Cyber Field Marshall
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,608
On a recent post Andy humbly stated he wasn't a business wizard. I humbly disagree. 
Everybody knows that his magic transformed the toy soldier industry back in 1984. I think its time K&C showed that magical leadership again and transform this industry...and I have faith they can do it....the average collector needs this to happen as the way things are going with the industry are not good for us.
I generally don't buy connoisseur items very often as they are too expensive to get enough pieces to satisfy me. Likewise I generally don't buy inexpensive brands very often because those pieces are not detailed enough for my critical eye. Therefore a brand like K&C has appealled to me the most because they have historically represented a nice tradeoff between price and detail. Clearly K&C have benefitted from this mid-tier approach because the overwhelming majority of my collection has been manufactured by them and they sit atop the industry. So why change what’s working? ^&confuse
Case in point. I know it must be tiring to see post after post bemoaning price increases especially frequent and at times shockingly high price increases. Price increases however have recently started to change my opinion about K&C that I have held so long. Myself and many others are certainly changing our buying patterns and looking for alternatives. I still probably spend as much as I ever did on K&C but I come away with far less product. I do think its unfair to come down on K&C exclusively with this problem but as they are my favourite I’m focusing most of my energy on them. If I didn’t care I wouldn’t say anything at all. Most of the other manufacturers have increased prices too but that doesn't justify it in my opinion. I don’t think its good business to be turning away core customers . It feels like K&C is looking for a different market, a higher end one that sells fewer product but at higher prices. I'm not convinced that is a more profitable approach. {sm2}
As an outsider I don’t think this business strategy will end up working out well. Consider the following. When K&C released DD-104 that was one of the first pieces to hit the $300 shock and awe level….its still available, the Lancaster bombers for $2750….still available, many of the polystone warbirds…..still available. In fact many products priced north of $200 are either still available or easily picked up in the secondary market often at a discount to retail. To me that points to a price plateau that’s been hit. The move to a more exclusive clientele that buys higher priced items in fewer numbers and the fact they are producing fewer pieces and retiring them quicker is a strategy I can't endorse. The dealer inventories seem to be building up despite this new strategy that attempts to move this merchandise. I implore you to reconsider this strategy Andy and this is in fact where I believe your magic is desperately needed.
Here’s what needs to be done very simply stated. Create increasingly higher quality pieces that casual and diehard collectors want at more affordable prices. Simple right?!! {sm3} I don’t have the answers, many others have suggested approaches but ultimately you and your team need to make things happen. Use that wizardry, your core customers are counting on you. {sm4}
P.S. Please release a Stuka soon as I'm getting tired of all Wayne's requests for one and fear his breakdown is eminent.
Everybody knows that his magic transformed the toy soldier industry back in 1984. I think its time K&C showed that magical leadership again and transform this industry...and I have faith they can do it....the average collector needs this to happen as the way things are going with the industry are not good for us. I generally don't buy connoisseur items very often as they are too expensive to get enough pieces to satisfy me. Likewise I generally don't buy inexpensive brands very often because those pieces are not detailed enough for my critical eye. Therefore a brand like K&C has appealled to me the most because they have historically represented a nice tradeoff between price and detail. Clearly K&C have benefitted from this mid-tier approach because the overwhelming majority of my collection has been manufactured by them and they sit atop the industry. So why change what’s working? ^&confuse
Case in point. I know it must be tiring to see post after post bemoaning price increases especially frequent and at times shockingly high price increases. Price increases however have recently started to change my opinion about K&C that I have held so long. Myself and many others are certainly changing our buying patterns and looking for alternatives. I still probably spend as much as I ever did on K&C but I come away with far less product. I do think its unfair to come down on K&C exclusively with this problem but as they are my favourite I’m focusing most of my energy on them. If I didn’t care I wouldn’t say anything at all. Most of the other manufacturers have increased prices too but that doesn't justify it in my opinion. I don’t think its good business to be turning away core customers . It feels like K&C is looking for a different market, a higher end one that sells fewer product but at higher prices. I'm not convinced that is a more profitable approach. {sm2}
As an outsider I don’t think this business strategy will end up working out well. Consider the following. When K&C released DD-104 that was one of the first pieces to hit the $300 shock and awe level….its still available, the Lancaster bombers for $2750….still available, many of the polystone warbirds…..still available. In fact many products priced north of $200 are either still available or easily picked up in the secondary market often at a discount to retail. To me that points to a price plateau that’s been hit. The move to a more exclusive clientele that buys higher priced items in fewer numbers and the fact they are producing fewer pieces and retiring them quicker is a strategy I can't endorse. The dealer inventories seem to be building up despite this new strategy that attempts to move this merchandise. I implore you to reconsider this strategy Andy and this is in fact where I believe your magic is desperately needed.
Here’s what needs to be done very simply stated. Create increasingly higher quality pieces that casual and diehard collectors want at more affordable prices. Simple right?!! {sm3} I don’t have the answers, many others have suggested approaches but ultimately you and your team need to make things happen. Use that wizardry, your core customers are counting on you. {sm4}
P.S. Please release a Stuka soon as I'm getting tired of all Wayne's requests for one and fear his breakdown is eminent.
