GalakStarscraper
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Impact! State of the Business 2008 and 2009Been having conversations with Gavin and Ramsay on Impact! as a company ... some notes to all of you who are so helpful to us.
For 2008 we were well on our way to doubling the sales from 2007 (after 2007 tripled our sales from 2006) ... in fact it looked like a sure thing that it would happen. We had a record sales month in September for the company. Then the world recession hit and our sales dropped 50% or more from the business we've been having this year.
In the end we came close ... we look to end the year around 9000 GBP short of doubling sales from last year. So let the partners of Impact! start by thanking all of you for helping us have a great 2008.
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That all said ... there comes a cost to growing Impact! as quickly as we have. In fact in just over 2 1/2 years Impact!'s fantasy football figure count in the store as of today is 216 (182 of our own, 14 limited edition still available and 20 from other companies) Compare this to G-W which currently sells a selection of 211 fantasy football figures however the vast vast majority of those cannot be purchased individually but only randomly or as part of teams. So we grew ... and grew quick to now be the company with the widest selection of fantasy football figures in thw world.
On top of this in 2008, the partners of Impact! took some of our capital in Impact! and started BBFigs.com up to carry all the G-W Bl00d B0wl figures as individual figures for purchase instead of randomly or only in teams/bloosters. At this time ... it appears that BBFigs.com should be able to have 19 of the 24 teams from that game fully in stock by its first anniversary next year. Again ... another item we have our customers to thank for as the cost of getting BBFigs.com fully stock was close to $35000 USD. So we look forward hopefully next year to BBFigs.com starting to current a profit after getting finally fully stocked (as currently any and all profits are immediately spent on buying the next B-B item not in the store yet).
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Okay that all the great news and in my mind it is very great.
However ... we decided last month that Impact! really is going to undergo a major shutdown on new stuff produced for 2009 ... ie if its not already assigned to a sculptor for production or a tournament figure ... we are not going to be working on it.
We've decided that 2 1/2 years of putting in extra money from our pockets to keep growing Impact! needs to finally slow down. In 2009, we only want to start a new miniature project if we have cash set aside from profits to do so. This was the plan of operation since Impact! started but we have not done this because we really wanted to grow the store as quick as possible the first 3 years.
As of this morning ... the Impact!'s debt to its partners could purchase a 2008 BMW Z4 Roadster convertible 3.0i with all the packages and options (if we had wanted to joint own a nice car instead of a business). We just finally need to address that fact.
We do have 5 new figures for the normal store currently being sculpted. We also have around 7 new limited edition tournament figures at the sculptors right now as well. So there will be some new releases for Impact! in 2009.
The Sarcos and Timberline Elf teams are delayed now until the partner debt is resolved. But once we have the debt resolved ... these two teams will be our top priority as we have them all sketched out and ready to go.
It would only take 3 months of sales like we had in September of this year and the partner debt would be gone ... so while we don't expect that to happen ... it is meant as a sign that during 2009 we should clear the books into the black and start working on new projects again.
Again thank you all for your support of our business .. it is very much appreciated. We look forward to helping you again in 2009.
The partners of Impact! wish all of you Happy Holidays and a good start to the New Year!
Tom Anders
President - Impact! Miniatures
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GrumpyGrizzly
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Thanks for the info Galak. I can't believe how transparent Impact is sometimes.
While I have been slobbering over the Sarcos since I first saw the concept sketches, I would rather you guys do what's right for the business. Good luck in 2009!
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GalakStarscraper
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| GrumpyGrizzly wrote: | | While I have been slobbering over the Sarcos since I first saw the concept sketches, I would rather you guys do what's right for the business. Good luck in 2009! |
As soon as we clear the partner debt ... I'll have Clint Staples start sculpting the Sarcos line ... scout's honour. If sales are decent over the next few months ... decent odds the entire Sarcos team could still be cast in and in the store by this time next year.
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Thom
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Thats really great news sir!  Congrats!
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Stout Youngblood
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Well, I plan to help Impact get rid of their debt, albiet in a small way.
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Rabid_Bogscum
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very forthright...thankyou Tom, and thanks to all the Impact partners
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Mad Jackal
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Silently trolling is all I can manage to do right now.(Which is why I've been so quiet.)
But I do wish you guys the best.
And my hat is off to all you guys have done.
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Purdindas
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Thanks for the insight into the business.
Youv'e really taken on quite alot (even Grandma Wendy  ) and you guys should be proud of what you have achieved.
