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Shout-Out: Scrambo!

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let-off studios
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Just a shout-out to chris_mancini for the KS success of Scrambo! I received my game in the post yesterday, and it looks great.

Congrats on a successful campaign, and a fine-looking final product. Best of success to you and your projects in the future. :)

MAR
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Scrambo!

Yes congrats! It did look like a great game and I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival :) Hopefully it will come soon!

-Austin

questccg
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September 7, 2018 Update

According to Chris' own "KS Update"... ShipNaked has mailed ALL backer rewards... So @Austin it should be in the mail and you should get your game very soon! I backed Scrambo! at the $1 Level (and donated $20 USD) to help Chris out...

I know I could have almost gotten the "game" for a couple bucks extra. But if I start buying all the Kickstarters I think are cool... I'm going to be very poor real soon!

I just recently backed "Fantasy World Creator" at the 1 euro Level... Because I thought it was pretty cool too. I don't intend to start playing physical RPGs (compatible with FWC) ... So I did not do any add-ons or buy extra content with my pledge (That one was only 1 euro... just to follow along...)

Anyhow from Chris directly all games should be ON-THEIR-WAY to backers! Some people don't read KS Updates (I do...) And that's what the $1 Pledge Level is all about... Being a part of the creator's process... Hearing the news and following the production/fulfillment.

Cheers!

chris_mancini
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Thanks guys! It was a fun and

Thanks guys! It was a fun and educational ride, and I'm happy that the campaign is coming to a successful conclusion...I hope all who receive a copy genuinely enjoy it (and leave some reviews and ratings on BGG)!

I'm currently in talks with a publisher to license Scrambo, which would be the ultimate way to bring the game to a wider audience. They've got their games in Walmart and Target as well as FLGS's, and as I designed Scrambo to be a "mass market" game, things could really get going over the next few months! I'll let everyone know how that all goes, and share whatever I can regarding the license negotiation process.

Thanks again to all who supported me and my little dice game!

Jay103
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Wow, getting into Walmart

Wow, getting into Walmart would be insane, but I think Scrambo is just the kind of game that could do it.

questccg
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About wholesale

I imagine that Jamey Steigmaier said that he "pre-sold" over 50,000 units of Charterstone through distribution channels and on to local game stores.

Here is the link for anyone who is interested:

https://stonemaiergames.com/lessons-learned-from-charterstone/

So if your publisher can get that kind of "volume" for Scrambo! that would be very good... heck it would be GREAT!

I imagine the 1,000 units you produced to be "insignificant" in terms of the possible volume... But realize that your units were being sold at "near retail" prices; you would have a hefty drop to "wholesale" pricing.

But I imagine the publisher you are dealing with knows the market share and understands that local game stores are going to want fair pricing as compared to a WalMart or Target stores.

Best of luck and keep us informed this is exciting news indeed!

Jay103
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Well, selling Scrambo to

Well, selling Scrambo to Walmart might mean he's getting $0.10 per unit.. not quite the same as a Stonemeier game selling to a FLGS :)

However, Jamey didn't sell 50k on his first try, either.

questccg
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Hmm... Not sure about that

Jay103 wrote:
Well, selling Scrambo to Walmart might mean he's getting $0.10 per unit.. not quite the same as a Stonemeier game selling to a FLGS :)

He's not going to get $0.10... Maybe $3-4 per unit. OH I forgot about the Publisher... Yeah he may land up getting only $0.25 per unit sold...

And if you read the article, Jamey didn't sell to FLGSs... He sold to DISTRIBUTION and made DIRECT shipping from China to distributors.

Jay103 wrote:
However, Jamey didn't sell 50k on his first try, either.

Actually Jamey DID sell +50k on his first attempt outside a Kickstarter. It was his first game that he did NOT "Kickstart"...

