Post by nicki on Jul 12, 2008 18:08:50 GMT -5
Many have wondered...
WHY DOES HALLMARK sometimes use Cold Cast Resin, which we often refer to as "disaster plaster.
This is what I've learned....
It's on cost issue based on production numbers. Just like everything that is produced, the fewer that are made, the higher the cost of production.
In this case, its not the cost of the materials used that varies , but rather the cost of the tooling that it takes to make the ornament mold.
Most Hallmark ornaments are made of a plastic material, art-plas. The cost of the tooling to make an art-plas ornament is HIGH and can only be justified if the production of that ornament is also going to be HIGH.
Colorway ornaments are made from the tooling that HM already owns, so in the case of a colorway ornament...the lower production is affordable because there is no extra cost for tooling the ornament.
For other low production pieces, such as the Premier Special Edition pieces, cold cast resin is used. Cold Cast resin uses an entirely different ornament molding process that is much more affordable for low production. Each ornament is then hand painted. Thus, there are more paint differences, which some collectors may see as plus (mine is unique and hand painted), others view as inconsistent (one may look better than another).
While I'm not a fan of Cold Cast Resin...
I'm now more accepting of it for a couple of reasons:
1. I think the quality of this years Premier pieces is BETTER than some past issue pieces (2001 Walgreens Drug Store for example).
2. From a collector perspective, we LOVE limited edition ornaments that are complements to a series or ornaments that will appeal to many. And, I think that is exactly the direction that HM has gone this year.
3. Cold Cast Resin seems to be an option on low production ornaments that keeps the price from being significantly higher than regular production pieces.
I think Hallmark has done a really nice job this year of making the Premier Limited Edition ornaments appealing, truly limited, and keeping the cost in line with the much higher production ornaments. So, I say "good job".
What do you think?
WHY DOES HALLMARK sometimes use Cold Cast Resin, which we often refer to as "disaster plaster.
This is what I've learned....
It's on cost issue based on production numbers. Just like everything that is produced, the fewer that are made, the higher the cost of production.
In this case, its not the cost of the materials used that varies , but rather the cost of the tooling that it takes to make the ornament mold.
Most Hallmark ornaments are made of a plastic material, art-plas. The cost of the tooling to make an art-plas ornament is HIGH and can only be justified if the production of that ornament is also going to be HIGH.
Colorway ornaments are made from the tooling that HM already owns, so in the case of a colorway ornament...the lower production is affordable because there is no extra cost for tooling the ornament.
For other low production pieces, such as the Premier Special Edition pieces, cold cast resin is used. Cold Cast resin uses an entirely different ornament molding process that is much more affordable for low production. Each ornament is then hand painted. Thus, there are more paint differences, which some collectors may see as plus (mine is unique and hand painted), others view as inconsistent (one may look better than another).
While I'm not a fan of Cold Cast Resin...
I'm now more accepting of it for a couple of reasons:
1. I think the quality of this years Premier pieces is BETTER than some past issue pieces (2001 Walgreens Drug Store for example).
2. From a collector perspective, we LOVE limited edition ornaments that are complements to a series or ornaments that will appeal to many. And, I think that is exactly the direction that HM has gone this year.
3. Cold Cast Resin seems to be an option on low production ornaments that keeps the price from being significantly higher than regular production pieces.
I think Hallmark has done a really nice job this year of making the Premier Limited Edition ornaments appealing, truly limited, and keeping the cost in line with the much higher production ornaments. So, I say "good job".
What do you think?
