Looking for some logical answers... (2 Viewers)

[MarkeytMaker]

Can someone provide three reasons why K&C collecting will have anything less of a market then there is now in 10 years?...remember I'm looking for logical. I'm not accepting nuclear bombs as answers...nor will I accept the economy as that has already proven untrue...o.k make that one reason!

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Umm...No.

 

[redhugh]

I don't think K&C is going to replace gold anytime soon 10 years is a long time

 

[jazzeum]

Collecting is a mercurial thing. Today's frenzies are tomorrow's out of style. This is a hobby for most. As such, we are fickle. Ten years ago K & C was small and had some devotees. Look at it now. Ten years is a long time in which to predict the future. Another example: in 1923 Hitler was another would be rabble rouser in Munich (a hotbed of rabble rousers) whose future looked dim. Ten years later he was the Chancellor. Things are difficult to predict.

 

[Louis Badolato]

If Andy retires, or sells the business, or is no longer at the helm, K&C could lose its place as an industry leader. Once there is no demand for K&C's new stuff, the old stuff could lose its luster as well. People may forget this now that Richard Walker and Ken Osen have done such a fantastic job bringing Britains back, but once Ertyl bought Britains, it fell apart, and there was no secondary market for Britains except for the really old hollowcast stuff.

 

[Tony Neville]

There are plans in place for K&C to continue on and on.

My research in the UK has shown that the largest age market is 45 - 60 with 60+ being the second. This would point to those who grew up with input from relatives with regards history etc and as such collect based on films, toys and knowledge as a child. As a few collectors have mentioned in the past a collector now is often the one who as a child had toy soldiers but not many. And now they are at the age (where most) are at the peak of their work career and income is good, and mortages are clearing there is more disposable to spend on a hobby.

My research would show that the interest would continue for another 10 - 20 years in the hobby (based on the current collectors base) ie the 45 - 60 old guys just move up on age and have more disposable and hobby time.

now if the collectors are there and the ages interest is there then as long as the manafacturer is able to perform to the demand (like K&C) then the market will only grow to sustain it.

The London show that we run shows a year on year, show on show increase in interest.

So my answer is that the market will not only get bigger but knowing the K&C long term development plan with the current awesome development and management team (one balances the other) K&C market share will still remain the same if not get stronger as more and more people come into the hobby with the main stream interest being used.

The hobby used to be a 'you had to know it to know it hobby' Now you can pick up magzines in regular stores, items are sold in regular stores etc.

However one thing that i can say we used Southampton Universaty to do a study on K&C UK and toy soldiers and they were not able to do a market share study. The hobby is still too small of an industry to get a real feel.

My survey results of over 4000 K&C UK members told me that the average member of K&C UK collectors club holds 80+% of their collection as K&C!! Then again if you surveyed the Britains club iam sure there would be the opposite swing!

i have sat and discussed (being only 37) the longevity of development of K&C and am more than happy with the plan.

Tony Neville
K&C UK

 

[Tony Neville]

If Andy retires, or sells the business, or is no longer at the helm, K&C could lose its place as an industry leader. Once there is no demand for K&C's new stuff, the old stuff could lose its luster as well. People may forget this now that Richard Walker and Ken Osen have done such a fantastic job bringing Britains back, but once Ertyl bought Britains, it fell apart, and there was no secondary market for Britains except for the really old hollowcast stuff.

Louis

As you well know.........Andy retire?? He and Mike (my dad) have discussed it and they have both said that all the time there is 'fight in the old dog'. There is a definate plan in place with Hong Kong so there will be plenty of K&C around for the years to come.

Tony

 

[Rob]

There are plans in place for K&C to continue on and on.

My research in the UK has shown that the largest age market is 45 - 60 with 60+ being the second. This would point to those who grew up with input from relatives with regards history etc and as such collect based on films, toys and knowledge as a child. As a few collectors have mentioned in the past a collector now is often the one who as a child had toy soldiers but not many. And now they are at the age (where most) are at the peak of their work career and income is good, and mortages are clearing there is more disposable to spend on a hobby.

My research would show that the interest would continue for another 10 - 20 years in the hobby (based on the current collectors base) ie the 45 - 60 old guys just move up on age and have more disposable and hobby time.

now if the collectors are there and the ages interest is there then as long as the manafacturer is able to perform to the demand (like K&C) then the market will only grow to sustain it.

The London show that we run shows a year on year, show on show increase in interest.

