"What got you into Napoleonics ?" Topic

Ah, ok. I see your point (and please fogive my "harsh" – curse this internet for the lack of real face to face discussion).

But I am not sure how much influence HaT can have over retailers. I used to support Modelzone (sorry, I should have looked to see if you are UK based). Anyway, I used to hassle the London store manager to stock more HaT and Zvezda – whenever they did, the stock would fly off the shelves. But, the purchasing was centralised, so they stocked a lot of Esci/Italeri – which lingered on the shelves. But there appeared to be no way for the store to influence the purchase decision. So how HaT could do that I just don't know. I cannot believe they can call all the toy shops to ask them to stock their product.

Now, whether they could do more – will, probably. I just don't know what. If I did I would tell them – the owner is very receptive to direct contact. I just am really not sure what he should be doing.

Sadly, I fear the reality is that toy shops are going under, to be replaced with out of town toy warehouses, and how they choose/promote lines is definitely outside of my knowledge.

Years ago I bought Revell figures in Harrods – they have not been stocked now for years. Is that because the manufacturer did not push their stock? Or because they did not sell enough to meet a "shelf metric on sales targets"?

So I guess I agree with you that it would be nice, but disagree on who the blame lies with. And I have seen first hand with my kinds that toy soldiers (Naps) have not grabbed them – despite a house full.

WW2 on the other hand – yes. They have enjoyed tank games. But their hearts belong to the computer I'm afraid.

But happy to "chat" on this further.

Marc

And I have seen first hand with my kinds that toy soldiers (Naps) have not grabbed them – despite a house full.

WW2 on the other hand – yes. They have enjoyed tank games.

Funny you should say that, my wife's best friend has three boys, and the youngest [11 and 8] were interested to see the toy soldiers in my basement. It was really satisfying to see the 11 year olds eyes light up, as I presented unit after unit, from my Napoleonic collections, for him to review.
'So cool' and 'count me in when you play next, please' was the assessment – followed by 'do you have tanks?'
So I showed him a brigade of French cuirassiers, and tried to explain that they were somewhat the equivalent – I'm pretty sure he wasn't convinced…..
The following week the eight year old came to the house, for the same tour, and after seeing a corps of French figures asked 'hmmm, do you have any tanks?'

Tanks rock

And Call of Duty etc have tanks – not cuirassier. But I have not given up hope – and the eldest, when he is back from Uni, has asked me to get a game sorted "with horses" so I may yet convert him.

Marc, I take your point – but if figures fly off the shelves, why would not retailers want them?

My local model shop is full of Airfix and Revell figures, but when I asked if they could either stock HaT, or order them for me, they said "yes". Their suppliers listed HaT as something they could supply, but after weeks of chasing they were forced to admit defeat; the distributor would not supply any.

I don't think a world where retailers blame the middleman, the middleman blames another middleman or the manufacturer and visa versa is one that a consumer should be expected to accept.