• StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website
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    10 months ago

    The company needs to get some representatives out to the toy trade shows and conventions in North America to break into the market. That’s how the models get picked up by genre sellers and distributors.

    Even getting a representative seller at various Comic-Con’s and regional cons would be worth it to sell to core fans and build a base. Our kids have walked around cons with money to spend and come away with nothing but a t-shirt and pins because there really wasn’t much on offer for Star Trek suitable for their ages.

    • bi_tux@lemmy.worldOP
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      10 months ago

      I mean this sounds logical, but I think they want to get established in central europe before expanding (which isn’t a bad tactic), that’s at least my assumption

      Edit: we also could all just call shops close to us and ask them if they have the product ;) (if that tactic still works)

      • StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website
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        10 months ago

        The point is that this doesn’t work at all.

        I’m in Canada, and our local hobby, game and comic stores are dependent on the distributors or the ability to order directly from the manufacturer. We usually start with them, and when we can’t order through them, go online.

        Even for some of the small specialty presses producing Star Trek books, we’ve been obliged to order through Amazon because the publisher isn’t working directly with Canadian stores, even though the books should move without difficulty under the North American free trade agreement.

        Final point, Canada has the most intense Trek following in the world, even more than in the United States. TNG was the top rated show during its run - of any television show, not just in its genre. So, if a company can’t sell Trek merch here, they won’t be successful.