Just astounded

I was recently going through our correspondance and customer lists and was rather astounded by the number of modelers of considerable repute and even fame who have built our kits and used our materials. I’d like to compile a list but I’m affraid I’d accidently leave someone out.

You can discribe a user base into 3 basic groups. On one end, The Early Adopters. These are adventurous who will try everything. They are atracted to things that set them appart from the average folks.  At the other end of the curve are the “Ludites”. They will never try our product just because it’s not _______ add medium here.(wood, plastic, plaster. etc.)

The biggest part of the market is right in the middle. They are open minded and creative but they would rather not take a risk. They watch what others do and adapt what makes sense to them.

This is the tipping point, The group we need to attract (and are) to find sustainable success. Thanks to you all who have built and worked with our materials. Even more important you have shared information and talked to others about our products and card modeling in general. Thanks to your efforts and your words, we are seeing growth in the middle demographic.

You keep the faith, we’ll keep making quality models that hold down the expence while upping the quality and innovation.

Thank you all sincerely, as we enter the holiday season, our best wishes and thoughts are with you.

Comments

[Jim Gore]

Thom,

Even if it isn't a complete list, I think it would be great PR for you guys to see who the big names are that have used (or ordered) your products. I know that Dave Frary has used them and Jim Vail, who is an MMR and a famous narrow gauger, as well [I like to think he got the idea when he visited my layout a few years ago; but I suspect that is not the case]. Anyway, it would be a great list to see, no matter how imperfect. Besides, "famous" and "reputable" are in the eyes of the beholder. As for the ludites, when they attend my clinics, they are always amazed but I know they will never try them.

Jim

[Dave]

Jim, We are certainly at the crossroads. We do need to publicize the who's who. We have a number of folks who are rightfully proud of their accomplishments who are not Professional or published who also deserve recognition. I need to find a marketing plan that will make everyone proud of being a part of this community. It's evolving and Im not in a big rush. As always too many models to finish.

[Aristoteles Held]

Thom, I can only say what inspires me. It is the artistic (like a cartoon) implementation. It exaggerates sometimes the desired effect, creating a unique atmosphere.
Apart from my, cardboard as a material simply charming. Unfortunately, cardboard, made ​​by established modelers rarely serious. But this set the trends.
Anyway, continue to make good kits. Pictures of beautiful models to convince most.

Aristoteles

[Dave]

I too like the exaggerated and eccentric character in models. i wish we had more in that style. I do try to find the real world equivalent . Kirks books, Smitty's the branch line depot all have a touch of that. the new hamburger stand we will be releasing soon is very odd but totally prototype.
I need to find a way to highlight the professional (or infamous) builders along side the masterful hobbiests.