We knew it was coming. It always happens. Yet, somehow you’re never quite prepared to see peak Christmas Surprise Packages sales drop by half like they did this weekend. Again, that’s typical and to be expected, we’ve seen this happen every year. When Christmas gift time ends, sales drop. Makes sense.
Good News
December sales aren’t finished, the Christmas Surprise Package offer is extended into the first half of January, and overall sales for the month of December look like they’ll end up 15-18% higher than last year. That’s 4-5 times greater than the national average for retail sales. Nice. We hope that’s a sign of two things: 1. Sales will remain strong going into the New Year, and not just for the extended Surprise Package offer, and 2. That gamers remain excited (and buying) Palladium RPGs, sourcebooks, and other products.
Bad News
The summer slump stung Palladium hard and though sales rebounded steadily starting with the second half of September, Palladium has been working to get out of the hole those months put us in. While we’ve made good headway filling that hole, we didn't quite fill it to the top. Worse, we’re heading into the New Year and the RPG industry's traditional slow season still limping along.
More Good News
As we head into the New Year, we have a ton (and I mean a ton!) of exciting new product in the pipeline – most product our fans have been asking and waiting for – Dimensional Outbreak™, Heroes of the Megaverse®, more Robotech®, Triax™ 2, more Mysteries of Magic™, more Rifts®, more everything!
IF we can get the product out on a steady, monthly basis, Palladium should be in reasonably good shape. It worked last year! It’s just harder to do than you may think, especially when money woes and worries drag your spirits down (and I know many of you understand that predicament).
The Rifter® subscription drive starts in January. It’s the one where we offer a free gift and reduced cover price, plus this year there will be the additional incentive of the larger page count Number 50 Anniversary issue at no additional cost to subscribers.
Then there’s the 2010 Palladium Open House, April 30, May 1, 2, 3. It’s epic fun, and we plan to make this POH the best ever.
A lot of the freelance artists and writers have already committed to coming, including Carmen Bellaire, Greg Diaczyk, Allen and Brian Manning, Amy Ashbaugh, Mark Dudley, Mike Mumah, Kent Burles, Apollo Okamura, with many others expressing their intention to come but unable to make a firm commitment at this time (but SOON).
We’ll be doing a lot of celebrating at the 2010 Open House: Celebrating Rifts® turning 20 years old, The Rifter® hitting landmark issue #50, and Wayne turning 34.
I think I’ll be pulling artwork and other collectibles out of my personal collection and archives for the auction and general sale, and we are working on a number of fun events and surprises.Of course, at this point, with the economy being what it is, pre-registration is 40% below the levels we saw in 2009 at this same time. I suspect many will have to wait till it’s closer to the event, like February and March, to decide if they can afford to come down, but please, don’t wait too long, and I promise we'll try to make the 2010 POH an event to remember. FYI: The last 20 V.I.P. tickets become available in February.
Furthermore, I have good feelings about the Rifts® movie and my gut tells me one or more things are going to break in Palladium’s favor in the New Year.
What the future holds
I have to admit, I’m a little worried about the future. Not just about Palladium and sales, but our fans. So many people are hurting financially. I sure hope the economy picks up for EVERYONE in the coming year. October, November and December sales seem to suggest it is. Likewise, while many people noted in the comments section of the Grab Bags that they were hurting financially, others reported finding work or getting financially healthier. I hope that latter trend continues and we all enjoy a more prosperous and worry-free New Year.
On a personal note
My Christmas was quiet and nice. Spent part of Christmas Eve with my father, part with friends and went home early.
Spent Christmas Day sleeping in, talking to friends and family on the telephone and the evening with Alex and friends at Kathy Simmons' house, which meant great dining and pleasant company. Watched the Hangover on DVD, very funny.
The Saturday after Christmas, I did a little shopping, visited with an old friend for a couple hours, and went to work at the office. Got a case of the blues, couldn’t write, and after five hours went home and spent the evening reading comics and watching several episodes of Doctor Who, including the End of Time, Part One. I love Doctor Who and David Tennent.
The Sunday after Christmas, I slept in, stayed in my pajamas half the day, sorted and boxed 700-800 comic books, read some comic books, did four loads of laundry, straightened up my apartment, talked a bit on the phone, and got caught up with more TV I had recorded on my DVR. It was nice and relaxing.
That’s it for now. I’ve got stuff to write for The Rifter® and books to finish and get to the printer.
Don’t forget, you can still order Post-Christmas Surprise Packages, but only for a limited time, then you'll have to wait for next Christmas.
Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Game Designer, and Surrogate Santa
Palladium Books®, Inc. – 28 years of RPG Publishing
© Copyright December 28, 2009 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, Dimensional Outbreak, Fleets of the Three Galaxies, Mysteries of Magic, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.