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Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






 angelofvengeance wrote:
I'm kinda glad that Mr Rountree didn't come out with the same nonsense statements that Tom Kirby often spouted.


Kevin Rountree is CEO, not chairman. So the author of the Chairman's preamble has not changed.


Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in gb
Major




London

 notprop wrote:
Yeah but that wasn't selling. Since its release WH40K has always been far more popular than WHFB.

And anyway how do you Sigmarise WH40K? Sigmarisation seems to be the introduction of a Space Marine archetype to Fantasy, they already did this when they made the game!


Don't change the background, but change the rules, army book releases and way of boxing models up.
   
Made in gb
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain





The Rock

 Grimtuff wrote:
 angelofvengeance wrote:
I'm kinda glad that Mr Rountree didn't come out with the same nonsense statements that Tom Kirby often spouted.


Kevin Rountree is CEO, not chairman. So the author of the Chairman's preamble has not changed.


My bad- I missed the preamble lol. This bit in particular, I had a good chuckle at.

I do not often talk about our products, partly because I think they speak eloquently for themselves, and partly because it is
important for everyone to remember (that’s owners, customers and staff) we are a business. We need to be here next year
if you want more of the exquisite models we make. To be here next year we have to do what all our customers want, not
just a noisy few, and find a way of making money doing it. This year, though, is an exceptional year.
Not only have we just
opened a wonderful new visitor centre on time and under budget (take a bow, Tony) we have also relaunched
Warhammer.


A noisy few is putting it lightly. There's a great deal of improvements GW need to make in the way they operate. Rules writing in particular.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 10:19:08


AoV's Hobby Blog 29/04/18 The Tomb World stirs p44
How to take decent photos of your models
There's a beast in every man, and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand
Most importantly, Win or Lose, always try to have fun.
Armies Legion: Dark Angels 
   
Made in de
Longtime Dakkanaut





Germany

they are premium priced for their premium quality


Uuuh... did I miss something? Somehow, I can not agree that GW makesd premium quality.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 10:29:41


Waaagh an' a 'alf
1500 Pts WIP 
   
Made in ca
Lord of the Fleet






Halifornia, Nova Scotia

Another mediocre year? Colour me surprised.

All I'm hoping for at this point is that they don't Sigmarize 40k or cannibalize too much of FW.

Well, I'm hoping for a lot more, but I'm trying to be realistic.

Mordian Iron Guard - Major Overhaul in Progress

+Spaceship Gaming Enthusiast+

Live near Halifax, NS? Ask me about our group, the Ordo Haligonias! 
   
Made in gb
Courageous Grand Master




-

Herzlos wrote:
The chairmans preamble is great, Kirby is nuts:

As I write the world is tumbling in chaos around us. Pundits discover they cannot predict elections, the Americans ride to the rescue of world football (thank you, Uncle Sam), Sunderland escape relegation, again, the UK will split up into its consistent parts, it will leave Europe; and yet we struggle on. Babies get born, the rain falls the sun shines and the plants grow, our chickens keep laying, and Games Workshop still employs over 1,500 people, supporting 1,500 families all over the globe, making the best miniatures money can buy, providing one of the best investments in our owners' portfolios, and having a great deal of fun doing it.


Interesting that he admits to failing with growth, and that a lot of indies have dropped them, though he blames it on disruption from the changes:

One bit of the GMP remains stubbornly unrealised – sales growth. We knew that the huge infrastructure changes we have been making these last few years (and are still making, we have just signed off on a new ERP system) would be disruptive, so we are not surprised that many trade accounts across Europe no longer trade with us.


I'll say one thing about Tom Kirby - his preambles are things of legend on this forum

You may have noticed that my signature is lasy year's preamble.

Somebody needs to compile these into one document, sell copies and use the funds to support dakka

"Our crops will wither, our children will die piteous
deaths and the sun will be swept from the sky. But is it true?" - Tom Kirby, CEO, Games Workshop Ltd 
   
Made in se
Executing Exarch






Rountree seems way more reasonable than Kirby, which is highlighted spectacularly when you compare Kirbys preamble to Rountrees writing in the report itself...

