Hobby Shop going under.

[pinehilljoe]

I think one reason the local shops are closing is the hobby has grown very expensive. Buy a kit, paints, supplies, and you can be close to $100. I remember reading years ago in scale modeler that it wasnt the serious modelers that kept the industry going, it was the kid that walked into a store, spent a couple dollars on a kit and paint and built in a few hours. Kids cant buy $50 kits every weekend.

 

[Airframes]

The increase in 'on-line' outlets, especially those with big discounts, has also had a serious effect on the local shop. That, and in many cases, large increases in property rents, both of which have also affected some large retailers, in the UK at least.

 

[javlin]

Both of those things are having an impact but the LHS is also undergoing a change in inventory to RC everything cars,boats and planes.The modeling section gets smaller and smaller as the RC is the newest hit and modelling has always been a very self serving endeavor probably for about 70-80% of it's participants while the other 20-30% compete.

 

[Airframes]

That's true, and it seems to go around in cycles over about a five or six year period - possibly in relation to the age of those interested in RC, as they reach a certain age.
However, I was talking to the owner of my long-established LHS just last week, and she told me that, in her case at least, and with some others she knows in the trade, that, although the RC sales are still good, sales of model kits and accessories have increased dramatically over the last 12 to 18 months.
I thought this was interesting, as although this particular shop is well stocked with kits, and has a very healthy turnover in same, the main business used to be RC, especially large scale RC cars, to the point that the shop used to supply, and sponsor, a local club which competed internationally, and attended events across the UK in a support and sales role.
That has now dwindled, and the shop is no longer involved with the club, or the race meetings, and although the RC sales are still healthy, mainly to the younger element, with 'standard' RC cars and accessories, it's the sales of model kits, accessories and tools which are the bulk of this shop's turnover.
Apparently, from what the owner has seen and learned at various trade fares, this 'boom' is ongoing, in the UK and Europe, at least.

 

[javlin]

Maybe the US is lagging or still going strong my LHS in the last three years has gone 60-70% RC and the rest everything else and the A/C models is maybe 100-150 kits total my collection is bigger.

 

[Lucky13]

Jamiesons in Glasgow, is no more....

 

[Wurger]

...

 

[Wayne Little]

Sad thing to hear....

 

[Airframes]

Ah, poo !
I used to use that shop when I was in Glasgow - very sad to hear that a long-established business is no more.
It's bad enough if a shop closes due to retirement, but if it's due to rising costs and falling sales, that's just tragic.

 

[Lucky13]

Ah, poo !
I used to use that shop when I was in Glasgow - very sad to hear that a long-established business is no more.
It's bad enough if a shop closes due to retirement, but if it's due to rising costs and falling sales, that's just tragic.

For what I've heard, it's due to retirement...

 

[Airframes]

Ah, then that's not so bad. It's a real shame you've lost a good shop, but at least it's closed for a good reason, and hasn't been forced top close.
There used to be two branches of a family-run business in my town, which sold everything from baby equipment such as prams, through to bikes, and a huge toy section, with model railway and models too, one shop having three floors and the other having two.
It was a useful place, if the local Model Shop was out of stock of something, but the shops closed when the proprietor retired some years ago - a loss, but at least they weren't forced out of business.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Agree with that. Not as bad. Shame there was no one to take it over though. Can't keep them down on the farm anymore I guess.

 

[Airframes]

I made a point of going to my LHS yesterday, just to get some more masking tape and a tin of paint. The prices were a tad higher than on-line - but I didn't have to pay shipping, so it worked out possibly less anyway.
I was also able to have a close look at a new 1/24 scale kit of the Ford escort RS1600, as Iris opened a box especially for me - something you definitely can't do 'on line' - and ordered some more plastic strip and rod, which will be here tomorrow.
I always try to use the shop as often as possible, and only get stuff on-line if it is really cheaper, or, for example, an OOP kit from e-bay or similar outlets.

