With trade, deficits, and tariffs pushed to the forefront, thoughts turn toward the effect on wargamers brought about by any such policy changes. Already, the boardgame industry is feeling the impact of these supply chain changes. How many miniatures wargamers are subject to the tug of international trade arrangements outside of currency fluctuations on international purchases?
To gain some insight into this question, I turn to the WSS 2024 Great Wargaming Survey (GWS) for possible answers. Fortunately, there is a relevant question added into the 2024 GWS. That question asks,
When you make a purchase online, do you regularly make purchases outside your home country?
The word "regularly" could be open to interpretation. I answered this question in the affirmative. When I make purchases, these purchases are regularly from international vendors. While I frequently purchase figures from international vendors, delivered cost definitely enters into the calculation. Now, many foreign manufacturers retain online vendors in a wargamer's home country from which orders can be placed. Foreign goods are still purchased but these goods are imported and then sold through domestic channels. To me, these purchases would not qualify as "online purchases outside of your home country."
Of the 5,995 survey responses, Figure 1 illustrates a roughly 50/50 mix of "Yes" and "No" responses. Slightly more survey respondents keep their regular online purchases to domestic vendors.
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| Figure 1 |
This view does not provide much in the way of interesting insight, though, does it? We end up with a coin flip between having regular foreign purchases or not. More exploration is warranted. In this analysis, two familiar attributes are singled out for further examination. These attributes are Primary Interest and Location.
Primary Interest
With the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre having seemingly more domestic points of sale opportunities (at least in the USA), analysis turns to examining foreign purchases by a wargamer's primary interest. As in past analyses, primary interest includes three groupings: Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Historical, and Mixed. If the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre has more domestic points of sale, then differences ought to appear between groups.
Looking at Figure 2, wargamers having either Historical or Mixed primary interests still show about a 50/50 mix of regular foreign purchases. Focusing on Fantasy/Sci-Fi, here, a difference is seen. Of those respondents having a primary interest in Fantasy/Sci-Fi gaming, only 40% regularly purchase from foreign sources. Results seem to support (well, at least not dismiss) the notion that this genre has more domestic points of sale.
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| Figure 2 |
When diving into the results with an eye toward a wargamer's home location or home country/region, Figure 3 highlights a remarkable result.
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| Figure 3 |
To me, this is an unexpected result. With the disparity between UK and non-UK foreign trade, where are non-UK wargamers sending much of their foreign business? Seeing that roughly five in six UK/Ireland wargamers do not make online foreign purchases regularly, is making a leap to infer that UK/Ireland vendors are the primary source for miniatures worldwide a step too far? If true and these sample results hold for the larger population, the UK may be the center of the wargaming trade. What are the implications of any increased trade restrictions or costs on the hobby, in general, and to UK vendors in particular? While UK wargamers may not be significantly affected by international trade, UK vendors and miniatures wargamers outside of the UK could experience some turbulence.
Will the 2025 GWS provide a clearer picture to answers to these questions when it rolls out in August? Perhaps the 2025 survey could aid in addressing these topics by adding a question on the foreign country of purchase? At least then we would know the direction of trade flow. Likewise, a question asking about relative frequency of foreign purchases comparing 2024 to 2025 might be insightful.
More questions remain on evaluating spending tendencies from the 2024 results, but those answers remain for another time and another analysis.
I think a lot of UK trade in wargames stuff with the EU has suffered; a mixture of new EU legislation and postage costs. Add to which you will have VAT and possible import duties makes it expensive.
ReplyDeleteThere are German, Italian and Spanish manufacturers although one of the latter has just moved to the UK. 3d printing is also having an impact.
Don't forget Australia; Eureka and Tin Soldier, Simons Soldiers, probably others.
I have bought from Europe, USA and Australia. The problem is postage has increased worldwide enormously which can double the cost. It has to be something I want which I cannot get in UK. Hit and miss whether I end up paying VAT on top as well as handling charges. Toy soldiers as "toys" are duty exempt in UK.
I'd love more RSM and Khurasan miniatures, but cost is prohibitive.
Neil
Thanks, Neil, for contributing your personal, UK perspective. I did not forget manufacturers in other countries. I occasionally order from a Spanish company. For Eureka in Australia, my orders are most often through their USA distributor, Eureka USA.
DeleteInteresting UK duty classification of toy soldiers as "Toys." I recently read that listing miniatures as "Game Pieces" rather than "Toys" bypassed extra duties. Cannot recall which country that was...it might have been imports from China.
