k&c price increase (5 Viewers)

Sadly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for this to happen. Others have tried (e.g. First Legion) “to go direct” before reverting back to a “dealer distribution model”.

My bet is on King & Country to be the first to be successful in “going direct”

They’re the market leader among most collectors, they’ve prepared and there timing, is right to sustain revenues during this market disruption. Other manufacturers will emulate if they can.

Only the savviest dealers with internet marketing expertise with efficient “just in time” inventory systems and excellent cash flow practices will remain.

There will always be a toy soldier hobby but much smaller. Okay, that last statement was pretty obvious.

Carlos
 
desk11desk12 said:
Sadly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for this to happen. Others have tried (e.g. First Legion) “to go direct” before reverting back to a “dealer distribution model”.

My bet is on King & Country to be the first to be successful in “going direct”

They’re the market leader among most collectors, they’ve prepared and there timing, is right to sustain revenues during this market disruption. Other manufacturers will emulate if they can.

Only the savviest dealers with internet marketing expertise with efficient “just in time” inventory systems and excellent cash flow practices will remain.

There will always be a toy soldier hobby but much smaller. Okay, that last statement was pretty obvious.

Carlos
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Carlos the problem for UK buyers is if you buy direct from KC HK anything over £15.00 your have to pay import tax and wait weeks for it to clear customs and then collect it not great to be honest
 
braddinpa said:
Hopefully brick and mortar shops don't go away. They are the ultimate in free advertising for the manufacturer They are the main reason I got into it. I never would have spent 300 for the fl Pz3. In fact yesterday I picked up at the Johns shop the new jagdpanzer iv because I saw it at the shop.
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Agreed internet sales now form a significant part of income for many businesses now, but you can't beat being able to pick up and view the item you are thinking of buying.

In saying that at least 90% of my TS collection has come via internet sales, but that was simply because we have no TS stores here in NZ.

My recent trips overseas to the US and Australia allowed me to visit several TS stores in both countries and the experiences were invaluable on so many levels. Not only was I able to see TS products in the flesh, but I was also able to converse with other collectors in a relaxing environment. Good Times!

I have no doubt retailers and manufacturers will adapt to the ever changing market forces, but stores are important and it would be a great loss if more stores closed their doors in favour of internet sales only.
 
desk11desk12 said:
Sadly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for this to happen. Others have tried (e.g. First Legion) “to go direct” before reverting back to a “dealer distribution model”.

My bet is on King & Country to be the first to be successful in “going direct”

They’re the market leader among most collectors, they’ve prepared and there timing, is right to sustain revenues during this market disruption. Other manufacturers will emulate if they can.

Only the savviest dealers with internet marketing expertise with efficient “just in time” inventory systems and excellent cash flow practices will remain.

There will always be a toy soldier hobby but much smaller. Okay, that last statement was pretty obvious.

Carlos
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Carlos, Are you predicting that K&C will do away with their existing dealers ?

Wayne
 
Alex said:
brick and mortar shops related to this hobby and miniature figures will all die sooner or later.

I now run a company distributing the major manufacturers of figure kits here in Canada and it works beautifully because it is an internet based company ONLY.

I offer price matching on every kit I sell. That's it. No owner of any physical store will be able to compete with my prices.

I also have local customers who can visit the warehouse with an appointment.

this is the future of this hobby and all others related to this it.

by cutting rent, salaries, etc. I can increase my inventory and offer the widest range of products possible, ready for shipping. Also, I only distribute products from companies from which I can select what I want to buy & what will sell the most.

And most importantly, this company only represent a very minor part of my income. It's just for the fun of it !

Cheers

alex
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Congratulations on your new venture but I doubt any hobby shop is going to be greatly concerned by you undercutting them on figure kits. When I started in 1998 I retailed and even produced and wholesaled figure kits. Figure modelling is a very small part of the modelling world and even 10-15 years ago the biggest hobby shops were not catering to that market other than plastics from mainstream brands like Tamiya and Dragon. Even trying to get them to stock Australian figures was next to impossible. Simply not enough dedicated local figure modellers for any shop to make it worthwhile even without competition from the internet.

Too many types (plastic, resin, metal, vinyl), scales (1/35, 54mm, 80/90mm, 120mm) and then historical periods.

There are some specialist mail order operators in Oz but have seen a few close down after only a few years because suppliers would supply whoever asked and they ended up discounting to get the business of the other guys. The most successful one lived with his mum and took over the garage with his stock.
 
PanzerAce1944 said:
Carlos, Are you predicting that K&C will do away with their existing dealers ?

Wayne
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No, I'm not. It will be "survival of the fittest".

Those that can adapt to new market conditions and KC's new distribution model will sustain themselves. Others that can't or become too frustrate, will exit the market themselves as total market revenue slowly shrink for all of the reasons mention in this thread.

uksub, mentions something interesting about "customs" effect on UK collectors that the US collector doesn't. I'm not sure if anyone can legally overcome this obstacle. Sadly, someday this might happen in the US as Americans become more willing to emulate European culture and the cost of bearing it.

Carlos
 
It takes discipline to say, no, I'm not going to buy that and am going to stick to what I like best. It's not easy to do so.

