New 88 pic (2 Viewers)

[PanzerAce1944]

Any update on this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmRkS1os7k



Wayne

 

[jomartvr]

Is Britains going belly up?

 

[CanesBart]

Boy that's nice!

 

[vandilay]

Is Britains going belly up?

If they are not it appears they are on life support , I hope that is not the case Britains deetail and later metal sets are what got
me into this hobby . I used to order sets from Hamleys as a kid because so little was available in NZ . [ and that took a lot of pocket money ]
An absolutely iconic name in toy soldiers .

 

[jomartvr]

For me it was the deetail civil war and gun and limber sets which I still have today. They bring me much joy. The name is iconic but times change.
Benjamin

 

[vandilay]

For me it was the deetail civil war and gun and limber sets which I still have today. They bring me much joy. The name is iconic but times change.
Benjamin

Very true , would still be a **** shame .
When I first re discovered toy soldiers via the
Internet and ebay Etc Britains was my go to search .

 

[jomartvr]

Your right it, however, the silence from WB says it all, IMHO.

 

[BHogan]

I sure hope Britains isn't going under. I renewed my collector's club membership for 2018 and my credit card has already been charged. I really like the new War of 1812 figures that are being produced as part of the "Museum Collection." I also buy the Napoleonic / War of 1812 figures from the "Jack Tars & Leathernecks" series.

Brendan

 

[jazzeum]

I hope to be going in Louis' and if I do, I will try to raise the concerns raised by many.

 

[graycap]

The London Toy Soldier Show is on 24 March - less than three weeks away. Perhaps the Britains reps attending will be able to provide an update on their plans for 2018.

 

[Guest]

Defining 'in trouble' is the issue, I have no idea if they are in financial difficulties, but taking 2018 membership fees is one thing I think they will want to get in ASAP. Where they are in trouble is with deliveries, they are really poor, the 88mm gun is an extreme example but they are always very late with releases, while the 2017 collectors club figures were not released until Nov 2017. This must have a financial impact, but to want extent I do not really know.

I think the business model Britains work on is quite old, membership fee and paper brochures, the Standard etc. There are no other TS manufacturers that produce a brochure of the stock and new releases [fair enough K & C do, but not as their main sales channel]. This model is also linked to membership and is a key selling point to become a member, copies of the Standard and the Annual Brochure amongst other things of course. The Annual brochure with new releases also sets out what to expect and Britains do not deliver on time, this creates disappointed and upset customers, not great for the company image. Put this together with some great other manufacturers that are delivering new great MONTHLY releases and there is only one way for the company to go..........

If I was Britains I would get in touch with Conte and see what moulds etc are left. Conte Zulus, Vikings and Romans were great. Produce from those moulds but with Britains painting and packaging.

 

[7th OVI]

Agreed, defining "in trouble" is the issue. They did change their approach with catalogs and brochures as well as new releases and availability dates. They did this to lower collector frustration and get out of "trouble" with their customer base. Time will tell how this works but it is more in line with their competition and the current TS environment.

As far as financial "trouble", hard to say from the outside of WB. One thing is for certain, not having new products to sell in this business environment will eventually negatively impact them financially. Only Ken, Erica, their partners and investors know their financial situation and the impact the delays have on the balance sheet and P&L.

Ken and Erica have gone "dark" on their website, forums and Facebook before and for good reasons. Hopefully this is the same situation.

I am sort of like UKReb, in taking the hoping and wishing approach and this turns out okay for everyone's sake. I have been putting off a new series of dioramas waiting for the new releases I have pre ordered. I think I am up to 38 different poses and accessories for the ACW and CoE series. They are the only ones I collect. I really do not have a Plan B right now, but may start looking at one soon.

 

[lenswerks]

Conte-Seriously - Would not be WB then would it.
Business Model - You’re kidding – That cracked me up.

War Along the Nile Tel-el-Kebir [and others] were announced to be released Spring 2017. This was part of the winter 2016 collection. I had pre-ordered ~800$, cash payment [not from TF, but another store I was using at that time] and was aware the actual release missing the announced date by 30-60 days and that was okay, they had been doing that for the past 10 years. Tel-el-Kebir has still not been released in the US, removed with WB WEB site. Some were released in the UK. Sellers now show they are to be released either January/February 2018 or early 2018. Well when you cannot produce the product that sometimes means no cash. After waiting a year thinking they would be released anytime, I ask and received a refund.

It’s not about that I had 800$ tied up for a year. It is about that no information was released by the company to its customers about the continued no product delays. However, there was always time for the company to show what they are working on next.

The company has a nice product and fair price, but no management.

 

[Charlie Brown]

If I was Britains I would get in touch with Conte and see what moulds etc are left. Conte Zulus, Vikings and Romans were great. Produce from those moulds but with Britains painting and packaging.

{sm2}{sm2}{sm2}

 

[Vezzolf]

Looks good and be worth the wait.

So when will we see this?????

 

[Thin Red Line]

Conte-Seriously - Would not be WB then would it.
Business Model - You’re kidding – That cracked me up.

War Along the Nile Tel-el-Kebir [and others] were announced to be released Spring 2017. This was part of the winter 2016 collection. I had pre-ordered ~800$, cash payment [not from TF, but another store I was using at that time] and was aware the actual release missing the announced date by 30-60 days and that was okay, they had been doing that for the past 10 years. Tel-el-Kebir has still not been released in the US, removed with WB WEB site. Some were released in the UK. Sellers now show they are to be released either January/February 2018 or early 2018. Well when you cannot produce the product that sometimes means no cash. After waiting a year thinking they would be released anytime, I ask and received a refund.

It’s not about that I had 800$ tied up for a year. It is about that no information was released by the company to its customers about the continued no product delays. However, there was always time for the company to show what they are working on next.

The company has a nice product and fair price, but no management.

Ive done the same as you, i'd pre ordered the whole new War Along The Nile set but cancelled . The lack of figures coming to market and the complete lack of information from WB is turning me off.
Ive had a reminder from the Club but don't think i'll renew this year after the delays of last year and the Nap figure not being that being that exciting.
Its a shame I've brought hundreds of WB Naps over the last few years but have moved over to First Legion ,a lot more money especially in the UK
but wonderful quality and the ranges seem to have a lot more figures in , a problem with WB a lot of Nap regiments only got a small amount of similar poses .

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Well, I posed the question concerning the 88 gun here on the forum 3 days ago to those attending the N.Y. symposium
with Britains in attendance. No reply was given ^&confuse

Wayne

 

[nysoldiers]

Well, I posed the question concerning the 88 gun here on the forum 3 days ago to those attending the N.Y. symposium
with Britains in attendance. No reply was given ^&confuse

Wayne

Ken and Erica Osen did not show up at the symposium, apparently they caught the flu.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Ken and Erica Osen did not show up at the symposium, apparently they caught the flu.

Nysoldiers, Thanks for your input !

Wayne

 

[jomartvr]

Well, I posed the question concerning the 88 gun here on the forum 3 days ago to those attending the N.Y. symposium
with Britains in attendance. No reply was given ^&confuse

Wayne

The fact that no answer was provided says it all.
Benjamin