Volks 10th Aniversary 2008/09 event dates and Hotel Europe?

Does anyone know if June 6-7 2008 is the set date for the US dolpa? (I need to set the date and buy tickets for another trip I'm taking and I want to make sure I don't book it during the dolpa and miss out)

Thanks!

 

Did anyone check the VolksUSA site for the anniversary? Who's planning to do the rally?

 

Man I actually thought that Volks was going to do an event in Europe. Eh I shouldn't have gotten me hopes. To be honest I do get annoyed that we Europians and UKer's are forgotten about. I'm sure there's alot of Volks customers in Europe and the UK. I love loove to see a Dollpa in Europe, I'd even enjour(spell?) 17 hours of sea sickness on a ferry going across the North Sea to get it.

 

I think just the fact they are having TWO events in the United States is more than enough to be happy about. I mean, 7 years ago there was nothing! Now we have a SUMIKA, where you CAN ORDER FCS! We get two Dollpas a year... I mean, come on! XD

Yes, it would be great to have it in Mexico City (where I happen to live), but it is really up to them and I am VERY thankful for all the things they've done so far. I've never been to VolksUSA, but the fact that it's THERE and that I can order from their website and could get a Megu with a couple clicks makes me happy enough

Enjoy the fact that it's in YOUR country! Not oceans away from you ;D (In my case it's just a difficult border...)

As for the rest of us non-Japanese, non-Americans... well, maybe in 5 years we'll see some change?

To stay on topic, I'd vote for Chicago. It seems like a nice middle ground, and it's also close-ish to Canadians, kinda like NYC.

Vegas would be awesome, too! Imagine the pictures you could take up there! (It's "up there" for me...). Though I do think Volks is going more for the 'refined' kind of look, rather than 'supah glam', so my first choice is Chicago

 

Uh... the UK is an ocean away, then ya have to travel from the East coast of the US the the west coast and we in Europe have no SUMIKA. I can't order from Volks USA and some things I can't order on Volks International eg. La Personnal collection.
I admit I haven't ordered an SD from them yet...cuz I missed out on Chinatsu ;_;

 

Well, I do not think that Volks is purposely "forgetting" about Europeans. I think it is just not easy to find a business partner in Europe.
In the past January, Volks had attended a toy expo in Germany. During that time they had also actively advertised and looked for dealers who were interested in carry their items. I am not sure if they found some dealers, but I just want to mention what Volks has done to clear up that misconception about Volks ignoring the European Community.

There is only two sumika outside of Japan. One in Korea and One is Los Angeles California. Korea is very close to Japan and a lot of Koreans speak Japanese. The doll collector community is also large in Korea, thus it would be plausible to open a retail store in Korea.

LA Sumika is located in a city in which a lot of Japanese live in. Within this city, there is also the headquarters of many HUGE Japanese corp., such as Toyota and Honda. You can live in that part of LA and get by without knowing much English. It is easy to see that it would be much easier for Volks to establish a business there. As many as there are volks customers in US, the actual foot traffic to the Sumika is still pretty small (viewing it from the retail point of view). Many times when I went, there is no one in the sumika except me. Most of their business is from on-line sales, thus it is not hard to understand why LA Sumika is the only Sumika from the chain of 22 Sumika that is open for 2 days during the week and with the shortest hours of operation.

It is easy to wish for a Sumika, but you also need to consider the business side of operating a retail store. If they cannot get customers to visit and purchase everyday, they will not be able to keep an store open. This is the sad side of running a business, if you cannot make any money there is no store; regardless how much you want it.

Just on a side note, the items from LA Sumika are much higher compared to the original Japanese price (even with the current exchange rate) since we need to cover the shipping cost, duty and overhead for LA Sumika. Example, Okita Souji is $880 (w/o tax) at Dolpa, but he is $986 from LA Sumika. After the 8.25% Sales Tax, he was $1086.00 USD. I agree it may be cheaper still, but my point of this example is about running Sumika outside of Japan.

Anyway, the above is just my two cents. (and trust me, I have a lot of experience in this field. I am old and have been a manga/anime otaku since I was a kid. I have lived thru the days when I was paying over $100 USD for a LD from Japan back in the times when there is no internet. It was impossible to get things anime/manga related. Now, the market is sufficient for Manga/anime, they are everywhere. If the hobby continues, then 5-10 years from now, it would be all different and better for all. We just need to be supportive and have patience.)

 

Good point, tho I wasn't insinuating at Volks is purposely "forgetting" us. I don't expect them to open up shop in the UK cuz are gov will tax 'em stupidly high and and demand stupidly high shop rental. I've just gotta walk down me High Street to see it.

Off Topic but what worries me is the effect of a Recession will have on the BJD companies in general.

 

Just to clarify, OmiCat, my post wasn't directed specifically to you. That's why I said "the rest of us non-Americans, non-Japanese" Meaning the rest of the world, including you. I should've added "non-Korean", but I kind of forgot there was one in Korea XD

Anavel, those are really good points you make, I never thought of them. Especially LA being a huge business spot for Japan, I didn't know that!

 

the date of DP in LA seems still undecided. waiting for update and pray it will be later than the final exam week...

 

so just things going on in Japan and USA then...figures

 

Sorry to throw a random monkey-wrench thought at everyone, but was anyone a little surprised Volks hasn't done a special edition release of the sd10 four sisters mold as part of the celebration? You know...ten years with the girls who started it all... Volks has been fond of releasing cool editions of these girls before. I thought they'd make an appearance this year...I guess it is not too late...