Interesting read Jon, I tend to stick to U.K. vendors although my main port of call is Fife & Drum in the U.S.A. Jim keeps the postage costs as low as he can which helps. I tend to shy away from the EU now due to vat and import taxes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donnie! Good to see that Jim is doing his part to keep costs down and product flowing. I see that he extended his most recent sale too.
DeleteBeing in New Zealand, everything I buy is basically imported, even the odd few things I get from a local retailer! In the past, it's been cheaper to get a couple of boxes of Perry from Caliver at £20 each with no postage than to buy the same boxes locally!
ReplyDeleteAlmost everything else comes from overseas and personally, about 80 to 90% comes from the UK. I did have a period when the Old Glory army card deal and relatively benign USPS international rates made that company an attractive option, but postage has killed that unfortunately. Apart from OG, I have purchased 2 or 3 times from Brigade Games, and a couple of other random US suppliers, and that's it...maybe 10 purchases in 25 years.
My opinion would be, the UK is definitely the pre eminent producer of historicals...I don't know about sci-fi and fantasy.
Thanks for your feedback, Keith! Shipping has really gotten out of hand. Ordering from Caliver, with free figure shipping, can be a huge saving from buying elsewhere. Of course, Caliver must carry the figure ranges you are interested in ordering. I remember very well your Brigade Games debacle!
DeleteWell, Games Workshop is the biggest Sci-fi company out there, and it's based in the UK, so I would wager that the UK is the primary mover for historicals and Sci-fi. 😁
DeleteStew, there are a number of local stores here selling GW products such as WH40K. Their local presence is what led me to my hypothesis that Fantasy/Sci-Fi may see a more domestic purchasing pattern.
DeleteShipping is not too big a problem to Australia from the UK, Europe has gone up a little but is still manageable. but from the US it has increased astronomically.
ReplyDeleteI used to purchase all my basing needs from Litko which have lovely products. The increase in freight encouraged me to look around for an Australian supplier and to my surprise I found one who will offer free postage for orders over $80, which is not hard to do. Having said that, I used to purchase my magnetic basing off him, but have noticed that has tripled in price in the past year, no doubt due to the increase in his freight costs.
The cost of shipping in the USA is becoming an increasingly significant deterrent to shipping out of country. Good to see that shipping between Australia UK/Europe is not so bad.
DeleteInteresting. Although my ebay purchases are heavily weighted to US sellers, my other online orders are more evenly distributed.
ReplyDeleteSometimes shipping cost must make me search more locally, there are others like the Perry's that always seem cheaper to by from directly. GW and Warlord products are mostly available in the US, but I rarely purchase those anymore.
Much of my hobby spending in the last few years are historical/Pulp/Adventure/Sci Fi lines from Northstar in the UK. but my orders are still pretty evenly split between them and Badger and Brigade Games in the US that carry many of the same lines.
I rarely pick anything up off ebay from foreign sellers. I suppose that might be due to my searches are primarily for hex-and-counter wargames. While I occasionally buy from Northstar, they certainly seem to be a one-stop shopping center for many product lines. My US purchases are mainly Eureka, 19th Century Miniatures, and Foundry.
DeleteBeing from England I very rarely buy anything from abroad. Certainly nothing from the EU, ever since we stupidly left, the cost of postage and import costs have gone through the roof. So I tend to buy just from the UK, It's easier?
ReplyDeleteRay, you look to be one of many!
DeleteNo question the UK is the center of wargaming at this moment in terms of tabletop miniatures wargaming imho. That could change if 3D printing becomes cheaper and easier to operate perhaps. Since I'm a metal head the UK will still likely be my choice for miniatures although with the shipping and customs increase since the split between UK/Europe has slowed my ordering. Ordering from the states is more or less cost prohibitive. For once I'm happy about having a massive lead mountain to keep me well stocked in the coming years as the ordering thins!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Good response, Christopher! Being a metal head, myself, and a keeper of a large Lead Pile, I can hold out in hope of more affordable times.
Deleteas the East Coast US is in a good spot for time in transit, cost or availability ( by this I mean, does anybody make it?) usually decide purchase locations. In the US - Old Glory, Pulp Miniatures ( I know, its Canadian, but close enough!) and Brigade Games are mainstays for an awful lot of stuff. But for the last ten to fifteen years, it has been Perry Miniatures and so obviously the UK is my go to. Some Victrix, Gripping Beast and Warlord Games have increased the UK options for sources. As for SciFi, the 800 pound gorilla GW is a UK company whether online or from the local retailer .
ReplyDeleteIf there is only one place to get the goods, that is where one must go. Old Glory is a mainstay in many of my armies, more so 15s than 25s.
