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 ruminator wrote:
I
The real push on keeping costs down and accelerated release schedule does seem to be indicative of either pressure from the VC houses to retain income per share at current levels or a likely exit for certain shareholders trying to maximise value before they go.

Pressure from the VC houses can only mean one thing...the Von Carsteins are at work!

 Scipio Africanus wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
I've always had generic white boxes for GW stuff ordered by post to the store. There's no point printing a box that doesn't have to sell itself off the shelf.

Isn't this fairly obvious?

Apparently not to the people who are slating GW for using white boxes.

 Devoted-to-the-machine wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
In recent years, GW made insane price hikes to compensate for lower sales and keep the revenue flat (adjusted for inflation).

They will continue to raise prices till sales drop.

I call BS on this, they are way past that point and their own financial reports show it.

 Kilkrazy wrote:

 Scipio Africanus wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
I've always had generic white boxes for GW stuff ordered by post to the store. There's no point printing a box that doesn't have to sell itself off the shelf.

Isn't this fairly obvious?

Apparently not to the people who are slating GW for using white boxes.

I've never cared much either way - the box will be chucked afterwards... the only point for giving it a pretty picture is to show what is inside. Maybe give an idea on how to paint the contest.

Other than that... a blank box works fine.

The Auld Grump

It doesn't really work for something trying to market itself as a premium product.

I agree with Brylcreem.

That I will grant you.

But given the choice between a late product in a shiny box and a product that arrives in a plain brown wrapper but in a timely fashion.... I will go with timely.

But then... I really don't think of GW's products as 'premium'. *Shrug*

They are decent, but not really better than many other, often more reasonably priced, products.

I buy many times more Reaper - typically in blister packs.

The Auld Grump

They're not premium products. But they're trying ot market themselves as premium products. I think there's the difference.

Forge World are premium products and all the models I've bought from them come in simple packaging with a generic label and design that I could print on my printer at home with just the title of the item shown on the packaging.

That's the difference between an actual premium product and a product that is trying to scream to the kiddies "hey look at me, I'm a premium product!"

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Forge World are premium products and all the models I've bought from them come in simple packaging with a generic label and design that I could print on my printer at home with just the title of the item shown on the packaging.

That's the difference between an actual premium product and a product that is trying to scream to the kiddies "hey look at me, I'm a premium product!"

Or that's the difference between a product that is direct order from the manufacturer and one that is designed to sit on a shelf.

 cincydooley wrote:
Or that's the difference between a product that is direct order from the manufacturer and one that is designed to sit on a shelf.

Sorry, I thought that what we were talking about. When you either buy something online or walk in to a shop and specifically order a box that is not currently on the shelf. I will admit I haven't bought a lot of GW stuff direct, but I believe it's always come in the display boxes they use in stores (in some cases with a whole lot of empty space) rather than a generic box with a simple printed label like Forge World products.

 cincydooley wrote:
Or that's the difference between a product that is direct order from the manufacturer and one that is designed to sit on a shelf.

Yeah, but we're talking about GW having problems with sufficient stock for direct orders. If the problem is boxes, just stuff it in a generic cardboard box and mail it. I'd much rather have a new Tau army now in plain cardboard than have to wait a month to get it in pretty boxes that are going straight into the garbage as soon as I open them.

 BryllCream wrote:
It doesn't really work for something trying to market itself as a premium product.

I disagree, there are loads of premium products that come in in plain packaging. Designers particularly like to have that air of mystery. My Mrs bought a set of three dolls that had been dressed by famous designers all came in non-descript black boxes, and cost me nearly £200 each! Don't worry it was money well spent, she can hardly moan about toy soldiers now can she.

Also Astin Martins don't come in boxes.

 notprop wrote:

 BryllCream wrote:
It doesn't really work for something trying to market itself as a premium product.

I disagree, there are loads of premium products that come in in plain packaging. Designers particularly like to have that air of mystery. My Mrs bought a set of three dolls that had been dressed by famous designers all came in non-descript black boxes, and cost me nearly £200 each! Don't worry it was money well spent, she can hardly moan about toy soldiers now can she.

Also Astin Martins don't come in boxes.

