Range Expansion Thoughts (1 Viewer)

[Empire MM]

Hi Everyone,

While I am convalesing, I am looking to the future while analysing the past years performance for Empire. Overall, the business and brand has grown very well and faster than I thought, which is great. With this though comes the all important next stage move, range and figure expansion.

I know there are many people who have not bought into my releases (yet?) as the subject matter does not cover anything they are interested in.(there may be other reasons too of course {sm4} ). So, before I commit to paper and investment, I thought I would give you all a chance to give me some guidance / ideas as to what you may like to see. After all, when I established Empire I did say it would be from a collector and for collectors.

My current thought processes are as below:

Expanding the WW1 range onto a theatre of the war that has not been greatly covered (if at all) as yet.
A series of figures linked to RFC/RAF/RANS/USAS/USAF etc, based on vignette ideas and personalities.
Adding more figures (both Empire and Native) to the Zulu War figures in the Colonial Range.
Producing figures in the Colonial range that would compliment lections featuring the Nile campaign.
Looking to the British Empire in India.
Maybe (crazily) entering the Napoleonic period.
A series for the Victorian period.
Posibly entering the gloss market

We were, interestingly, on the cusp of releasing a Romans range but, due to the number of releases coming from other manufacturers we have placed this on hold. However, would there be interest in a range were we to do so?

Additionaly, where would you like to see our WW1 range go to? Someone commented recently that JJD has covered arenas of WW1 that no one else has, quite right too, I have most of Johns releases. I have done this with the Belgians of course and the 1914 BEF figures. Is there something I could add that you good people would like to see?

Thanks as always, I look forward to hearing thoughts and comments. My primary aim is to satisfy the collectors and I will always try and do what is right for them. Sometimes I get it wrong maybe but if I do, it is never intentional :salute::

Best regards,

Malcolm.

 

[aujj65]

Hi Everyone,

While I am convalesing, I am looking to the future while analysing the past years performance for Empire. Overall, the business and brand has grown very well and faster than I thought, which is great. With this though comes the all important next stage move, range and figure expansion.

I know there are many people who have not bought into my releases (yet?) as the subject matter does not cover anything they are interested in.(there may be other reasons too of course {sm4} ). So, before I commit to paper and investment, I thought I would give you all a chance to give me some guidance / ideas as to what you may like to see. After all, when I established Empire I did say it would be from a collector and for collectors.

My current thought processes are as below:

Expanding the WW1 range onto a theatre of the war that has not been greatly covered (if at all) as yet.
A series of figures linked to RFC/RAF/RANS/USAS/USAF etc, based on vignette ideas and personalities.
Adding more figures (both Empire and Native) to the Zulu War figures in the Colonial Range.
Producing figures in the Colonial range that would compliment lections featuring the Nile campaign.
Looking to the British Empire in India.
Maybe (crazily) entering the Napoleonic period.
A series for the Victorian period.
Posibly entering the gloss market

We were, interestingly, on the cusp of releasing a Romans range but, due to the number of releases coming from other manufacturers we have placed this on hold. However, would there be interest in a range were we to do so?

Additionaly, where would you like to see our WW1 range go to? Someone commented recently that JJD has covered arenas of WW1 that no one else has, quite right too, I have most of Johns releases. I have done this with the Belgians of course and the 1914 BEF figures. Is there something I could add that you good people would like to see?

Thanks as always, I look forward to hearing thoughts and comments. My primary aim is to satisfy the collectors and I will always try and do what is right for them. Sometimes I get it wrong maybe but if I do, it is never intentional :salute::

Best regards,

Malcolm.

Hi Malcolm,

From what I've seen of your figures at the London shows, they match up with WB very well. This is a great idea as there are many gaps in the WB WAN range yet to be filled.

Jeff

 

[Major Busgen]

I don't think there's anything crazy about entering the Napoleonic market.
It seems to be an ever-popular period with collectors and there are still plenty of units which haven't been covered.
Good luck with your expansion plans.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Malcolm,

Glad to read that you are feeling better. Take your time and get well.

Now on to your post, there are a lot of areas you mentioned that I would really enjoy seeing, especially, since you tend to go with units that havent been covered so deeply. Would personally love to see some British Raj sets offered in Gloss as an alternative to matte so I could incorporate them into my Durbar display. If you do enter this area let me know and I will gladly send you a series of suggested units and photos of uniforms etc if needed.

There is also room for a lot of different things in WWI. So the sky is the limit!

