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How do!

Found this on the BBC.

26% increase in Like for Like sales for the past six months

Online sales up 90%, profits up by a third.

Seems other companies such as Hornby are enjoying a similar boost in sales. Given retail news in the U.K. is usually doom and gloom, this makes for a nice change of pace.

And for the number crunchers among our, erm, number, the half year report can be found here.

It even made the 11AM news on Radio 2.

I see they've updated the article since I first read it, initially still talked about it being medieval themed and using lead miniatures!

 notprop wrote:
It even made the 11AM news on Radio 2.

Not surprising considering the scale of the business in the UK landscape.

The most interesting info is that their second factory (Factory 2) is still not ready but they plan on having additional production facilities ready by Spring 2021. They ramped up production by +30% but it still isn't enough apparently.
They are also securing land adjacent to their Factory 2 building site for a future expansion.

I'd say our hobby is not going to face a crisis anytime soon.

 Aenar wrote:

 notprop wrote:
It even made the 11AM news on Radio 2.

Not surprising considering the scale of the business in the UK landscape.

The most interesting info is that their second factory (Factory 2) is still not ready but they plan on having additional production facilities ready by Spring 2021. They ramped up production by +30% but it still isn't enough apparently.
They are also securing land adjacent to their Factory 2 building site for a future expansion.

I'd say our hobby is not going to face a crisis anytime soon.

Speak for yourself, GW's still out of Thunder Wolf Cavalry! IT'S A TRAGEDY I TELL YA!

Guess the increase in production capacity is offset by the increase in demand?

I dunno, I’m not good with numbers in that way.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Guess the increase in production capacity is offset by the increase in demand?

I dunno, I’m not good with numbers in that way.

That and don't forget their current output is hampered by Covid safe practice. When things settle down they should be left with a reduction in sales speed (as people come out of lockdowns and back to work/life) and a big boost in production output.

HALF-YEARLY REPORT wrote:Warehouses
Logistics projects have progressed significantly during the period. The planned increase in warehousing capacity in
Memphis is nearing completion with all hardware, equipment and infrastructure elements in place and new IT systems
entering the final testing phases in preparation for go live. In the UK, the construction of our new East Midlands Gateway
hub near Nottingham has been finished and an interim instance of our warehouse management solution has been
implemented enabling us to ‘insource’ our component logistics operation into the new site from a third party. We’ve had
a few teething issues bringing components stock back in-house all of which will be resolved soon. Robotics solutions,
mirroring those deployed in Memphis, are on track to be implemented for the UK finished goods operation during the
summer of 2021. During December our warehouse capacity in Memphis was on occasions stretched to its limits and
despite an incredible team performance our service levels were not as great as we would have liked. We apologise to our
customers for any inconvenience caused and appreciate the support they showed us during the period.
Our ‘old’ finished goods warehouse in Nottingham is planned to be reconfigured as an on-site component warehouse and
offer us some space to support production of paint and resin miniatures.

So the new warehouse is separate to the new factory, and they're going to refurbish an existing warehouse. Also confirms that the warehouses are going Skynet...

A curious thought occurs.

The sales are all going to be hobby related, rather than strictly gaming, as tournaments and that (at least in the U.K.) aren’t happening.

That to me suggests lots of new, theoretically painted armies on the go (certainly my Gloomspite and Necron forces)

Wonder what plans might be afoot (if any) to capitalise on that? As there’s an argument to be made that this is more a front loading of sales, which could see a corresponding drop in months to come, due to people just bringing forward previously future plans.

With WHW, there’s little to really stop GW doing fortnightly tournaments/narrative sessions, fitting other events in between.

I'd hope that GW is thinking on a big push for events after things get safe. I suspect the hard thing will be that there won't be a single "safe" date so much as a sliding scale of improving safty and return to normality. So it might not be a big launch, but I would hope that 2022 is tentatively earmarked for a LOT of events


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I'd hope that GW is thinking on a big push for events after things get safe. I suspect the hard thing will be that there won't be a single "safe" date so much as a sliding scale of improving safty and return to normality. So it might not be a big launch, but I would hope that 2022 is tentatively earmarked for a LOT of events

True that.

If they’d retained in-store gaming (well, at the scale previous) they could’ve done regional heats etc. But wishes and that.