Brad[/QUOTE]



Very well said, you got the real point. Happiness is in "be happy for your situation"," give up", " let it go"....Sure, this needs a constant attention and a control of our mind.:)
 
desk11desk12 said:

Sadly, someday this might happen in the US as Americans become more willing to emulate European culture and the cost of bearing it.
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Glad you qualified that. Won't happen. Wonderful to visit, but so nice to be home. Years ago, when walking down any High
Street, I knew what country I was in. Today, not so much.
 
I hope I managed to pick up every item from the pdf list. If not, I apologise. (I may have missed a line or two)


Hope this helps in how the stats look like and your prioritising of purchases. If this helps you, then refer to it. If not, please just skip this.



Actually two items in the list posted zero price increase: LOJ024 and FW186.


Series
Average of Price Increase​
Average of % Increase​
Count of SKU​
AE 14.6726%15
AF 1.443%9
AG 7.3014%23
AK 3.788%9
AL 10.6413%22
BB 2.334%27
CE 5.7811%9
CR 8.6016%5
DD 3.946%32
EA 3.578%23
FOB 4.579%21
FW 4.9310%69
GA 3.466%13
HK 36.1242%66
HOC 3.006%1
IC 5.249%38
IF 4.1310%15
LAH 5.6713%21
LOJ 9.1513%26
LW 8.0020%11
MG 5.008%22
MK 11.2010%5
NA 9.3410%47
NE 5.148%22
PnM 11.2319%47
RA 4.8910%47
RT 20.5837%12
SP 12.0021%9
TR 6.137%38
WH 5.868%14
WS 5.188%11
Summary 9.3414%729
 
desk11desk12 said:
No, I'm not. It will be "survival of the fittest".

Those that can adapt to new market conditions and KC's new distribution model will sustain themselves. Others that can't or become too frustrate, will exit the market themselves as total market revenue slowly shrink for all of the reasons mention in this thread.

uksub, mentions something interesting about "customs" effect on UK collectors that the US collector doesn't. I'm not sure if anyone can legally overcome this obstacle. Sadly, someday this might happen in the US as Americans become more willing to emulate European culture and the cost of bearing it.

Carlos
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I hope you are wrong about everything you just said including the culture change, and what about our great ostn show in Chicago, what would it be like without some of our great dealers and the good times we have seeing each other. carlos remember the year figarti had the huge landing craft diorama of Normandy to go along with the cool german train station. you were like a kid in a candyshop taking photos of those. they were great times
 
OTSN has been going on before many of us (how long I don't know) and I'm sure it will go (in some form) after us.
 
HAWKEYE said:
I hope you are wrong about everything you just said including the culture change, and what about our great ostn show in Chicago, what would it be like without some of our great dealers and the good times we have seeing each other. carlos remember the year figarti had the huge landing craft diorama of Normandy to go along with the cool german train station. you were like a kid in a candyshop taking photos of those. they were great times
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Yes, I do remember. They were great times!

I still have that LCT on displayed in my home.

Here’s something most of you don’t know. Figarti predicted this market eventuality about 6 years ago and the necessity to “go direct” for obvious reasons. They seriously making this move for a two (2) years.

However, Rick Wang decided against it because of loyalty to dealers and the paradigm shift necessary to transform Figarti.

This was a hobby to them! The eventual sale of the company wasn’t because of the eventual market disruption but because, he wanted to pursue other interests. It’s unbelievable but it’s true! How many times I tried to get him to focus on the possibilities. He did, but elsewhere and that’s where he made his fortune.

Turns out he made the right decision. However, I will always be grateful for my association with Figarti and the wonderful toys they brought to all us collectors.

Carlos

Click below to see the Figarti's LCT from the 2009 Chicago Toy Soldier Show

http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?16765-OSTN-Chicago-Show-Figarti-EVEN-More-Pictures
 
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We will never see anything like that landing craft again, ever.
 
Bottom line up front.....If there are items on the price increase list, buy before 1 July 2016 or pay the increased rate.

Wayne
 
PanzerAce1944 said:
Bottom line up front.....If there are items on the price increase list, buy before 1 July 2016 or pay the increased rate.

Wayne
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Yes, that would be the sales pitch Wayne.

Price increases on old releases do not sit well with me.

It certainly doesn't motivate me to buy old releases now, as it's designed to do. Moreover, it doesn't inspire me to buy new releases later either.

Joe
 
joesgis said:
Yes, that would be the sales pitch Wayne.

Price increases on old releases do not sit well with me.

It certainly doesn't motivate me to buy old releases now, as it's designed to do. Moreover, it doesn't inspire me to buy new releases later either.

Joe
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Joe, Not so much as a sales pitch but the pending reality. Luckily for me a few items that I had my eye on have not gone up....Yet !

Wayne
 
PanzerAce1944 said:
Joe, Not so much as a sales pitch but the pending reality. Luckily for me a few items that I had my eye on have not gone up....Yet !

Wayne
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No announcement by KnC HK as yet although they know prices are going up in the shop. I asked for a July price list, but they don't have them.
 
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