Re: [OT] Mini Pictures

>From: Nick and Laurel Caldwell [mailto:clcaldwell@kreative.net]
>Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 12:26 PM
>Subject: Re: [OT] Mini Pictures was Re: 6-10mm ST Bugs
>
>
>Of course, if you look at GW's financials you will realize that 
>while they are making money they are not running the business very 
>well.	A company that drops it's earnings per share by 60% for the 
>year is not the sign of a healthy company.

Nicholas,

I did not mean to imply they were the best investment or anything 
like that. Please understand the point I was attempting to make. 
GW is a business first and as such they "work" at not only selling 
their lines, but at "working" their customer base.

I was attempting to point out that many miniature manufacturers are 
run like a hobby not a business. They do not "react" to the market. 
They do not plan for future growth, they just hope for it. The fact 
is the "cottage industry" mentality is what will drive this hobby 
further into obscurity.

I have seen many companies just rest on their "milk cows" and fail to 
keep their products vital and fresh. Look at Battletech for an example. 
Good game, nice miniatures, loyal fan base, and stagnant growth. The 
game has entered a down turn because of a failure to market and push 
for growth. What was the last major change or major release for 
Battletech? The clans? And how long ago was that?

GW does understand the need for marketing. They understand they need 
both customer loyalty and customer based proselytizing. It is the 
excitement that GW builds within the 12-16 year old market that is 
driving most of their sales. GW is looking to grow and thus they 
understand that you need to kill off products that are not selling 
and revamp the ones that might. We as older players may not like the 
"new editions" but the fact remains that a tree that is pruned 
grows better. 

Our hobby will continue to flounder as long as companies continue to 
do business as if it were the early 70s.