I'm going to suggest again maybe you find one or two people that you ca delegate some of the forii work to. you can't do everything. Or if not wanting to do that work out an "outrider" like system to do the legwork for you. You're only human.

I'll shoot you a link to any armies I dig (notably the one above). Be aware that gallery idea is good but you have to make the most of it which involves 1. Generate the content, 2. Use social media to tag the appropriate parties and post to the gallery, 3. Links across sites (Dakka, TacComs, TMP, and get Matt to make another article at 3++ for instance) back linking to your content. That's all going to synergize involving SEO, fan-buyer interaction, and predictive content (both of which are a huge subject for FB and G+ marketing). Plus the more back and forth you have with the modeling community causes more exposure to their network over time which causes more posts, sharing, suggested content, etc to occur.

Basic rule of thumb is anything you're posting as Vanguard related HERE can and should be part of a more holistic and encompassing posts/tweets/etc through your other channels (that's why I think you're good to delegate that for each to someone that's experienced with that channel and wants to help out as you can worry about the substance, delegate the leg work). I don't want to come across as a broken record (too late ) nor overwhelm you, it's just that I know how hard running your own business is (having employees and costs and the need to have that strategy always in mind while doing my work as boss without burning out) so i sympathize over the start up pangs.

As soon as I sell for.a few tens of millions I'll be sure to hire you as my resident commission modeler

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I'm quite happy for anybody to post links to various forums, media groups etc about my business and any news I generate but I can see your point on having dedicated volunteers spreading the news and promoting my site.

Another problem for me with such things as generating links and such is that i'm not that computer savvy so I tend to stick to what I know how to do and not unduly mess around with that sort of thing.

So Dakka obviously I need to get a presence there yes?

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Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

I suppose it will help a bit here too once CS has moved me into the appropriate section on the forum instead of hiding here.

Your right to about me needing to promote my position as sanctioned importer for Onslaught minis.

Thanks for the input jimmy much appreciated.

_________________
Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

It takes time with new businesses chap. It took eight years for Exodus Wars to generate a profit, you just have to reinvest in your business and expand your customer base. It doesn't happen overnight.

Free postage is worth investigating. It works out as a maximum of a 20% discount. It heavily encourages international sales. I gave the same recommendation to HLS Models and they are still showing very strong sales.

The other avenues you have are maximising your uniques. Did the plastic sprues arrive? If so that is a global first for the indie 6mm market and you need to champion that .

The other bonus you have are the round plastic bases. Look at distributing. I'm sure the other 6mm company's would love to market them (Microworld, Age of Tyrants, HLS Models). Getting trade deals with Age of Tyrants and HLS Models will allow you access to their basing options too.

The most important thing is not to expect to make profit for a few years minimum. There is always a glut of sales when you open up and then it slows down to a 'normal' sales level. These sales will slowly increment over time, with the occasional spike when you incorporate a new range.

Oh! Sponsor EpiComms!

As a final comment, remember that nobody gets rich in the gaming industry - that is why so many people in the business use it as a second job or have retired. It is a labor of love .

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I've been posting about Battlegroup Helios on places like Dakka, Specialist Games, Warseer and various other smaller forums (be it The First Expedition, BFG FR, and others). One thing that I noticed on Dakka was that all I needed to do was get the ball rolling a bit and eventually other fans would be posting updates there as well.

Combine this with the fact that the guys of Battlegroup Helios sometimes respond to the threads, and you see that people get really psyched. The amount of responses isn't even that high, I mean...it's mostly the fans doing the posting and updating. Stuff said by the creators will then be shared across forums and such. So there is potential there...

I wouldn't mind helping out a bit here, maybe add a thread on Dakka, try to post about it whenever I can on places like B&C, Warseer and the Specialist Games forums. I've posted about your Skinnerz stuff on Yaktribe which is more of a Necromunda/Gorkamorka place, but they might by interested in the Crusher models.

Facebook I find to be a bit of a tricky one, especially the way FB works with the percentages of 'fans' who will receive your updates in their timelines. It takes a lot of work and even then the chance of reaching people might not be high. However, it is important to keep it updated. Not only for those who you might reach, but also for others to see that your page (which is a reflection of your company) is still alive.

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As for additional awesome pics of Onslaught/DID/Abomination models, I will keep my eyes open. Since I can't do any acquisition work in your name, I'll just share the links here or PM them to you. You could then contact them whenever you're able to.

Some examples I've bumped into just now:

Agisn (legendary painter I think):
-Painted Sisterhood model
-Terran Hybrids

Gemana is also an interesting blogger to have around, he has been promoting some Onslaught and DiD stuff in the past. Maybe send him a message, he might be able to do the same for you. His Dark Eldar army has a lot of Onslaught stuff in it.

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And taking a look around on this forum also helps, especially the EpiComps!

