Shifting collector demographics and shifting location for shows and clubs? (1 Viewer)

[HistoryfortheAges]

Collector demographic changes in terms of age and retirement may have an impact to the location of Toy Soldier shows and clubs in coming years. Do you believe that more shows or the popularity of shows may spring up in the southeast and southwest areas of the USA as opposed to the Northeast and Midwest areas in the future as collectors move to these traditional and notable retirement locations? Has the clues for this shift made an appearance in this year's 2013 OTSN thread a couple of months ago where it was revealed that the turnout was less than expected from prior years? Is this the beginning of the demise of the north and surge of the south for the Toy Soldier hobby in coming years??? {sm2}

Of course, this shouldn't have an impact to retailers who mainly deal with internet sales.

Any thoughts?

 

[ivanmoe]

Collector demographic changes in terms of age and retirement may have an impact to the location of Toy Soldier shows and clubs in coming years. Do you believe that more shows or the popularity of shows may spring up in the southeast and southwest areas of the USA as opposed to the Northeast and Midwest areas in the future as collectors move to these traditional and notable retirement locations? Has the clues for this shift made an appearance in this year's 2013 OTSN thread a couple of months ago where it was revealed that the turnout was less than expected from prior years? Is this the beginning of the demise of the north and surge of the south for the Toy Soldier hobby in coming years??? {sm2}

Of course, this shouldn't have an impact to retailers who mainly deal with internet sales.

Any thoughts?

I doubt that folks relocating from one part of the USA to another has too terribly much to do with the regional weakness that you describe. Rather, the devil in the situation is a combination of rising prices and declining discretionary income. Particularly hard hit is the segment of the hobby that relies on savings to help subsidize its purchases. I hope that things are better elsewhere, but this "double-whammy" has devastating implications for collectors in the USA. There's still opportunity in the situation for folks who have the cash and are willing to risk it, but the hobby's macro-view looks pretty bleak for us Yanks, dealer and collector alike.

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

I agree with your assessment of the Toy Soldier hobby in general.

I just put this question out there as something to think about as a possible trend of the future of Toy Soldier shows and clubs as a good majority of collectors approach their retirement years. I hear that the San Antonio show has a growing attendance but that could also be for other reasons...

Thanks for your response!

 

[Warrior]

I don't see shows popping up in traditional retirement states; the complaint I often here at shows from those who are retired and on fixed incomes is they don't have the disposable income they once did when they were working, so their purchases are limited.

The Northeast (NY, NJ, PA, MA) and Virginia have been and will continue to be strong areas for collecting, not to mention most of those states have seasonal weather changes and toy soldier collecting is an indoor activity, so September through March is prime collecting time, April through August is get out of the house and do stuff time.

Interesting theory though.