|
Post by kingscarbine on Apr 2, 2006 10:24:43 GMT -5
I need to know how many figures should I release to start, what equipment and machinery would I need if I employ a caster, how many people are needed to run the show from start, what kind of facilities, how to package and what with, etc. Any help will be more than welcome. I need to show figures (money, expenses, investment) to submit a detailed description of the business. Can you help with a guideline of what I'll need and how much?
Also looking for sculptors of 28mm historical ranges. Please contact me off forum.
Cheers,
Nuno
|
|
|
Post by faramirsmumma on Apr 2, 2006 15:37:35 GMT -5
Hey mate,
From my very limited knowledge of small business, i'll tell you one thing. You need to give yourself a customer-base. From there you can build. Your customers will come to you if your scuplts are good, and reasonably well priced. Online is always an option, and would help sales.
If you can show us some figures, im sure we can help you out alot more.
|
|
goatman
Banner Bearer
Mr. Know-how
Posts: 112
|
Post by goatman on Apr 2, 2006 17:52:54 GMT -5
Machinery: If you want to buy a casting machine, you can purchase a centrifugal casting machine from a company called tekast or something like that for about 15000USD. There appears to be little training involved but it is obviously a substantial investement. If you are employing a caster, try jeff valent or silvercast, their molds are about 70-100USD. For blister packaging, this can be purchased from jeff valent, or a pretty much unlimeted amount of suppliers, search around the web. Hope that helps.
|
|
|
Post by kingscarbine on Apr 3, 2006 1:48:06 GMT -5
Hello,
My plan is to design the figures, commission a range to a sculptor and then have a mold maker cast and produce the figures. But at a later stage I hope to employ a caster and produce the figures in the company shed. I have no figures yet but there will be some good sculptors involved (still waiting for replies and looking at portfolios). I'll probably use EBOB's dollies to standardise the ranges if more than one sculptor are involved.
Cheers,
Nuno
|
|
|
Post by nikin on Apr 3, 2006 3:31:32 GMT -5
Wont hiring a sculptor add to the costs, or is he just a friend who will share in profits
|
|
|
Post by eBob on Apr 3, 2006 4:12:04 GMT -5
Mouldmaking and casting is business all by itself and a complex and highly skilled area. It also requires considerable investment in equipment and materials - and is not going to be worthwhile until you have a well established business about 5 years down the road - so I wouldn't even be thinking about that right now. Contract out your casting. Comissioning sculptors is also a costly business. I think your average sculptor charges around £60 to £80 per miniature - with around a dozen sculpts per mould you're looking at around £800 to £1000 investment in each mould - with moulding and casting costs on top - so bear this in mind because it'll take you a while before you are turning a genuine profit. The most important thing is to nail the right product at the right time without compromising any legalities on copyright etc. The problem with historical ranges is that on the one hand they are well covered - Foundry, Gripping Beast, Perry - etc. but also, the typical historical wargamer is a grumpy old bugger with more opinions than money to spend. Wargaming miniatures normally sell for no more than £1.00 each. Having said that - if you're product is what he wants - a single customer might spend several hundred pounds with you to get the army he wants. You've got to compare that to Fantasy - where GW can sell a single figure for up to £6.00 for the same moulding/casting cost. So profit on wargaming miniatures is greatly reduced - this is why you see a lot of resculpting - same guy with a different sword or a new shield - that kind of thing. There's very little passion in wargaming miniatures - consquently there's little to get the customers excited about. The key to success in this area is volume - having a comprehensive range covering as much as possible and keeping your stuff compatible in style with your competitors so that you can compliment their ranges rather than compete with them. Wargame stuff is normally packed in poly bags rather than fancy blister packs - because of the reduced profit marging and because the customers don't have high expectations of fancy packaging - they'd rather you kept your prices down. If you haven't already - check out Frothers for prospective casters (Pete B) and keen sculptors looking for work. www.frothersunite.co.uk/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=5
|
|
|
Post by kingscarbine on Apr 20, 2006 7:37:20 GMT -5
Do you know where I can get pro forma invoices to calculate initial investment?
|
|
|
Post by eBob on Apr 20, 2006 10:09:56 GMT -5
a what??
If I were you - I'd stop worrying about profits and investments and make some miniatures. Get some feedback - get em cast and see how well they sell first. You're not likely to make a great deal of profit in the year 1 anyway so just get on with it and start building your customer base.
|
|