NEWS FOR 2014 - Prices, releases and more!

[Leon]

2013 was a good year for us, with the number of orders and our total sales both up, while show takings were down slightly.  Release wise we knocked out 150 new products, with new ranges for Napoleonic Bavarians, the Plains War and 1860's Fenians.  We also added a new range of Modern vehicles and revamped our Sci-Fi ranges completely.  For 2014, we're hoping for even more, and to do that, we'll be tweaking a few things.

Price Increase

Unfortunately, there will be a price increase coming on Feb 1st.  It's never something we do lightly, and it never happens without good reason.  The price increases we've had in the past decade were all for a particular purpose, whether it was to hire our first caster, when we went VAT-registered, or when we moved into the unit, the increases all went towards something.

This time, there isn't one single reason, more a collection of smaller ones.  

- Firstly, it's likely that we'll need to hire another caster in the next few months.  As the business grows, along with Minibits and our contract casting side, my time is getting stretched thinner and thinner, and there's only so many hours I can do.  My average working week is somewhere between 70-90 hours, and trying to keep on top of everything whilst still having to cast orders means that things get put on the backburner.  These are usually things like releases, or sets of rules we'd like to publish, or things for Minibits.  Bringing in someone else to cast the Fantasy and Sci-Fi would free me up to concentrate on the day-to-day running of the various businesses.

- Secondly, some of the money will be going towards some new equipment.  Electric pots will replace our current gas burners and a second mould machine will allow us to get things released quicker.  There's a few other bits and bobs we need as well.

- Thirdly, a portion of the increased income will go back into design work.  We'll look at which ranges we want to prioritise and we'll bump the sculptors budgets where possible.  Having more time and more moulding capabilities means that we can get more produced and released onto your tables!

- Finally, some of the new pennies will go towards getting all of our products painted up properly for the website.  We're working with Marco from RifRaf Miniatures to get all of our figures painted up for web photo's.  With 3500 codes and something close to 10,000 individual figures, it's a big undertaking and will take a lot of time and money.  The Repub. Romans and the Carthaginians have been done already, and the Boer War range is currently in progress.  After that, we'll get all of the WW1 codes done up for the centenary.

So, the price changes will be:

Standard packs - £4.00 >>>> £4.50
WWII infantry  - £1.35 >>>> £1.50
Tanks/vehicles  - £2.35 >>>> £2.60
Fantasy/Sci-Fi   - £1.80 >>>> £1.95

I've had a quick quick browse around the other 10mm suppliers, and we are still one of the cheapest 10mm companies on the market.  Combined with what we hope is excellent customer service, and our constant release schedule, hopefully people will still find Pendraken good value for their money.


New Releases

Our monthly releases have been a regular feature for several years now, but as we get busier, it becomes harder to hit these deadlines each month, especially when we're away at the shows as well.  For the past 6 months, there have been several times where we were frantically moulding on the last day of the month, or releasing things without pictures.  For 2014, we'll be switching to smaller releases, but more often (that's the plan anyway!).  What this means is that instead of one large release on the 1st of the month, often containing all sorts of different odds and ends, we'll do smaller batches of releases throughout the month, each aimed at a particular period/range.  

Making this change will allow us to focus on different periods with each new set of releases.  We'll be able to take the extra time to put full ranges together and release them in one go, along with army packs or flags, etc.

The first few ranges to get this new treatment will be the Mongols and the Ancient Spanish.  The new Mongol range is currently being cast up to be sent out to the original backers, and then it will be making a full release sometime towards the end of this month.  The Ancient Spanish are heading for the production moulds soon, and will be following on shortly after.  Dave's working on the WW1 as well, so those will be able to hit the webstore in another big release.


Show Stand

We're currently working on building a new show stand for the 2014 circuit, with new racking and packaging.  The plan is to change things about a bit so that we can carry more stock to the shows without having to take up more space.  We've got some interesting plans for this, so make sure to keep an eye out for us at the shows.  We're also hoping to be able to stock a few more 10mm items from other sources, giving people more options on the Pendraken stand, and providing a more comprehensive 'One Stop Shop' for the 10mm gamer.

On a similar note to this, rather than spend time cutting open blister packs to put new header cards in, we've decided to have a massive January sale on any army packs currently in stock.  Head over to the sale thread for more info on how to take advantage of this special '4 for 3' offer: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9212.0.html   With the impending price increase, this is the perfect opportunity to grab some bargains!


If there are any questions on anything above, please let us know and we'll do our best to answer them!  And thanks to everyone for your continued custom/support.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

All sounds very positive.

[Steve J]

Time to get my order sorted and winged off to you soon Leon .

[fsn]

Big orders in January then.

May I plead that you try and give us some clues about what's upcoming? Saves me whinging about Byzantines and Chariot Armies if I know they're coming.

[get2grips]

If anyone has any doubts about any of the above just look at the time Leon posted this

[petercooman]

No worries on the price increase, if you need help then you need it! You can only do so much in a day!

[fateeore]

Is this the thread where we all start ranting and rage quitting?

[Leon]

Thanks for the comments so far.

May I plead that you try and give us some clues about what's upcoming? Saves me whinging about Byzantines and Chariot Armies if I know they're coming.

There's a full list of what's being worked on here: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,2583.0.html  I try and update it fairly regularly so people know what's in the works for the next 12 months or so.

No Byzantines or Chariots though I'm afraid... 

[sebigboss79]

...

Standard packs - £4.00 >>>> £4.50
WWII infantry  - £1.35 >>>> £1.50
Tanks/vehicles  - £2.35 >>>> £2.60
Fantasy/Sci-Fi   - £1.80 >>>> £1.95

And you dare to take webspace for an insignificant change as such? Shame on you!

Still:

-affordable
-sensibly priced
-great value
-great designs
-(fill in random words of appreciation here)

and tbh just to get you poor boy some clothes to wear during gaming I am happy to happy a little more.  

Nothing that would make me order more/less from you. I know where it is going it is well invested and considering other companies prices  

[republic of tolworth]

Still cracking value at that price and level of service. 

[fred.]

As others have said still great value.

Though the fantasy figures are starting to get near to £6 for 30 - which is a bit dearer than the competition.

[Albie Bach]

... For 2014, we'll be switching to smaller releases, but more often (that's the plan anyway!).  What this means is that instead of one large release on the 1st of the month, often containing all sorts of different odds and ends, we'll do smaller batches of releases throughout the month, each aimed at a particular period/range. 

Good idea. 

[fsn]

No Byzantines or Chariots though I'm afraid... 

That's *sniff* fine. As long *choke* as I know.

[Leon]

Though the fantasy figures are starting to get near to £6 for 30 - which is a bit dearer than the competition.

That's something we're definitely conscious of, and we've put a smaller increase in place on the Fantasy this time around.  Where the regular packs have gone up by 12.5%, the Fantasy and Sci-Fi have only gone up by 8%.  I didn't want to take them over that £2 threshold either.  I'm hoping that we can do some work on the Fantasy in the next 12 months or so, and give it a bit of a revamp going into 2015.

[Last Hussar]

That's *sniff* fine. As long *choke* as I know.

You got Centurions, you ungrateful swine.