Toy-Fu 2013

[The Doctor]

I will admit to feeling extremely deflated and disappointed at how much we raised this year. Partly because of an added emotional investment due to the very very large amount of toys I donated (which I remain very happy to have done so and have no regrets whatsover) and also because the total will be significantly down on last year's amount. I got a bit upset when my partner asked me how much we had made. Then I got some perspective and wised up.

However, that's just my personal issues. I do think, however, that we did exceptionally well considering the cash machine issues and increased (healthy) competition in the dealer's hall. It's also still a significant amount raised for Marys Meals and not at all to be sniffed at. I'm glad we did it. Everyone put in a lot of effort over the weekend (folk putting in long hours for zero pay) and quite frankly the attendees were squeezed for every last penny. I also think Nick deserves a great deal of credit. Considering his personal situation in the last year it's remarkable he was able to mount a stall at all, nevermind get it stocked with such a wide variety of decent stuff. So well done him. I also very much appreciate a few personal gestures he made on my behalf.

Roll on year 6 of Toy-Fu at AA2014. We look forward to taking your money then and taking it hard! I should be there, finances and annual leave allowances permitting.

-Ralph

[legios]

I did feel a little disheartened with the Toy-Fu take for this year, until I was asked by my colleagues how we had done and saw their reactions. It was at that point that I realised that making two grand for a charity over the course of two days seems pretty good going to the civilian population. This made me feel a bit better about it.

As ever, being a Mook for Toy-Fu was a great experience - even the part of it that involves being socked out and post-verbal on the Sunday evening :-)

I probably won't be around for Toy-Fu:2014, as various factors (mostly financial) may make my attendance at AA problematic next year, but if the stall will have me I can see me making a return in 2015.

Karl

[blueshift]

I thought the take was very impressive, especially because asides from Brave Max there weren't that many high ticket items, and this year there were a lot of expensive third party items for people to buy. £2000-£2500 is a crazy amount to raise for charity!

[Fortmax2020]

I think any money raised is excellent and the £2.5k that has been raised is tremendous! That's money that Mary's Meals will be glad to have and put to good use. Excellent work from all the Toy Fu personnel! Was great to see it in person this year.

I'll hopefully make AA again next year at which point my budget should be considerably larger and I Toy Fu will be my first port of call. There was plenty I could've spent money on at Toy Fu but had to pass on as my finances were feeling the pinch of the end of my PhD this year and I was quite sad to not be able to give you guys some more cash!

Next time...

[kayevcee]

After realising my arithmetic mistake this afternoon I was feeling pretty down. Once I'd taken the money to the bank and paid it in I had some time on the bus to think.

We did well. We did damn well! We worked hard and raised a lot of money for a great cause, and we wouldn't have had half that amount without your incredible donation Mr Burns! Karl also gave generously, as did Gavin Merrifield, Martin McV, Ed Pirrie and inevitably others I can't presently bring to mind. Andy Kiernan did a great job procuring stock at Botcon, not to mention patrolling the car boot sales all year round and making our cracking t-shirts. Props to Tony Baker and Matt Marshall for devoting their time to serving on the stall, Andy Turnbull for storing so much of our stock while I was in the States and Crazy Jetty for collecting my eBay winnings when I wasn't.

This year was not as good as 2012. Worth remembering that in 2012 our take was 50% higher than the year before, helped substantially by a mega-blowout sale because I was leaving the country straight after the con and couldn't take stock home. Considering the lightness of my contribution of high-value items this year and the mountains of Metroplexes and Fort Maxes kicking about at other stalls, our result was remarkable.

Next year, however...

Toy-fu 2014 will be breathtaking. Just a sea of Headmasters and Powermasters and Overlords and Shockwaves and allsorts. It's going to be mental. We're going to make the other dealers weep. Karl, be thankful you probably won't be with us because there's a chance you'll be killed in the stampede. The quest begins again. Toy-fu 2014 starts now!

-Nick

[Marc Graham]

Guys you did awesome as always, its a significant amount for charity and we are deep in a recession, taking your time over the course of a year to prepare then the hectic weekend of effort its an amazing thing. Well done to all!

[kayevcee]

The Rainmakers have ended, won by TMUK's own Colin aka Hippobot! That brings our Toy-fu 2013 total to £2279.94. I've just fired off an email to the good folks at AA to find out how much they raised for Mary's Meals through the auctions and raffle.

-Nick