Fireball's address

[Paul B]

One of the thoughts that we have come up with when discussing your idea is to have the suggestions be things that had some minimum number of units produced, 50? 100? That would insure that we don't find ourselves in a situation where we must make something too obscure that a relatively small number of people have chosen.
...

We would love to hear what everyone has to say. This idea could be a lot of fun!

Thank you for your support,
GHQ

How about a 50 or 100 group like Eureka minis does? People can place an order for a desired but unproduced miniature and commit to purchase x number of units. Once the promised purchases reach a certain commitment level, the company agrees to produce the model within the next year. Akin to a internal kickstarter.

[7.62]

Polls are fun and can produce useful information that may help a company make a commercial decision when used as part of the big picture.

I think that the idea of some kind of internal kickstarter could be a very prudent way to expand the range with minimal risk to GHQ.
I would put money up front to get what I want and I feel others would too.

Lets face it, votes and opinions are a variable.
The lobbyist with a wad of cold hard cash is a constant.
(Sorry trying to stop the rubber ducky effect but just too good to miss)

One thing here that we all have in common is that we are all pro GHQ. Another is that we do cover the complete range of the hobby in both buying habits and usage.
From that angle our votes will carry a significant weight and will be listened to.

Still before we cast open the gates of commercial democracy lets just remind our self of some elements of that bigger picture. Just in case we do not always get what we vote for.

GHQ is good at what they do. It's their show.

The bean counter is mightier than the warrior.

Obscure/unusual to us could be profitable.
(Zombies I did not see coming, so maybe women beach volleyball team would sell).

Common place item(10,000 in service) may have little or no following.

Sales regions count, 1 vote in Country A may be worth more than Country B.
(in fact a poll 99% to 1% could favor the 1% commercially, we should remember that).

I'm sure GHQ has a hot list for coming releases as some carry over from year to year.
(if I was in their boots I would be keeping that to myself).

A new item A may not sell much by it self but still increase sales of an older item B.

World events could change and favor one item over another in timing or demand.

At the end of the day the more information they have the better they will do and I'm all for that.
My choice is the simple GHQ forum poll yes/no or pick A,B,C,D,E to keep the numbers clear. All the cannonade of debate and lobbying on another posting.

Let the voting begin.

[RedLeif]

To Paul B's post above. Why not jsut use Kickstarter for those kinds of offerings. That is the 'ghq will make new kit N### (5 models of vehicle Y) when we have x number oforders for it.

I recenetly saw a good model to follow based on Steve Jackson's Ogre Miniatures set, now an active kickstarter project.

I do recall GHQ asking this forum to comment on using kickstarter in the past and the thread seemed to me to devolve quickly into something that was not on topic or helpful to GHQ in the end. At the time I couldn't see how it would work with Kickstarter as I didn't understand kick starter that well. Seeing how to run a kickstarter to do this now makes sense to me though. Using the Kickstarter 'engine' might make more sense than tryign to graft this funtion onto this forum.

[BurtWolf]

I think that's an excellent idea Red. Wonder what ghqs turn around time would be if they bought into it? I imagine the cost is all upfront, once the sculpt is made as well as the mold, I imagine it would be relatively easy for GHQ to maintain.

Maybe we could use the poll to vote for the top 1 to 3 new ideas, and then they get put through a kick starter process.

[Paul B]

Problem with kickstarter is that the company has to already have the product in prototype. What we seem to want (if I am reading the tea leaves correctly) is the ability for us to suggest models to make and then have GHQ produce them.

Keeping it internally, like Eureka does, allows us to suggest a model, and then people can come to GHQ's site and commit to a number of units. There is no time limit for funding. When the requisite number of units is reached, GHQ could then put it on the list to be produced.

[BurtWolf]

What you're proposing is spot on - I am unfamiliar with Eureka but the way you described it would be ideal (in my opinion). I hope they consider it, it'd be a cool concept!

[CBoy3]

I think that Kickstarters for something like this would get too messy. Many people would have an idea for something, and the GHQ would have to set up several Kickstarters, go through the whole process, and see if it hit the goal. I think that Kickstarter will only allow a company to run one at a time (which is a great idea!).

I'm not familiar with Eureka. How do they do it? Does anyone have any specific details? Do they handle it all internally? Do you pay them up front, like with Kickstarter, and then get your money back if they don't get enough interest? It seems like the accounting on something like that could get really messy.

So far, I like what I have heard- I like the idea of GHQ letting the customers in on the decision for a model...or a few . Maybe that's get ahead of things too much. Anyway, it's great that they wold consider this, I don't think that many companies would. There are some good ideas coming out of this. I hope that they are listening, and will come back with something to let us know if we are on to something here? In the right direction? Totally off base?

[panzergator]

What is the lead time required to design, commission, sculpt, and prepare the molds? I am an impatient guy...

[av8rmongo]

What is the lead time required to design, commission, sculpt, and prepare the molds? I am an impatient guy...

I can't speak for GHQ but back in the day, way before 3D printing even, I desperately wanted a few models of the MV Bobo for a Maritime Pre-positioning Squadron (MPS) I wanted to put together. I contacted a company that specialized in pewter architectural models to see if they could/would produce a model for me. I bought some scale drawings online for them to base their sculpt. At that time, probably 10-15 yrs ago, the master would cost me $500 and production costs would be $10-$15 each with a minimum initial order of 25. It was too specialized for him to expect many sales through his architectural contacts so I was footing the entire bill. If I could have come up with the money production time would be about 4 weeks.

Again, not sure if any of that applies to GHQ's process but that is at least one historical data point.