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=30676
(which reminds me, does this forum have a 'tag' functionality?)

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=30667
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=30666
(Bottom picture, and contact Markconz)

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=28754

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=28743
(Yorkie has some interesting Tau)

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=26567

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Hey, hope things not getting you too down chap! You're doing good things!

I can't talk much about online marketing, but I know about design - it's a slog and if you are only taking two steps back for each one forward you're doing well :-) For what it's worth the jackal is getting there, and the new heads for the other two are great improvements IMHO.

Btw - might want to contact Precinct Omega of Horizon wars (which launches next month at salute.) Onslaught is getting a lot of love over on his Facebook page (mostly stateside so far) and many DiD minis would be ideal for the game. Should be possible to cross market minis of rules pretty easily!

@ Netepic, hiya and thanks for the reply.

Understand all your saying sir and indeed I am putting all monies taken back into new stock, i've been running for almost 6 months now and I have not put a single penny back in my vastly diminished bank account. Only thing i've taken out of the business are a few models jhere and there which is not much to ask for all the effort put in.
So I think i've got the right attitude on that front.

Free postage is a good incentive for sure and I may be able to do that eventually or reduce the rates at the very least.

Maximise my uniques is sound advice as well, plastics more on this in a minute. But well let see I am the only one currently selling my entire vanguard range plus i'm the sanctioned retailer for Onslaught miniatures here in the UK and Battlescene Designs too so I can't do much more that that at present.

I have already had an enquiry about the bases with a potential customer looking to include them in a boxed game and i'm always open to trade deals that won't impact on the rest of the business. HLS did contact me about a re-stock of the DiD range but i'm not looking to have my range available anywhere else at this time I was a little agitated finding out they even had my range on sale without seeking my approval. I know they acquired the models via your legacy stock but all the same it was news to me and I do own the IP. The DiD range is my main seller range and I just can't afford the competition at this present time. It's a possibility in the future but not now.

Been in contact with several other hobby companies and will be stocking other ranges as time and money permits.

Plastic sprue, I hope to have this one in store by the end of the month more on this as things develop.

Not looking to get rich buddy just looking to make a reasonable profit for all the effort put in and time spent.

Thanks again for the input.

_________________
Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

@ malika2, thanks for all the links sir appreciated and promoting my ranges too this is most welcome.

There is a lot of onslaught and DiD models painted out there and here of course too but I haven't always got the time to do the research and contact the people requesting use of their painted minis. So you posting them here is a great help.

Been in contact with Battlegroup Helios about stocking their ships but at this time they have said that the small profit margin on the models does not support a trade deal at least not at this time anyway so sorry you guys who were hopeing I could get these in store the answer was no not for the forseeable future.

Oh and Yorkie's pics are already in the site gallery he sent them to me awhile back now.

Cheers

_________________
Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

@ Blip, hi mate yes not to bad thanks.

The Jackal well it's getting there as you say, i've submitted a re-work of the alternative head to Ben for consideration and I still need to deside on what to do about the feet options too but other than those two things she is almost ready to get printed.

Thanks for the pointer about Horizon Wars i'll try to get around to it.

See what I mean about time, it's taken about three quarters of an hour just replying to these posts.

_________________
Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

Regarding this, I can help with the legwork, so basically finding out who who done some interesting stuff with the ranges being sold by Vanguard Miniatures. All you'd need to do then is to contact them.


That's a real bummer! Understandable but still a bummer. Isn't it maybe possible that another party could to the production in Europe/UK? That way you won't have to deal with that whole import tax bit since the models are produced in Europe, and then sell them through Vanguard Games (of course with a percentage going to the Helios guys). Probably at a slightly higher price than what Battlegroup Helios offers on their site (but still cheaper since UK/EU users won't have to deal with those high import taxes and postage costs). Not exactly sure how (and if) this would work, but it might be an option to consider.

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@ malika2, thanks for the offer sir that would be a great help.

Good idea for the ships if I could source a good resin caster at a reasonable rate and the BGH guys were willing, something to consider anyway.

_________________
Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

I have received a trade list for Microworld's Wasteland range which i'm keen to import would you guys be interested in this range in my store?

If interest is high I will look at bringing in other ranges from Microworld too over time. As is usually the case it is dependant on available funds as to how much of the individual ranges I can afford to stock.

Cheers

_________________
Vanguard Miniatures

Link, http://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/

Stockist of:

Vanguard Miniatures
BattleGroup Helios
Onslaught Miniatures
Pyrkol Gaming Markers
Gregster's Lab
Microworld Games
Troublemaker Games

Well the Charybidis i'm pretty sure would be cool

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He's a lawyer and a super-villian. That's like having a shark with a bazooka!

-I HAVE NO POINT
-Penal Legion-Fan list
-Help me make Whitescars not suck!