I don't see how anyone would think that they're about to Age of Sigmar-ify 40k though. Fantasy was a failing product that desperately needed dramatic changes because no one was buying it. 40k on the other hand is the most successful miniature game in the world. See the difference?

 Kosake wrote:
they are premium priced for their premium quality


Uuuh... did I miss something? Somehow, I can not agree that GW makesd premium quality.


You don't? I think you'd pretty much be on your own there. Most people seem to agree that their models are some of the best on the business.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 10:42:53


 
   
Made in af
Fixture of Dakka





Steelcity

 Mymearan wrote:
Rountree seems way more reasonable than Kirby, which is highlighted spectacularly when you compare Kirbys preamble to Rountrees writing in the report itself...

I don't see how anyone would think that they're about to Age of Sigmar-ify 40k though. Fantasy was a failing product that desperately needed dramatic changes because no one was buying it. 40k on the other hand is the most successful miniature game in the world. See the difference?

 Kosake wrote:
they are premium priced for their premium quality


Uuuh... did I miss something? Somehow, I can not agree that GW makesd premium quality.


You don't? I think you'd pretty much be on your own there. Most people seem to agree that their models are some of the best on the business.


Perhaps they do.. but then they produced mechanicum robots which are some the worst models they've ever produced.

Keeper of the DomBox
Warhammer Armies - Click to see galleries of fully painted armies
32,000, 19,000, Renegades - 10,000 , 7,500,  
   
Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






But, but... How else do you get people into the game without models that look like Baymax?


Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in gb
Lead-Footed Trukkboy Driver





Warrington, UK

Saw this, intresting..

Warhammer branding
We have taken the decision in the year to rebrand our stores ‘Warhammer’. It is what our customers call us. This will be rolled out
progressively, as and when we open new or refurbish our existing stores. At the year end date we had 13 Warhammer branded stores.


Thirdly, we must grow the number of customers we have. We have been underperforming here in recent years, mainly on account of
our focus on the value based initiatives of converting our loss making stores to profitable ones and restructuring our sales businesses to
take out duplicate and unnecessary costs. My aim is to:
1. Open more of our own stores, mostly in our proven one man store format, in greenfield cities in North America and Continental
Europe. Our retail sales managers all have ambitious goals for 2015/16. I am also working closely with our manager for Asia to open
more stores in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. We do believe we can establish our Hobby business in Asia, but this isn't going to
happen overnight. My global goal is to open 30 stores (net) in 2015/16. If we achieve our first initiative it may well be many more




I'm also proposing a trial in a few high footfall locations, like the one we opened in April 2015 on Tottenham Court Road, London. It is a
multi-man format store with an extended (more expensive) shop fit: mainly new till format, mobile tills, better use of merchandising
space, new web terminal (to access our broader range) and next day stock delivery to the store for in-store orders. The store has been
branded ‘Warhammer’ instead of ‘Games Workshop’. I believe that this store format can support the additional investment as such
stores are uniquely placed to service a higher number of customers, often lots of tourists. My aim is to pilot, on a smaller scale, one
each in Boston, Sydney, Munich, Paris and Copenhagen in the year ahead. I don't intend to move our overall retail strategy away from
one man stores; these will be exceptional stores. The only differences to our one man store format will be the additional rent and
property related costs and the additional capital investment. We can flex the staffing levels.


Years ago they did have a "superstore" in Manchester which was similar to this set up.

2. Open more stockist trade accounts using our proven stockist strategy. This will be based on our well established terms and
conditions, selling independent accounts our best selling products and, where appropriate, the extended range. Our global trade
manager has some ambitious plans to grow the net number of trade outlets we have, with a particular focus on North America.


3. Explore new core trade opportunities in toy, craft, book and comic stores. This has always been a great opportunity to extend our
reach and help us find new customers. I am working closely with my advisers exploring these types of locations.
   