Bravo!
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sebco
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Thanks for the info. As a customer, I would like some teams to be casted soon, but Impact! isn't meant to lose money so I really understand you have to slow down investments. I now hope your sales will keep on growing even if there aren't many new launchings. Thanks again !
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jmw23
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Galek's post makes a lot of sense. Impact is obviously a business run by hobbyists, but that's no reason for the owners to risk their financial security. Get the debt cleared, turn a profit, give customers time to buy all the neat stuff you've been putting out, and then get back to producing new models.
On a somewhat-related topic, what was the concept behind Timberline Elves? Were there plans to make any of them female?
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Norse
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yes, about one third of the team was female..
the concept sketches are truly awesome.. we will not show a sneek peak because they are probably 18 months away from being sculpted now, but trust me when I say they looked both elven and feral..
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jolt
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Sorry for the necro post.
When I first came across Elfball at GenCon '07 I was hooked. But considering the size of the company (as I perceived it at the time), I wasn't expecting a very fast release schedule. Kudos to you guys for how much you've put out in the last year and a half!
Unfortunately, my attempts to generate interest in the game locally have been fairly unsuccesful (okay, totally unsuccessful). Games like Star Wars minis, Monsterpocalypse, Heroscape, and the new WoW cmg have taken center stage in my area. Even the Grandma Wendy stuff is only stocked about half as much as it was just a few years ago.
Having spent 11.5 years of my life getting out of debt from my college loans I can certainly understand the desire to rid yourselves of that burden.
Though now I want to see feral elves! Curse you for bringing it up! 
jolt
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Cephalopod
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I'll see your necro and raise a wight.
It is great to see Impact! doing so well. I look forward to future products but slowing down your release schedule to pay off debt is a smart move in a recession.
I appreciate that I'm only an occassional poster but I am a huge fan of the models and Elfball. I was almost disappointed when you decided to pick up BBfigs instead of just selling your own, but profit is profit and I hope it does well. I'll be sticking to Elball Original minis for now.
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Dark Lord
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Has Impact considered selling part of the company to larger investors?
Maybe you should go on Dragons Den? 
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GalakStarscraper
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| Dark Lord wrote: | Has Impact considered selling part of the company to larger investors?
Maybe you should go on Dragons Den? |
NO THANKS!
Impact! started with 7 partners and didn't start to really succeed until we got to 3. So the last thing we want is another voice in the business.
Galak
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Dark Lord
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Well maybe you need a guy with more money than voice? 
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GalakStarscraper
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| Dark Lord wrote: | | Well maybe you need a guy with more money than voice? |
First rule of owning a business ... the silent partner is only silent when business is good.
Plus ... I finally have Impact! structured to the point where someday if things go well this could be all I do for work. Adding more people to split the profit with does not help that goal at all.
Galak
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Dark Lord
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Okay if I win the powerball, I'll keep my millions then
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GalakStarscraper
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| Dark Lord wrote: | | I'll keep my millions then |
We are more than happy to TAKE your millions ... just don't ask for a piece of the company for giving it to us. Now THAT type of silent partner we could go for!
Or you could buy Grandma Wendy's game. I KNOW we could see the figures for that game for 1/2 the cost they are currently being sold for AND sell them in non-random fashion.
Galak
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Norse
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| Dark Lord wrote: | | Okay if I win the powerball, I'll keep my millions then |
If you win the powerball DL then give me a call... Tom may not want to part with any of his 33.33%, but I could be tempted..
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Mephisto
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| GalakStarscraper wrote: | | Dark Lord wrote: | | Well maybe you need a guy with more money than voice? |
First rule of owning a business ... the silent partner is only silent when business is good.
Plus ... I finally have Impact! structured to the point where someday if things go well this could be all I do for work. Adding more people to split the profit with does not help that goal at all.
Galak |
Are you sure about this? I mean, the market of miniatures and other leisure products (or better hobby products) is rather an unstable one. And if there's an economic crisis, don't you think that it could be risky for you? 
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Lychanthrope
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Mephisto,
In the US we are in an econmic criss now. Unemployment in the county I live in is at 17% and rising. Companies that have been open for up to 15 years have already closed thier doors. If Impact! can make the money they need in the next year I'd say it would look pretty good for them. As a comparison the Great Depression was 25% unemployment. I wish Tom and the guys all the luck in the world, but it's going to be hard times for a bit I have a feeling.
