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Or should they just take a combined double CAD, with allies and hope for sixes?

Seriously ough I've been thinking about it, why in the blue blazes is GW still based in the UK?

They have a thing in the States already, a distribution centre or something isn't it? Why not move the whole works over stateside? Heck why not Canada even?

I think that this would benefit the company more as over here we seem to have an easier time importing, as well as being better equipped to export the product. Someone was trying to defend GW the other day by saying that the English economy was not conducive to this sort of product and that as a nation it is much harder to get past certain tariffs and trade obligations concerning the materials needed to produce plastic minis. Being an island nation the whole economy is heavily dependent on shipping and ocean travel. Part of the reason (it was posited) that GW had such high prices was because everything in England is overpriced. Now I'm no economics expert, and I don't have a big fancy paid for education but I think that relocation might well be what GW needs to stay vital.

I'd really like it if someone who has some experience with sort of thing could weigh in on the idea and debate the pros and cons of relocation. Mind you, I'm not saying GW should abandon England entirely, just move ther HQ and main production lines to a better location, wherever that may be.

So let's have it Dakka! What say you about this idea? I think it would be a good move, although I will admit that my reasoning for thinking so is not based on any real speculation, after all I'm no expert, just an idea I had. Perhaps the experts can help this thread out?

As if the colonies weren't enough for you, now you want our toys too.

GW don't have much of anything in the US anymore.

More importantly why would the biggest wargames Manufacturer in the world that sits in Nottingham which is often regarded as the main focal point of miniature production and gaming move away much less abroad?

The cost to move would be huge, you would lose much of the existing staff that wouldn't move, new property to purchase lease, any Brit telling you feth off for being a splitter, no guarentee of any change of location making one iota of difference of change in price and finally they out sell any other miniature manufacture by a huge margin, where's the incentive not to protactbthe status quo?

Whoever you were talking to may not be a fancy educated as you were led to believe.

They did own a production facility in Memphis, Tn.

They now do not.

One would like to assume the reasons for this were sound economic ones.

Making that (rather shaky one in the context of GW) assumption, one has to consider it wouldn't work.

Besides, historically UK businesses moving to North America don't do well, the way business is done over there doesn't seem to sit with the British approach, or some other weird, alchemical, reason. Look at the Carphonee Warehouse/Best Buy crossover from a few years ago for a relatively recent example.

 Azreal13 wrote:
One would like to assume the reasons for this were sound economic ones.

One should never assume anything where GW is concerned.

If anything moves abroad it'll be manufacturing to China, and that'll be a sign they're really getting desperate.

 MagicMan wrote:
As if the colonies weren't enough for you, now you want our toys too.

This made me giggle.

But seriously, They are in a great location as it is.

GW had spent (IIRC) $2 Million to buy land and build their own facility in Memphis for distribution and manufacturing.

Why they pulled manufacturing from Memphis I can't figure out, and no one I know that works there (or did work there) really knows why.

I think it stays in the UK because that's GW's home. That's where it's always been.

Much of the staff that built GW live in the UK, Nottingham and the surrounding area specifically, and probably don't want to move.

I can't see people like John Blanche, Jes Goodwin and many, many others selling their homes in the UK, packing everything up (families and all) to move to Memphis.

Besides, it isn't really necessary to move an HQ in the era of electronic communication. Staff in the UK can easily, in real time, see what is going on in Memphis (and they have been able to since 2005). You can communicate easily by video with staff all around the world.

IMHO they should keep a manufacturing base in the US, which is why I don't understand it being shut down other than lack of experienced staff or the will do keep it running, but GW had been distributing worldwide from Nottingham for almost 20 years before they had manufacturing in the USA (Baltimore, then Memphis).

There are some issues that come up when trying to manufacture product in multiple locations, like having the correct sprues but falling short on printed materials like boxes to pack them in; needing multiple tools for production or having to ship individual tools back & forth, etc, etc.

The only reason I can think of for GW to move manufacturing back to Memphis, or at least part of it, is cost. Equipment and materials cost less in the USA than the UK. I think only labor was more expensive.

There were "trust" issues as well. Back in Baltimore there were some issues with molds being made of non-GW product as a favor to someone's "buddy" or limited edition molds being cast up so someone in another dept. can hand them out to friends. There were even some issues with early LOTR models that could have cost GW their license. On one occasion I was asked by a new manager to make some molds from a few unreleased model he had acquired off Ebay so he could have more cast up. I didn't do it which incurred his wrath (unfortunately for me) but I think GW UK might not trust another site to produce product.

Aye, there's a reason why Nottingham is called the lead belt. GW, Foundry, Warlord, Mantic, Mierce, Perry Miniatures and more that I can't think. Add to that the many freelance sculptors, game designers, mould makers, casters, artists and other wargame professionals live nearby in some degree. Why would you move away from this base of relatively rare skilled people.

Corporate taxes are higher in the US than they are in the UK. There's almost no reason whatsoever to move HQ's. If anything, they should move HQ to Ireland where they can tax shelter.

Well those are valid points, the valid ones anyways. Lol, if GW can't be bothered to run an international corporation properly then I guess there just isn't any hope for it.

