Greetings!
Welcome to your Fire Replicas February Newsletter! We hope this brief update finds you healthy and doing well.
The annual slow down...time to work on our book! We find ourselves once again, in our annual slow period. Our factory has shut down for a much-deserved 3 week CNY break and we are devoting some of our spare down time to Fire Replicas Review Issue 3. This annual 100+ page book is included in every customers first order after the publication date. This year, we'll feature another 25+ product reviews, showcases and previews, as well as the growing index of our product line and some of our elite customer collections. So look for Issue 3 sometime this Summer.
New Arrivals...Last week, we received the long-awaited FDNY 1979 Mack R Rescues and the Mack MR Foam Tender. If you have yours on order, but haven't received it yet, it shouldn't be long now. Winter storms have caused some delays...even our own power has been out for the last 2 days here in Memphis, TN.
Up Next...Next to arrive will be the FDNY American LaFrance Satellites and Philadelphia Spartan Engines. We are hopeful for arrival late this month, but realize it may still be in March sometime, per our original projection.
Big John is Coming!!! Based on presales, this Friday's release of Chicago's Big John Deluge Unit could be one of our most sought after replicas. If this one is on your list, or if you know someone who might want to add it to their collection, I recommend ordering first thing on Friday. The introductory retail will be $299 and go up as stock depletes.
More this month...The remaining new releases for February include 2 more FDNY Rear Mount Ferrara Ladders for 27 and 116, as well as a limited production of the Mack B-81 Tandem Axle Dump Truck. Set your calendars to check the website Friday mornings for new releases!
The ongoing crisis...We're hopeful that the shipping woes will subside in the upcoming months, but with ships still parked in the harbor, and even more 150 miles off shore, the transit times are still on average 3 times longer than normal....and at nearly 3 times the price. It's very evident how many small businesses have to shut down during tenuous supply chain times like these. And we are so thankful for our loyal customers, like you!
State of the Biz...Ours is an extremely risky business. Margins are razor thin, the elite collector market is very small, costs continue to rise and excess inventory is a killer. But thankfully we keep our overhead low and try to be as conservative as possible with our finances. We've been holding on to our offer of Free Shipping in the US, although it is becoming more and more expensive. Also, we have not implemented a general product line price increase, as we know that our models are a significant investment for our customers. We continue to absorb our cost increases as long as we can...and are especially mindful of other small businesses that struggle like we do. So here's our plug....shop local, small business when you can. It's more difficult for the small ones to make it through tough times, than the larger ones. And if you love Fire Replicas, pick up an in stock model...it is so very helpful!
Welcome, Gracey, to our Team! So my daughter Gracey has joined the Fire Replicas Team and I couldn't be more proud. She is entering her final year in Business Management at the University of Memphis, so I guess it won't be long before I'm working for her. She's taken over social media, photo/videography and most of the product marketing...and doing a great job. So if you call, and a friendly Southern voice answers the phone, it's Gracey...introduce yourself and ask her some very tough questions! :)
Thank you again for being part of the elite group of Fire Replicas collectors. We hope each of you has a great February!
Nicholas