DeleteThere is a traditional model and an evolving one.
ReplyDeleteThe UK has traditionally been a hub for figure production and all that supports it.
The U.S. has traditionally been the hub for boardgame production, though with an increasing amount being printed in China - though it remains the hub of distribution.
The evolving picture is the start of diversification. For figures, non-UK manufacturers are increasing and 3D printing is on an upward trajectory.
For boardgames, there are a growing number of producers in Europe with Vae Victis, Sound of Drums, form Square and a couple of eastern European companies. I would say the centre of gravity is still very much with the U.S., but there is competition.
Of interest is someone like say Sound of Drums, who I think are in Switzerland, but they produce in China, so in the current situation as a UK buyer, I am getting those games without a tariff hike BUT the company probably has a significant part of its customer base in the U.S. where the tariff does have an impact, so the Sound of Drums is not immune to the effect of that and I suppose the question exists that if they lose their U.S. customer base, can they still remain viable?
Obviously all of by boardgames are from the U.S., but for the most part I buy them via a UK bricks and mortar game store, to support them and I think on balance, the price to me is probably around the same as they benefit from bulk shipping.
I find shipping expensive when looked in isolation, so I tend to wrap it all in with the price of the game i.e. how much do I want the game and that is the price, rather than being put off by the s hipping cost alone. I imagine Keith in NZ has much the same outlook.
The biggest impact for trade I think is whether we hit a reflective moment as buyers due to the current situation and think ‘do you know what - I’ve got tons of stuff and really need any more’ …. That could trigger a behaviour change in buying that might prove difficult to change and in that world we would see a big slow down in spend, not because of tariff, cost of living rises and shipping pressures alone, but because those pressures have caused us to pause and do something that perhaps we should have been doing anyway and that is thinking about what we buy versus habit / need / want / pleasures / disposable income etc.
Sorry, that last para should read ‘really DON’T need any more. Doh!
ReplyDeleteNorm, you provide an informed perspective. Good stuff! GMT Games recently sent out an email detailing the trials and tribulations of boardgame companies including effects of Chinese production. I considered providing a link to that very detailed email on the state of the boardgame hobby but decided against.
DeleteWhile those of a particular age cohort (us!) may be considering lifecycle and future hobby purchases, do think younger age groups have similar thoughts?
I don’t know, but I wonder whether the ‘buy it all in a single box’ type product that allows a lower price and lower effort point of entry and is playable in a small space, speaks to a particular generation.
DeleteI suppose the product range of a company such as Games Workshop might show the direction of travel, they do seem to have moved to accommodate the skirmish level game in their line-up - is that a particular market?
I can see all age ranges embracing something that is essentially perceived as a small project.
I bet you can come up with a number of reasons why the "buy it all in a single box" is appealing to some. I know I can.
DeleteI suppose for those younger generations that have grown up with GW or FoW et al starter boxes, that is what they are used to and happy to carry on buying. For myself the complete opposite is true I imagine, as I'm quite happy doing the research, planning a force etc.
DeleteI am with you but then we are of a similar generation.
DeleteAn interesting thread. I purchase relatively little as my painting output is slow and I try [and fail to some extent] not to have much more than a lead molehill. I certainly remember making a decision not to buy outside the U.K. without careful thought. This came after the demise of Hinterland Figures which at one stage I did buy regularly as the ranges expanded until the final additions which did not attract me. I would still buy figures from around the world but probably through a U.K. supplier. It's not just the known costs of buying from elsewhere but the uncertainty about customs. I've not be stung as others have but my wife bought something which was hit by excise duties that were unexpected.
ReplyDeleteThere's not a lot that I can't get from U.K. manufacturers and in that I consider myself fortunate.
Stephen
p.s. I'm trying to talk myself out of a new, modest, collection from the Perries. The arguments are strong when there are periods where the backlog to complete number less than 10 figures i.e. perhaps a month of painting.
Thanks for providing your thoughts on this topic, Stephen. While the survey suggested that UK gamers are content to stick to domestic manufacturers, commentary here supports that inference. I suppose I had not considered how dominant this tendency actually was.
DeleteAs for a new project, you should just do it! The hobby may need you.
Well it's not a surprise to me that the Nottingham 'Lead Belt' appears to be the wargaming centre of the universe in terms of companies and production. AB Figures used to be based in Wales, but for many a year have been in Australia, so there is some movement, albeit limited. Northstar and Caliver (IIRC) stock a whole host of products from overseas, should one want to buy them, thus avoiding any worries around shipping costs and improt tariffs. I know some firms have stopped shipping to Europe because of the recent changes to the law, which just doesn't make it a viable option anymore. Maybe one reason Salute had a big turn out this year?
