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  • SyntheticBlinkerFluid

    Nov. 14, 2011 8:43 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork

    The model railroading thread reminded me of something.

    Hobby Stores.

    It's another dying breed. I had 3 or 4 good hobby stores that I could get to within a half hour. Now I only have one crappy one nearby and two within an hour. I really hate it. I hate that I have to resort to online shopping for anything. I enjoy going to the hobby shop and physically hold things and look at stuff. The crappy one nearby is one someone opened for their friends and family. They barely stock anything and you have to order almost anything you need.

    I would love to look at all the Revell/Monogram/Tamiya model kits, buy train supplies and rolling stock, look through and buy Testors paint and glue.

    Anybody in the same situation? I've been debating getting into the hobby business, just because I hear from a lot of people that are into various hobbies that there are no shops nearby.

  • Ian F

    Nov. 14, 2011 8:51 p.m. Ian F SuperDork

    Yeah... it's sad... my first job at 16 was at a hobby store... last I checked, the store I worked at was gone, although a quick google search shows the original store is still open. Yep... I usually spent my paychecks...

    Open one? Umm... I'd consider the underlying reasons why so few are left... I'd maybe, maybe consider a HobbyTown franchise... maybe...

  • Ranger50

    Nov. 14, 2011 8:57 p.m. Ranger50 Dork

    It's called overhead and markup that is killing them off. On top of that, unless it is your ONLY hobby, there is even less disposable income for that hobby nowadays.

    When I bought my first real RC car in '94, an Associated RC10LSO pan car, I put in $1500 into it just to get it running from the local hobby shop. I already had the radio and servo for the steering. I was in there every day for at least a month for something to finish it off. I saw the invoices when parts came in when picking up the stuff I ordered. While there maybe 50% markup, it was only a $3 part. You get into the kits, you might be 10% and you have to sit on it for MONTHS on end....

  • Toyman01

    Nov. 14, 2011 9:02 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

    I managed one for 12 years. We carried it all. Plastic models, paints, trains, planes, cars, rockets, pretty much you name it. Locally owned, opened in 1974. What a blast that was. I loved that job. Too bad there just isn't much money in retail.

    The online dealers are a lot of what killed them. Tough to compete with the online dealers when they are selling for $5.00 above cost on a $500 dollar item. That mark up doesn't even cover shipping.

    I had planned to buy him out when he was ready to retire, but the writing was already on the wall. It's a dying breed.

  • Curmudgeon

    Nov. 14, 2011 9:03 p.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork

    The mail order retailers were killing the hobby stores back when I first got into it, same as the mail order chains like Honest Charley's killed the mom n' pop speed shops (a subject near and dear to my heart, since that's part of what happened to my dad's small chain). I can't imagine being a, say, 2000 sq foot hobby shop in a strip mall today trying to compete with the killer low online prices from, say, Great Planes. By the way, GP was for a LONG time a major supplier to those same Mom n' Pops until they decided to compete with their own customers.

  • SyntheticBlinkerFluid

    Nov. 14, 2011 9:04 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork

    Yeah I thought about all of that. It would be hard even to have a small store. It wouldn't happen, it's just a thought that's crossed my mind a few times.

  • Ian F

    Nov. 14, 2011 9:16 p.m. Ian F SuperDork

    The only way I'd consider opening one would be similar to the one you mentioned - limited stock, order most stuff... A friend of mine did EXACTLY that for bike parts a long time ago, using his father's garage as a fake store front and shipping address.

    A place near the office tried to do something like that. They had very little stock and focused entirely on R/C trucks, but had a big advantage - their parents (I'm assuming) owned the landscaping business the space was carved out of and they had built an R/C track in a back corner. Even with all those advantages, they didn't last a year.

  • stuart in mn

    Nov. 14, 2011 9:22 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

    There are still a couple in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but there's a large enough population here to support them.

  • friedgreencorrado

    Nov. 14, 2011 10:01 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

    Gone, gone, gone. My favorite one in Atlanta Metro closed up in 2004, still has an online presence to move out the inventory. Considering the inventory he had, I'm not surprised to see there's still an online "store".

    http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=automotif

    We have a HobbyTown here, at first it seemed to be operated by folks that used to own their own shops before the "big box" store moved into town. Kinda like discovering the sporting goods counter at your local WallyWorld is run by the guy who used to own your favorite gun shop.

    In the beginning (the store's in what was once a movie multiplex), the place had a small indoor carpet RC track, and a room for the slot car guys, but they've both been eliminated. And most of the employees now have that Radio Shack "What's an RCA plug?" syndrome.

  • Javelin

    Nov. 14, 2011 10:42 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

    I've seriously and literally purchased three entire hobby store's inventories when they closed. I can open my own shop right out of my attic. I seriously plan on opening one sooner or later, even if it loses money, just because real, old-school hobby stores are amazing. Just the smell of all that plastic and balsa.

  • Appleseed

    Nov. 15, 2011 3:23 a.m. Appleseed SuperDork

    Blame these guys. It started with them.

  • Nov. 15, 2011 3:30 a.m. fasted58 SuperDork

    I loved the downtown hobby shops of the 60s and 70s, they were the real deal but went out of business shortly later. The later mall stores were more toy stores. One upstart in the early 90s only lasted a few years... and they were damn good. It's a shame to see them go, the end of an era.

  • foxtrapper

    Nov. 15, 2011 5:23 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

    I dunno, there's a few hobby stores around me, and they seem to be doing fine. Biggest factor, imo, is advertising. If people can't find you, or worse don't even know you exist, they are not going to buy from you.

    Another big factor is giving people a reason to come. One shop has things outside to catch a kids eye, as well zillions of club events or training sessions or whatever you can think of. RC truck races, fly ins, scenery building sessions, etc.

  • 1988RedT2

    Nov. 15, 2011 6:38 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork

    Most of the small old mom-and-pop stores are gone. We've got a HobbyTown USA across town. They do an okay job here, but invariably they don't have whatever it is I'm looking for, and so I buy online.

    There is one guy up in Ashland, located on the tracks within sight of Ashland Station. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashland,_Virginia_%28Amtrak_station%29

    He seems to do okay. He's involved in organizing local events like "Train Day" and the Santa Train. Sells a lot of trains around Christmas. I don't get up there all that often, but when I do I stop in. Sometimes I'll even buy something. Cool store: http://www.traintowntoyandhobby.com/

  • 4cylndrfury

    Nov. 15, 2011 7:49 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

    theres a cool lil train shop in downtown Mason Ohio...cant remember the name. Its an awesome store with a ton of merchandise and knowledgeable staff who are happy to talk to you about your purchase, regardless of the cost.

    Unfortunately, I dont think they will last. Every time Im in there, Im the only one. And Im not in there all that much. My nephew was into trains when he was a little younger, so we would go in when he would visit. We would invariably buy him a train crossing gate, or some trees, maybe a set of lamp posts etc. On big days like his B-day or xmas, he would get to pick out a locomotive or a big car. Now all he wants is video games and guns. I havent been in there in over a year now. I dont have money for my car hobby, let alone to pick up a new hobby just to support the mom n pop place. I hope they make it, but I am fearful...

 
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