4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impact!
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- GalakStarscraper
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4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impact!
When it was one company, I thought bummer. Then 2 (wow that is not good) ... but now that we are up to 4 miniatures companies announcing they are closing their doors forever over the last week (Tor Gaming, Spartan Games, On the Lamb Games and Sgt Major Miniatures) ... wanted to give a state of Impact!
We had a record Gen Con this year with sales up 50% from last year and 25% over our best year. We have run 11 successful KickStarters in the last 12 months. The only debt we have is $1400 left to pay on a loan to buy our 3-D printer which will be fully paid off by end of year. Sales have been steady and so far I've not needed to put out an S.O.S to pay the bills. If our KickStarter in September gets to Stretch Goal #4 (and your help making that happen will be greatly appreciated), we will actually be in awesome shape for the year.
I've seen a lot of companies saying debt is bad. I want to say debt is only bad if you are going into it just to pay the day to day operations. Debt to acquire new equipment that would do more good now than having it later or debt to take advantage of a unique business opportunity is good business as long as you've done your homework to make sure its a solid bet and if you were wrong that your company survives it.
I have several friends who have frequented On the Lamb fantasy range as well as both Tor and Spartan and the sci-fi mini world takes a hit from these two going under.
The minis world has changed so much in the last 5 years. Crowdfunding has become so important but sales after the crowdfunding is over is an uphill battle. I very much appreciate all our customers and wanted to thank you all for your business and I look forward to working with all of you for many years to come.
-Tom Anders (aka Galak) - Impact! Miniatures
We had a record Gen Con this year with sales up 50% from last year and 25% over our best year. We have run 11 successful KickStarters in the last 12 months. The only debt we have is $1400 left to pay on a loan to buy our 3-D printer which will be fully paid off by end of year. Sales have been steady and so far I've not needed to put out an S.O.S to pay the bills. If our KickStarter in September gets to Stretch Goal #4 (and your help making that happen will be greatly appreciated), we will actually be in awesome shape for the year.
I've seen a lot of companies saying debt is bad. I want to say debt is only bad if you are going into it just to pay the day to day operations. Debt to acquire new equipment that would do more good now than having it later or debt to take advantage of a unique business opportunity is good business as long as you've done your homework to make sure its a solid bet and if you were wrong that your company survives it.
I have several friends who have frequented On the Lamb fantasy range as well as both Tor and Spartan and the sci-fi mini world takes a hit from these two going under.
The minis world has changed so much in the last 5 years. Crowdfunding has become so important but sales after the crowdfunding is over is an uphill battle. I very much appreciate all our customers and wanted to thank you all for your business and I look forward to working with all of you for many years to come.
-Tom Anders (aka Galak) - Impact! Miniatures
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- faust_33
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Glad to hear things are going well for Impact!, Tom. Sounds like in the past, things were a bit rockier, but at least you managed to keep things going and come out on the other side. I look forward to hearing about the September Kickstarter.
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- GalakStarscraper
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Product diversification and KickStarter both did great things to get through those rocky patches.faust_33 wrote:Glad to hear things are going well for Impact!, Tom. Sounds like in the past, things were a bit rockier, but at least you managed to keep things going and come out on the other side. I look forward to hearing about the September Kickstarter.
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- bound for glory
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Are you going to make much more BB/FF figures? Are they working for you at IMPACT!?
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- GalakStarscraper
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Yes. First priority is getting all the new 32mm scale figures we had made over the last several months into the backers hands and then the store.bound for glory wrote:Are you going to make much more BB/FF figures? Are they working for you at IMPACT!?
1) The Impact! Pro Elf team
2) The Impact! Dark Elf Team
3) The Impact! Amazon Team
4) Rolljordan Volmarian Dwarf
5) Rolljordan Necro
6) Rolljordan Horned Frog
7) Rolljordan Silvania Elf
Though the last 2 had new molds made a while back ... I threw out all the old castings to make sure that all our 32mm scale miniatures were all made in the new materials we switched to in January that can take any primer (brush or spray) and does not need any special treatment to paint.
The molds for the MK1881 Dark Elf, Pro Elf and Wood Elf should be completed soon and then out to backers and then in our store as well.
Finally today I was working on adding a new 32mm scale Goblin team and a new Nurgle team to our offerings.
So yes ... I am working on new FF items and yes they are still working for me.
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Those Rolljordan ones were pretty nice, unfortunately I couldn't do the Kickstarter at the time. I'll have to see what makes it to the store later. I'm also very interested in whatever Willy Kickstarters make it over to Impact!
I've never been a fan of Nurgle, but will check out what you come up with. They are one of the teams that I have never had minis for, but should get them someday. Goblins? I always like to check out the Goblin minis. I think I would be most interested in a set of Secret Weapon Stars. Also some Underworld Goblins. I've thought about converting some Night Goblins, but I'm lazy about converting teams and not that great at it.
