"Annie's Salute Report (with balloons)" Topic

Salute 2019!

Hello, I'm Annie from Bad Squiddo Games and here is my round up of Salute from a trader's view. I've never been as a punter, so I only see set up and take down and anything on the route to the loo. This was our 6th Year!

We manufacture 28mm believable female miniatures and recently launched a line of scatter terrain.

Before I start, let me just say how beautiful it was to meet so many supportive people from TMP, thank you so much for the kind words and purchases, what good eggs indeed!

Footfall

I am terrible with guessing numbers of people but suffice to say we were rammed all day! Occasionally there would be a point of breathing and "oh wow I can see my stand again" and then a fresh wave of metal hungry folk would pour in. We use a open walk in stand and it always seems really great in both being accessible but also welcoming. We have no quibbles with takings or busyness and it was our most profitable show ever, which is super encouraging.

Customers

There was a huge amount of positive energy around our stand which I am still feeding off! We put a lot of effort into making it as welcoming and supportive as possible, with the staff being up to scratch with physical and mental issues and… not dicks. That's the best way to put it! Salute and Crisis are the two shows we notice much more diverse numbers in terms of ages, genders and ethnicities. We're still minorities, but it's much less of a "deal" than it can be at smaller shows. The energy was very vibrant and encouraging.

Sophie from Needy Cat Games was working for us, and she got so excited when this chap asked her to sign his copy of Hellboy!

Weirdo Factor

Bad Squiddo is a company about women, run by a woman, in a largely male environment. We have enough terrible experience content for a book. Despite having 6 female staff on the day, we only had one reported incident. Yes, the bar is that low. And for such a large show, to just have one terrible person out of the thousands… wow. Again, sometimes at smaller shows there can be several incidents in a day. I think the diversity of the show adds to the…safety of the show? The staff member dealt with it herself and was aided by other customers in the area. We get a lot of crap online, yet when faced with us in the flesh, suddenly much quieter 😉 The outrageous business of creating tiny metal ladies with clothes on seems to cause some sort of intense rage in some people, so it was nice to have so many reassuring compliments, and of course people talking with their wallet.

Colouring in

We had our now traditional colouring in table, which was a roaring success as always and makes my heart grow so much. Basically anybody can come over…and colour in! The pencils can be taken away so you can even grab a few sheets and pencils to take home for someone – for free!

As you can imagine, it was a big hit with kids who I imagine get a bit of lead blindess being dragged around, as well as adults who just needed a sit down or time out. Many mental health suffers or neurodiverse folk can get overwhelmed in situations like a large show, so to have a quiet space is really important, and I am proud of it. It's the second year of doing this and we're going to do it every year now. Many thanks to Martin Whitmore – he's done a load of our artwork but also let us use some of his other drawings for the colouring in purposes so there were fresh pieces to choose from.

Staff

Thank you so much to my Salute staff – Hayley, Sophie, Gayle, Claire, Trina, Paul & Ian for being incredible. I do all the prep and organising all the little details but they take over on the day and run a tight ship and let me pretty much do the schmoozing and information, so seeing them just be brilliant with everyone was fantastic. Ian from Fenris last minute got roped into being king of pre orders, Claire and Trina were delightful looking after the colouring in folk (and learning what Fortnite is), and the others just had the stand under control! The whole gang was just a dream team.

Positivity

Being told all day how much people love our stuff is such a huge boost. Especially when the internet can be full of negativity. I often work long hours and my health isn't the best, so it can be a bit of a grind sometimes when you get hassle online, so just seeing so many happy faces, selling kids their first ever minis – just incredible.

This photograph is my favourite from the weekend. We were so tired and failing to take the picture that we just erupted into giggles that echoed across the hall.

What it means for Bad Squiddo

I often get told off from my friends for running myself into the ground with Salute prep but I do see it as a sort of New Year, and push myself to get as many new releases and other new shinies sorted for the day, and it pays off. We had a tough time last year due to my move to Nottingham and other personal circumstance which made us massively underprepared, and I really wanted to make this year the "comeback", and we definitely did it, with balloons and all. It was lovely to have people notice too. The takings have cleared off some big bills and now that it's "Wargaming New Year" we've got a fresh slate to start on our next projects. We have a dwarf adventurer Kickstarter coming up soon, as well as quite a heavy focus on small and regular WW2 releases, with other bits thrown in (Amazons anyone).

Despite appearing like a highly oiled large machine on the day, Bad Squiddo day to day is just me (Annie) spinning many plates, with occasional packing help from my most amazing mum. So all your support is absolutely adored by this overworked pixie.

Thank you!

…Best start prepping for 2020!

Annie

Well done Annie, somehow (I'm ashamed to say) I managed to miss your stand.

As for one 'incident', that's one too many. Glad to hear that other customers weren't tolerating such nonsense.

That's quite a report! Great that almost everything went so well and Happy New Year.

The outrageous business of creating tiny metal ladies with clothes on seems to cause some sort of intense rage in some people.

You must be violating the Natural Order.

Great report, Annie. Thank you for taking the time to share such a comprehensive AAR on the convention.

Good Show (in all its interpretations)!
Anyone putting out miniatures in this day and age should be lauded, not abused. One does not treat vendors that way!
If you ever get on this side of the Pond, please, please, please show up for one of our cons, WITH your wares, 'kay?

Bad Squiddo (so Annie, basically) is typical of so many of the modern gaming traders – the ones that have been getting a kicking on so many of this year's Salute threads. Great quality products provided in a professional and innovative environment. Like so much of the content at Salute, it's not really to my speccy tastes but I always take time to visit her stand at other English venues because it's great stuff – I even make the occasional purchase!!