 

[Bodyc]

I don't know if this is the proper place to post this, if not I'll get one of the Mods to move it. Internet Hobbies sent me this E-mail and apparently everyone is feeling the crunch. I know we all have our favorite shops to order from, but if you each could order a kit if it is a worthwhile purchase from this group, just maybe we can help keep them in business. I know if you're like me you don't have the funds at the moment. I am just passing this along to try and help keep this fun hobby going.


This is an email that I hoped and prayed that I would never have to send.

For the longest time, especially after we re-introduced the weekend sales a few months ago, we have been struggling to stay in business. We thought that by offering our customers an unbelievable deal on the weekends, they would really step up to the plate and purchase huge dollar amounts. After all, if you're getting a deal where your price is very close or at wholesale we would have hoped you would have taken this opportunity to purchase more of what you really wanted. The whole idea was to generate cash flow that would help us survive the downturn in business created by these sales during the week until the next sale. Unfortunately, the weekend sales never generated the cash flow that we counted on.

The hard truth is that selling anything and making little or no profit is a formula for disaster. Each business must generate enough operating profit to be able to pay for their cost of overhead. We recently tried to stem the hemorrhaging by introducing our Internet Hobbies Savings Club but it now appears, by the dramatic drop in business, that our customers are not interested in participating in the program as much as we had hoped.

This has brought us to a point that unless we are able to regain our customer's loyalty, we will perish as a company. My wife and I have invested thousands of dollars from our savings and whatever else we could afford to keep our business afloat but the well is now running dry. Many of you may think that Internet Hobbies is a large organization. We are a small business that has served the hobbyist for going on 18 years. The truth is, there are only four people still working here part time. We have had to lay off most of our full time employees because of diminished sales. I would love to be able to re-hire these talented people but unless sales increase they will remain unemployed.

Our plight probably means little or nothing to some of you but I still believe we have many friends that care about Internet Hobbies. I want to thank those customers that have supported us with your continued loyalty and we would appreciate anything you could do to help. We really could use a big bump in our sales this weekend.




Sincerely,

Dale Bruner, Managing Partner
Internet Hobbies, LLC

Mr Dale Bruner,

Your company InternetHobbies.com is nothing but a scam! The worse online experience I've ever had period. Not only did it take over 2 months to ship out after your web site stated InStock! as it still states today! After 2 months I threaten to cancel order and gave you 24 hrs to ship out with tracking. I received order and it was missing 11 items out of 13 items ordered! Then I get the run around that it will be in stock next week and we'll ship out. I gave you over 3 months to get it right. I should of read all the reviews Internet Hobbies | Complaints | Better Business Bureau® Profile on how bad your company scam people money, doesn't ship out or doesn't refund money back! I've never seen so many lies and excuses back via email. I should post them here. You shouldn't be in business period and I don't want others to fall in your scam. Fact is Model building is huge right now and you're not an ethical company. Dale, I and many customer from what it appears have given you a shot to succeed. You have failed and I'll never buy from you again. Wasted to much time, aggravation and money on you. PEOPLE beware and don't buy into his scam. Read the reviews, they're true. I tried to not believe in them and gave him a chance. Big Mistake all True.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Mr Dale Bruner,

Your company InternetHobbies.com is nothing but a scam! The worse online experience I've ever had period. Not only did it take over 2 months to ship out after your web site stated InStock! as it still states today! After 2 months I threaten to cancel order and gave you 24 hrs to ship out with tracking. I received order and it was missing 11 items out of 13 items ordered! Then I get the run around that it will be in stock next week and we'll ship out. I gave you over 3 months to get it right. I should of read all the reviews Internet Hobbies | Complaints | Better Business Bureau® Profile on how bad your company scam people money, doesn't ship out or doesn't refund money back! I've never seen so many lies and excuses back via email. I should post them here. You shouldn't be in business period and I don't want others to fall in your scam. Fact is Model building is huge right now and you're not an ethical company. Dale, I and many customer from what it appears have given you a shot to succeed. You have failed and I'll never buy from you again. Wasted to much time, aggravation and money on you. PEOPLE beware and don't buy into his scam. Read the reviews, they're true. I tried to not believe in them and gave him a chance. Big Mistake all True.

You do realize that you are responding to Dale Bruner right???