K&C Talking (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Was really interesting on Saturday talking to both Andy and Tony about how they operate and how their systems work.Andy was telling me that he works up to nine months in advance and so is about to start work on winter stuff for 2009,so everything between now and then is already done and mostly dusted.I think we as collectors often forget this sort of thing and just concentrate on what we want,not really considering how much thought effort and groundwork go into these releases.It really is not just a wave of the magic wand and hey presto, Rob's got some new Paras!.

Talking to Tony was also enlightening as he told me about ordering processes.Its not just a matter of bulk ordering of a particular product and hoping for the best.They have to sit down and work out (with a bit of give and take)just who will be likely to buy a particular item,again i'd never really thought about this.

For me talking to Tony,Andy,Mike,Clive etc is one of the highlights of the London shows,its so good to learn how these guys go about getting the stuff we want on the shelves.Its by talking to these guys that we can be much more informed of how things work and therefore understand much more of what goes on,theres so much more to this than the 'I want list'.

Rob

 

[UKReb]

Was really interesting on Saturday talking to both Andy and Tony about how they operate and how their systems work.Andy was telling me that he works up to nine months in advance and so is about to start work on winter stuff for 2009,so everything between now and then is already done and mostly dusted.I think we as collectors often forget this sort of thing and just concentrate on what we want,not really considering how much thought effort and groundwork go into these releases.It really is not just a wave of the magic wand and hey presto, Rob's got some new Paras!.

Talking to Tony was also enlightening as he told me about ordering processes.Its not just a matter of bulk ordering of a particular product and hoping for the best.They have to sit down and work out (with a bit of give and take)just who will be likely to buy a particular item,again i'd never really thought about this.

For me talking to Tony,Andy,Mike,Clive etc is one of the highlights of the London shows,its so good to learn how these guys go about getting the stuff we want on the shelves.Its by talking to these guys that we can be much more informed of how things work and therefore understand much more of what goes on,theres so much more to this than the 'I want list'.

Rob

Rob

Good post and oh! so valid. Any of the forum members who have had to write a business/project plan and then project associated costs and man hours will know only too well it can be an absolute nightmare.

I have written dozens of BP's for the Ministry of Defence UK and your projections-in most cases two years in advance sometimes a lot longer- are primarily based on requirements and projected budgets. How you get there is in a lot of cases a pure guesstimate due to the information available at the time you start. And the end result always leaves someone unhappy- it just comes with the territory.

I would have assumed-although your post now confirms that- that Andy and his team would always have to work one or two years in advance. From the germ of an idea which includes the important discussion equation "Will it sell?"-to a series of drawings-to molding a trial figure/vehicle-to paint trials-necessary alterations-production line set-ups (can it be manufactured within the projected cost parameters?)-packaging-advertising etc.etc. the list and sometimes the grief goes on and on. Then finally it appears on the monthly dispatches-sometimes to be greeted with sheer joy by the forum members-sometimes no better than a wailing wall.

Rob repeat good post, and a well deserved reminder for all of us on here, the long and torturous route that little military miniature has taken to appear on here every month for our pleasure or our moans.

Reb

 

[Rob]

Thank you Reb,much appreciated.You raise a good point that i didn't cover and that is the 'Will it sell' debate.This must be one of the most important factors of all when deciding what to release.However passionate we all are about our collections there is a much wider picture to look at,and i guess sometimes we are blinded to this bigger picture by our own particular wants.

I have read posts that say 'Make this and it will sell loads no doubt about it',but do we really know that?.And are we really just saying 'Please make it because i and a few others really want it'!.We also don't i feel give enough credit to the people who create these figures and vehicles,who have done so for years and TRULY know what will sell and what will not.

Don't get me wrong i've been guilty of 'Over lobbying' myself in the past.But as time goes by i'm now getting to understand that theres so much more to the process than just throwing a list at Andy or Clive etc and saying 'Make this and when will it be ready'!.Its nice as customers if we have some sway with Andy and he no doubt does listen and takes our views on board to a point (the return to Arnhem is a good example),however i think we have to keep things into perspective and try to see things from outside our own little box.

Anyone who gets the chance to speak to the top guys of the top producers at these shows,i urge you to do it,its very interesting and enlightening and will give you a greater idea of what goes on.

Rob

 

[Kurt]

Did Andy, Tony or anyone discuss in detail how they determine if something will sell? While certain items would unquestionably sell very well and others unquestionably very poorly, it seems to me that most items will fall in the middle of these poles and it's anybody's guess. I wonder how many requested items get shot down on a false assumption they won't sell.

 

[Rob]

What Andy did say was that whatever they release there will always,ALWAYS be someone not happy with their choice.Its the way of things isn't,you can please some of the people some of the time but never all of the people all of the time.Although K&C came close to that with the latest dispatches!

Rob