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About ShiniGami
Expertise
I can answer any question about Action Figure and Toy Design, Prototyping, Manufacturing and Production Management. Over 20 years in the Toy business with clients including Bandai US/Japan/Europe, Hasbro, Kenner, Mattel, McFarlane Toys, Playmates, etc., and also specialty companies including Toy Tokyo, The Showroom NYC, Kid Robot, Wheaty Wheat and many others.
NOTE: I travel A LOT, so during overseas travel (Japan, Hong Kong, China), I do not check for questions. Thanks.
Experience
Past/Present Clients:
Designers including : Gary Baseman, Ron English, Frank Kozik, Pete Fowler, Futura, Stash, David Horvath. Companies including : Bandai Japan, Bandai US, Dark Horse, Hasbro, Kenner, Lucas Films, Maharishi, Marvel, Mattel, McFarlane Toys, MTV, NIKE, Playmates, Reebok, Sony, etc.
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You are here: Experts > Kids > Kid's Toys and Games > Action Figures > Manufacturing factory
Expert: ShiniGami
Date: 12/24/2007
Subject: Manufacturing factory
Question
QUESTION: I am looking at potentially having an action figure produced. is there a list available of overseas factories available for mas production of consumer products such as this..? comparable companies with similiar products would be Jakks pacific or Sideshow toys in the Los angeles area? actually, whould you know the factories these two companies use for production purposes? thank you so much for taking the time to read and answe my email.
sincerely, Tom steves
ANSWER: Jakks and Sideshow use several different factories. Jakks probably uses dozens of different factories. Most of these won't deal with an individual, they need a production manager or project manager to contact their Hong Kong offices, and they'd work thru them. Almost no one at these factories speaks english, etc.
Hong Kong and the Internet is full of companies that say they represent a factory, when they really are just a salesman, they get your money, and turn you over to a factory where no one can speak english, etc. At the Hong Kong trade show, you'll see 20 different booths, with different names, all showing the exact same product. These are all just middle men, that will just take your money, pull out a high commission, and give you a phone number and contact in China.
Also, most of the larger factories have large minimums. Maybe 100,000 pieces and up. And no one factory handles all the steps. There's a tooling factory, production factory, packaing factory, etc. Then these have to be packed out in sea cartons for delivery and pick up in Hong Kong, etc. You also need a manager that has a long term relationship with a series of vendors. Otherwise, you're just sending your money to China, hoping they'll make it, and also not run extra copies to sell as bootlegs in Asia.
If anyone along this chain doesn't live up to their end, you're basically out of luck, and have no recourse to get your money back, product made as promised, on time, etc.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Are you located here in the states? teh reason I ask is I am currently working witha company here in los angeles that provides both large and smale scale rapid prototyping... I am looking also to set them up with a contact overseas to provide a mass production service outlet for their already established clientele??any thoughts? again.. thank you soo much for your valued information.
Answer
Yes, I'm in the states, St. Louis, MO. I'm a Project Manager, and run projects from Limited run Artist Designer Vinyl pieces, to mass market pieces, like Action Figures for Sony/Angel Wars and the new Fox Sports/NFL mascot robot. It hit shelves in Toys R Us this week, but basically sold out in 1 day, so the balance for this year is being shipped to the US now for 1 final release around Superbowl. If they do Large and Small Rapid prototyping, is it Gentile Giant or?
My Partner is in Hong Kong (My other office there also), and I over see Project Management, he goes almost daily from Hong Kong to China to oversee personally all projects. From Sculpting to prototyping to tooling and production and packaging, to packout of sea containers in Hong Kong.
You can e-mail me at dsr@npt.com, or call later this week after Christmas, at 636-410-6242 or 636-290-0255
Thanks
David Reeves
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