Anyone have good / bad experiences with manufacturing?

[tylerh]

Hi All -

I really want to try a stab at having my own toy line! I have been looking at manufacturers to do runs of 100-500 figures at a time - But I dont know the "good" ones from the "bad."

I know that even good ones have issues at times, so any help or leads would be awesome! Thank you so much!

Tyler

You can always email me too - tyler (at) tylerham (dot) com

[megocrazy]

I doubt your going to find any overseas companies that will do 100-500 figures. You'll need to look at someone, most likely they're on this site, that already has a majority of the molds done and then build and package them in the US. Several have listings in the Re-Mego section.

[jimsmegos]

Shoot a PM to Dr. Mego. He's a wonderful and open resource for info if he's not too terribly busy. The same of course can be said for ZICA (Craig Owens) and David Lee or gag4toys (Castaway).

[drmego]

If you want to make 100-500 figures of a character, you will have to
do it yourself. China factories don't want to make 1,000 of anything
because it takes longer to explain the job than it takes to do it.

Most factories want minimums of 3,000 unless it's resin casts.

[PoorMansJB]

I doubt your going to find any overseas companies that will do 100-500 figures. You'll need to look at someone, most likely they're on this site, that already has a majority of the molds done and then build and package them in the US. Several have listings in the Re-Mego section.

Actually, there seem to be quite a number of products out there in that range. I just bought a Lost In Space piece made overseas and limited to 200. Now, I grant you the price tag on this kind of stuff is pretty high -- in some cases, downright exorbitant -- but the point, there are companies willing to take on such projects.

I'm not necessarily recommending this company -- in fact, beyond having seen some of their product around, I know nothing about them -- but Day 2 Day (Toy Manufacturer|Wholesale Toys|Toy Distributors|Baby toy|Game Toy|Box Toy|Plush toy|Children Toy) make a number of high-end, limited edition figures. Might try contacting them to get a sense of cost, etc.; they specifically solicit outside commissions.

P.S. No idea why the URL imported like that.

[drmego]

Thanks for the information, but I will be avoiding Day 2 Day Trading.

[MIB41]

So Day 2 Day made the Flash Gordon figure for Castaway? They have it on their website for sale along with a legal letter aimed at Go-Hero. This is bizarre.

[samurainoir]

Day2Day trading is a middleman, who is a UK expat based out of Singapore that Cast-a-Way, Go Hero, Zica, and others have had bad experiences with. I think folks had best avoid them at all costs.

[MIB41]

AH! So these are the culprits! What dogs! Forget them! Castaway has my support all the way.

[David Lee]

AH! So these are the culprits! What dogs!

That be they, indeed.... (oh Pirate talk was yesterday)

-Dave

[David Lee]

Double post galdarnit!

[David Lee]

Actually, there seem to be quite a number of products out there in that range. I just bought a Lost In Space piece made overseas and limited to 200. Now, I grant you the price tag on this kind of stuff is pretty high -- in some cases, downright exorbitant -- but the point, there are companies willing to take on such projects.

I'm not necessarily recommending this company -- in fact, beyond having seen some of their product around, I know nothing about them -- but Day 2 Day (Toy Manufacturer|Wholesale Toys|Toy Distributors|Baby toy|Game Toy|Box Toy|Plush toy|Children Toy) make a number of high-end, limited edition figures. Might try contacting them to get a sense of cost, etc.; they specifically solicit outside commissions.

P.S. No idea why the URL imported like that.

First off, Welcome Tyler! and thanks for the business (I am 1/2 of Cast-a-Way Toys)

Secondly, PoormansJB, You are exactly right in your premise on making small runs of figures. You DO NOT have to make 3000 figures to have professional results. We have done it for years and it's a harder road to travel but it's doable. The first thing is to find a reputable factory willing to do small runs, and yes they are out there (Day2Day is about the absolute bottom of the proverbial barrel and just about as dishonest as they come, avoid like the plague itself, trust me on this one pal).

Thirdly(is that a word?), this process requires hard work on your part (the American side). What you won't get is nice complete figures packaged up and ready to sell delivered to your doorstep. That does require 3000 plus pieces... However, if your goal is to make high quality (and by quality control is everything) lower number pieces then your where you need to be. What does this mean to you? You need to source as many of your needs as possible here stateside. For instance, our packaging and printing is done in the US. Use what is available to you: If you can source parts already manufactured then why re-invent the wheel, purchase what you can, the higher cost can either be mitigated by wholesale buying power or buy increased re-tail cost (high quality/low numbers make that more feasible as well). Lastly, design your products and processes around what you can do yourself. If you can't sit down and put together and package hundreds of action figures from parts you have assembled then stop now. This is what it will take. The upside is 100 percent QUALITY CONTROL! and that is golden for the business model you are describing. Your customers, like ours, will get products you have personally touched and overseen.

Now, marketing and selling them? that's a whole 'nuther conversation


-David Lee

[tylerh]

Thanks David! You guys do awesome work! I really hope the Flash Gordon line does well for you and you make more related figures - i couldnt be happier with mine!

I see what you are saying and it all makes total sense - I think my first figure I will just make 25 of, and do the painting / assembling myself - I have a few ideas but want to see if others think my ideas are as good as I do haha I love your idea of the resealable clamshell - Its really a best of both worlds thing - I would love to use them to package anything I make also - I will be making an order soon!

The toy line is kind of a dream of mine - I know itll be a lot of work but Im very excited - Maybe one day I can grow into larger production numbers I think my first few figures will have runs of under 50, then if those sell Ill see what to do next!

[PoorMansJB]

As I noted in my post, I knew nothing about Day 2 Day and was citing them solely based on the quality of the product itself and the fact that they do contract work and not the copyright mess* they clearly got themselves into.

K, how about these folks: Inner Circle Toys

They take on small runs. One-off clothing they do themselves though I expect they farm-out larger lots and are almost certainly buying bodies overseas.

*I read the disclaimer but didn't really perceive D2D as the culprit. By the same token, they appear to have manufactured a trademarked product based on a client's verbal assertion that they owned the rights. Given that I've spent decades prevented from initiating a particular project over a similar issue, I can't believe any company would commit assets -- especially in this day and age -- without some concrete evidence that the other party really owned the copyright.

[MIB41]

I like some of the head sculpts on that site. Pretty cool stuff.