ReplyDeletePersonally I have and have never had the need to buy anything from outside of the UK in terms of figures, as I can get everything I need here. Add in the surge in 3D printed products via Etsy et al, so I'm sure many purchases will be for an stl. file and print at home, thus avoiding any shipping and import duties.
Norm makes a good point about some of us reaching an age where we are not looking at our leadpiles through rose tinted glasses, but rather in the cold hard light of day. I certainly am and in all honesty have more than enough lead to last me whilst I'm still on this mortal coil!!!
Steve, you are yet another UK gamer content with what is produced domestically and another gamer of a certain age group contemplating your hobby lifecycle accrual. Do you suppose younger cohorts are stopping in their tracks on the path towards accumulation as well?
DeleteLike you (and many others), I have more than enough figures in The Lead Pile to last me to the end of time.
Thanks for your comment!
Judging buy the purchases seen at shows and the constant stream of new products, it would seem that no matter the age group, gamers are still buying. How much and to what level say those in their 30's are, might be another matter. With skirmish games still quite the rage, or so it seems to me, buying might be smaller forces that are easier to finish, store and game on a small table, which is certainly all I could do at that age with young kids at home!
DeleteWith the constant march of new products, someone must be buying, for sure.
DeleteOne area which may buck the trend for UK dominance is soft plastic figures. These have tended to be looked down on here - "serious" gamers used metal figures mentality. Not it seems elsewhere. Eastern Europe (especially Ukraine and Russia) seem to be major centres, though current events have disrupted that. We don't manufacture flats in the UK, AFAIK, so anyone who hankers after those have to go to Europe, including the quite popular Wofun plastic flats.
ReplyDeleteSoft plastic figures, WoFun plexiglass flats, and "serious" wargaming could be an explosive topic! I know some historical wargamers would disagree with you, vehemently. I am surprised at least one has not chimed in yet.
DeleteI think the historical prejudice against soft plastics in the UK is pretty well acknowledged. I accept it may be otherwise in the US - I wouldn't know. Wofun is an interesting product - I know not everyone likes them but I would align them as a modern take on flats, I think.
DeleteWhile I do not field armies in soft plastic (I started out that way, though!), I follow many bloggers from across the globe with their primary (and oftentimes only) interest is in gaming soft plastics in 1/72. WoFun allows those with neither the time nor inclination to paint armies to accomplish that task instantly. For those, WoFun can be a lifeline.
DeleteI think you are right about the modern renaissance of 1/72 soft plastics. I cannot see why there would have been such a blooming of variety in recent times without there being a market. There is probably an interesting segmentation exercise to see who is buying and using these. Is it more common in some territories? Do old prejudices die hard and the people investing in them are more likely to be younger gamers (though I can think of at least two plastic player/bloggers who are not young). We might also consider the issue of scales - 1/72 and 20mm are not popular Ancients scales, where 15mm holds sway. Even WW2, where these scales used to be commonplace for smaller games has seen this eroded by hard plastic 28mm.
DeleteI am a fan of 20mm soft plastics - perhaps the obvious reason is simply the cost! I got 2 DBA 'armies' from 2 packs - so about £7 per army. For me there's also a nice nostalgic link with the Airfix figures of childhood - though I suppose others would regard them as 'not serious'! Also the correct proportions - for a while metal figures seemed to be rather oddly-proportioned, with details far too prominent and everything rather chunky. 28mm hard plastics have solved that problem, but they are still quite pricey and I can't stand having to glue them together as well as paint! I remember a magazine article extollng 20mm as 'the perfect scale for WW2' , which I liked. Probably due to the vast range of tanks and vehicles available as plastic kits?
DeleteSorry I have deviated from the original question - I think in the UK we are fortunate that we have probably more makers than any other country, so there is very little need to buy from abroad (even those 20mm plastics can be bought from UK importers very easily ). So your results don't seem a big surprise! Interesting stuff, though.
David, I know many that are like you in enjoying 1/72 plastic figures for gaming. Cost is certainly a factor for some but not all, I imagine. I, too, have a nostalgic link to my youth of discovering Airfix and Revel plastic figures. I once had large Napoleonic armies in plastic before moving over to the Metal Head side of the hobby.
DeleteA good point about many of us forgetting that 1/72nd figures are still widely used across many periods. Like David and many others I'm sure, that Airfix nostalgia hit when seeing them in a modelshop is hard to resist! The fact that they are still being produced shows that there is a market for them, but I rarely, if ever, see them at wargames shows. To my mind they sit between 15mm and 28mm, the two 'scales' that seem to be the most popular these days.
