Copperfox is the new upcoming brand based in the UK, and the models will all be of UK breeds. Utterly Horses has launched this new branch, and partly thanks to the pledges of collectors, Copperfox was all funded and lauched.
But now Breyer has decided not to stock Utterly Horses with models anymore, since they see Copperfox as competition. This does NOT mean that Copperfox won't go through, the launch is just postphoned untill they've can fill the gap that breyer has left.
I think it's not cool that Breyer is doing this. I just want lots of model horse brands! Breyer, Peter Stone, Copperfox, CollectA, Schleich, the more the better! I hope Becky will get it all together and kick Breyer's ass.
Charlotte Pijnenburg CharArt Because tack will always make it better! charart.wordpress.com/
It seems an incredibly immature decision on their part, I mean, even if it IS a new brand of model horses, they look nothing like what they offer (I for one, dislike the majority of Breyer's ponies anyway lol), and it sounds like it's going to be a fairly big blow profit wise for both them and Utterly Horses.
I'm quite sad I didn't pledge to Copperfox now, hopefully they might offer another pledging round or something similar now to help with funding.
I fully support the decisions that were made regarding the Copperfox line (I am a Founding Fox after all).
However, it is easy to see why Breyer made the decision to pull out of Utterly Horses, since the money from selling the Breyers at UH would be going towards the Coperfox line. It does really suck for all the collectors in the UK, since UH is (was) basically the main Breyer retailer. (I may be American, but I studied abroad in England for 9 months last school year. I had a hard time surviving without my plastic ponies, but I couldn't justify the 4+ hour each way train ride to go to Utterly Horses).
However, I'm super excited to see where the model horse world will go after Copperfox launches! Maybe they will essentially force Breyer to up their game, and produce better quality and more consistent models. It's really exciting! And, I really can't wait to get my Copperfox model. (I'm getting the Welsh Cob in the SR Buckskin that's only for the Founding Foxes.)
I think it is especially stupid that at first Breyer was okay with it, and now that Copperfox becomes reality, they suddenly decided to stop supplying Utterly Horses. What a childish behaviour...
Post by touchstonehouse on Feb 6, 2015 14:17:06 GMT
I am quickly losing more and more interest in buying Breyer products, especially since they're made so cheaply now! This is kind of the last straw...how they dealt with UH!
I can see why Breyer did that, but I still think it rather immature of them, whats wrong with a bit of friendly competition? Shows how encouraging they are to new lines and making the hobby better etc etc, I personally am not much of a fan of alot of Breyer's horses as it is, majority in my opinion are just downright hideous and it does disappoint me they pulled out on using Utterly Horses as a supplier, hope it hits them hard that loss of sales from the UK and they realise their mistake, theyre still a far better known brand name having been round for so long to be put off that easily by a new line of model horse.
Now I wish I had backed the project; I will see if they are still accepting pledges. I believe that Breyer's choice to pull their support is understandable, but childish. Even if they regretted their decision to stay neutral about Copperfox, they should not have gone back on their word the way they did. If they view Copperfox as competition, they should have been against it from the start. I'm glad Copperfox is sticking with it, competition will be good for Breyer; it will force them to step up their game.
Post by touchstonehouse on Feb 13, 2015 3:52:28 GMT
If Breyer really were worried about competition, then it wouldn't be sharing retail space with companies like Stone..but it shares space with Stone in many shops, including UH, doesn't? I think that in the end, people will choose quality over Breyer's mass-produced items. I used to be a die-hard Breyer fan up until this past year...but I am tired of quality issues and poor paint jobs!
Breyer's paint jobs have been improving a lot over the years... it wasn't that long ago that we had things like splotchy pinto patterns! XD
To be honest though, I understand Breyer's decision. It bothered me at first but after thinking it over and hearing several different opinions, it just makes sense now. They've spoken up about it too, which surprised me since I didn't expect them to say anything at all.
I really want Copperfox to succeed but the drama related to all of this has been really uncomfortable. I think some things could have been handled better.
I actually think breyer has very nice paintjobs overall, though their experimental paintjobs with x's and o's (lol, this is the first time my brain is connecting this to XOXO, kisses and hugs) aren't as good as they could be. I do think it will get better though, and in the end we might all be very happy that they did it!
I feel like people are getting a bit ahead on theirselves in complimenting Copperfox on their paintjobs, cause as long as I haven't seen it in person, I'm not counting my horses. They definitely seem to have potential to create better paintjobs than Breyer does, but I'll have to see it for myself first.
Charlotte Pijnenburg CharArt Because tack will always make it better! charart.wordpress.com/
Post by touchstonehouse on Feb 13, 2015 12:43:44 GMT
Very good points ... The test models for Copperfox look beautiful; I hope that they keep it up. I agree, the Breyer paint jobs of the past (blob pintos lol) have improved... I guess that I'm getting so used to looking at Stones and artist resins that I'm giving Breyer the lesser of the credit. I understand Breyer not wanting to fund competition...but in many ways they fund Stone when they are in the same shops as Stone. People are drawn in by Breyer but may go to a Stone on the same shopping excursion.