Latorre Models BU/02 Review

[Robin]

HI Gray

You attitude sounds great and with a business plan like that you will succeed and the US will have another good figure company, however please be carefull in saying things like that about named retailers like Red Lancers, becuase right or wrong your statement could be taken badly, do you know the operation there or anywhere that well to know you are unique in what in you do. Its within there interest to promote the hobby and many do actively just do not shout about it just see it as sound business sense as you do.

One of the ways is supporting manufacturers by buying stock of all figures ( I know this is not viable to a new business) , some of which will end up being sold off, but at least he gives them a chance, the nature of his business is this and his skill in it (hes gotta be good hes still here after a longtime) that he helped a few manufacturers get started so we that we ( teh painters) benefit.

Just as I would like to think you shouldn't see two figure manufacturers rubbishing each others work, we should stick together to a point so should retailers.

Just a comment

Robin

 

[milminwh]

Greetings,
As a figure retailer myself, I'd like to dive into this discussion, because I'm fascinated by the postings made by figure painters (customers and potential customers in my own eyes!)
Gray brings up a very valid point about maintaining figure inventory, and the difficulties in handling slow moving inventory, foriegn manufacturers that take time to ship, and the frustrations of the purchaser, when an order is placed on an out-of-stock item.
After initial release of a new figure, sales usually are quite brisk, then level off, then (in many cases) go to a level of sales that is almost non-existent. For a retailer (or e-tailer) to maintain inventory on older product can be quite a financial challenge! I've learned over the past 5 years which products are dead, and which continue as steady sales, but only time can determine a product's destiny.
Here's a good example - - - it appears as if I & E Miniatures is out of business. Since I catalog any/all Civil War products, I try & maintain an inventory on anything/everything on my web site & in my paper catalog. In the interim, my competitors are running clearance ads on this line, making my prices uncompetitive. This action has forced me to mark down my stock to remain competitive. Eventually, I'll sell out, and six months from now, a customer will try to order, and I'll have to explain out-of-stock situation, and hope this is not thought of as bad service.
As far as spreading the hobby, I like Gray's plans. I've spent a small fortune over the past 5 years advertising figures in 6-7 military publications and am proud to say that much of my own customer base got into the hobby as a result of this print advertising.
Theres a great discussion going on at the Amorama site about who figure hobbyist buy products from: local hobby or internet. Most use both, with statements that they try to keep both in business, recognizing the fact that this is such a small hobby.
I'd like to read more posts here on this out-of-stock subject on products offered by retailers, and how high are you (figure painters) setting your expectation levels of figure retailers (and/or e-tailers) maintaing inventory, especially on older products. If it were you, how would you handle the situation differently?
Best Regards,
John McNenney
Military Miniatures Warehouse
PS - Got to use this opportunity for a plug!!! My web site: Military Miniatures Warehouse