If you know of me, you know I have been doing custom dice for years. When I say doing, I mean sourcing and using them in the Pocket Sports line up of games.
For cards, I have used MakePlayingCards (MPC) in Hong Kong....until now.
Last November, I started a day job for a trade printer. They specialise in business cards, flyers,brochures etc.
As I got to know the people working there, I asked about poker cards, speciality stock and round corner die cutting. It wasn't being done, so I saw an opportunity. I introduced Pocket Sports to the owner of the business and excitedly told him of the boardgame market, in particular 'game cards'.
It had never crossed his mind as he doens't play or have an interest in boardgames.
Fast forward 5 months and we have now produced 3 separate trial sets. We have the die, 310gsm German black core linen finish card stock and a 'salesperson' his boardgame industry knowledge :)
Comments
I don't get it?!
@Hamish: Are you saying that moving production from China to somewhere in Australia is somehow competitive in terms of pricing???
I seem to get everything else - but now where are you having your cards made?
Or are they also involved with Chinese printing?!
Curious, as I remember you negotiating pretty tight deals with Chinese Factories...
Australia mate!
Made at the factory where I work, but on large runs, China will still be the place to go.
My idea....is to set up a (simple) POD platform for people wanting prototype sets, copies for reviewers or playtesting etc. Anyone in Australia that has used the GC, MPC or Printer Studio, will have an option domestically for cards. Turnaround and delivery times will be faster, cost slightly cheaper (the boss makes those final decisions) and on par quality with other POD alternatives.
I think it's a big coup. No MOQ. No set up cost.
I will get around to creating a page/site to give myself some distance from my actual role there (Account Manager) and have that as the go to place for boardgame creators.
That's where this is all heading :)
POD in Australia
Good idea! Something local could actually stimulate the local economy and get people back into Tabletop Gaming... Not to say that the "bug" is not present in Australia - I am certain there are other designers looking for a print-on-demand service to help prototype their games... Using one-off production!
Pretty smart @Hamish! I was under the initial impression that somehow local production was LESS expensive than going to China. IDK I was thinking less expensive because you save on shipping costs from China to Australia, etc. So I originally thought with all of that you were either saving or at par (joke!) with your local Aussie printer!
Yeah The Game Crafter (TGC) is expensive if you need to ship to Australia. Having a local presence may stimulate the local efforts down-under!
Great thinking @Hamish!
Australian POD
Good move, man. :)
There seems to always be a need where shipping doesn't kick everyone's tail. Your short-run POD idea will be extremely useful for hobbyist designers.
The numbers on an offset large run can be very close to China
the difference we can't match is the labour for packing, folding and collating!
We need to wait approx 12 weeks to import the stock (1 tonne) but we'll be doing standard playing cards as well!
let-off studios wrote:Good
There seems to always be a need where shipping doesn't kick everyone's tail. Your short-run POD idea will be extremely useful for hobbyist designers.
As long as the boss supports it.....I hope to see it grow!