People using company property to cast their own toys? Ridiculous!

It was just something I was mulling over in my head...

darkcloak wrote:
Well those are valid points, the valid ones anyways. Lol, if GW can't be bothered to run an international corporation properly then I guess there just isn't any hope for it.

People using company property to cast their own toys? Ridiculous!

It was just something I was mulling over in my head...

It's unfortunate but there were some staff in Baltimore that treated GW like it was their own "private toy store" when it came to miniatures.

I would get all kinds of requests to pull molds and cast models or to make new molds that I knew I wasn't allowed to do, but they "Had the authority" to tell me to do it. Turns out they had the authority because they decided they should have it so they gave it to themselves.

darkcloak wrote:
Well those are valid points, the valid ones anyways. Lol, if GW can't be bothered to run an international corporation properly then I guess there just isn't any hope for it.

People using company property to cast their own toys? Ridiculous!

It was just something I was mulling over in my head...

Why does having a Company HQ in the UK mean they are not running it properly? Anyone?....

I'd have to agree with a lot of whats been said on here already. It would be too inconvenient, too expensive and generally a waste of money for GW to up sticks and leg it across the pond. Now that would be a bad idea..

We wouldn't move HQ anyway because all the above plus ..
The weather here. No worries about earthquakes, twisters, insects that are out to get you. Or snow all year and below zero temps ;-)
Our little island may be a bit gray and miserable and everything is too expensive but we still plod along nicely. I quite prefer our British attitude than the American way of doing things (No offense intended, I love y'all really).
Also didn't a boat with molds on it sink on the way to the states? that would have cost a fair chunk. Keep manufacturing at home I say.

I vote they move to Pawtucket, RI, USA

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:
GW had spent (IIRC) $2 Million to buy land and build their own facility in Memphis for distribution and manufacturing.

Why they pulled manufacturing from Memphis I can't figure out, and no one I know that works there (or did work there) really knows why.

I think it stays in the UK because that's GW's home. That's where it's always been.

Much of the staff that built GW live in the UK, Nottingham and the surrounding area specifically, and probably don't want to move.

I can't see people like John Blanche, Jes Goodwin and many, many others selling their homes in the UK, packing everything up (families and all) to move to Memphis.

Besides, it isn't really necessary to move an HQ in the era of electronic communication. Staff in the UK can easily, in real time, see what is going on in Memphis (and they have been able to since 2005). You can communicate easily by video with staff all around the world.

IMHO they should keep a manufacturing base in the US, which is why I don't understand it being shut down other than lack of experienced staff or the will do keep it running, but GW had been distributing worldwide from Nottingham for almost 20 years before they had manufacturing in the USA (Baltimore, then Memphis).

There are some issues that come up when trying to manufacture product in multiple locations, like having the correct sprues but falling short on printed materials like boxes to pack them in; needing multiple tools for production or having to ship individual tools back & forth, etc, etc.

The only reason I can think of for GW to move manufacturing back to Memphis, or at least part of it, is cost. Equipment and materials cost less in the USA than the UK. I think only labor was more expensive.

There were "trust" issues as well. Back in Baltimore there were some issues with molds being made of non-GW product as a favor to someone's "buddy" or limited edition molds being cast up so someone in another dept. can hand them out to friends. There were even some issues with early LOTR models that could have cost GW their license. On one occasion I was asked by a new manager to make some molds from a few unreleased model he had acquired off Ebay so he could have more cast up. I didn't do it which incurred his wrath (unfortunately for me) but I think GW UK might not trust another site to produce product.

Aside from trust issues - I think that the Memphis plant was built during a burst of optimism. When GW thought that they would continue to grow, expand, and increase both manufacture and market share.

Now they are at a point where the means that GW uses to increase profit is to reduce overhead - and even that is not enough to increase profit over previous years.

GW is not what it was.

The Auld Grump

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:

darkcloak wrote:
Well those are valid points, the valid ones anyways. Lol, if GW can't be bothered to run an international corporation properly then I guess there just isn't any hope for it.

People using company property to cast their own toys? Ridiculous!

It was just something I was mulling over in my head...

It's unfortunate but there were some staff in Baltimore that treated GW like it was their own "private toy store" when it came to miniatures.

I would get all kinds of requests to pull molds and cast models or to make new molds that I knew I wasn't allowed to do, but they "Had the authority" to tell me to do it. Turns out they had the authority because they decided they should have it so they gave it to themselves.

Wait, didn't the guy who runs defiant games use to work at gw Balitmore? I remember that when he talked about his experience in the industry.

 TheAuldGrump wrote:


Aside from trust issues - I think that the Memphis plant was built during a burst of optimism. When GW thought that they would continue to grow, expand, and increase both manufacture and market share.

Now they are at a point where the means that GW uses to increase profit is to reduce overhead - and even that is not enough to increase profit over previous years.

GW is not what it was.

The Auld Grump

I think that also had something to do with Memphis being built, GW was doing well at the time and expanding. I recall in a presentation Paul Thomas gave about the new site being located in Memphis primarily because it's the distribution hub of North America. He said there were other locations they had considered, but Memphis had the right mix of cost/location for the new site.