My Guvnor came in a plain box with "Pashley" written on the side. Def not luxury packaging, but certainly a premium product.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
In recent years, GW made insane price hikes to compensate for lower sales and keep the revenue flat (adjusted for inflation). They didn't grow for 8 years ... in a growing market ... after they broke up with De Agostini that made all the needed advertising for the LOTR game and created the "LOTR bubble" (bubble because GW went back to non-advertising).

With the Hobbit, GW tried to double the prices. The market said "Are you crazy?" So you can still get the limited edition starters after 6 months that should have been sold in 3 days.

Yes.

It was the "doubled prices" and "no advertising" that made "The Hobbit" sell poorly.
It certainly had nothing to do with the fact that as far as 'action scenes' go "The Hobbit" was fairly devoid of them while each of the Lord of the Rings films had one or two pivotal big battle moments in each film.

Remember Kan, keep your words short and sweet and you may just have to eat them. We'll have to see if this theory holds out by the time the second film rolls around.

Fenrir Kitsune wrote:

My Guvnor came in a plain box with "Pashley" written on the side. Def not luxury packaging, but certainly a premium product.

But looks like they forgot to fit gears to it and no carbon fibre bling - nice wheel rims though

 notprop wrote:

 BryllCream wrote:
It doesn't really work for something trying to market itself as a premium product.

I disagree, there are loads of premium products that come in in plain packaging. Designers particularly like to have that air of mystery. My Mrs bought a set of three dolls that had been dressed by famous designers all came in non-descript black boxes, and cost me nearly £200 each! Don't worry it was money well spent, she can hardly moan about toy soldiers now can she.

Also Astin Martins don't come in boxes.

So you're honestly saying that GW stores should just be full of blank boxes? Some people go to rediculous lengths just to disagree with me

Not at all dear boy.

I understood the topic to be related to mail received products, though there are retail product that also go for the minimalist approach.

Clearly GW retail is more of a WOW-PIZZAZ attack on the senses than a designer chic approach and would be more appropriate as you say.

As for disagreeing with you for the sake of it, you have enough detractors already I am not one of them. I am not that ridiculous......

GW aren't in trouble, no way. For one, 4 of the stores around my area are all getting complete refits, You don't waste money on Refitting a store if you are having financial difficulty.

The problem with the Lack of being able to get tau is probably a simple fact of the amount of new Models that are being produced In a very short period of time. We have Tau, High elves and Eldar all being released in quick succession. And wile im not completely clued up on the way they get there Models cast, I'm pretty sure they wont have a Machine for every single different item that is made. So they will do a certain number of runs with say a Riptide, And then they will do a certain amount of runs with the high elf models. And if they run out of Riptides halfway through a run of a model they wont stop to change what is being cast half way through a run. Its the same situation for the Printed Boxes. If the printers are already running out loads of the new Eldar and High Elf prints then they will be unable to print Boxes for the Tau items, until they have finished the run of the new models. And that's probably why people have been receiving some items in the generic GW branded white boxes, as they are using them to try and clear the Online back orders. I recieved two riptides last week both came in there proper boxes, Granted it took two weeks for them to arrive.

Stranger83 wrote:

 jonolikespie wrote:
They are still making a profit and their stock is dropping but neither of those things mean they are not in trouble, it just means that trouble hasn't punched them in the nuts yet.

Their stock isn't dropping, OK - it fell nearly 10p per share over the last 2 days, but it is still up nearly 30p from the start of the month. Currently at 721 - which is nearly the highest it has ever been.

Oops, I meant to say isn't dropping. The point of that post was that while they haven't begun to collapse in on themselves they are only keeping up profit through cost cutting and raising prices to cover falling sales. It is not a viable long term strategy and they will be in lots of trouble if they don't change something.

cerbrus2 wrote:GW aren't in trouble, no way. For one, 4 of the stores around my area are all getting complete refits, You don't waste money on Refitting a store if you are having financial difficulty.

No, you reduce them to 1 man stores with no room for actual games (which have historically been a big way to draw in new customers and keep old customers from buying from other stores) that are only open 5 days a week.

I could agree with you if it wasn't for the fact the first one opened Saturday, with 4 realm of battle, table 2 for warhammer and 2 for 40k. And a painting table big enough for at least, 6 people. The store looks great. One of the tables is like a miniature version of the drop site massacre table in Nottingham.

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail.html?announcementId=11591000

For immediate release 22 May 2013

Games Workshop Group PLC announces that today the Board has declared a dividend of 16 pence per share. This will be paid on 5 July 2013 for shareholders on the register at 31 May 2013.

