2017 Update ...

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ReVoMaster
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2017 Update ...

Post by ReVoMaster »

Hi All

I hope everyone had a great holiday and a good start to the New Year!

We have not had a good start, therefore I need to discuss the following:

1) Rachael (RevoGirl)
2) Machine
3) Salmon & Mint
4) Future Plans

Rachael

Rachael returned from holiday on the 3rd January. We had a meeting, with the outcome that we would not continue her employment with the company and will officially leave on the 2nd Feb. As some of you know, we have had Rachel, Emma and Rachael since Sophie working for us and as such not had the continuity you deserve. I have made a mistake and I am sorry.

Rachael was very good at organising the office and sorting paperwork as well as sorting the social media aspect, which was one of the main reasons why we brought her in. We needed someone to listen to you and understand and serve your needs as well as coming up with creative ideas.

We have new plans this year that will require special skills and we looked at ways to achieve this through freelancers. We wanted to allow Rachael to take this on as well as helping with Sales and Production Planning, but unfortunately we could not agree a way forward.

Both Jill and I enjoyed Rachael’s employment and we wish her well for the future. Rachael is not being replaced for the foreseeable future.

While I wanted to concentrate on the technical aspect of the business, my role was being diluted with training of each new administrator. Having the burden as well to employ someone added extra pressure to ensure enough work came in. I also lost touch with you all.

Throughout January, I have had to change my plans and to make alternative measures. The main one is you can now all contact Directly with me by PM’s RevoMaster or by email chris.pitt@revomaze.co.uk I will be on the forum much more as a result and will cover Revogirl as well.

Machine

As you know, I now have a very expensive machine capable of doing all my parts to a very high precision. It will help me be more competitive and most important, be able to run small batches to meet your demands. While it has been installed, we still have the issue to connect to our 3-phase electricity supply and have high costs in doing so plus the red tape with authority permits and reconfiguring our current single phase supply. Other than that the workshop is complete.

So having the machine here is waiting for the green light to allow me to start producing parts. In the meantime, I have been working on the programs using simulator software that is needed to produce each component. Once ready, we have methods in place to schedule work including the R2’s and all the puzzles except for the Black and Red and then we can complete the catch up that I have been so desperate to finish. This has taken much of my time.

Salmon and Mint

Yesterday, we now have the mazes and all the parts with the plan to assemble and ship. The issue today is that when trying to assemble the Mint, the plating is thicker than planned and the small parts do not fit. It is the same for the plated Salmon. In addition, the Salmon part now needs to change as there is an opportunity to get stuck that was not seen before. This is not what I wanted to happen or for you to hear, but it is necessary if the puzzle is to be reliable. I have tried my best but it looks like there will be a further short delay.

I am now having to make the small parts again as I have tried to change one and it will be quicker to remake. This is the issue I have by not having my new machine working I have to do them myself.

In truth, I hoped I would have been running the new machine in November and making the Salmon and Mint directly instead, instead I have made them as before. We also needed stock and so I have had to get the engineers to make 100 that is due in couple of weeks – but the cost has more than double as we have in the past had them in batches of 500.

So today I have some more bar coming and will arrive Thursday and I will get started on redoing the affected parts. These will be great puzzles and as such must not have any problems once you have them. As I have 100 other puzzles coming in around the second week of February, we need to get these puzzles out.

Future

As you can tell, I needed a good start to this year and have been knocked back already. My intention last year was to take back control and to get enjoying what I do. I can now let you know that last year we were investigated by HMRC, who discovered a flaw with our VAT. An error was introduced 4 years ago by our original first accountants who set our online accounts up incorrectly and was not detected by any of our accountants since. This investigation caused Jill and I alot of stress. While we were cleared of any blame by HMRC, we still have had to pay back a large sum. This was sorted in December so we were looking forward to the fresh start this year.

We now have plans in place to make R2’s for the customers who have Voyager Status, the CE Booklet is finished and we will be sending these out people who have the sets and once we have the parts being made on our machine to complete the CE Sets to people who have waited and then have sets available to anyone else that would like them.

Other than the Mint and Salmon, we are to bring out two new puzzles each year and have them ready when people wish to order them. This is what we had alway planned and wanted.