GW isn't what it used to be, IMHO, simply because time has passed and everything changes. GW isn't the only company that is changing either and "Isn't what it used to be".

I don't know if that bad or good, but it happens. I do like what Ive heard about the new changes to WFB, we'll see what happens I guess.

 Lockark wrote:


Wait, didn't the guy who runs defiant games use to work at gw Balitmore? I remember that when he talked about his experience in the industry.

I think so, but I can't remember his name (if that's who you are referring to) and don't want to throw out names online. We all know how unforgiving the internet can be.

Being in the UK gives them easier access to the EU market and keeps the overheads down. I don't doubt that they closed the US branch because it was costing them a little too much.

 Da Boss wrote:
Being in the UK gives them easier access to the EU market and keeps the overheads down. I don't doubt that they closed the US branch because it was costing them a little too much.

GW Memphis is still there and being used, they just don't manufacture there anymore. It's mostly distribution now.

 sarpedons-right-hand wrote:

darkcloak wrote:
Well those are valid points, the valid ones anyways. Lol, if GW can't be bothered to run an international corporation properly then I guess there just isn't any hope for it.

People using company property to cast their own toys? Ridiculous!

It was just something I was mulling over in my head...

Why does having a Company HQ in the UK mean they are not running it properly? Anyone?....

I'd have to agree with a lot of whats been said on here already. It would be too inconvenient, too expensive and generally a waste of money for GW to up sticks and leg it across the pond. Now that would be a bad idea..

I was referring to the poster who said people in the US factory were misusing company property. More to the point... How can you look at the GW of 1995 and say that today the company is run the way it should be?

I'm not trying to bash England or anyone here, I'm just saying that the company isn't what it used to be. To me it seems like you blokes want to keep the toys all to yourselves.

Afterthought, perhaps GW has plateaued? Maybe the company ought to accept the fact that it's Pinot Grigio from now on and not Dom?

Belive it or not, the whole world does not revolve around the US.

Why does Ford not move its HQ to the UK? After all, the UK has lower corporate taxes than the U.S., US car manufactureing is screwed, it would give better access to the EU and some of the most productive car plants in the world are in the UK... Many reasons. Moving to the U.S. or Canada would not help GW all.

Maybe GW should move their HQ out of their arse, then they would be able to figure out some market research.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
Maybe GW should move their HQ out of their arse.....

In that case maybe they should move to Germany, they could put made in Colone on the box.

It's certainly something I could get behind.

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:
I recall in a presentation Paul Thomas gave about the new site being located in Memphis primarily because it's the distribution hub of North America.

Close. Its a hub for FedEx.

 Azreal13 wrote:
They did own a production facility in Memphis, Tn.

They now do not.

One would like to assume the reasons for this were sound economic ones.

Making that (rather shaky one in the context of GW) assumption, one has to consider it wouldn't work.

Besides, historically UK businesses moving to North America don't do well, the way business is done over there doesn't seem to sit with the British approach, or some other weird, alchemical, reason. Look at the Carphonee Warehouse/Best Buy crossover from a few years ago for a relatively recent example.

Or Tesco. My brother in law used to do marketting for them, Fresh n Easy.

I didn't even know it was Tesco till he told me, then I started going cos you could buy proper bacon. 12 months later it all went to gak, and I had to go back to eating those fething streaky fat rashers that you guys call bacon.

Id rather eat my fething shoelaces.

 Ghaz wrote:

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:
I recall in a presentation Paul Thomas gave about the new site being located in Memphis primarily because it's the distribution hub of North America.

Close. Its a hub for FedEx.

Memphis is the shipping distribution center for North America. DHL and UPS also have large shipping facilities there.

 Azreal13 wrote:
They did own a production facility in Memphis, Tn. They now do not.

AFAIK they still own it and use it for shipping.

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:
I recall in a presentation Paul Thomas gave about the new site being located in Memphis primarily because it's the distribution hub of North America.

Close. Its a hub for FedEx.

Memphis is the shipping distribution center for North America. DHL and UPS also have large shipping facilities there.

 Azreal13 wrote:
They did own a production facility in Memphis, Tn. They now do not.

AFAIK they still own it and use it for shipping.

It's still there- all orders in the US leave from there unless it's some odd stuff.

Memphis is a very large hub- several railroads, FedEx, DHL, and everything out on President's island(unloading barges, Mitsubishi plant, and whatever else). Only God knows how many trucks roll through there on I-40.

A lot of GW still feels very British (in a good way!), and whatever else is wrong with the company it should keep some of its unique charm and character.

Besides, I was sort of under the impression that the UK was the "silicon valley" of miniatures wargaming, though I could of course be totally wrong.

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:

 mechanicalhorizon wrote:
I recall in a presentation Paul Thomas gave about the new site being located in Memphis primarily because it's the distribution hub of North America.

Close. Its a hub for FedEx.

Memphis is the shipping distribution center for North America. DHL and UPS also have large shipping facilities there.

False. As a former UPS employee, their hub for this section of the nation is in Louisville KY and not Memphis. DHL also has it's hub at the Cincinnati airport.