Sofubi in the 2020s

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by badteethcomics, Nov 1, 2019.

  1. IronPaw

    IronPaw Side Dealer

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2012
    Messages:
    2,017
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Instagram:
    iron_paw
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    NO WE NEED MORE!!!
     
    nicholasfung and xSuicide Squadx like this.
  2. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    5,531
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Name:
    Robert
    Instagram:
    manic_1mag3s
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    @patrickvaz @IronPaw I was genuinely curious what was meant by the term, but these were admittedly spectacular responses. A tip of the hat, gentleman.
     
  3. akum6n

    akum6n Vintage

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2006
    Messages:
    7,273
    Location:
    Shima
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I think a lot of this really depends on the extent to which the economy holds up for the various regions in which collectors live. This ecosystem is more fragile than we probably like to believe.

    In mid-2008, prices were spiking and we were seeing our first $1,000+ price for a single figure. I recall similar talk then. With the economic downturn at the end of the year, we were seeing collections sold off at far below retail for the next few years.

    The factors that have changed this time around seem to be:

    - A good portion of the collector base is now in China and other regions of Asia, which may help the toy producers diversify their sales.

    - Toy producers have become more savvy about producing less, limiting releases and increasing quality/prices. Lessons have been learned from the deluge of releases in 2007-08 that caused collector burnout and unsold inventory.

    We'll have to see if these changes will alter the outcome when people find themselves with diminishing disposable income. I don't think we'll ever see HxS in the bargain bin at Mandarake (although who knows), but there probably will be a time in the next decade when you can buy it for original retail. My guess anyhow.
     
  4. zindabad

    zindabad Line of Credit

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,812
    Location:
    Fake New York
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Don't mean to misrepresent Neal here, but I read it as the prejudice against non-Japanese East Asian makers and fans. There's a growing number of makers who seem interested in producing fun toys before making a buck, and plenty of fans in China, Thailand, Singapore, Korea and more with similar means and anxieties to us lot.
     
  5. 3wing

    3wing Addicted

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2015
    Messages:
    812
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Name:
    Neil
    Instagram:
    neil_ewing
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I couldn’t have said this better myself.

    I wasn’t trying to come of as divisive as I probably did. I think the more we communicate and build globally the better the scene is.
     
  6. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2007
    Messages:
    9,203
    Location:
    San Jose
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Information wise only. Back in 06-07...people posted about releases, there was kaiju taro and people told others about what they were bidding on on yja and in turn people backed off. Super7 played a major role in being the middle man and skullbrain played a major role in being the middle man to this board. In 2019, you no longer really need to be a board member to obtain knowledge about new releases. You just need to follow creators on instagram, go to shows and focus on yja. SB is a good research tool for past releases but in terms of seeking out new toys...not so much.
     
    Ghost Attack, Vombie and The Moog like this.
  7. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    5,531
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Name:
    Robert
    Instagram:
    manic_1mag3s
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    @zindabad @3wing Wonderful explanation and reiteration from you both, thank you! Between my BxH, Headlock, Medicom, street figures, and even recents like Draculazer, and my healthy heap of Japanese vinyl, I certainly do believe there is a space for all artists and makers. However, I do believe there should be a certain degree of respect and genuine thought behind what’s being produced, rather than the mindset of “I can make *whatever*, so I should”. In that vein, though, I’m not one for gatekeeping, but rather continuing civil discussion via opinions and train of thought.
     
    zindabad and IronPaw like this.
  8. zindabad

    zindabad Line of Credit

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,812
    Location:
    Fake New York
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Instagram keeps me updated on new stuff to buy, sure, but my deeper appreciation has come from (very slowly) understanding influences and history in the hobby, the actual culture and personal politics that inform our aesthetics. For the kind of info and attachment that takes you beyond just being a consumer, I think the boards are still #1.

    I've also met many of the most decent collectors I know out here, and their kindness and integrity has encouraged me to respond with the same. I'm sure it's very different for guys who have been around longer and have a solid network of friends and contacts, but as a Fresh Meat with future noobs in mind, I hope Skullbrian sticks around.
     
    super77m, Rich, animator and 2 others like this.
  9. Grindingmachete

    Grindingmachete Toy Prince

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2016
    Messages:
    175
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    Name:
    James
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Can somebody please just put a picture of coco saying “In the year 2000.....” cause that’s all I say when I read the title. In his voice
     
    hellopike likes this.
  10. taviq

    taviq Toy Prince

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2015
    Messages:
    433
    Location:
    Bay area
    Name:
    tavis
    Instagram:
    tavi_q
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    In the future two headed monsters will be obsolete. We will see FOUR headed monsters.
    In the future dicks will be boring. We will see vagina hands and asshole knees.
    In the future terrible rainbow paint apps will be remembered fondly.
    And a new Strawberry shortcake will be the next hyped up toy.
     