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Mephisto
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| Lychanthrope wrote: | Mephisto,
In the US we are in an econmic criss now. Unemployment in the county I live in is at 17% and rising. Companies that have been open for up to 15 years have already closed thier doors. If Impact! can make the money they need in the next year I'd say it would look pretty good for them. As a comparison the Great Depression was 25% unemployment. I wish Tom and the guys all the luck in the world, but it's going to be hard times for a bit I have a feeling. |
The whole world is in economic crisis. But I didn't refer exactly to that. Tom and the others have always pointed out that there are a lot of miniature companies closing because they don't managed to make benefits. So this is why I'm worried about.
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Dark Lord
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Yeah it's rough...when the economy goes down it's time to paint what you bought when it was inflated!
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Mephisto
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| Dark Lord wrote: | | Yeah it's rough...when the economy goes down it's time to paint what you bought when it was inflated! |
Turning back to the serious conversation  , look what happened to BBfigs. Grandma Wendy decided, probably seeing how well bbfigs is doing, to change it's policy regards FF and sell again starplayers and individual miniatures. What would happen to Impact! if Grandma Wendy decided to invest a lot of money in FF, renewing practically its current range of miniatures and give support to the game. What would you think could happen with IM sales? That's my point. 
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Lychanthrope
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good points!
| Quote: | | Yeah it's rough...when the economy goes down it's time to paint what you bought when it was inflated! |
That's exactly whats on my to do list for most of 09.
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GalakStarscraper
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| Mephisto wrote: | | if Grandma Wendy decided to invest a lot of money in FF, renewing practically its current range of miniatures and give support to the game. What would you think could happen with IM sales? That's my point. |
I honestly have no idea what would happen. So that you don't concern that I'll screw up my life. My current goal is to get Impact! to the point where I could go to a 20 hour a week schedule at work. This would allow me to keep my insurance (always a good thing to have) and work mainly as a consultant for my company which has been a long term goal of mine since before Impact!
A good chunk of my personal debt I have right now is debt created by starting Impact!. If Impact! pays off that debt this year ... about 1/3rd of my total personal debt will be erased. Now if you keep that in mind ... that means if Impact! can hit the goal we set this year to do just that ... than by 2014 (age 45 for me) ... I could have no personal debt at all ... which would be 10 years ahead of my goals that I set for myself 5 years ago. I have NO idea if Impact! can pull it off ... but I am seriously cheering it on to try.
Galak
Tom
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Dark Lord
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| Mephisto wrote: | | What would happen to Impact! if Grandma Wendy decided to invest a lot of money in FF, renewing practically its current range of miniatures and give support to the game. |
I for one would have a massive heart attack and die.
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GalakStarscraper
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| Dark Lord wrote: | | Mephisto wrote: | | What would happen to Impact! if Grandma Wendy decided to invest a lot of money in FF, renewing practically its current range of miniatures and give support to the game. |
I for one would have a massive heart attack and die. |
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Darkson
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| GalakStarscraper wrote: | | than by 2016 (age 45 for me) ... I could have no personal debt at all ... |
Arrgghh! That makes Tom the same age as me (if my maths is right - '71 yeah?) - at mbest, I'll still have at least another 15 years of mortage payments.
Oh, and DL - +1
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GalakStarscraper
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| Darkson wrote: | | GalakStarscraper wrote: | | than by 2016 (age 45 for me) ... I could have no personal debt at all ... |
Arrgghh! That makes Tom the same age as me (if my maths is right - '71 yeah?) - at mbest, I'll still have at least another 15 years of mortage payments.
Oh, and DL - +1 |
Tom should not type that quickly during lunch. Tom turns 45 in 2014.
I thought when I typed 2016 that it seemed like longer than I thought I was hoping for when I did my long term financial planning.
Galak
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jmw23
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I'm trying to remember...are there any plans to add miniatures to existing lines that don't have 11+ models in them? I'm thinking of the Valkries in specific. I'd love to see more poses.
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GalakStarscraper
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| jmw23 wrote: | | I'm trying to remember...are there any plans to add miniatures to existing lines that don't have 11+ models in them? I'm thinking of the Valkries in specific. I'd love to see more poses. |
At this time the Phigs ranges are done.
Specificially speaking to them. Phil Bowen is finished sculpting and he still owns the rights to the Phigs line.
We plan on buying Phil out in 2010 and then we could consider having sculptors try to add to these lines with similar figures.
Galak
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jmw23
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Thanks for the quick answer! It's too bad, as many of those miniatures are just great, but all could use more variety.
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