"Ever contact a manufacturer to make suggestions?" Topic

I would guess that we all have a list of miniature wargame figures we'd love to see our favorite manufacturer make, but have you ever taken the time to contact them?

(a) Yes, I have contacted them with my requests.
(b) Yes, but not directly (I've posted my requests on a forum such as TMP).
(c) No, but I have considered doing it.
(d) No, I would never consider contacting them.
(e) _________________________________

B,and it actually worked,although it was a logical progression of an existing figure.

e. As an ex-manufacturer, I received such requests almost on a daily basis. I tried very hard to fulfill their requests, but sometimes, the profit margin (and many times, just the cost of doing business) was a big obsticle. In my case, it was more about brininging out ranges than specific figures. (Which I did get lucky a few times and was able to provide/add to the line-up based upon suggestions received.) By all means, that kind of feedback usually helps plan for future releases. Without such, how would they know what YOU want?

I used Eureka's 100 club to suggest a few figures. The first was FIW or Pontiac's War Highlanders in Campaign dress. Next were AWI Glover's Marbleheaders. Lastly were AWI Ragged Continentals.
The 100 club is structured so that Eureka gets commitments in advance before any are actually made. I would also assume that Nic did due diligence research to make sure it wasn't just some crank wishing for the moon.
Long story short, all three were produced and I assume are doing quite well.

Yes and got a range out of it – Pendraken's excellent 10mm Mongols

link

Yes, I've done it a few times and in a couple of cases the manufacturer ended up producing the figures that I wanted. Of course, the fact that I sent illustrations showing the troop types that I wanted helped a lot.

I've always come to the conclusion that manufactures know best when it comes to what the market wants.

To believe otherwise is contradictory to the capitalist ideal.

Is this question based on the fact that you are interested in a period, or obscure figures, not produced? Surely then, this is a marketing opportunity for you to invest and set up your own company producing the figures that will make your fortune.

Give it a rest. I could give half a dozen companies another range to produce – and they know it but, consider it not worth their while.

It's down investment versus profit. You wouldn't work for nothing, or less, to put a smile on our face. Don't look for the same in others making a crust.

This is harsh, but so is life. Put your money where your mouth is if you want a manufacturer to produce the figures you want. You never know, at the end of the process, you might get your figures for nothing – on the other hand, they might cost you a hundred bucks each.

we do encourage customers to tell us what they want and sometimes we even make it!

We've got a specific requests area of our Forum where we take suggestions and subsequent votes from all of our members: link

The votes are tallied up and we publish a 'Top 10' list twice a year. The most requested items get put into our design schedule and produced, as with the Mongols shown above, and with dozens of other items we've released over the past 5 years or so.

I note that, while the OP asks this as a poll question, almost everyone has the good sense to actually answer it properly. Because polls are absolutely the worst means of discussing an issue.

Oh, sorry. E.

Every day…..sometimes he listens sometimes he don't!

Bc1745

I think Olicana's overstated his case, while still having somewhat of a point. As a manufacturer I always listen to suggestions / requests, but trust my own judgement more than others' as to what will sell. (Several of my worst selling items have been produced by "popular demand", and rather fewer (only one that I can think of….) my top sellers.)

Requests can still be a helpful indication of what's in vogue, or whether a range has any odd gaps that it might be a good idea to fill, but producing everything that you get asked for is a sure path to ruination. ;-)

Many moons ago I actually did a 100 Club style request list, but with a threshold of just 20 for an item to go into production. In a couple of years I got a couple of hundred requests, well over half of which only ever got a "vote" from the person who suggested them, and 6 or 7 of which reached the 20 sheets to go into production….

A.

AAA

yes several times and I have been lucky enough to have my suggestions put into production

Yes, although Sloppy Jalopy never got around to doing my doggie transport bag.

A, and with some successes ^,^

A. I pestered Der Alte Fritz until the French grenadiers in bearskins were released, but I'm sure he was heading in that direction anyway. I've found Minden and Crann Tara give serious consideration to requests from gamers.

On the other hand, I've given up on my campaign to talk the Perry Brothers into producing Western Theater ACW Federals. They have assured me they wouldn't sell.

A, with a few wins

I've had a number of successes too, so it is worth the effort, sometimes.

Yes I have but not very often. Recently I suggested to "The Miniature Building Authority." If they would consider producing American Revolution 28mm buildings for the Battle of Trenton and they could be used for other battles.

They emailed me back and said they don't plan to make any buildings for the AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (my caps). Obviously they did not understand what I wrote or they don't know the difference.

Interesting topic.

As a manufacturer I wish I knew exactly which figures to produce. What usually happens is I get requests and feedback from clients and I make a note of them and see if others request the same(therefore indicating a trend or need). On one occasion I had a request for a figure pose I knew wouldn't sell, but it was from a person I had done business with for years so I went ahead and made the figures he requested and chalked it up to customer relations. As you may have guessed I now sell many packs of the figures I "knew" would never sell.

So, keep your requests coming because we on the other side of the spin caster aren't as smart as we think we are.

Dave
wargamingminiatures.com

A, but it was less requesting than it was begging… still hopeful…

Yes, and the Perrys really made a model of a young Nassau Officer, who was wounded at his foot at Waterloo (he later became a not so important german politician).

(A) Yes, I contacted Mark Copplestone WRT a unit I wanted to make up initially by kit bashing bits from his BoB range, only for him to kindly sculpt them – White Russian Cavalry in Chinese Service.

I have twice and both times was unhappy about the way I was answered.

Emailed Gale Force 9 about the possibility of producing a particular size magnetic base and why it would be useful. Their email response was "Maybe???". Not kidding, just one word.

I emailed GamesWorkShop about which Citadel paint shade (since they all have ridiculous names) would be closest to red ochre. Their answer was they couldn't say and asked, "What is ochre?". I very nearly replied that it was one of the oldest pigments known to man along with a google link and a suggestion that if you were going to work in customer service for a company that sells paint you might want to take the time to familiarize yourself with the product. In the end, I voted with my wallet both times and bought from another company.

I am assured that the Rhodesian War paras ordered through the Eureka 100 Club years past will someday see the light. The RAR are out and we are promised Dismounted Grey's Scouts someday.

In 1971 (or so) I wrote to Airfix suggesting they should make a Doctor Who range in their soft plastics.

To help them I filled out a page in my school exercise book carefully hand illustrated with scale pictures of Jon Pertwee, Jo, Daleks, Cybermen etc

Airfix wrote back a very nice "thank you for your suggestions letter" to me (a ten or eleven year old) but they obviously couldn't quite close the deal with the BBC…

Silly sausages: it could have made them their fortunes!.

Oh, and there's that whole Hammer's Slammers thing as well*…

John T

* though I was a bit older when I started that one

I have had more than one soft plastic figure maker make products at my suggestion and have even had two different one's come to me and ask for my ideas, that were later implemented.

I have sent letters and email to other various soft plastic companies who made many of those products.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

A couple of times. Usually met with a "We'll consider it" and once or twice they actually did it! (or it was already in the plans anyways)

Once I asked Brigade Models if they'd considered ancient Roman buildings in 2mm. Got a reply saying it shouldn't be a problem.
2 or 3 months later the range was released.