    hellopike and melter skelter like this.
  11. JoeMan

    JoeMan Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2007
    Messages:
    4,863
    Location:
    NY
    flickr:
    splurrt
    Instagram:
    splurrt
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Yesterday I noticed Skinner made a post about the shortcomings of the new instagram reach. I've noticed a major shortage of instagram growth and reach really within the past few years as well. I think a big part of this recent boom was the exposure from the instagram platform and I think now that it's become a pay to play model and sofubi isn't going to break outside the set algorithm, we are going to see a major slowdown of new collectors. Not that it really matters, I'd rather have 100 loyal customers who buy stuff as opposed to 50,000 random people just watching for the oddity. Maybe a new platform will arise that will cause another boom, but it's hard to imagine.
     
  12. bunnyboy

    bunnyboy Side Dealer

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,268
    Location:
    germanymey
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    [​IMG]

    I'D BUY THAT FOR... uhh... 10 000 dollars..??
     
    ElvisFromHell likes this.
  13. Michael Beverage

    Michael Beverage Line of Credit

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2013
    Messages:
    1,826
    Location:
    The Dirty South
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I HEART ASSHOLE KNEES! _/*\
     
  14. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Madmax405

    Madmax405 Addicted

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2018
    Messages:
    566
    Location:
    Fort Lee NJ/NYC
    Name:
    Max
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I'm not eligible to purchase this toy as I won't turn 33 until June.
     
    The Moog likes this.
  16. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Messages:
    13,378
    Location:
    Gert Brizzle UK
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    [​IMG]
     
  17. eckotyper

    eckotyper Post Pimp

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2008
    Messages:
    2,969
    Name:
    Mike
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Thread seems all over the place, so i'm going t be all over the place with my thoughts.

    * Unbox' particle vinyl is amazing. I hope to see more of it. I think it was very innovative when it showed up at Dcon in the boss charged. (who has a blue one they are letting go? hehe)

    * Double pours are still amazing, whether it be just a solid following the initial pour, or a marble following, these still can be very rewarding given the proper colors are picked, and the pourer has a good method of marbling. (i still do not like TAG's stringy marble)
    - I wish some makers would explore this more, but I also understand some of these practices just might not be in their vision. but hey, one can hope.
    * I feel some makers cover the pricing spectrum throughout their line of toys they offer. Something for most budgets.

    * Pricing... Some makers have charged a arm and a leg out the gate.

    * I think toys like Hirotas Brutal A with the guts justifies a high price tag. the craftsmanship in that piece can really be seen.

    * Gargamels 1 offs might seem a bargain at this day in age. but they were kind of pricey for the time in 07' but they still sold because of the following.

    * Does inflation come into play at all, even a little bit? I'd assume factories bump their prices ever so often. I was having a discussion with a friend of my Dad.s asking him when he started driving about how much was gas. I think he said around .35 cents a gallon. I said, well when i started driving gas was $1.50 mind you the man is about 30 years older than me. $1 doesn't seem much over 15 years or so, fast forward from 01, when i started driving now. in 18 years, its shot up to $4.07 (this is all based on california numbers, as I know some of you are lucky to pay $2.20 a gallon still.
    yes gas is totally different than plastic. Just using it as a example that inflation does happen (unless you're arizona tea) lol.

    * Prices can go up and down. I don't necessarily feel that if i paid $100 for something, and then 3-4 releases later another new rendition is sold for $50, that i'd be mad. i'd probably just try and pick that up to. a few times i have heard the argument that the maker has a obligation to keep the value of the customers purchase sustainable. I kind of disagree. It seems that's more of a certain mindset in some sofubi collectors. I can only imagine us trying to demand auto makers to carry the burden of ensuring vehicles we purchase value to not diminish. It's laughable to say the least. I feel everytime we purchase a toy, we are making the choice to do so freely, There is no guarantee the item you paid $150 for today will be worth $0.00, $15.00, or $1,500.00 the next day. I think if someone is spending some serious coin on a purchase, with the intentions that this will be how they retire or make some serious profits for their bank account, that they need to seriously rethink this hobby.
     
  18. Anti Social Andy

    Anti Social Andy Die-Cast

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2006
    Messages:
    10,173
    Location:
    The Grim North
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I've seen the future . . . and it's as dumb AF!
     
  19. Russblue11

    Russblue11 S7 Royalty

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2010
    Messages:
    3,793
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Name:
    Kevin
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    You mean, like, membership cards? :twisted:

    - #13
     
    hellopike, Nate, animator and 7 others like this.
  20. badteethcomics

    badteethcomics Post Pimp

    Joined:
    May 31, 2013
    Messages:
    2,986
    Location:
    Brisbane, Australia
    Name:
    Glenn
    Instagram:
    badteethcomics
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Well to be fair cars are designed to de-value as soon as you buy 'em! And I think somehow people are confusing the issue... artists/toy-makers/hype-men setting their retail pricing and making their bed with it - is an entirely different conversation to collector's buying toys looking for sustained value/return on investment blah blah.