Made in es
Pulsating Possessed Chaos Marine





So sales are down about 4%, and operating profits (not counting exceptional costs nor royalties) around 3%. They upped overall profits from last year thanks to not having exceptional costs (i.e. dumping 4 million pounds in the WC to revamp their website).

Sales are down and profits from a sales/costs ratio are down. The numbers may be slightly better than expected but I don't see how this can be called good news for GW by anyone. They're still shrinking in the midst of an expanding market.

Oh and we also have Kirby's usual madman ramblings in the form of his chairman's preamble. The usual

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 11:18:33


Progress is like a herd of pigs: everybody is interested in the produced benefits, but nobody wants to deal with all the resulting gak.

GW customers deserve every bit of outrageous princing they get. 
   
Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






I've never heard anyone refer to GW as "Warhammer", save for confused parents calling it "The Warhammer* shop".



*ive heard it called other less favourable things by people too.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 11:19:25



Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran






Backwoods bunker USA

But are they trending in the right direction?

It takes awhile to turn a big ship.
   
Made in ca
Lord of the Fleet






Halifornia, Nova Scotia

 KiloFiX wrote:
But are they trending in the right direction?

It takes awhile to turn a big ship.


Sales are still down despite price increases and a significantly ramped up release schedule.

They've cut a lot of fat, but they're still moving less product each year.

Mordian Iron Guard - Major Overhaul in Progress

+Spaceship Gaming Enthusiast+

Live near Halifax, NS? Ask me about our group, the Ordo Haligonias! 
   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

I'm actually hugely optimistic.

Not for any of the figures, strip it all away and GW barely trod water, which is better than going backwards but in the context of the year's releases etc still suggests that the same problems persist, even if a finger has been shoved into the dyke.

However, nearly all of the problems are, either tacitly or overtly, acknowledged in the Chairman's report, often with suggestions or hints about what they propose to do about it.

I think this is quite reassuring that the message many of us have been shouting has finally reached the ears of people who matter, my only reservation is if they approach solving the problems in what, for many of us, is the 'right' way.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in af
Fixture of Dakka





Steelcity

Oddly, none of those steps involve "improving customer relations and providing products they want and/or improve rules". It's all about opening more stores which don't help people actually play the game.


Keeper of the DomBox
Warhammer Armies - Click to see galleries of fully painted armies
32,000, 19,000, Renegades - 10,000 , 7,500,  
   
Made in gb
Growlin' Guntrukk Driver with Killacannon





Scotland, but nowhere near my rulebook

Yes, the CEO's report seems less... insane than the Chairmans. And acknowledges that there are problems which need to be fixed. That's refreshing.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 11:35:01


 
   
Made in si
Foxy Wildborne







Looks like the new guy is sane, at least, unlike Kirby.

Given how terrible the first half of the fiscal year was, the second half must have been actually pretty good to net only a 3.5% sales drop overall.

Posters on ignore list: 36

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Made in gb
Wrathful Warlord Titan Commander





Ramsden Heath, Essex

 Azreal13 wrote:
I'm actually hugely optimistic.

Not for any of the figures, strip it all away and GW barely trod water, which is better than going backwards but in the context of the year's releases etc still suggests that the same problems persist, even if a finger has been shoved into the dyke.

However, nearly all of the problems are, either tacitly or overtly, acknowledged in the Chairman's report, often with suggestions or hints about what they propose to do about it.

I think this is quite reassuring that the message many of us have been shouting has finally reached the ears of people who matter, my only reservation is if they approach solving the problems in what, for many of us, is the 'right' way.


Indeed. It reads as a much more balanced PoV from the man (Roundtree) who is day to day running the organisation. Less Kirby hubris more common sense it would seem.

Allot of the releases over the last 6 months seemed like GW were moving however slowly toward the more sensible desires of the player base this report seems to back that up.

The figures seem strong enough especially given what must be anticipated improvements in the next period.

See you all in 6 months for the next round!

