Unlucky General

Over the past two years there have been a number of Miniature designer/manufacturers who have announced their retirement from the market. I have found several of these announcements quite disturbing. I have been operating within this hobby as if these ranges and companies would trade forever. There was never any sense of urgency for me to buy figures because some of these traders had been in the business for decades and I naively presumed their doors would always be open for when I got around to my latest investment. Aventine Miniatures, Redoubt Enterprises, Grubby Tanks (carriers for Britannia Miniatures ), Elite Miniatures Australia and now Gripping Beast (who also carry Front Rank and Calpe Miniatures ) have either ceased operating or announced their intention to do so. I've called this post 'End of Times' because most of the above owner/operators are shutting down because they are retiring - and I am too. I was listening to the latest Wargames Soldiers and Strategy ...