    Here's an analogy... concert prices are subjective, and you're paying for an experience brought to you by the artist/music-maker/hype-men. Say you buy a ticket to Sunny Jim and the Sofubi Six for $300. They gonna be playing all of the hits, tracks from the upcoming album.. you're gonna love it. However they have booked out this giant arena after spending years building their audience and slowly raising ticket prices to go with their popularity. You see an ad somewhere saying "tickets slashed to $150" a few weeks out from the show because behind the scenes it turns out ticket sales are slow. You paid $300 for the exact same show a bunch of people are now paying $150 a ticket for... they are probably getting better seats (in the toy analogy they may be getting a better colourway than you did for the sculpt). You would be pissed at the band/toy-maker blah blah... are you following the bouncing ball here?
     
    melter skelter likes this.
  21. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

    Joined:
    May 30, 2015
    Messages:
    1,057
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Name:
    Chris
    Instagram:
    kid_miracleman
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    There is a lot of talk about utterly subjective stuff in this thread but what @akum6n and @JoeMan hit are the two most important points people are neglecting: economic downturn and changes in social media.

    I won't go on a rant about our economic model holistically, but I will say that if you think this bull market will last another decade, you're out of your mind. Art is subjective, but income isn't, and I know if I was laid off tomorrow the first thing I'm gonna cut is sofubi purchasing which accounted for about 15k this year so far.

    As for social media, we have what is effectively half of the candidates that could be the next President talking about breaking up technology companies like Facebook. To @JoeMan 's point, what happens when the platform that single-handedly accounted for the absolute explosion in sofubi decides to push it down the stack, or if those companies just flat out die? We talk about Instagram like it's been this thing that's existed in our lives for so long, but 10 years ago you were probably on MySpace and IG didn't exist.

    No one has any idea what makes something "worth" more, and everything you think you know is just idle speculation at best. Candidly if I had to sell my collection in 5 years I'd expect to lose my ass on a TON of stuff, but if you're buying/trading based on real or potential market value, you're fucked anyway.
     
  22. Russblue11

    Russblue11 S7 Royalty

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2010
    Messages:
    3,793
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Name:
    Kevin
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    Damn, I’m guessing(/hoping) I haven’t hit 15k in my 9 years of collecting, though I haven’t really been keeping track well
     
    hellopike and Ghost Attack like this.
  23. coma21

    coma21 Mini Boss

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2011
    Messages:
    4,016
    Location:
    Duke City New Mexico
    Name:
    Mikee
    Instagram:
    Coma21
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I have been reading this thread and agonizing on whether or not to post or say anything.
    Frankly at some point the bubble will burst. This has no effect on me whatsoever. I say this because I don’t have anything to do with this hobby to profit.
    I don’t collect to make money I collect what I like and sometimes let go of what needs to be let go of.
    I don’t make toys to make money. I have a job for that (although nothing but kudos to those that have made this into there primary craft). I make toys because I want to make something I think will appeal to some people and connect with them on the level it connected with me to make it in the first place.
    The next year won’t be the end of the road.
    Sofubi like hardcore has gone in cycles it will rise and fall but some of us won’t go anywhere we will keep collecting making and innovating because this is the place we belong.
    I can’t tell you how excited I am to continue pushing the boundaries of what a “fight figure” is and represents.
    I have so many weird things planned for 2020 things I want to try to do to make this experience more collector interactive things I want to do that will be different in terms of sculpts and things that I want to do that will be new for playability.
    I won’t change my prices because I want my toys to be affordable I don’t care if they suddenly sell like hot cakes I want to make affordable toys because I want people to feel welcome in the world I’m trying to build.
    I’m not worried if I’m selling a figure for $75 and all around it’s total cost to me is $73 that $2 isn’t what matters. What matters is people enjoying what I make and it being an outlet for them to make new friends and get in touch with something about themselves they enjoy.
    Fuck it whatever TLDR right
     
  24. eckotyper

    eckotyper Post Pimp

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2008
    Messages:
    2,969
    Name:
    Mike
    Sofubi in the 2020s

    I’m not really. I’ve seen some artists in a very very small venue with maybe 40 people in the room, and the same artists in a crowd of 10,000. Guess which admission i paid more for? Both shows were great in their own regard. I don’t regret going to either, or the prices i paid for either.
     
  25. nicholasfung

    nicholasfung Toy Prince

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2018
    Messages:
    343
    Location:
    NY
    Name:
    Nicky
    Sofubi in the 2020s
    I'm always comparing my experience with toy and sofubi collecting with my experience with music, there are sooo many similarities.
     

Share This Page