Heck, even take the easier route and provide some form of official sponsorship for Indy events (mission packs, maybe some form of prize support), make it as easy as possible for the organised scene to get back up to speed. Because the relatively few quid spent there could become a decent line of sales.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
True that.

If they’d retained in-store gaming (well, at the scale previous) they could’ve done regional heats etc. But wishes and that.

Heck, even take the easier route and provide some form of official sponsorship for Indy events (mission packs, maybe some form of prize support), make it as easy as possible for the organised scene to get back up to speed. Because the relatively few quid spent there could become a decent line of sales.

What I'm curious about is how much of a decline they'll see in sales once everything is declared safe and open again six to twelve months from now.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Double posts.. most curious.

Indeed. Guess it depends, really.

As said above, this could be a front loading of planned projects. With sod all else to do, people buying up a year’s worth of models, and getting it done.

But, it could also be the simple fact that with things like pubs and restaurants closed, people are redirecting their disposable income to something they can actually do whilst Nurgle ravages the land.

And let’s face it, it’s almost certainly a mix of both. Six of one, half dozen of the other as my Dad would say.

But, we’re also Nerds with a plastic crack addiction. Sure, we might come out of this with shiny new painted armies (I’m well into mine), but that doesn’t mean we won’t be spending more. Spesh me, as I’m a right slag for GW’s output.

I really think they need to be (if they’re not already) looking at ways to promote getting gaming again once Nurgle’s foul miasma has cleared.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Indeed. Guess it depends, really.

As said above, this could be a front loading of planned projects. With sod all else to do, people buying up a year’s worth of models, and getting it done.

But, it could also be the simple fact that with things like pubs and restaurants closed, people are redirecting their disposable income to something they can actually do whilst Nurgle ravages the land.

And let’s face it, it’s almost certainly a mix of both. Six of one, half dozen of the other as my Dad would say.

But, we’re also Nerds with a plastic crack addiction. Sure, we might come out of this with shiny new painted armies (I’m well into mine), but that doesn’t mean we won’t be spending more. Spesh me, as I’m a right slag for GW’s output.

I really think they need to be (if they’re not already) looking at ways to promote getting gaming again once Nurgle’s foul miasma has cleared.

In my case it is certainly this. My only other expensive hobby (snowboarding) has been put on hold due to covid and I didn't go on vacation, so I've definitely spent that money on miniatures in 2020.
I can definitely see myself spending less in the future as I'm stocked up with projects for years to come. But no matter how big your collection is, there's always a new miniature or unit (or even army!) you want to buy

With an increase in sales that means there are more new players to ruin my hobby?
Long live 7th Ed

Followed by another price increase

I'm a bit pessimistic about the increase in sales because of one thing: the 90% increase in online sales.

That basically is sales that could have come from local shops. I know local stores were closed a lot, but I've seen quite a bit of things in stock at GW website but not at my local independent store, and my store tells me they have ordered these items and can't get them.

I am glad to see they are doing so well in the Covid and Brexit combo grip of death, they are quite vulnerable to both of them.

It's a tough time and during the last year, I've redirected almost all my online purchases to the local gaming shops, even though I don't really play there and they have roughly 30-40% higher prices than online retailers in the UK.

Kitane wrote:
I am glad to see they are doing so well in the Covid and Brexit combo grip of death, they are quite vulnerable to both of them.

How is GW vulnerable to Brexit?

they are one of the few to provit from not being part of the single market any more as they can now enforce the same restrictions from buying from the UK as they do with others

 kodos wrote:

Kitane wrote:
I am glad to see they are doing so well in the Covid and Brexit combo grip of death, they are quite vulnerable to both of them.

How is GW vulnerable to Brexit?

they are one of the few to provit from not being part of the single market any more as they can now enforce the same restrictions from buying from the UK as they do with others

Taxes, import export duty, red tape. The deal also came close to the wire, so chances are people who know about such things are still picking the bones out of it.

 BrookM wrote:
What I'm curious about is how much of a decline they'll see in sales once everything is declared safe and open again six to twelve months from now.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Double posts.. most curious.

Plus the mortality rise in wargamers, all buried under the mounds of plastic, lead and resin crack they promised themselves they were going to get through during various lockdowns.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

 kodos wrote:

Kitane wrote:
I am glad to see they are doing so well in the Covid and Brexit combo grip of death, they are quite vulnerable to both of them.