DeleteI'm sure that what I say has already been said, so I'll be brief. I buy far less than I used to - much of what I still buy is vintage, pre-owned stuff from private individuals, or custom-cast figures produced to my order in (usually) Germany. New, commercially available figures? - not so much - I still buy from Irregular, and will eventually feel the pinch now that SHQ has effectively disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI stopped buying from the US some years ago, long before tariffs and boycotts, because the shipping charges to Britain made the whole idea unattractive (I realise this works in both directions). Some of the European suppliers I dealt with have stopped doing business with the UK because the post-Brexit bureaucracy overhead was too much for small firms. I'm sure we have seen nothing yet...
Tony, you have a prescribed approach to your hobby and know exactly what you want. I rarely see you wandering off down a rabbit hole. I wish I held your discipline. Interesting that UK wargamers balk at paying high overseas shipping but RoW carries on.
DeleteMost informative, and consistent with my own experience. Being of a certain age, I recall the rise of online access and shifting to purchasing nearly all my figures direct from the UK as opposed to via US retailers (and even then, the figures themselves were from the UK). That hasn't changed, but as has been mentioned, I am no longer accumulating figs like I used to: more a matter of where I am at this stage than in response to added expense (be it shipping or tariffs).
ReplyDeleteEd, I see a common theme here...
DeleteHas the internet killed the local gaming store in many countries resulting in the requirement to source overseas for any figures? I know it has in Australia with less stores and those mostly online stores themselves with maybe a physical presence as well.
ReplyDeleteWhy purchase locally from a limited selection where for the same or a bit more you have a complete selection of products to choose from by buying directly from the manufacturer, and as many of those manufacturers are in the UK & US that is where we purchase from.
Good points!
DeleteIn New Zealand, and almost invariably I'm buying from the UK. Caliver, or free shipping from Perry option, is most common.
ReplyDeleteCaliver’s free figure shipping is a sweet deal, indeed!
DeleteI buy from all over, although Old Glory is a staple, due to low figure and (within the US) shipping costs. That may become even more true depending upon where the tariff situation winds up (seemingly different every day, due to the author of same not really having any serious idea exactly what he is actually trying to accomplish with them!). With the variety of products available in the UK, and the barriers to purchasing elsewhere increasing, it's no surprise that residents thereof make the vast majority of their purchases in country!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback, Peter! I know very well your reliance on Old Glory as a main source of your Lead Pile.
DeleteI guess we are just lucky here in Uk that we can get pretty much everything without much problem. I think I have only purchased one set of figures from the USA the postage was almost prohibitive but the only place I could get my Norwegians. I can only imagine the challenge for smaller businesses in the current turmoil created by tariffs ?
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky! Did you brewing back any hobby goods from your recent visit to America?
DeleteLiving in the depths of the South Pacific it has always been an expensive exercise to import figures, either by exchange rates, postage or both. Since COVID global postage rates have skyrocketed to the point where more often than not the shipping cost is as great or greater than the value of the order. This is particularly noticeable with US and EU suppliers.
ReplyDeleteThere are few retailers here in New Zealand and they suffer not only from the same freight costs, but also from customs clearance costs (that thankfully most individual purchases are exempt from) and all this makes their retail price significantly higher than that of an individual purchase.
I have avoided postage charges in recent years by using suppliers that provide free postage on orders above a particular value. That minimum purchase value is beginning to creep up now, but luckily I am able to combine with others. I am thankful that I have decided that I have enough figures now and after my current projects are finished, purchases will stop.
Thanks for your sharing your perspective, Mark! Now, do you REALLY believe future purchases will stop? With retirement, you may have more time to paint and play. I expect to see at least one new project...
DeleteTime for 3d Printer Mark S! ;) I'm likely to get one of those soon, though I also have a very large stash of figures I'm slowly working through. :)
DeleteMark, when you get your 3D printer up and running, report back!
DeleteYes will do Jonathan :)
DeleteYes it will be the end of purchases - largely driven by storage restrictions, but equally by a reduced retirement income (made worse by her indoors losing her job recently). I did look seriously at 3D printing, but we don't really have a space to set one up properly.
DeleteMy purchases are pretty much all UK figures now, since Brexit old glory has got pretty expensive, I've bought books from the US and Europe though?
DeleteBest Iain
Even with the USD/BP exchange rate moving in your favor, Old Glory are still expensive especially if you factor in having an Army Card?
Delete