But more important, we are planning to get the Revomaze brand to a much wider audience and to help we are currently discussing with specialists to help with the branding, newsletter, packaging, social media marketing and of course the forum. It was my weak area and recognise you need positive regular information. The people who I have spoken with are highly recommended in their field.

In the meantime, I am working very hard, to complete the Mint and Salmon that I want to also have for general sale this month, getting the machine running (I will be running a blog on this) and to plan for some exciting products later in the year.

Most important, I want you all to be buzzing again and for the right reasons. I am committed to making this a truly dedicated puzzle operation and have put everything Jill and I have to make it succeed.

Thank you all for your continued support, because without it I would not have got this far.

Please keep in touch.

Chris (Revomaster)
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Luke1705
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by Luke1705 »

Chris,

Thanks for the update and the transparency. Sorry to hear that you guys have had some issues with the business. Hopefully everything will work out, as I think that you guys have a really special line of products on your hands.

For the Salmon/Mint, are the current orders still targeted to ship out in February?
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ReVoMaster
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by ReVoMaster »

Hi Luke

Many thanks for your reply and kind words. Yes they are, it is just some small parts that need to be done. We are also getting the 100 mixture of puzzles in from the engineers so February will be busy for me.

At least we are now putting plans into place and I am confident to turn our fortune around. The most important part of this business is you guys, so Jill and I appreciate everyone here.

I will keep information coming to this thread as well as Facebook.

Any questions from anyone, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Kind regards

Chris
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by prodigy »

Thank you for your update. I hope the machines will be up and running soon and that you can use your time for the backlog and create new great puzzles.

I always think the most important thing is regular updates. Great to hear that you at least can use the plated cores and I hope that things will be easier for you as soon as your new machine is up and running.

Thanks for this big update and for all you puzzles so far and the puzzles we will see soon in the future!
OPEN: AQUA - TURQUOISE - BLUE - GREEN - BRONZE - SILVER - GOLD - INDIGO - TITANIUM - RED - ORANGE - LIME - GUNMETAL - PURPLE - COPPER - MINT - HANDMADE - MERCURY - BLACK - BLACK MERC - SALMON - GREY - SAPPHIRE - EMERALD - RUBY - PEACH
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by ReVoRabbit »

When you say you plan on releasing 2 new puzzles a year, are those only R1's? What's the future of the R2's?
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by 770aba »

Many thanks for the updates.

Heres to hoping its only smooth sailing at headquarters from here on out!
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by pcad »

Chris-

I wasn't here at the beginning, but I have been here long enough to remember the troubles you've had with the companies that made your puzzles. Hopefully having ownership of your new machine and not competing with others for its time will help you run Revomaze more efficiently.

You've brought us 19 revomaze puzzles. Each has been very different with their own pros and cons. The amount of effort and imagination you've put into these puzzles is obvious. I hope that there's much more to come.

Best wishes and good luck in 2017 and beyond.
Peter

Gunmetal Unopened
Aqua,Turquoise Opened
Blue, Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Opened
Black V1 + V2, Orange, Red, Titanium, Lime Opened
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by ReVoMaster »

Thank you all for your kind support .... :D

Whilst having someone here can help I could never focus and once in the flow of things on my own I found it easier to get on. Taking ownership of manufacturing was originaly a dream, but I am so close to start living it. I know I could not do this without you.

R1's and R2's will be made and in the future R3's and R4's. For this to happen I must listen and act appropriately as loyalty is not bought, it is earned.

Now Rachael has gone, I find myself full of energy to get on and fulfil my dream. The journey for me will be tough, but hey so are the puzzles!

Please keep in touch as I want to listen to ideas you want this dedicated puzzle company to come up with.

Now I am getting on with the job in hand ...

Once again - Thank You All ! :D

Chris
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by BBloke »

It all sounds fantastic. I've not been hear as long as some but everything I've read has always remain positive and transparent.

2017 sounds like it's going to be a great year.

Good luck with getting the machine up and running and everything else flows smoothly.
:)
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Re: 2017 Update ...

Post by Orko »

Thanks for the great update i never lost faith in revomaze and for sure i will always help or support you if i can. Just let me know. ;) All the best for 2017. 8-)
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