"Question about Base offerings" Topic

My friend and I have opened up shop, and we are offering bases made from 3mm birch plywood. Examples can be seen here if you are interested (these are just the first lot, loads more to come, hence the follow up questions),

link

We have a handful of questions as we direct our manufacture of bases.

1. Are there any gaps in what people are looking for in cut bases? We can make literally any size base (well upto 1 foot by 2 feet), and will be offering all sorts of shapes and sizes along with movement trays also made of birch. We intend to offer bases with holes for magnets as well. Is there anything you were looking for in cheap, well manufactures bases that you have not been able to find?

2. Are there super common base sizes for games we might not be familiar with? What sized bases are used by you that might not be represented very often, especially for smaller scale armies? Any unusually shaped bases?

3. Do you like to use movement trays for smaller units, for instance, a squad of 10 infantry. What is the minimum threshold regarding the number of units before you use a movement tray, if you do?

4. We will be potentially doing some bases in acrylic as well, with the intent of doing textured bases with science fiction ship deck engraving or dungeon floor and the like. We also intend on doing wooden decking or flooring engraved onto the wood bases as an offering, are there any engraved surfaces you would like to see?

Thanks a lot, we appreciate you taking any time you have to read this, and welcome suggestions.

If you can offer "magnitized" bases I'll buy a ton of them.

I second the magnetized suggestion, and perhaps a modular or custom basing system as well. I cannot have ten different 6mm or 15mm copies of the same army on different base sizes, because that is not cost effective. But pre-magnitized plywood bases would be great. I'd like to buy flat steel bases, magnets, and plywood from the same source, and bonus points for offering packages. For example, I am beginning a 6mm army and in order to make it useable for multiple games I am putting the minis on 10x20 and 20x20 steel bases and then I will put together magnetic-lined plywood 20x20, 20x40, and 30x60 bases and combine the steeled minis to fit them. That will involve a lot of cutting which takes up time that could be spent painting.

You know, I have a couple of good sources for that sort of product it would be hard to shift me from. What is your value add or what are your product differentiators?

The pre-magnetized idea is good. So would be a base already spray-painted with a green or sand basecoat where I can mount, flock and go. You have to save me time, give me something I cannot otherwise get, or REALLY undercut everyone else's pricing.

If you can offer magnets or metal bottoms I'll be buying from you. I've been using Litko for years but their shipping policy is to rip people off so I'll be glad to spend my money elsewhere.

Circular bases with steel bottoms for 28mm command stands would be useful -- in 2", 2.5", or 3" diameters.

That's an excellent idea, Lentulus. 20x40, with a green base coat and pre-magnetized? I'd buy a hundred at first and then some more.

Awesome input guys, we really appreciate it. You have given us a very good direction to go in, and definitely stoked some ideas. Hopefully we will be back soon with some results.

Thanks again,
Jim