How is GW vulnerable to Brexit?

they are one of the few to provit from not being part of the single market any more as they can now enforce the same restrictions from buying from the UK as they do with others

Taxes, import export duty, red tape. The deal also came close to the wire, so chances are people who know about such things are still picking the bones out of it.

which is not a problem for people buying from GW-Germany
yet if GW gets into trouble because people have to pay MSRP instead of UK-price+good conversion rate, it only means that their prices are to high for the market

I'd be curious to see if those sales go down (in general, not online sales). I know in 2019 I spent every week playing at least one game at my local and I don't think I did any buying or painting in that time, but when games slowed down, I bought more and painted more. Maybe we'll see a reflection in that down the line.

I guess another factor is how often peeps are completing projects.

The uptick will of course be influenced by Indomitus, and lots of shiny new models.

If those went on the pile of shame? If those were all painted, and with time on their hands people tried out new techniques? Arguably different outcomes (not even gonna attempt to present a binary option there).

If peeps have been painting purely for pleasure rather than a specific project for a change, they may be more inclined to side projects, such as Underworlds or big Monsters/Tanks for the enjoyment of painting them.

All gonna vary from hobbyist to hobbyist.

Heck, might even include (likely will) people discovering their old models, and then spending a few quid on paints and brushes, potentially rekindling the enjoyment of a forgotten hobby. How many? Who knows, but each remains a new revenue stream for the industry.

Locally there has been a slight downturn in 40k sales in the end of 2020. Has been attributed to lack of games and tournaments that tend to drive interest. However, AoS has been on the rise which has been attributed to the fact people are painting more.

I mean, if I am stuck at home and want to paint something I think I would probably pick AoS over 40k.

Good to hear GW are doing well at the moment, although I would say Father Nurgle probably gave a helping hand! I think some of that success is shared at least by both the wargaming industry in general as well as the larger 'hobby' of arts and crafts. I know from my other hobby, of plastic kit building, that lots of places have been sold out and stores run off their feet trying to keep up with demand.

It's actually also interesting that by and large (speaking for the EU and US here as I know many parts of the world are doing better) this is against the backdrop of not really being able to do large tournaments and events through 2020. This would indicate (and is something that I have suspected, over many years of following the hobby) that a large proportion of hobbyists are involved to collect, model and paint the miniatures with playing as a secondary concern (or perhaps not even a concern at all).
I wonder if GW have ever conducted any internal market research on this? It would be interesting to know the what % of miniatures never get near a wargaming table, or if they do so it is very infrequently. I suspect that % might be very high *

* I'm sure many here would disagree with this, but it's important to recognise forums are frequented by people who are really, really into the hobby and a lot more of whom will wargame with the miniatures. I don't think a survey on Dakka would therefore be that useful as viewing the general customer population at large.

Quasistellar wrote:
I'm a bit pessimistic about the increase in sales because of one thing: the 90% increase in online sales.

That basically is sales that could have come from local shops. I know local stores were closed a lot, but I've seen quite a bit of things in stock at GW website but not at my local independent store, and my store tells me they have ordered these items and can't get them.

Online sales almost doubled (+87%) but Trade sales went up as well (+33%). If you look at the absolute numbers and not percentage increase, you'll see that Online sales went up less than Trade sales (+£21.5m vs +£26.8m, respectively).
My flgs had no issues in ordering more stuff in 2020 and my gaming group routinely puts in orders in the thousands of euros (every three to four weeks, on average).
I guess that it may depend on the region, as I've heard that many stores in NA had limitations on available stock but I don't know any store in Europe that had issues on that same scale.

In response to Pacific, I suspect most models never see the inside of a Tournament.

Sure, some stoic folks will have but one army, and stick with it. But a fair amount will have second/third armies, not particularly desirable for tourney level play, which they use as a refresher.

Me? Gloomspite for kicks, Ossiarch for licks

Funny if GW extrapolates from the sales boost that the gaming side of things is not that relevant.

I think this is good news overall for GW.

 NAVARRO wrote:
Funny if GW extrapolates from the sales boost that the gaming side of things is not that relevant.

I think this is good news overall for GW.

Funny but flawed. I'd wager long term if there were no games many would slowly move on. It works know because its a short term break in games. Take them away and its like AoS at launch