Introduction

2010 has seen some major changes at Otherworld Miniatures. The move to new purpose built premises last summer meant that the company could make the transition from a hobby to a full-time job and a fully-fledged small business. My health problems of 2009 now seem a distant, if painful, memory!

Productivity

The last year has seen the release of the following miniatures:

DV5 Giant Leeches

DD5 Bone Devil

DM6b Minotaur II
DM18 Rust Monsters
DM19 Giant Slug
DM20 Roper
DM21 Carcass Scavengers
DM22 Otyugh

BS5 The Otherworld Giant

OG Ogre Warriors x 2

WE3 Centaurs x 4
WE4 Giant Lizards x 2
WE5 Lizardman Warriors
WE6 Faerie Folk
WE7 Lycanthropes x 5
WE8 Wolves & Dire Wolves x 6
WE9 Satyr
WE10 Spiders x 7
WE11 Shambling Mound
WE12 Lesser Boglings
WE13 Treant

GB Goblin Warriors x 8
GB4 Goblin Command

UD3 Zombies
UD4 Demi-human Zombies
UD5 Ghouls
UD6 Shadows
UD7 Wights
UD8 Wraiths
UD9 Mummies

That's a total of 80 new miniatures, a pretty good output, I think.

Sales

Direct sales for 2010 are around 150% of 2009's sales figures. As with last year, that reflects the continuing expansion of my range, but again I think it's a pretty good result considering the continuing worldwide economic climate.

During 2010 I started to supply several new trade customers, in the USA, mainland Europe and the UK, and I hope to develop some new business relationships across the world in 2011.

My core business though, continues to be through direct sales via the Otherworld Miniatures webstore. This is still the best way to buy your figures if you want to provide the most support to the continuing expansion of the company.

Premises

In August I moved into my new premises at Highfield Business Park. It is a purpose-built unit comprising of a spacious office area and storage space, with plenty of room for display cases and a gaming table. It is also less than a mile from the front door of my house, which is a major bonus.

I'm very grateful to all the fine folks who bought promotional vouchers earlier in the year to help fund the move.

I have plans for an Open Day some time in 2011, so watch out for an announcement in the Spring.

Conventions and Shows

In 2010, Otherworld Miniatures again attended just 3 shows; Salute in London, the UK Games Expo in Birmingham, and the Spiel Games Fair in Essen, Germany. All were successful, Salute in particular where turnover was again almost exactly double the previous year's total. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Essen, although it was a major undertaking on my own, but I plan to attend the show again in 2011.

This year, I plan to increase my attendance at shows and conventions. The following shows should see an Otherworld Miniatures trade stand in 2011:

6th February - Vapnartak, York
13th February - Hammerhead, Newark
16th April - Salute, London
21st & 22nd May - Triples, Sheffield
5th - 7th June - UK Games Expo, Birmingham
20th - 23rd October - Spiel, Essen, Germany
7th November - Crisis, Antwerp, Belgium
November (TBC) - Dragonmeet, London

I'm also hoping to recruit a convention assistant to give me a helping hand at some of these shows. If you're interested in helping, drop me a line or watch out for more details soon.

The Future

Obviously you all want to know what you can expect to see appearing in the webstore over the next few months. Well, looking ahead to February & March 2011, the following models will be released:

WE5b Lizardman Warriors II (2)
WE5c Lizardman Warriors III (2)
WE5d Lizard King
WE12b Lesser Boglings II (3)
WE15 Giant Toads (2)
WE16 Giant Weasels (3)
OG3 Ogre Warrior III
OG4 Ogre Chieftain

They will all be added to the 'Coming Soon' section of the webstore in due course.

