GW preamble up, New CEO incoming, Annual report included now

[manrogue]

The opening gambit that Vince posted did sound like the pre-cursor to a poor financial report, with early emphasis on restructuring to keep investors happy.

It's good to hear them finally pay at least lip-service to 3D printing, even though Tom has largely dismissed it. It was something that was notably absent from last years statement when discussing possible risks to the business. I don't agree with his sentiments on it though, as the technology is very much a growth area at the moment with major improvements to processes and materials happening all the time, while costs are being driven down. The risk is also in no way pre-supposed on the availability of 3D scanning - it only takes one individual with access to quality equipment to produce a model scan that could be widely shared. There are also computer modellers out there with the ability to recreate a model purely in software.

£4M does sound excessive for the website - it's certainly nothing special and in all likelihood based on a pre-existing content management system, so most of the work is in styling and migrating the data from the old site. As Paul rightly says though (and from my experience of project budgeting) it's all too easy to inflate a cost, especially where that could be used to hide a loss elsewhere.

Sadly it's sounding like there isn't a long term future for The Hobbit range

So, a question for the assembled...

If you took up the mantle of CEO, what would be your business plan for GW?

While i wouldn't know the best way to move the company forward, a few things i would like to see changed would be-

Relax the trade terms for independent stockists. Seriously, the current trade terms are shocking, designed to try to force people into a GW to get the kits/books etc.

Make White dwarf weekly available as a subscription. I quite enjoy the new weekly white dwarf, but it is a pain in the ass to get and quite expensive for what it is.

Bundle deals that save cash. The one click deals are a joke.

More boxed game releases like Space Hulk, Necromunda, Blood bowl etc. These could be done as self contained releases.

I also think the cost of some of the kits is ridiculous compared to what is available on the market, compare a Riptide to this-
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN948083/Gun



Fully articulated, comes on pre coloured plastic, bigger than a Riptide and £25.