All the best

Dave

 

[marco55]

If you were thinking outside the British Empire the 2nd Seminole War would be interesting.If thinking Napoleonic The Battle of New Orleans would be good.British,Americans,Indians,Pirates,frontiersman,militia,etc..It has a lot.
Mark

 

[lancer]

Take a look at WW1. It is being well covered now as compared to 5-10 years ago. The Western Front, the Mid-East, Gallipoli, and the air war are all major series in production by other makers. A start has been made for the Eastern Front with the recent release of Russian infantry. There is a need for Austro-Hungarian representation and there is a need for the many different national armies that fought in the East. Certainly room for doing the many cavalry units in the East, as well. The Italian Front is completely unrepresented. Another completely untouched area (by matte manufacturers) are the different East-African Campaign armies. There is also the multi-national possibilities offered by the Salonikan Front. While the Western Front has been well covered, there is still room for unrepresented armies or armies in transition as uniforms changed. Still a lot to do. -- Al

 

[Johnboy]

Hi Malcolm,
As you know I collect Zulu war figures (looking forward to the figures already ordered from you!) However my main focus is Napoleonic, in particular Waterloo. There are dozens of units not yet covered or not covered to a large degree. An idea would be to use units that had the same uniforms in both the Peninsular and at Waterloo. Some manufacturer's have their figures in uniforms only used in the Peninsular thereby excluding collectors who only "do" Waterloo (there are plenty of us about) Just a thought

 

[Spanish soldier]

In Wild West serie, no manufacturer has released mounties.













Francisco:salute::

 

[marco55]

Someone please give this man some Mounties.He has been very patient.
Mark

 

[Charlie Brown]

Any plans to release additional sets in the Memorial range? While it's great to have numerous figures to set out in vast diorama's. Still good to have smallers group of figures which represent historical events in a more compact form. Space is an issue for many I suspect. I'd happily pay for well thought out accurate figures in limited quantities. Than just "another" figure which individually looks great. When added to the display it simply merges and vanishes without trace.

:salute::

 

[Sahara]

We were, interestingly, on the cusp of releasing a Romans range but, due to the number of releases coming from other manufacturers we have placed this on hold

Well that's a bummer. Always room for more Romans^&grin

 

[Empire MM]

Well that's a bummer. Always room for more Romans^&grin

I felt the same as I was looking forward to the research as well as the manufacturing / releases. The problem I have, like any manufacturer, is that we need to have the confidence that they will sell in strong enough depth to make the range investment worthwhile so, it would be interesting to know peoples thoughts on if they would collect a Romans range from Empire and if they had periods / conflicts in mind they would like to see released.

Never say never.......

Thanks for the reply and encouragement, it is appreciated Sahara. It can get lonely in the command bunker {sm4}

Malcolm.:salute::

 

[Peiper007]

HELLO

War of the Nile seems to be a range that Britains have forgot........ as they have on other ranges, I seem to remember a Museum range at one point, better quality, but then it was merged, as have been the Clash of Empires range.

The best advise I can think of is make them compatible with other ranges, am thinking
Zulu range - I have Britains, Conte and T Gunn
War of the Nile - W Britains and J Jenkins.
WW2 & Napoleonics - K & C and Thomas Gunn

The Pacific range by Thomas Gunn has sold really well, could do with some add on's. there are Aussies, but no Brits, could be an opportunity.

First World War trench sets - would like to see a diorama of the engineers/miners, has lots of scope, with a mine shaft and the Engineers sat round and also digging the shaft, you have equipment, animals, staff officers inspecting and even a breakthrough diorama of fighting in the tunnels as one shaft breaks another.

Not a lot in the Brit Seven Year War era lately, especially British troops,

 

[marco55]

Since you seem to focus on British conflicts which I understand completely late 19th century NWF/2nd Afghan War would be interesting.If nothing else I would buy a Lord Roberts figure.
Mark

 

[Sahara]

Staying with the Roman theme I would love to see some one tackle the late Roman empire. The battle of Catalaunian Plains or the battle of Mons Badonicus.

 

[Empire MM]

HELLO

War of the Nile seems to be a range that Britains have forgot........ as they have on other ranges, I seem to remember a Museum range at one point, better quality, but then it was merged, as have been the Clash of Empires range.

The best advise I can think of is make them compatible with other ranges, am thinking
Zulu range - I have Britains, Conte and T Gunn
War of the Nile - W Britains and J Jenkins.
WW2 & Napoleonics - K & C and Thomas Gunn

The Pacific range by Thomas Gunn has sold really well, could do with some add on's. there are Aussies, but no Brits, could be an opportunity.

First World War trench sets - would like to see a diorama of the engineers/miners, has lots of scope, with a mine shaft and the Engineers sat round and also digging the shaft, you have equipment, animals, staff officers inspecting and even a breakthrough diorama of fighting in the tunnels as one shaft breaks another.

Not a lot in the Brit Seven Year War era lately, especially British troops,

Hi Peiper,

Come and view our Zulu war figures, they are completely compatible with W Britain, intentionally as I wanted them to fit in with my WB collection too!

Wise advise, thanks.

Malcolm. :salute::

 

[Empire MM]

Since you seem to focus on British conflicts which I understand completely late 19th century NWF/2nd Afghan War would be interesting.If nothing else I would buy a Lord Roberts figure.
Mark

Hi Mark,

I really would like to find something for my American market that is not British so....