So my answer is that the market will not only get bigger but knowing the K&C long term development plan with the current awesome development and management team (one balances the other) K&C market share will still remain the same if not get stronger as more and more people come into the hobby with the main stream interest being used.

The hobby used to be a 'you had to know it to know it hobby' Now you can pick up magzines in regular stores, items are sold in regular stores etc.

However one thing that i can say we used Southampton Universaty to do a study on K&C UK and toy soldiers and they were not able to do a market share study. The hobby is still too small of an industry to get a real feel.

My survey results of over 4000 K&C UK members told me that the average member of K&C UK collectors club holds 80+% of their collection as K&C!! Then again if you surveyed the Britains club iam sure there would be the opposite swing!

i have sat and discussed (being only 37) the longevity of development of K&C and am more than happy with the plan.

Tony Neville
K&C UK

Ok Tony,I take the hint.I'm 45-60 and will of course take over the reins when you decide to call it a day.To save time,do want to pop me a set of keys in the post...you know...for when you finally call it a day!

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis

As you well know.........Andy retire?? He and Mike (my dad) have discussed it and they have both said that all the time there is 'fight in the old dog'. There is a definate plan in place with Hong Kong so there will be plenty of K&C around for the years to come.

Tony

I know Tony, and I don't expect it to happen. It is, however, the only logical way I can see K&C falling off the top of the mountain, as anything can happen in this world. As smoothly as both K&C and K&C, UK are running under the respective helms of Andy and your wonderful dad, Mike, were they no longer at the helm, I would worry.

 

[Tony Neville]

I know Tony, and I don't expect it to happen. It is, however, the only logical way I can see K&C falling off the top of the mountain, as anything can happen in this world. As smoothly as both K&C and K&C, UK are running under the respective helms of Andy and your wonderful dad, Mike, were they no longer at the helm, I would worry.

Hey Louis

no panic i will step up tp the plate!! And then theres Bob in the reserve!!

Long may it be before that happens

Tony

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Good to know K&C has a succession plan in place.

Thanks Tony

Terry

 

[Tony Neville]

Ok Tony,I take the hint.I'm 45-60 and will of course take over the reins when you decide to call it a day.To save time,do want to pop me a set of keys in the post...you know...for when you finally call it a day!

Rob

Rob orry mate your too near the 60!! mark to take over..........ha ha!

If you lived closer you would have a day job here no doubt!

Here at K&C UK we have bred a succsession plan.........Andy mind had a girl!!

But then he has a great team of developers and marketing guys and girls around him, in Hong Kong

Tony

 

[CelticDave]

Would the succsession involve any sort of coronation!!

would you get a crowns and septers?

 

[theBaron]

Tony's right, it's most likely to be a declining number of new, younger collectors joining the hobby.

That's why it's important to do what we can to nurture the next generation of collectors and inculcate a love of the hobby, and the things associated with it. Get your kids involved, if you have them, and get them interested in history. Toys and scale models are also good stepping stones to collecting figures. If you don't have kids, you can always join a club, or start one, to promote interest and fellowship in the hobby. Of course, you can do both, too, have your own kids, and join a club. The Internet is marvellous, but we still need to get out and meet other collectors, and see figures and toy soldiers up close.

Above all, be optimistic about it. If you just grumble and say, "No one's interested," well, the end comes that much sooner, doesn't it?

Prost!
Brad

 

[Sgt. 403]

I think somebody else mentioned it, but if not, a possible reason of decline would be a loss of interest. I was a kid in the 80s collecting baseball cards like crazy. There seemed to be no end in sight. But I believe I've read about 1989 was the hey day. The market got glutted, the internet came along, etc. Either way, the market is only about 20% of what it was 20 years ago. I'm in the process of selling off my collection now and will get less for them when I sell them than if I had sold them 10 years ago, the last time I got any.

As far as K&C collecting goes, I'm on the young end (35) and getting my 4 year old into history, so maybe the same thing won't happen to toy soldiers. I'd think the # of kids into baseball who collect cards is far greater than the # of kids into military history who collect toy soldiers. But toy soldiers would seem to be the kind of thing more interesting for an adult, over collecting baseball cards. At least to me.

In collecting toy soldiers of your favorite time period, you're also spared the indignity of finding out your favorite general was using performance enhancing drugs to propel him to his great victories.

 

[Spitfrnd]

.....In collecting toy soldiers of your favorite time period, you're also spared the indignity of finding out your favorite general was using performance enhancing drugs to propel him to his great victories.

Well yes as to the specifics but no as to the principle, judged by the hindsight of history, no general has any clothes and nearly all have very full closets.