I need Some Toy making advice / Help.

[MegomanJess]

I'm trying to produce some sort of toy Convention exclusive for the Spokane Comicon in Washington State for May of 2014 and produce 100 to 500 units. I'm trying to keep costs down as much as I can because I don't have a lot of money. I'd like the end result to cost people under $40 or better yet in a $20 to $30 range.

Once I get some sort of prototype made I can do the Kickstart program like the type S castaway body. I would have done their Ultimate reward but I need more time to get $5k. Does anyone know of any other venues? It doesn't need to be a Mego/retro figure. Or is anyone willing to donate their time to help design? If they don't reach their goal I hope they redo it and I'll talk to them about doing a side by side Kickstart which they would get the extra $$$, but I think they will reach their goal. David had a great idea and I wish we could have done it. I've talked to Figures Inc but discussions have been slow and I still don't know how much it would cost me for anything. I originally was going to do a Funko Pop figure which I know I could sell them all if not at the convention after in a only store, but I'd need a min of $10k but I'd make probably $30K.

If anyone has any suggestions on other things I can try please feel free to send me a message. [email protected]

Jess

[sprytel]

I'm assuming you don't have a license for any property?

[megocrazy]

Producing 100 - 500 units is not going to be an easy task. You may be able to do it with a scratch built custom figure but there's no way you'll get that produced by a manufacturer. The minimum run, you'll probably find will be 3000 at this stage. In a tighter market, maybe 2000 if you were lucky. Probably more stuff premade for mego 8" scale figures than anything else. If there is a rotocast head available that could be purchased in bulk that worked for whatever character you wanted to do that would be the best case scenario. If not, you're talking casting, painting, and sealing to produce the head alone. I don't see an 8" custom figure being produced in a package in small numbers like this for under $20 a piece. Head, Body, clothing, boots, clamshell, card, accessories. Roughly 7 components. Bodies can be done for $5 in bulk. Maybe better if you bought enough of them. If you average $3 per category on the rest you're at $23. You'll have other costs including shipping charges in there as well to add to the overall finished item. By my estimate you would need a minimum of $2500 to produce a run of 100 figures, packaged and ready for sale.

[MegomanJess]

I'm not limiting myself to Mego type figures but I do believe it's my best bet at this point. But what to make? ya I don't have an Licensed property but there is a chance I could get permission to use a less known Character from someone at the convention but's I'm worried no one will buy them or there will be some odd piece I'd need to have made. If I do a Mego/Retro figure I need to do is find someone who will have enough of what I want at a good price and let me buy little by little over the next half year. I know someone that can make the cards for the figures but they can not design.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

For that number you COULD do your own mold work and painting.... but that's a LOT of work. Doable, but a lot of work.

Don C.