The State of an Industry

[SJB]

I\'d say, on a 28mm figure at a premium pricepoint such as Spyglass you\'d need to sell 200 to make it worthwhile. 100 sales would generally stop you just pissing your money away and 300+ starts to make sense for a living. 1000+ is just lovely but it\'s been a long time.

As for starting up again, it\'s somewhat in hand but I\'m well behind schedule but I got ill which has dampened things a lot. Watch this space around the end of the year I suppose...

No clues to give out as to what. I\'m still working it out in my head. Because it\'s sink or swim this time. Or rather keep sculpting minis or look at a career change...

 

[No Such Agency]

Originally posted by SJB
Case in point: Spyglass (I\'ve heard similar stories elsewhere but at least I know exactly the case with Spyglass). Early releases like Shae, Katalin and Si\'Rene all sold in excess of 1000 minis ... I was at the point where I\'d strain badly to sell 100 of even a hot release. In fact sales would often start to dribble at the 40-50 point.

Sorry buddy, I guess I haven\'t been doing my part buying Spyglass lol... but there are only so many minis one can buy and paint and like you said, a heck of a lot of small makers casting & selling them. It\'d be fun to dabble a little in many lines but even with shops like CMON\'s, S&H eats you alive when you order from half a dozen different sources.

Everyone hated Kage Dar the barbarian (well, he didn\'t come across as popular anyway). He still sold in excess of 500 minis. That\'s a wild success by the later standards.

Clearly, everyone DIDN\'T hate him then. The gripers who dislike something are always loudest.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Steve:
I\'ve got to say that I too should have bought more of your figures.
Even though I \'ve got quite few of most of them. (Even got a Kage Dar that I\'ve always intended to use in a Diorama about two CMON\'rs from Devon :innocent )

One thing about your figures is that they are subtle, unique and non-generic sculpts, for which we are grateful.
Had they been more game orientated and multi-weapon options then they might have been more commercial, but less satisfying to the people that really appreciate them.

I tend to think of Spyglass as the Aston-Martin of the Uk miniature sphere. Not many sold but damn fine!

 

[SJB]

Unfortunately \'not many sold\' may become \'Steve stops scuplting minis commercially\'.

Gotta make some money in this game. But I\'ve got a few tricks left up my sleeve before I call it a day.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Ok Here\'s a promise:

If I win the jackpot on the lottery this weekend I\'ll bankroll Spyglass.

Mind you there\'ll have to be one special miniature we\'ve previously discussed in the deal.

 

[supervike]

Originally posted by Dragonsreach
Mind you there\'ll have to be one special miniature we\'ve previously discussed in the deal.

I told you that I would do that self sculpt of me in my underwear....no need to bring your own sculptors aboard!!

:evil:

 

[DrEvilmonki]

Originally posted by Dragonsreach
Steve:
I\'ve got to say that I too should have bought more of your figures.
Even though I \'ve got quite few of most of them. (Even got a Kage Dar that I\'ve always intended to use in a Diorama about two CMON\'rs from Devon :innocent )

One thing about your figures is that they are subtle, unique and non-generic sculpts, for which we are grateful.
Had they been more game orientated and multi-weapon options then they might have been more commercial, but less satisfying to the people that really appreciate them.

I tend to think of Spyglass as the Aston-Martin of the Uk miniature sphere. Not many sold but damn fine!

The problem with that is Steve doesn\'t charge Aston Martin prices.
Commercial reality would dictate either niche market with high prices, generic commercial sculpts at more entry level prices or a combination of both types.

I also think the number of female sculpts is probably hurting as well. Not that I think there is anything wrong with them but the fantasy realm is dominated with male heroes and male archtypes.

 

[supervike]

Originally posted by DrEvilmonki
I also think the number of female sculpts is probably hurting as well. Not that I think there is anything wrong with them but the fantasy realm is dominated with male heroes and male archtypes.

I see your point here...but to me, the industry has been dominated by cheesecake women in scant clothing ever since the Fianna\'s from Rackham came about. I honestly, am a bit sick of them.

I don\'t own too many Spyglass minis, but I am not going to apologize for that. I buy what I like. I can certainly appreciate the sculpting prowess that Steve has, but quite frankly not many of the sculpts are my cup of tea. It may have more to do with the fact that I have grown tired of the \'archetypical\' fantasy minis.l

 

[SJB]

I would like to point out that my comments weren\'t meant as a guilt trip to individuals. It\'s was meant more as an indicator that the industry has spread itself thinner over many more ranges. When Spyglass started there were very few companies doing the boutique/premium figures combo. Nowadays they are everywhere. But the customer base is not larger by any major amount. So, the sales are diluted. It takes a very special product to really be a hit these days.

The Vorag Barbarians from Ilyad, for example.

Steve B

 

[Torn blue sky]

I hear what your saying Vikey...but naked chicks! c\'mOn!
I\'ve inhereted a tidy pile from Heresy recently. Von Halfling is very much the man of the hour!