Third photo….I didn't know Phil Jupitus was a wargamer!

Good point on the challenges the neurodiverse can find at big events – I know I need a rest when I am at Salute.

Well done Annie (and team). I never get to Salute, but I saw your stand at York and was very impressed. You bleed enthusiasm, keep up the good work.

Living in the Antipodes, Salute is out of my reach.

However, I'd like to emphasise that without traders and manufacturers, we wouldn't have a hobby. So on that score, well done, Annie.

I understand you run a business but I must also applaud your attitude and approach. You clearly relish your work. Your positivity and optimism are inspiring and this post of yours mirrors all the positivity you embody. TMP is, vicariously, lucky to have you posting here.

I can only write, again, well done and I wish there were more out there like you.
I will make an effort to see if any of your products suit my wargaming needs.

Looking at pic 3 saying … is it ? … isn't it ? …

Cool

Great report, Annie, and it was lovely to catch up with you on your busy stand at the show.

Henry

Thank you so much!

Oh yes, one incident is definitely too many, but it's an unfortunate norm. Weirdly my interview in Miniature Wargames that landed today mentions the guy screaming in my face at a smaller show about how my company is stupid. It takes a lot to be the bigger person, breathe in sharply and carry on talking to the supportive folk and not not chase those sorts down brandishing a gridwall.

There are always going to be terrible people in all walks of life, but it's about making the environment more and more that they feel like they can't get away with it, and I feel that far more with the bigger shows, where the crowd is more diverse. Also about getting people to have each other's backs. It sucks that we had to have a whole training session before the show on how to handle this sort of stuff, but again without being too negative – it is less than 0.0001% so let's just boot those out on their arses.

Creepers is one thing, but with the people criticising the crazy idea of women in clothes, I've found just plodding on and smiling and being successful does it.

I would love to do more overseas shows, definitely one day when I can team up with retailers more and not have to carry so much over. We should be at Crisis in Antwerp again this year too. Gothcon in Sweden is one I have my eye on for next year or the year after, as an excuse to call it part research and check out some Vikingy stuff while I'm there.

But yeah we all had an excellent time at Salute, and though a fair amount of the staff hadn't met before, everyone got on and was a really solid gang.

The negative posts about Salute are odd, being one of these troublesome younger traders with fancy shenanigans like balloons and lights and stuff (What, no dusty cardboard rummage boxes for 50p a mini?). We do our best to be fresh,fun and intriguing, but with having solid well cast and well sculpted miniatures to back it up. Style and substance. We do a mix of fantasy and historical, though the latter is where my main passion lies.

I don't think Salute is dying or terrible, the landscape is just changing and being the biggest show, it is a reflection of that. It's great to have such a range of companies, styles and games.

It's always my favourite day of the year, and this was no exception :)

the guy screaming in my face at a smaller show about how my company is stupid.

Err….had this person ever taken an objective look at the hobby he was involved in ?

Wrap it up how you like (insight into history, the cultural contribution of painting to an artwork standard, expanding our imaginations with fantastical worlds, understanding what it means to be human by looking at the world through a kobold's eyes, etc, etc) to a lot of people we're just collecting and playing with dollies.

So – how did you manage to not end up rolling on the floor with laughter?

Having said that – I do like a good rummage box (err….no, forget it): there's the lottery like thrill of, just maybe, finding a long OOP figure that one really wants!

Specimens like that boil my bodily fluids.
You showed great restraint. The least I'd have done would have been to report him to the show organisers and have him 'chucked'.
I would have had difficulty keeping my hands in my pockets, (and my knee out of his groin!)

Normally I would have, if only to prevent him doing it further, but I instantly forgot his face and lost him in the crowd. I feel pretty confident that the trade show staff at all the shows I go to would be helpful if I raised anything though.

Anyway, thread about awesome Salute, not loooooooooosers!

:D

A lot of people don't understand anxiety disorders unless they have a family member or close friend with one. Large crowds can be overwhelming, and a quite place to sit and/or color would be very welcome indeed. It is very kind of you to provide that service.

Funny thing.
A few (many) years ago, I was on a DBR Discussion group.
A guy with a 12 year old daughter was asking for advice on an all women wargaming army. He did mention that she was shy.
I had done some research along those lines to make an Amazon army for a Trojan War project.
I gave him advice on all the ranges I was aware of with female figures.
I cautioned him about which might contain nude figures.
Well.
I got an earful (figuratively speaking) from a guy who took me to task for my Puritanical attitude regarding female nudity. He was extremely upset. He thought a 12 year old girl should embrace nudity. (?)
I just wish your range had been around back then. It, and your philosophy make perfect sense.
Now, just come out with some Gun Molls, or 18th C civilians, and I'll happily buy a few.

No interest in your ranges but I love your approach. More power to Bad Squiddo. The future is a nice place, and you are getting the hobby there. Thank you

Great to hear that you had a good show, Annie. Keep up the good work. (And you have reminded me that I need to paint the various figures that I've got from you over the last few years.)

Well done ladies, great report, great ethos and keep going. Take names of the undesirables and tell them the Royal Marines are interested in their 'odd' behaviour and it is best they sleep with one eye open from now on ;-)

Thanks all, really encouraging comments!

Nice to have brought all the gooduns out as well, always flinch when I see replies to my things online expecting the worst, but nothing bad, hooray! Good eggs!

Annniiiiiiiiiiiiiiie

Hi Annie ,
Didn't make it to Salute this year as Sarah had her hip replaced the week before.
However received Lucretzia and Caterina in the post and my 13 year old daughter is already working out colour schemes for them.
Keep up the good work as yours is my daughters favorite stand to visit at a Con.

PS unfortunately the hobby still has several Orcs about.