2021 Year end review, 2022 pointless planning………..

Hi again. This is the usual year end and year start post. Where I write about a lot of things that happened and a lot of things that should happen next.

So all of us have had a challenging series of events regarding the pandemic. The situation here is probably better than some and worse than others. No one can really explain things in a way that makes any logical sense right now. None of us can predict what is going to happen next and that impacts any hope for a return to normalcy.

I have been watching Riley (grand baby with 18 charisma score) due to pandemic concerns. This was supposed to end in the spring but instead it became a more than full time occupation. This limited time to work on my mold making projects. And the ones I did work on invariably failed. Mainly because rushing to get things done between diaper changes is a recipe for problems.

One of the best life quotes is- “You got to do, what you got to do.” Spoken by my platoon leader when we grumbled about things such as pointless camo coverings on our vehicles even if we were only stopping for a short time. It really does sum up things quite nicely however.

On the hobby front there has been no race gatherings for me for the entire year of 2021. Also, no tabletop games. I am a “pure blood” or as some would call me a “unclean disease carrier”. Fact is I have considered the options and based on my health record getting MRNA is not for me. So I have been waiting on Novavax. And waiting. And waiting………….

There are almost 300 new models for Warhammer painted. Mostly high elves and goblins. When I get 4 more regiments done a battle report will ensue. I do the battle reports solo mostly by assigning a likelihood of a move happening and rolling percentile dice to see if it occurs. Filming and making notes of things is very slow going and I do not want to burden others with the tedious nature of it.

The new track is pretty much done. I guess a finished product video should be made to show case the transforming nature of it.

The shop is in great condition, except for the lack of manpower.

Business side of thing?

One positive is the new packages which are getting more people to the web site and off the Amazon/Ebay platforms. And I have a group of people who have been very supportive and helpful along the way. Wholesale people who have been willing to take on stuff I make.

The one thing that bothers me the most is the inability to live up to what the hobby should be getting. People should be able to buy a 64 Wildcat in 1/32 scale or a reasonably priced set of plastic elf cavalry that matches the looks of the old ones. Because that is what I am looking for and there are others like me out there. I apologize for not getting these projects done.

Also in a bit of a legal process at the moment trying to get my brand trademarked. Amazon now requires it and my application was rejected because someone did a kick starter in 2018 and trademarked the name “Proxy” for a board game. I am hoping the lawyer can work things out.

BTW. I also got a notice that a company in China has applied to trademark the name “proxie models”. This is not just twisting the knife, it is spinning it in a high speed drill.

Overall, 2021 was kind of a bad year for business. Revenues are down 39% from 2020. Mainly a loss of wholesale customers and also my own fault for not devoting more time to making money. My largest customer ordered 8 new molds which I made in 2020, then stopped paying bills and answering emails. I am not sure if I will ever hear from them again. As the pandemic takes out people, the effects ripple outwards.

I am almost to retirement and can mostly just coast from here on in. I think the more I view my work as an activity I love doing the happier I am, and the more I focus on making money the less so.

In the grand scheme of things maybe I spent my time wisely.

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and The Food and Drug Administration purchase generic cialis and once you exit the territory that regulates these drugs then you are kind of on your own.

I will be taking her fishing in the spring. She likes adventure and with Grandpa we take the road less traveled.

So what about 2022?

At this moment my child care duties are scheduled to end in early March. Of course the same plan was in place LAST spring and things kept going and going…….

2022 may be a great year with lots of things accomplished. Or it may be time for variant # 47 which requires double secret lock downs. Who knows anymore? Only thing for certain is that as time to work appears things will get done.

One thing is I intend to avoid dealing with people who are just looking make money. I love working with people who have a passionate project they just want to see brought to life. Kind of like the Cyclone for me. I find their enthusiasm is just great to be around. I tend to dislike the people just in it for the money. They suck all the fun out of everything. And I learned this lesson from making 8 new molds in 2020 for a customer who now is now ghosting me. Those molds were difficult and not enjoyable to make, and now they are just taking up shelf space.

Right now I have a LOT of fantasy models with the rights to mass produce from a fellow on Patreon. And a die assembly to allow for printing molds. And 3rd edition is still needing some troops for my armies.

Also a massive backlog of car bodies to make in to stuff for my racing addiction. And a sliding side plate die to allow for making those molds.

So no more projects for other people to make money. It is a life lesson and reminds me of a great quote.