!). Even if Andy has assured his dealers that he has no intention of directly competing with them, what else could you call this move?

Fred

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I find this discussion to be very interesting. I think most dealers have little about which to be alarmed. I, for one, will continue to purchase my figures from those dealers with whom I have an existing relationship. "My dealers" have always given me the best of service and have extented very warm and personal friendship to me. I will remain loyal to them and I will continue to purchase from them. I have no doubt that Andy will do a brisk business in San Antonio, but I cannot believe that large numbers of collectors will abandon the dealers who have worked so hard to please them. I see no incentive for me to suddenly begin purchasing directly from Andy just because Andy owns a specific store.

I also want to add that, as I have said many times, I do not believe that King and Country is the "be all and end all" of toy soldiering. Andy only handles his own products and many of us collect other products besides his. In addition to K&C figures, I collect Britains, Beau Geste, William Hocker, Tedtoy, museum quality figures, Monarch Regalia, etc. I will continue to purchase these other products from "my dealers" and, while I am doing so, I will continue to purchase K&C products from them as well.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[maddadicus]

I agree with Pat on this one. As long as Andy does not undersell his hobby stores, then I believe shop loyalty will still rule the day. But if Andy decides to make items exclusive to his new store, then that might be an issue...I buy from the net for convience. Because my local dealers are an hour away and being small, I never know what quanity of an item they can get, I will buy from George ,or Bill ,or Treefrog, whichever my whim is. Where's Texas? Michael

 

[sceic2]

Well....Since I started all this Moose and Squirrel nonsense, I really like to find the humorous vice the down side, I think that Moose and Squirrel should be concerned. Fearless Leader did not become Fearless Leader because he did not change his marketing strategy or did not adapt to a changing market.

Any business that sells a product (especially to a limited and diminished market) and sees a change to its “normal way of doing business” should evaluate all possible situations and have an up-to-date business plan that has contingency plans with alternative strategies to compete as market changes occur. Diversification is the key to some survival strategies. Horizontal or vertical integration are also factors to consider, as well as customer loyalty issues like service, selection, costs, and reliability.

Some dealers have become manufacturers. Has it been successful? I think the jury is still out on that one. Marketing is the key. Presentation to the consumer of the dealer and the image the dealer wants to portray to make sales increase. Is it in K&C’ best interest to drive dealers out of their product’s market? I can’t answer that one. It is a strategy that can and has been used, but not always and not always successful.

Moose and Squirrel should remember that Moose and Squirrel are the hero’s at the end of each episode.

 

[desk11desk12]

Well....Since I started all this Moose and Squirrel nonsense, I really like to find the humorous vice the down side, I think that Moose and Squirrel should be concerned. Fearless Leader did not become Fearless Leader because he did not change his marketing strategy or did not adapt to a changing market.

Any business that sells a product (especially to a limited and diminished market) and sees a change to its “normal way of doing business” should evaluate all possible situations and have an up-to-date business plan that has contingency plans with alternative strategies to compete as market changes occur. Diversification is the key to some survival strategies. Horizontal or vertical integration are also factors to consider, as well as customer loyalty issues like service, selection, costs, and reliability.

Some dealers have become manufacturers. Has it been successful? I think the jury is still out on that one. Marketing is the key. Presentation to the consumer of the dealer and the image the dealer wants to portray to make sales increase. Is it in K&C’ best interest to drive dealers out of their product’s market? I can’t answer that one. It is a strategy that can and has been used, but not always and not always successful.

Moose and Squirrel should remember that Moose and Squirrel are the hero’s at the end of each episode.

Well said, Michael

I was going to write a long rebuttal but I can't beat that one.

Carlos

 

[vandilay]

I wouldnt have thought it would have too much of an impact
on bigger dealers,
unless they gain some advantage getting the product faster or
selling items unavailable at other stores.
provided the store or site you buy from carries the ranges you
collect i,d be sticking with them.
The only real avantages I would have thought would be from a
buisness end i.e greater profit margins and probably the ability
to carry more stock than a lot of dealers.
Smaller dealers may suffer a little ,but they have always had bigger
fish in the US to compete with anyway.

 

[Steven Chong]

I refer everyone to my post summarizing Andy's talk at the March, 2006 West Coaster (posted 3/6/06), "If someone becomes interested in collecting toy soldiers because of K&C's (San Antonio) store, they could be informed of the nearest K&C dealer to their home. In the future, Andy thinks K&C San Antonio will become the central distribution point for the U.S. market, reducing the present shipping cost to dealers." Andy stated the primary purpose of the San Antonio store was to attract Alamo tourists who might not know about toy soldiers. If they come into the San Antonio store, they would be given a list of K&C dealers.

 

[CannonFodder1971]

I somehow doubt we will see a Shannon "Santa Anna" Ruess or a Bill "Matamoros" Sager lay seige to Andy's Alamo. It should have the effect of adding to the number of collectors. After all, think of the tens of thousands of visitors - all of whom have an interest in history (otherwise they wouldn't be there). If even a small fraction became K&C disciples then the word will spread and they may well source locally at a store in their home state, especially if they were won through the 'bricks-and-mortar' store experience.

 

[Peter Reuss]

I think the true challenge for all dealers / manufacturers in the toy soldier industry (be they Treefrog, Sager, Andy, Honour Bound, Figarti, or Bob's Cheese and Soldier Shop) is to find ways, not to compete for the same customers, but to increase the customer base. I do think that we have only tapped a small fraction of the people who 'could' be interested in this hobby. Most people have just never experienced a toy soldier in today's forms.

So whatever can be done to increase that customer base is good for us all. If Kings X brings in many people who have never collected before, good for Andy! He took the risk - and he gets the rewards. If we as dealers can advertise in ways that reach new audiences, and if that brings in new collectors, good for us. We take the risk -- and we get the rewards.

If the pie remains the same size, there are limited numbers of pieces to go around. If we can all work to expand the size of the pie, someone might gain weight.

By the way, I like being one of the heros at the end of the episode