Anyone with links to mass produced replicas?

[CustomCreations]

Hi,
I have posted a few times on here in my quest for getting my work 'out there'.
I read through pretty much every post and I have noticed quite a few collectors on this forum have links to commercial pieces-
MR helmets ,Doctor Who etc.etc

I am looking for advice on bringing my products to market and was hoping people might be happy to share any industry advice, contacts etc who could help.
My designs are currently with Corgi (having met with their VP already).
I REALLY want to post them up here , but until I hear from Corgi, I dont want to jeapordise any secrecy issues .

 

[Ramiel]

Well, I don't have any clue, but I want to wish you good luck!

 

[CustomCreations]

cheers !
I know you will like the work as its right up your street!

 

[Fizbin]

Good luck with that (and I mean it in a non-facetious way), it isn't easy. I'm sure you know all about copyrights, patents, licensing and such, but finding a company who will bankroll a 'one man operation' is nearly impossible... at least that's what my experience with these matters has been. :unsure

 

[CustomCreations]

No problem- every little bit helps!
You are right- I have a potential contact who can handle both manufacture and distribution- I would hold the license/IP rights, although I am able to use an existing license subject to contract- which I am VERY excited about.
If Corgi dont bite then I will consider a substantial loan and go it alone .

 

[Fizbin]

Well, sounds like you're half way there already and judging from the work I've seen of yours, I'm sure whatever products you have in mind will be outstanding!

Honestly, I have absolutely no industry contacts to help you along. :unsure But, I do know that a good marketing campaign is essential if you want to be successful... unfortunately, advertising can be rather expensive and small ventures such as these are always considered a big risk.

The thing to remember is that anything concerning replica props, costumes, etc. is a very small 'niche' market, so don't expect to make enormous profits from it. In fact, you'd probably be doing pretty good if you could just cover all of your expenses, so keep your profits high and your overhead low.

I'm sure someone here has more experience and better advise or is even a professional in one of the areas you need help with. I'm just a fellow artist who's played that game before and walked away empty handed.

Good luck, you certainly are a brave soul! :thumbsup

 

[SaberFreak]

First you need to ask yourself what you want out of our creation. Do you want to see it immortalized in toy history, or do you just want a huge wad of cash for your effort?

If you want the former, then go the route you're going now. But don't expect much out of it, unless all the stars happen to line up in your favor and you become eternally blessed.

If a huge wad of cash is what you'd rather have, then get a loan, spend 1/4 of it producing small quantity of high quality products, use 1/4 for a killer advertising & promotion campaign, and use the remaining 1/2 to produce maximum number of much cheaper, lesser quality of your product.

Hype it up with the advertising & promotion, then release the high quality products at an appropriate time, like 3 months before Christmas. Then flood the market with the cheap, lesser quality products 2 or 1.5 months before Christmas, and see your bank account overflow.

If you don't, someone else will surely come along and do it anyway. Might as well be you.

 

[Fizbin]

someone else will surely come along and do it anyway. Might as well be you.

:lol Now that's a philosophy I could live by... I like the way you think! :thumbsup