An interesting set of vlogs from and ex-independent retailer regarding GW's business model.
http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?50058-GW-Business-Analysis-Video-(MUST-SEE) (http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?50058-GW-Business-Analysis-Video-(MUST-SEE))
I'll go back and have a proper look a bit later....Bit of a rush at the mo' !.....Looks very interesting though.
Cheers - Phil
I have to agree on all the points this chap has made.I don't want to see them fall, but they have to have a radical re think, and soon.
If those really are sections of their annual report etc the current management have totally lost the plot :o
GW sell collectible minatures :O) 8-} :O) 8-}
-12 % sales, -30 % income
The giant is stumbling, the giant is in panic.
I bet if Leon told Dave these figures he would receive a smacking. Problem is GW management is too high up in the cloud to even acknowledge they have a problem. Now why does anyone think they would lower themselves and listen to customers?
Investors ? Mostly Smallcap fund companies. They do not care if GW fails because they will get some money back and it will not affect fund performance.
Customers ? The only ones suffering. But do they draw the logical conclusion? No, they keep - to varying extent - honoring this business practice with their money. I have stopped buying any product from them. I have better products now, cheaper products AND moreover I talk to the sellers, they see me as a cheap source of feedback, cheap advertising and much more.
Not only for my magazine but also as a customer I feel much more valued when talking to Leon and Dave, Paul from EastStreetGames, Dave from Wargamesbakery and many many fantastic people. Support smaller businesses, get in touch with them for mutual benefit. The hobby as such will survive even if GW fails and after all: If you support GW you have no right to complain about them. Youa re actually asking for it.
Unfortunately the only language these companies understand is to not give them money. Most of us are not that affluent so make your investments wisely.
I stopped bying from gw when i bought my first pendraken ww2 chaps! (except a copy of dreadfleet that had been on the FLGS shelves for about 3 years)
I must say i have always liked their games, and i grew up with them. But the constant price rises, paint name changes and constant reviewing of rules (read: overcomplicating) made me sic of their stuff.
I also stopped liking most of their new models , so to me ot was clear that it was time for something different. Only 28mm stuff i do now is mantics deadzone, wich has a nice necromunda feel to it, and for my other scifi needs i use my old all metal cadians, wich looked far better than their new 'lets put skulls everywhere"-stuff.
But you gotta admit, even if they were still affordable, and costumer friendly, you just can't have a decent income when you produce giant wolf-powered-grav-sled-armoured-santa-clause models am i right ;D
(https://www.mightyape.co.nz/images/products/22641776/Warhammer-40000-Space-Wolves-Logan-Grimnar-on-Stormrider-16779085-5.jpeg)
Everyone who knew what they were doing at GW board level now works for Warlord Games. ;D
I know the doom-sayers have been harping on about GW failing for years, but i really think we might be seeing the decline and possible end of a hobby giant.
Even the young players i know are either abandoning or really close to abandoning GW. Fan loyalty can only go so far in the face of a £66 single model. 8-}
Its a real shame because...well...almost every modern wargamer started out as a bleary eye kid wandering round a GW store didn't they?
IF GW does decline, who will be bringing the next generation of wargamers in? :-\
Check out their landing page at the moment: tagline 'These are the End Times: Let the invasion begin'!!! @-)
Oh...and this. :o :o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeKVOM_Ob60 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeKVOM_Ob60)
£86 ........For just those items ? !
No wonder he posed the question. :o
Cheers - Phil.
I'd much rather have 19 packs of Pendraken :) :)
http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2014/11/breaking-gw-appoints-new-ceo.html (http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2014/11/breaking-gw-appoints-new-ceo.html)
Uh? Wha? Que? Fnnnr...
No change there, then. ;)
Cheers - Phil