Yes mate, Cardzone is owned and run by Mr Steve Wang. Why did they go belly up, not real sure, probably a combination of overproduced the product, decline in collectors collecting and I would assume a heap more reasons that we don't know.
Dynamic started losing money in 1996 yet still persisted with releasing sets. They were basically broke by 1997. Was pretty much a combination of the trading card downturn at the time and just an incompetent management.
---------- Post added 07-12-2011 at 09:05 AM ----------
Yes mate, Cardzone is owned and run by Mr Steve Wang. Why did they go belly up, not real sure, probably a combination of overproduced the product, decline in collectors collecting and I would assume a heap more reasons that we don't know.
Dynamic turns into Intrepid - Intrepid released not only the '97 Fatty Fun Packs but also the Super League cards sets (possibly even the '96 series from memory, I'm pretty sure the '96 Albums are marked Intrepid).
Licensing at the time would have been a total nightmare with all that News Limited and then ARL retention money being thrown around like confetti to all and sundry.
Business is not an easy thing.
I don't begrudge Cardzone for attempting to make money. If you part with substantial cash on a job lot you are making an educated guess and taking a business risk with your available cash.
If the market was flodded with product, it was in an attempt to redeem outlaid cash. The profit and cream doesn't happen till long after the initial outlay is returned (with interest).
If Steve Wang/Cardzone have Select in their back pocket - that's simply good business. Lets face it, Cardzone is alive and trading. Dynamic and Intrepid are long dead!
.... and no I have no connection to any of the mentioned businesses. But I am a businessman and run a business, so I see it very clearly from both sides.
Very true Jim, however to me the deal between Wang and Select borders on collusion. Good business for them but not so much if your a consumer or wanted to start your own distribution business.
Very true Jim, however to me the deal between Wang and Select borders on collusion. Good business for them but not so much if your a consumer or wanted to start your own distribution business.
Correct me if I am wrong please but does not JHL pay fees etc to be the Australian Distributor for Select. I would imagine that JHL and Cardzone are two separate business entities. I would imagine that if someone approached Select with a decent enough offer they would take the reins as the sole Australian Distributor.
---------- Post added 07-12-2011 at 03:45 PM ----------
Dynamic turns into Intrepid - Intrepid released not only the '97 Fatty Fun Packs but also the Super League cards sets (possibly even the '96 series from memory, I'm pretty sure the '96 Albums are marked Intrepid).
Licensing at the time would have been a total nightmare with all that News Limited and then ARL retention money being thrown around like confetti to all and sundry.
Business is not an easy thing.
I don't begrudge Cardzone for attempting to make money. If you part with substantial cash on a job lot you are making an educated guess and taking a business risk with your available cash.
If the market was flodded with product, it was in an attempt to redeem outlaid cash. The profit and cream doesn't happen till long after the initial outlay is returned (with interest).
If Steve Wang/Cardzone have Select in their back pocket - that's simply good business. Lets face it, Cardzone is alive and trading. Dynamic and Intrepid are long dead!
.... and no I have no connection to any of the mentioned businesses. But I am a businessman and run a business, so I see it very clearly from both sides.
Correct me if I am wrong please but does not JHL pay fees etc to be the Australian Distributor for Select. I would imagine that JHL and Cardzone are two separate business entities. I would imagine that if someone approached Select with a decent enough offer they would take the reins as the sole Australian Distributor.
Edscards once went to select with a very well financed offer (so im told...by someone on here:-k) and did not get the foot in the door. I dont think he has been the only one.
My understanding of the distribution is that JHL gets everything that Select does not want to hold onto personally. That basically guarantees they sell their product. JHL gets a locked in margin (10% to 20% maybe) to sell those cases. Anything left over JHL can conveniently "sell" to Cardzone probably at a tax loss. Pretty cosy business arrangement for both parties.
Like Jim said - pretty good business for them. Imagine if this was the milk or petrol industry with one person controlling it.