I highly recommend reading the article from Jamey. Because it was a first try and it was to distribution... You seem to have your facts a bit confused (and I'm thinking it's maybe because you DIDN'T read the article in question...)

chris_mancini
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I figure a license deal would

I figure a license deal would round out something like this:

SRP: $12.99
Wholesale: $7.15/45% retail margin
Royalty: 5% of wholesale/$0.36 per copy

Number of US stores (Walmart): 4177
Number of copies per store: 6 (assumed)
Total copies to set US stores: 25,000 (rounded)
Gross wholesale revenue: $178,750.00
Gross royalties: $8,937.50

This would be a single order to set Walmart US only; adding additional retailers/distributors/international/direct orders would only grow the royalty revenue. I may be able to negotiate a higher royalty than 5%, however that is the average in mainstream toy and game licensing and a safe assumption for this exercise.

questccg
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From what I hear...

WalMart is *tough* on pricing... You may require giving 60% Retail Markup for them to even consider carrying your product. They're real penny pinchers like good old "Scrooge".

So Wholesale would be like: $5.20/60% retail margin

And your Royalty which is standard: 5% wholesale/$0.26 per copy.

That's how I got $0.25 rounded down... But still amazing to have your game "OUT-THERE" and selling everywhere too.

Of course this is only what I have "heard" through the "grapevine"...

chris_mancini
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I'm sure it also comes down

I'm sure it also comes down to how many SKUs a publisher has on the shelf, but hey I'll take what I can get if it means America's largest retailer will carry my game!

I'm told I'll know more about their 2020 line plans around this holiday, so I've got some time before I see any movement. Thinking positive though!

Jay103
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questccg wrote:[He's not

questccg wrote:
[He's not going to get $0.10... Maybe $3-4 per unit. OH I forgot about the Publisher... Yeah he may land up getting only $0.25 per unit sold...

Yeah, Walmart in particular is very tough on pricing, I've heard. Very slim margins selling there (but huge volume). I believe because they sell below SRP (?)

questccg
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Hope it works!

Jay103 wrote:
Yeah, Walmart in particular is very tough on pricing, I've heard. Very slim margins selling there (but huge volume). I believe because they sell below SRP (?)

My recommendation about the SRP ... Keep it at $12.99 USD. But make a DEAL to WHOLESALE the game at $5.00 USD (not a penny lower). Using the standard royalty of 5% (which is very reasonable to ask for): you get $0.25 USD per game sold.

I think that's what you should AIM for! Not a penny lower than that. That would sound like an ironclad plan to ensure your Publisher offers you a fair return. Like you said 4,000+ stores, 6 boxes per store = 24,000 units.

It's only $6,000 USD in returns. But like you said, this is ONLY one (1) order. You have Target and OTHER distributors like Alliance, Universal, etc. I would ASK your publisher to give you a LIST of Distributors they are planning to target... Just to give you an idea.

And HONESTLY, I would not go below the $5.00 USD Wholesale and $0.25 royalty... Your publisher should get the better feel for what price to charge each "customer" in terms of price points.

Goodluck!

Jay103
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I suspect he is not the one

I suspect he is not the one to have any say at all over the retail price or the wholesale price.

questccg
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I strongly disagree

I'm not saying HE should FIX the price. I'm just saying in HIS CONTRACT, he should have a clause that says, independent of the WHOLESALE price, his royalty should not go BELOW $0.25 a unit.

And he can explain that what that means is $5.00 USD @ 5% Standard Royalty.

He's not asking for an "arm & leg" ... He's just making sure that whatever DEALS the Publisher makes, they will not drop below his "watermark".

So this assumes the lowest possible WHOLESALE price of $5.00 USD.

Just as a protection to him. The Publisher can fix whatever price they like above $5.00 USD and to ensure that his royalty is 5% of WHOLESALE... But that the minimum WHOLESALE PRICE cannot drop below $5.00 USD. If it does, he still earns $0.25 per unit.

I'm not a LAWYER... I'm just explaining what should be in the contract to prevent "dumping" or too low pricing to get the deal. Chris should have a minimum clause that protects his royalty and FIXES it ... in the event that the Publisher chooses to go below a $5.00 USD wholesale price point.

That's what I am saying...

Westmaas
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Congrats on the success! I

Congrats on the success! I just took a look at the game and it looks like a fun, frantic game that everyone can enjoy. I’ll definitely pick up a copy when I see it :)

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