How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website " 
   
Made in ie
Calculating Commissar




Frostgrave

 Kirasu wrote:
Oddly, none of those steps involve "improving customer relations and providing products they want and/or improve rules". It's all about opening more stores which don't help people actually play the game.



Or advertising.

The only approaches mentioned seem to just double down on the current approach (more 1 man stores, more sales targets), rather than either assessing the situation or improving things.
   
Made in gb
Painting Within the Lines




 Grimtuff wrote:
But, but... How else do you get people into the game without models that look like Baymax?


You seem very vocal on the Internet about a game you don't play. Less so in person it seems, but thats the beauty of annonimity eh
   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

 Kirasu wrote:
Oddly, none of those steps involve "improving customer relations and providing products they want and/or improve rules". It's all about opening more stores which don't help people actually play the game.



He does, however, acknowledge gaming as part of the hobby, alongside acknowledging that adults buy their products.

So, for the first time in a long time we know that GW knows that grown ups buy their stuff and play games with it, we can only hope they do something decent with that information, customer relations get taken care of if they do.

You want get an admission along the lines of "we've been donkey-caves to a solid percentage of our customers" in a financial report, but one very much gets the impression that GW has sat up and paid attention since the hurt of the last few reports.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The Division Of Joy wrote:
 Grimtuff wrote:
But, but... How else do you get people into the game without models that look like Baymax?


You seem very vocal on the Internet about a game you don't play. Less so in person it seems, but thats the beauty of annonimity eh


And you seem quite happy to attack people with no provocation on the Internet.

I wonder if you'd be half as confident if those people were in a position to feed you your own hands.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 11:52:29


We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in gb
Painting Within the Lines




I really liked the pre-amble this year, well done Mr Kirby.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
I attend the same place as Grimtuff, so he's welcome to try

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/28 11:54:45


 
   
Made in au
Norn Queen






The Division Of Joy wrote:
I really liked the pre-amble this year, well done Mr Kirby.


As entertaining as any of his other pre-rambles.

Unfortunately a pre-amble isn't there to be entertaining.
   
Made in us
Stoic Grail Knight





Raleigh, NC

I'm starting to wonder if Tom Kirby has some legitimate psychological issues.
   
Made in pt
Longtime Dakkanaut





Portugal

How the hell the entire GW didn't sink when Kirby was the chairman is a miracle itself. The guy seems to have ... issues, let's call it that.

Well, since the report there was the release of the Skitarii, the Adeptus Mechanicus, the new Knight and now Age of Sigmar. I'm REALLY curious if the trend was changed thanks to this year's releases.

"Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth! These are the truths of this world! Surrender to these truths, you pigs in human clothing!" - Satsuki Kiryuin, Kill la Kill 
   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

He's reversing the one man store format!

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in au
[MOD]
Making Stuff






Under the couch

The Division Of Joy wrote:

I attend the same place as Grimtuff, so he's welcome to try

So , if we're all done with the waving of our gigantic manly bits about, how about we revisit the topic and leave the posturing for somewhere more appropriate, hmm?

 
   
Made in us
Focused Dark Angels Land Raider Pilot




Magnolia, TX

I shall redouble my efforts to introduce people to other games.

Captain Killhammer McFighterson stared down at the surface of Earth from his high vantage point on the bridge of Starship Facemelter. Something ominous was looming on the surface. He could see a great shadow looming just underneath the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, slowly spreading northward. "That can't be good..." he muttered to himself while rubbing the super manly stubble on his chin with one hand. "But... on the other hand..." he looked at his shiny new bionic murder-arm. "This could be the perfect chance for that promotion." A perfect roundhouse kick slammed the ship's throttle into full gear. Soon orange jets of superheated plasma were visible from the space-windshield as Facemelter reentered the atmosphere at breakneck speed. 
   
Made in nl
Wight Lord with the Sword of Kings






North of your position

jamesk1973 wrote:
I shall redouble my efforts to introduce people to other games.

Yes! We must show GW that trying to fix problems with their current format is bad!

   
 
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