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary.html?fourWayKey=GB0003718474GBGBXSSQ3

£7.22 a share at time of writing.

Is it sad my dad and I keep contemplating buying GW stock? >_< Though I mean a 16pence per share payout ain't too shabby...

 Blackmoor wrote:

 ruminator wrote:
I
The real push on keeping costs down and accelerated release schedule does seem to be indicative of either pressure from the VC houses to retain income per share at current levels or a likely exit for certain shareholders trying to maximise value before they go.

Pressure from the VC houses can only mean one thing...the Von Carsteins are at work!

Yes, there is an argument that venture capitalist = vampire ...

richred_uk wrote:

Fenrir Kitsune wrote:

My Guvnor came in a plain box with "Pashley" written on the side. Def not luxury packaging, but certainly a premium product.

But looks like they forgot to fit gears to it and no carbon fibre bling - nice wheel rims though

Mighty option of three gears - I didn't bother.
Crabon or 531? Finecast or metal...........

Fenrir Kitsune wrote:
Mighty option of three gears - I didn't bother.
Crabon or 531? Finecast or metal...........

Can never have too many gears or miniatures

Touche on the carbon/ finecast though lol

(not quite sure why I pushed carbon seeing as I ride aluminium though )

 Peregrine wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
Or that's the difference between a product that is direct order from the manufacturer and one that is designed to sit on a shelf.

Yeah, but we're talking about GW having problems with sufficient stock for direct orders. If the problem is boxes, just stuff it in a generic cardboard box and mail it. I'd much rather have a new Tau army now in plain cardboard than have to wait a month to get it in pretty boxes that are going straight into the garbage as soon as I open them.

Completley agree. But remember that they really can't send anything to a retailer in a plain white box. I imagine making the decision to send them to direct order customers in plain white boxes was a big deal. It's not what they 'normally' do, and anyting outside of standard operating procedure almost certainly has to go through an approval process. And even then they'd probably have to ask the direct order customer for approval so they didn't get a bunch of people buying gifts angry because they didn't get what the product description on the webpage indicated they would. I mean, people will complain about anything....

 Grimtuff wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Kroothawk wrote:
In recent years, GW made insane price hikes to compensate for lower sales and keep the revenue flat (adjusted for inflation). They didn't grow for 8 years ... in a growing market ... after they broke up with De Agostini that made all the needed advertising for the LOTR game and created the "LOTR bubble" (bubble because GW went back to non-advertising).

With the Hobbit, GW tried to double the prices. The market said "Are you crazy?" So you can still get the limited edition starters after 6 months that should have been sold in 3 days.

Yes.

It was the "doubled prices" and "no advertising" that made "The Hobbit" sell poorly.
It certainly had nothing to do with the fact that as far as 'action scenes' go "The Hobbit" was fairly devoid of them while each of the Lord of the Rings films had one or two pivotal big battle moments in each film.

Remember Kan, keep your words short and sweet and you may just have to eat them. We'll have to see if this theory holds out by the time the second film rolls around.

Is there any guarantee that the second film will have big action sequences beyond those with youknowwho?

I can't see a starter box of Bard the Bowman fighting a dragon being exciting; same as the Escape from Goblintown and the limited number of characters involved against faceless goon squads.
From what I remember, "The Desolation of Smaug" is supposed to end right before "The Battle of the Five Armies" and that's where film 3 is going to take place.

 Kanluwen wrote:

I can't see a starter box of Bard the Bowman fighting a dragon being exciting; same as the Escape from Goblintown and the limited number of characters involved against faceless goon squads.
From what I remember, "The Desolation of Smaug" is supposed to end right before "The Battle of the Five Armies" and that's where film 3 is going to take place.

Remember there is that whole Necromancer in Mirkwood storyline that is being shoehorned in. Expect long drawn out action sequences from that. Also toys of Legolas and Arwen were released with the Hobbit and they probably show up in Mirkwood as well. It will be great.......

The Dragon attacking laketown would be a great starter set actually. It would be Dar, far too expensive for me but still. Plus having seen the first film for all we know the attack on laketown could be accompanied by a band of wise-cracking orks.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Presumably legolas will be at the battle of the five armies as he is a Prince and would have probably taught alongside his father.