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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: CJsutherland86 on October 26, 2021, 02:49:33 PM
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Hi everyone,
I hope it's ok to ask this sort of question here,
I have a pretty specific question to ask, and that's "if you were wanting to buy MDF bases for your figures, where would you look and what would you search for?"
For example,
you're playing Black Powder and just bought some new metal 28mm French Voltigeurs from Perry Miniatures, but they don't come with bases.
you want some 40mm x 40mm 2mm thick MDF bases for this lovely new unit.
What do you search for?
Do you search:
2mm laser cut 40mm x 40mm mdf bases?
laser cut bases?
40mm square bases?
40mm x 40mm MDF bases?
standy uppy mini helpy thingys, square?
Or something else entirely?
I'm trying to find out what exactly people search for to find MDF bases, I'd like to see what thought process people go through to find these little wooden shapes on the internet!
If you'd be so kind as to please let me know, that would be great.
Also feel free to post up your favourite manufacturer of such mdf goodness if you are so inclined.
Many thanks
Chris
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Just contact Warbases.co.uk and tell them what you want. If it doesn't fit their current production, they will do a bespoke order if the quantity is sufficient to warrant production.
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Yep, just go to Warbases
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Warbases are tops
https://warbases.co.uk/product/40mm-premier-bases/
P
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Warbases again
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Thanks for the replies so far everyone,
but i'm not looking for a specific recommendation on where to buy them,
I'm looking to find out what YOU would SEARCH for if you were looking to buy them.
What would you type into your favourite search engine?
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I think the point their are making is that they would not bother to internet search, they would just ask Warbases to sort it out!
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'2mm mdf bases' on Ebay.
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I would search for bases by size.
I have stopped buying MDF and prefer plywood.
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As the initial posters say, I know where to get MDF bases, either Pendraken or Warbases.
I wouldn’t google from scratch. I have looked for steel bases in the past and I think I searched for steel bases. I don’t think I bothered searching for the size (area) as that feels the bit that most suppliers do most options. But thickness may have been part of the criteria.
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I think the point their are making is that they would not bother to internet search, they would just ask Warbases to sort it out!
Indeed.
If the market research is with the intention of starting a UK business that sells MDF bases, I’d probably think of another idea, but each to their own ;)
If there wasn’t a couple of well-known businesses already, when it comes to search criteria, I’d probably search by size/thickness of the bases, but as others have already stated I’d just go to Warbases.
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Indeed.
If the market research is with the intention of starting a UK business that sells MDF bases, I’d probably think of another idea, but each to their own ;)
This was my thought process as well. Its s pretty specific question to be asking without explanation .;) :)
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If the market research is with the intention of starting a UK business that sells MDF bases, I’d probably think of another idea, but each to their own ;)
Thank you for insight, I tend to let people follow their dreams rather than tell them not to bother without knowing all the facts, but each to their own ;)
This was my thought process as well. Its s pretty specific question to be asking without explanation .;) :)
If you'd like an explanation,
I already run a hobby business which manufactures and sells various hobby products (including MDF bases), and retails others. I do fairly well at what I'm doing.
For all the areas of my store (as I have diversification across the hobby, from gaming accessories, paints, miniatures etc) I track keywords with software and monitor my SERPs closely, everything tracks as expected, my 10 years experience doing SEO professionally sees everything I would expect.
Most keywords are obvious,
Vallejo paints? Well the primary keyword is "Vallejo paints"...
For MDF bases however the keywords are inconsistent, there are many "long tail" keywords, SERPS are volatile and change wildly for seemingly no reason.
it was my intention to simply ask the question what people searched for, as sometimes what you think people are searching for isn't actually what they are when it comes to things that can be variable such as this.
It might have given an insight that I was missing something, for example, everyone might search "laser cut" at the start, or... this might not be even thought about.
I also put this post up publicly and without mentioning my business name so that anyone (including Warbases, Pendraken, WWS, Bow & Blade Games, Blotz, Arcane Scenery) and all the others that do it could benefit if they saw the post.
This industry is big enough for everyone, and i've always been about collaboration and sharing knowledge & helping out my fellow hobbists where I can.
Thanks
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it was my intention to simply ask the question what people searched for, as sometimes what you think people are searching for isn't actually what they are when it comes to things that can be variable such as this.
Thanks
There be logic here.
When I started out in the hobby I was looking for cheap miniatures, so asked my family/friends how they would describe a picture of some wargaming minis, if they found them in the loft and wanted to stick them on ebay.
I was surprised at how broadly a few figures can be described and found some real bargains searching with layman's descriptions.
It makes sense to cover all bases (pun intended) in the search field.
Cheers
Ry
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I don’t think Akula was telling you what to do but saying what he would do.
Anyways, I don’t use MDF bases so played the game (as it were) by typing in a search term that I would use if I suddenly found the need….
“Mdf wargaming bases”
Warbases was the first non-ad listing. Then a load of other suppliers, some of whom I also recognised.
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In the initial scenario example, if I was new to the hobby I would probably just search for "bases for wargame figures" not being aware of the various options i.e. plastic, acrylic, mdf, plywood, metal or making your own as we all used to out of card. The question pre-supposes you know of the various options and have decided on mdf which would suggest you would probably know to go to Warbases rather than search for them.
During the first lockdown, Warbases shutdown for a period and then I believe I searched for "Mdf wargaming bases" and admittedly didn't have much success so I just waited until they were up and running again.
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I sometimes order for Warbases (usually for larger orders), but I also order from eBay sellers. I typically search for "MDF bases 50 x 25mm" or whatever the measurement I want is.
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Ebay search most of the time.Only google it if Im after something special. Typical search would be,"25mm mdf round base wargaming".
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Thank you for insight, I tend to let people follow their dreams rather than tell them not to bother without knowing all the facts, but each to their own ;)
As Silent Invader said, I wasn’t suggesting you shouldn’t bother, rather that personally speaking I wouldn’t focus upon MDF bases if I were setting up a business...especially given the high brand awareness and reputation for quality/customer service that Warbases enjoys.
I appreciate that you already have a business - Bow & Blade - (I’ve bought from you in the past at the York show) that already sells Dice etc so it’s not like it’s your only revenue stream, so dream away :)
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I just use a couple of cursory search words -often on eBay. However...if I see some on eBay I tend to go to the source store instead of buying them on eBay...as you normally get slighter better prices when eBay fees are removed.
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I personally wouldn't even use the term bases, assuming that a more niche hobby will probably charge more, and would instead look for 40mm MDF squares or the like, particularly in places like AliExpress.
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I believe when I first thought of using MDF bases I did as Silent Invader suggested he would: I just searched for "mdf war gaming bases"; I didn't bother with defining size or thickness.