“The Supply Chain” is a bit like “hospital beds” a term overly used and missing out the crucial part – “people”. No hospital staff and well beds are useless. The same goes for all suppliers, despite the digital/AI/automation hype, people are still the crucial aspect of suppliers and the services they operate. Their work, largely hidden, is what makes our modern world go round.
Even my hobby activities rely on supply chains, as I do not make my own figures or write books I want to read for that matter.
My supply chain for wargames has been of necessity online for about 10 years. Although when I think about it I was “online in the 1970’s because if you wanted certain figures you could not buy them at your local store.
I remember back then you could buy the “centre companies napoleonic british infantry” provided that was roughly 5 of each in advancing pose only (hinchliffe I believe) – that was all they had.
So I discovered direct postal sales long before “online” was even dreamed of. And in those days I did not go to shows either, having no means of transport. And anyway I don’t think I was even aware of them as a shopping opportunity.
I bought all my Warrior Miniatures by post in those days. and I still have a few.
So this is a big thank you to all the “people” who provide my miniatures, paints, scenery, brushes, books and the like. Either at shows (remember them) or by post (online).
In some ways nothing has changed although I seem to remember the cost of postage was truly massive to my mind back then – and I was trading in metal too.
In alphabetical order some of my popular “suppliers” have been
- Abe books – various out of print book editions
- Antics online – for 1/72 plastics
- Colonel Bills – for coat d’arms paints mainly at shows
- Coritani (Magnetic Displays) – scenery, paint brushes mainly at shows
- e Models – for 1/72 plastics
- Hannants – for 1/72 plastics
- Irregular Miniatures – 1/72 metallics
- Lancashire Games – 1/72 metallics, scenery, rulesets
- Models for Sale – for 1/72 plastics
- Model Hobbies – for 1/72 plastics
- Pendraken Miniatures – for mdf bases
- SHQ – 1/72 metallics
- Too Fat Lardies – rulesets
- Warbases – for mdf bases
- Wonderland Models – for 1/72 plastics and kits
- World books – various out of print book editions
Tirelessly working to give their customers great service.
So thanks to them all for allowing me to pursue my hobby even in the midst of a global pandemic.
wishing every one a safe and secure christmas and a better year for all in 2021
The Wargaming Erratic 