Also in the first half of 2011, watch out for:

OG5 Ogress
OG6 Ogre Brats
OG7 Ogre Mage
UD10 Greater Undead I
UD11 Greater Undead II
DV6 Giant Ants
GB5 Goblin Missile Troops
GB6 Goblin Wolf Riders I
GB7 Goblin Wolf Riders II
GB8 Goblin Wolf Rider Command
DD6 Type III Demon
DR1 Drow Warriors I
G5 Cloud Giant
MM1a Berserkers
WE17 Giant Scorpions

Finally, I'd like to say another big 'thank you' to everyone who has bought Otherworld Miniatures in 2010. Without your continued support and encouragement of paying customers, none of this would be possible, so I'm very grateful to you all.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Richard Scott

Congrats Richard and well done on 2010. I hope to be back in the gallery in full force soon, Otherworld minis are still my favourites to paint and the forum is one of the nicest on the Internet!

I too should be in Birmingham for the Expo with the UK Gaming Media Network but I would be happy to dedicate some time to helping out if you need it. Just let me know.

This year was a great year for Otherworld Minis in terms of output, we've seen some great classics brought to life, in particular John has done a fantastic job with classic monsters such as the Crawler, Rusties, Treant, Shambler and Roper. While Paul's contributions to the Undead have been great! All in all a great year and I'm looking forward to buying and painting more OW in 2011.

Congratulations on a good year with the successful move, lots of releases, increased sales, and better health.

And I'm looking forward to every single thing on that list of plans for 2011.

Thank you for your excellent vision and the hard work to make it reality! I LOVE Otherworld miniatures. They are what I always wanted miniatures to be. I really look forward to the new releases and cherish the Otherworld miniatures that I have. 2011 looks to be another great year! I'm especially excited about the ants and the Cloud Giant. Also the boglings. Anyway, keep turning them out and I'll keep buying them!

Happy New Year, Richard.

Nice to here that 2010 hasn't been that bad a year for you. Kind of nice knowing that I has been a very, very small part of that :D Never heard about you until I say your post about John's Roper at Frothers - and thought, what the ... <bip> - who has the courage doing such oldschool miniatures in a branch that only speaks about 3up's, plastic casting and lately even 3D sculpting. Had to see for myself and found a hole bunch of like-minded people, over here. So thank you, Richard - thank you for a fantastic 2010.

And looking at the list for 2011 I can already see the next few purchases comming. Looking very much forward seeing John taking the Ogres and Goblins even further - and glad to see that Drow's are still in there. Had hoped for a Christmas Release, but Spring 2011 will do ;)

Also glad to see more Lizardmen are close now - can't be long before we start seeing greens, can it?

And Greater Undead I + II sounds very interesting too - looking forward seeing what those are :D

Thanks for the review Richard. Congrats on a good 2010 and I'm really enthusiastic about 2011 and all the new shiny things we will be seeing. There are some exciting minis on the list!

Wow, what a year for your business. That's very exciting.

I grew up in a family with a small business and know the time, effort, and dedication it takes to make it work. Congratulations!

I'm very pleased about the releases this year. Now all I need is a display case!

Looking forward to the giant ants, some neanderthals would also be welcome (sorry had to get that in). :)

I try to show off the range when I can. I have a campaign wiki up and running including pictures of my OW miniatures in action.

Go here if interested.

I think it's just great that Richard has had the bottle as well as the work ethic to make this work. It's amazing how much sunshine a small box and a visit from the postie can still give me and I'm 39!

As someone who has just handed his notice in at work and will be starting up my own business (non gaming related) in April, I may be coming to you for tips Richard, especially re your web site!

Keep up the good work.

See you at Triples.

Dave

Every time I look at that list I get more excited for new minis. Will the Giant Toads be large enough to swallow an adventurer? I remember playing Temple of Elemental Evil on my PC many moons ago, I spent a lot of time trapped in the stomachs of giant toads.

great review
thanks again for all the good workpast,present and to come.
i am happy to see that ow business is in good health and growing.
my only regret is that i can't manage to paint more than one eighth of the output :)


best wishes for the new year.
ps and speaking of wishes,one of the things i would like to see someday is more models for the "small tribe" ( bugbear,gnoll,trog..)

more awesome miniatures on the way!! WOOT WOOT!

I've bought a couple hundred dollars worth already but with the upcoming list I see on here and the awesome vouchers and I company I love I gotta show my support and buy a silver! B)