Other than fill specific orders that Anovos didn't fill, Denuo Novo hasn't done anything Anovos hasn't. So far they are producing helmets that Anovos already produced in the Anovos owned facility. They basically had to go to that facility and restart production.
The responsiveness to questions is much improved.
I'm not trying to be negative. I just don't see this as being a huge change yet. When they start delivering things like the X-Wing pilot helmets, Kylo Ren ensemble, Krennic costume pieces, and Clone trooper helmet which Anovos never produced, I will be impressed. The Flame Trooper helmet will be a good first step for the products Anovos never produced. These will require more steps to negotiate contracts, get prototypes approved, etc. I would think some of these will still be produced overseas.
Well, for one, they said we'll start shipping things September first and they actually shipped EARLY. Granted just a few days, but still. I don't that Anovos achieved more than a few weeks late in the last few years. That's a HUGE step in the right direction.
So, if you want to rationalize it as they just restarted production in the Texas facility, then that's fine. It's likely true. The gargantuan other issue becomes, why wasn't Anovos running their own facility to kick these things out? Why were the continually saying next quarter when they knew that wasn't happening? Why were they ignoring any and all customer service emails? etc?
Yeah, they set the bar so low, there's not much they have to do to get over it. That's very true. For all the things they did ship...well, i ordered - or rather exchanged a 4 year late order for - the ERG and Mando and they BOTH said in stock and the emails from Anovos confirmed they were in stock when i ordered. Still took a YEAR to get them and from another company.
In the end, maybe he license was pull as has been intimated and they were told to stop all operations. If that's the case, the epic fail falls on Disney for forbidding either side to tell those of us with outstanding orders what was going on, etc. That's utter BS. You don't leave those holding the giant bad in the dark while letting Anovos continually say 'next quarter'.
So maybe Denuo isn't doing anything awesome or special, but after years of little to no contact, lies on ship dates, lies on what's in stock, someone who actually is straight with you, responds in a timely manner, doesn't shine you on with 'next quarter', and then ships when they say they will absolutely looks like something amazing and special.
Thing is Anovos had great good will in the beginning and people defended longer than they should have in hindsight, but THEY blew it. No one else. Were they underfunded? in over their heads? have a run of terrible luck? who knows. They didn't bother to say. And sure, maybe you can say they couldn't, but they also damn well knew stuff wasn't coming 'next quarter' and all that and kept it going and kept ignoring people. So, yeah, in the end the bar was just that low. I mean, look at the questions they answered on Sabine and the FO kits. They're not 100% sure and they're saying so. They're not saying Q1 2022 and leaving at that. Now, that keeps happening, then yeah, people will get upset but for now - the low bar was cleared with a lot of room to spare.
That's where things are right now - they've cleared that low bar and have lots of good will. Question is, do they maintain the momentum? We'll just have to see how it goes. In fairness it's very early in the game, but they've started on the right foot. IIRC, Anovos' first thing was the original TK kit. That wasn't out on time, but wasn't all that late either. So, we'll just have to see where it does from here, but the arrow is pointing up at the moment.