Ed wrote...
(snip)
>Now for the other side of the coin. Considering the current state of
>affairs in S scale, if someone asked what could they actually purchase these
>days from in-stock inventory, I think the answer would be somewhat
>disappointing.
>
Here at B.T.S., we currently have hundreds of S Scale items... in stock!
>Much of the SHS products are sold out. Same with some of
>the AM line. Brass imports are down to only one importer left who seems to
>be doing only engines - no cars. Jim King seems able to crank out one new
>loco per year (approx.) And so forth.
>
>"S"eems to me that the variety of products in S scale is dwindling down
>rapidly. Or is this only in my imagination?
>(snip)
>
Some manufactures have stopped producing S, others are being careful of
expansion in a weak economy, and some importers are having issues with
their manufacturers, so yes, the variety has dwindled a wee bit.
But what has really been dwindling down over the last 5-10 years has
been paying customers for S products. S should stand for 'someday' as
that is the most common comment we received at the various shows and
conventions... as in 'Nice model - I gotta get me one of those someday'
as the modeler walks away empty handed. Naturally, there are several
good reasons for some of the dwindling customers.... economy for the
last three years, saturation point on many layouts of the older folks (
yes, that means you, Ed! ;-) ), converting to On30, etc., but
generally, there has not been enough S modelers to support a continuing
growth in products.
Even with our hundreds of products sitting on the shelf, we usually add
8-14 new products per year ( 9 new ones have been released this year
). But take a hard look at the numbers we face.... with our original
plan of offering all our kits in three scales, developing S products
takes about 30% of our resources, yet it results in less than 10% of our
gross sales. Diane and I depend on sales and not 'somedays' to live, so
for us, producing new S projects is a risky thing.
We recently announced we would make an interlocking tower in S... if we
got 30 orders. Out of the 950-plus folks on this list, one would think
that about 3% would want the kit. Nope... less than 0.5% ordered one,
three people, so we canceled that project.
Take care
Bill
PS... in case you missed the announcements.... here is the 2010 new
products list.
#112 Second Street House <http://www.btsrr.com/bts7701.htm>
Slade's Office <http://www.master-creations.com/1430.htm>
Elevated Crossing Shanty <http://www.btsrr.com/bts7505.htm>
McCabe Camp Cars - Office and Shower Cars now in Stock!
<http://www.btsrr.com/bts8265.htm>
McCabe Camp Cars - Blacksmith and Bunk Cars now in Stock!
<http://www.btsrr.com/bts8265.htm>
McCabe Powerhouse <http://www.btsrr.com/bts8295.htm>
#114 Second Street House <http://www.btsrr.com/bts7702.htm>
--
== Scale Model Railroad Products ==
== Manufacturer - Retailer - Importer ==
Bill & Diane Wade
B.T.S.
RR 1 Box 141A
Belington, WV 26250
Phone: 304-823-3729
FAX: 304-823-2901
http://www.btsrr.com
We wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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