thats how the cookie crumbles for manufacturers...they get pigeonholed into one or two markets, which isnt really a bad thing.
Epiphone is really just low/mid range acoustic and electric guitars. They make a mandolin and apparently made that uke, but nobody knows that stuff and frankly nobody cares because why would you spend $500 on an epiphone mandolin when you can choose from a dozen kentucky mandolins alone lol, not to mention morgan monroe or michael kelly etc (manufacturers that focus on folkstyle instruments). Why am I going to buy a $3000 yamaha acoustic guitar when you can get a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson not to mention Collings and some others that really specialize in higher end instruments. Dont get me started on Guitar Center banjos!
Gibson and Martin can pull it off because they are industrial monsters, but for everyone else...I just dont think the cost/benefit ratio is there for them or the desire to really push into a new market to where the ratio can become worth it. It can be a shame, but what can you do? I would love a breedlove ukulele, but unless they go big into that market, I'll never be able to afford one.