Unimax change in focus

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:00 pm

Posted in the small scale forum, of interest here as well:

"According to well placed sources within the company, Unimax has ceased manufacturing of their 1:32 scale, action grade, diecast Forces of Valor products -- the kind commonly found in such mass merchants as Target and Toys R Us -- in favor of the all-plastic 1:18 scale Bravo Team (Target Exclusive) and Assault Forces (other mass merchant retailers) military-themed brands. Looking ahead, the Company will still produce the 1:32 scale diecast enthusiast grade of Forces of Valor products for their ever growing online e-tailer and specialist retailer network. The Company cites demographic issues as a key concern for both the manufacturer and its retailing network, with kids tending to purchase the bulk of the modern era products and the older hobbyists and military enthusiasts opting for the World War II series. Having said that, the manufacturer will no longer be offering any World War II-based Bravo Team vehicles or figures to its mass merchant retail segment and instead offer them solely to the e-tailers and hobby shops. Only the modern era vehicles will be found at the mass merchants, an evolutionary shift in their selling strategy that was brought about by skewing marketing trends that was becoming acute at the retail level."

So what this means is the WWII will be more available but no doubt more expensive. However, it may mean new pieces of armour too...let's hope.

holensock · Post by **holensock** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:14 pm

Well...for me anyways, I won't have to come up with excuses to stop at any of the brick n mortar stores anymore. Always hated spending half a day off looking and looking and coming home with VERY little or nothing at all.
I hope the prices won't go too high, but any extra cost I can say to myself that it would've been gas money anyways.
I DO like shopping online! No crowds, just a few 'clicks' and in a few days it's at my doorstep. Just gotta hope that nothing breaks on the way to my house. It only happened a couple of times, but whatta pain having to send it back.
But I HOPE it DOES mean NEW armor!!!

art2614 · Post by **art2614** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:05 pm

Were did this info come from?

Stug45 · Post by **Stug45** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:07 pm

viewtopic.php?t=17738

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:45 pm

there are two postive things i can glean from this info. One is that, clearly, Unimax has not given up on the Bravo Team 1/18 line, wwii or modern and secondly, now that they are not restricted to Target, for the wwii line at least, we may well see tanks we would never have gotten in a Target only line, like a T-34. And need i remind anyone, Unimax has also released a KV-1 recently. An etailer based, more collector driven Bravo Team may have some very choice pieces in it, in time. And with 21c's demise (may they rest in peace) the playing field is wide open for Unimax, as i don't see JSI as an armour threat.

I also find it interesting and encouraging that we have a friendly representative of unimax, posting on our forum, from time to time, now.

coreystinson · Post by **coreystinson** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:40 pm

aferguson wrote: So what this means is the WWII will be more available but no doubt more expensive. However, it may mean new pieces of armour too...let's hope.

Everything you posted is pretty much straight from a vendor announcement that was issued today, so I can attest to the correctness of it.

I would add that the WW2 Bravo Team 1/18 scale items that will be available this fall to e-tailers/specialty stores would appear to be all the same things that were available at Target in the recent past. Perhaps new color schemes (that wasn't stated - just speculation by me), but otherwise nothing new. Personally I don't think that is a fantastic way to start things out as I suspect Target had good marketplace coverage on these already, but perhaps at least we'll get new color schemes which may help...?

Fritzkrieg · Post by **Fritzkrieg** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:33 am

I think, It's ashamed, we won't be able to pick-up WWII collectibles, at retail. With TRU not restocking Elite Force, Bravo Team WWII, was the only retail source left. It seems that the WWII Bravo Team sold very well around here. I have not heard of any WWII figs warming the pegs of Targets.

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:36 am

This to me is good news. Like Aferg has said, taking the WWII line out of brick and mortar retailers. like Target. hopefully means more variety in subject matter and fan wants. Things ike Russian and British soldiers and armor. Also, a lot less PC issues to possibly have to deal with that cause inaccuracies in markings or a subject being made entirely.

I hope this strategy does well and they will visit this a bit with the modern line too. Maybe then we will have a good chance at seeing modern soldiers from other countires or a T-72 and other overlooked armor pieces.

scbvideoboy · Post by **scbvideoboy** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:40 am

What KV-1...a 1/18 KV-1?

DH

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:25 am

no man, a 1/32 KV-1. The point was that since they did it in the smaller scale, they may do one in the larger scale, now they are not restriced to making toys that will sell at Target and can focus more on what collectors want.

scbvideoboy · Post by **scbvideoboy** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:32 pm

yeah ok, didn't see any mention of 1/32 in your post. I don't much spend money on 1/32.

DH

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:42 pm

nor do i.....but i like to stay well informed.

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Unimax change in focus

Unimax change in focus

Re: Unimax change in focus