I've never been a fan of Nurgle, but will check out what you come up with. They are one of the teams that I have never had minis for, but should get them someday. Goblins? I always like to check out the Goblin minis. I think I would be most interested in a set of Secret Weapon Stars. Also some Underworld Goblins. I've thought about converting some Night Goblins, but I'm lazy about converting teams and not that great at it.
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
So big sized figures because Games Workshop.GalakStarscraper wrote:Yes. First priority is getting all the new 32mm scale figures we had made over the last several months into the backers hands and then the store.bound for glory wrote:Are you going to make much more BB/FF figures? Are they working for you at IMPACT!?
1) The Impact! Pro Elf team
2) The Impact! Dark Elf Team
3) The Impact! Amazon Team
4) Rolljordan Volmarian Dwarf
5) Rolljordan Necro
6) Rolljordan Horned Frog
7) Rolljordan Silvania Elf
Though the last 2 had new molds made a while back ... I threw out all the old castings to make sure that all our 32mm scale miniatures were all made in the new materials we switched to in January that can take any primer (brush or spray) and does not need any special treatment to paint.
The molds for the MK1881 Dark Elf, Pro Elf and Wood Elf should be completed soon and then out to backers and then in our store as well.
Finally today I was working on adding a new 32mm scale Goblin team and a new Nurgle team to our offerings.
So yes ... I am working on new FF items and yes they are still working for me.
I guess its a great big DERP as to JJ's "2nd ed is where we want to be with ANY new Blood Bowl figures/teams."
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- GalakStarscraper
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
I am a big fan of loyalty ... but unfortunately for this one ... loyalty to JJ's comment is just a way to have no sales. Lost track of the number of emails I've answered about "are these figures 32mm scale?" and after telling them no ... being told .. "oh too bad I really liked them and was going to order them but not if they are not the current scale".bound for glory wrote:So big sized figures because Games Workshop.
I guess its a great big DERP as to JJ's "2nd ed is where we want to be with ANY new Blood Bowl figures/teams."
Loyalty is wonderful ... but at the end of the day ... this is my sole income so I have to go where the customers are ... and they are not with 2nd edition. All loyalty to that original vision would get me would be the ability to add my name to the list of companies closing that started this thread.
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
With this excuse you sold me TWO teams of amazons and TWO teams of elves just in different size!GalakStarscraper wrote:I am a big fan of loyalty ... but unfortunately for this one ... loyalty to JJ's comment is just a way to have no sales. Lost track of the number of emails I've answered about "are these figures 32mm scale?" and after telling them no ... being told .. "oh too bad I really liked them and was going to order them but not if they are not the current scale".bound for glory wrote:So big sized figures because Games Workshop.
I guess its a great big DERP as to JJ's "2nd ed is where we want to be with ANY new Blood Bowl figures/teams."
Loyalty is wonderful ... but at the end of the day ... this is my sole income so I have to go where the customers are ... and they are not with 2nd edition. All loyalty to that original vision would get me would be the ability to add my name to the list of companies closing that started this thread.
My poor wallet!!!
Just joking of course. The teams are awesome.
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- GalakStarscraper
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
As promised ... just posted a thread showing the Nurgle and Goblin teams I can now offer.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=44353
So new FF out today!
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=44353
So new FF out today!
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
<sarcasm>WHAAAT? Loyalty to a game made thirty years ago isn't a viable business plan?!?!</sarcasm>GalakStarscraper wrote:I am a big fan of loyalty ... but unfortunately for this one ... loyalty to JJ's comment is just a way to have no sales. Lost track of the number of emails I've answered about "are these figures 32mm scale?" and after telling them no ... being told .. "oh too bad I really liked them and was going to order them but not if they are not the current scale".bound for glory wrote:So big sized figures because Games Workshop.
I guess its a great big DERP as to JJ's "2nd ed is where we want to be with ANY new Blood Bowl figures/teams."
Loyalty is wonderful ... but at the end of the day ... this is my sole income so I have to go where the customers are ... and they are not with 2nd edition. All loyalty to that original vision would get me would be the ability to add my name to the list of companies closing that started this thread.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 2nd Ed minis and am pretty agnostic about the size change, but it's hard to fault Tom for giving the customers what they want.
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Tom, will you be offering the ROLLJORDAN Norse team in resin?
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- GalakStarscraper
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
In the future ... possibly. Working on getting the 7 teams I have from him now out to backers and then up in the store first.bound for glory wrote:Tom, will you be offering the ROLLJORDAN Norse team in resin?
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
How bout a time frame on getting the Willy, Bob & Jim, figs in (hopefully in metal)?
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Re: 4 mini companies down. Moment of reflection from Impac
Hmmm ... I have a new order going in this week ... so I'll check on those.Digger Goreman wrote:How bout a time frame on getting the Willy, Bob & Jim, figs in (hopefully in metal)?
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