Rikdom- Thank you for the thoughtful comments. I think you brought up some good points I wanted to address.
I never stopped and thought about this before, but you are right--the line really
isn't aimed at collectors. And I'm ok with that.
Allow me to further explain-
I specifically built K.O.T.S. to be marketable to retail buyers. I cannot justify the expense without the support of a retailer. Even with the kickstarter, which gave us a great infusion of cash, only provide a little more than 1/3 of the total cost for production. And if buyers feel they can take a chance on a non-licensed original IP if it is blind bagged, then I am more than happy to accommodate.
In your own comment you made the exact case
against collectors. It's a "possible purchase". And I think that's how the majority of hardcore collectors think...they are selective about what lines they get behind (myself included). And because of that, I knew I could not subside on only getting the collector dollar. I needed younger people, folks new to the hobby, and the random foot traffic / impulse purchases a retail spot provides. I think if you dig deeper into the demographics, you'll see adult collectors are a shrinking market. Collectors get married, they downsize their collections, they start families, priorities change...and they buy less toys.
The Hastings order alone is x5 times the amount of product I could sell in a year at conventions and through e-commerce.
I am very thankful for the support of the Glyos community where I can get it. I will continue to honor whatever private requests I get from O.G. Glyos fam to ensure people get the styles they are after (as best I am able), as I have done way back when I was selling 5 pcs of Tankhead resin.
Regarding "local presence", Hastings sell online and ship anywhere in the US. That was part of what made sense about partnering with them, we can all order online. I'm in NYC, there are no Hastings on the east coast...but I can still get the product (in fact I pre-ordered 8 pcs yesterday).
rikdom wrote:
Oh, really? Nice. Good to know.
I missed out on these during the kickstarter as I didn't have enough money at the time to go all in, and if I get one guy, I would want them all. Being able to still get the accessories pushes these guys back into the "possible purchase" category.
On the other hand, blind bags.
I know you guys didn't invent the blind bag, or rare figures, and I can imagine getting these into actual brick and mortar retail may have required it. But, man, is that sort of thing extremely collector unfriendly. Beyond just being great toys, one of the best things about the Glyos system family is the great customer service and the ability to get pretty much anything you want, assuming you have the money at the time. Even if there are convention exclusives, fellow collectors are always willing to mule, and people like Marty have gone out of their way to get leftover con stock into the hands of people that couldn't attend.
But something like a blind bag 1/500 figure that is only available at a store with no local presence? Pretty much no way I am going to be able to get that. I mean, I've made peace with the fact that I'm not going to be able to get everything I want out of any particular line I collect, but if one of the coolest versions of a figure is pretty much off the table at the beginning of the line, that's kind of a warning to stay away and avoid future frustration.