Is The LHS really Uneccessary? If So, Why?

Sure TB that would be awesome to see the product before you buy it and compare with other things but the fact is like you said, the expense involved to open and maintain such a "mall" not to mention the interest of the locals in the hobby that may be minimal. If interest was big at least in my area we would have more than one hobby shop. We had another one that got rid of all plastics but not long ago closed its doors. Look at Hobby Lobby's anemic plastic selection compared to 10 years ago when they actually had a very decent lineup. 

I think what makes on line stores survive is the low overhead=lower pricing, large product selection and a VERY large clientele from not just a local area but US wide and even outside the US. 

Back in the 90s I loved going to Orange Blossom Hobbies in Miami and spent a couple of hours looking at models and talking with Willie, Pat, Charlie, Tiny, Augie, Mike, Gary and a few more names that I can't recall right now. All great friendly guys running the show. Those days are long gone.

Tanker - Builder

     So, how about this? Take a store ( Brick and Mortar) and set up a real " Hobby Shop" Under one Roof! ( can you say a large Mall type structure?) with people knowledgeable in all the different Hobbies! You wouldn't have a couple of million laying around for that would you?

That is the HobbyTown business model.  Plastic models, paint, glue, RC cars & airplanes, paintball, puzzles, trains, sci-fi, and all sorts of gack which corporate foists off on the franchise holder (I.e. mandates he must carry).  They try to be a jack of all trades and are a master of none.  The only successful HT stores are ones where the franchise owners minimize their reliance on corporate stock guidance and buy to support their local market  

Personnel costs to have multiple cognizant employees in each of the genres would be very expensive. 

Hobby Lobby may be the better example.  They cover a wider range of hobby subjects.  They source their products from a central warehouse system with dedicated buyers.  They do not rely on local ‘experts’.  

I have long heard, ‘How do you make a million dollars in a hobby shop?  Start with two million.’

The big problem with plastic models in a brick and motar shop is that the inventory can't pay off in a timely manner and there is no sub-service income to draw off it.  We are now a "service" society and to make money, a shop now has to provide many services as well as the goods.  

It is why you see surviving hobby shops catering to RC cars, drones, and what has gotten poplular again, slot car racing.  They can set up tracks and service centers in the store that draw income from selling parts and service that keeps the customer coming back. I also have seen that stores are offsetting the tradional hobby provisions by offering sales and services of outdoor and sports equipment.  

The hobbyshop of today and tomorrow will not be for the builder, its for the person who wants to take it out of the box and start playing with it.  

Plastic models used to be profitable when kids were slapping them together and buying only a few colors of paint, but now we have become so specialized in our hobby segment, its no way profitable for a shop to try to stock all the different types of models, brands, aftermarket options, and paints that internet wholesalers or garage cottage manufacturers can provide directly through the internet.  

From what your describing....there are certain LHS that actually do that.  I live in St. Louis and use either Mark Twain Hobbies or Schaeffers Hobby and Schaeffers has a little bit of everything.  When you walk into the store, It is divided into to 2 sections (Me and the G/F call it the "Girls" side and the "Guys" side)  To the left is More of a craft side with yarn, canvas for oil paints, scrapbooking materials Etc the left side is R/C, Plastic Models, Model Railroad and Diorama supplies.  If i read correctly this is exactly what your asking about.  

If you look hard enough there are stores like this.  Micheals is like that as well as hobbytown USA and Hobby Lobby. 

I believe that most folks buy online because they are looking for something specific and do not want to take the time to go to the LHS and hope they have what your looking for.  If i need specific supplies (Paints, glues, Xacto blades Etc) i will run to my LHS and give them the business for that and probably buy a kit or two...lol...the addiction is real. 

Hi Tanks,

I'm have a hard time following your logic, but looking at it now, it's abundantly clear that the LHS is going the way of much of the brick-and-mortar world. 

The local Macy's, which is a three story anchor tenant to a high end mall here, is converting one of the floors to internet return processing.

Things like hats and shoes remain a difficult purchase online, although with free returns the inconvenience now is just having to wait for a refund.

Otherwise, most everything is pretty transactionally easy to get what you want online.

The LHS business has been shrinking for a long time. Not only does online doom it, but it has to compete with Michael's and Hobby Lobby.

Where it used to have value was in advice from the people behind the counter. But that's generational. It has been clear to me that it's hard to find presentable, articulate people to work at an LHS now.

I think the best interaction now is to join a club.

I guess it's progress.

Hobby shops will dissapear. It is inevitable. Cost of supply, lack of demand.

I will miss the day they disappear, but I know it's inevitable.  I do buy online for the most part but usually us LHS for paint and glues.  I hate having to wait for such things.

Yeah, I’m sure that that in most areas, they will go the way of the Dodo. But in the meantime, I will support those around me as best I can. I would much rather go visit them, pick up supplies I need, perhaps a kit, and shoot the breeze with some fellow modelers, rather than order stuff online any day of the week. In major metropolitan areas, where there is a good customer base, and strong support from local model clubs, I suspect they will last a lot longer than in areas with a smaller customer base. The economics dictate that. 

Is the physical LHS necessary, no. But it is a damn nice convenience. 

Some really well thought responses. I am very fortunate to have a real, old school hobby shop near me, 15 minute drive. I think it's the fourth generation family business, excellent service, very knowledgeable staff.

I build plastic aircraft and scale free flight balsa models, rarely can I not find what I need, so I use on line only if they can't order something for me. For the free flights I can find absolute premium wood supplies and tissue coverings, for plastic they have full supplies of tools, cements, fillers, etc.

The value I place on my LHS is the ability to take a short drive, then find what I need and in the span of one hour or less I'm back at my bench. Plus the staff is so friendly, always have a couple of minutes to say hi, and let me know they appreciate my making my purchases there.

I'm an old coot, so it's just plain fun to do the hobby shop run once in a while. Plus, there is a killer burger joint on the way home.  

Patrick

I think, just like hardware stores, hoby shops will go the way of the big franchise chain.  It is a half hour drive to the closest real hobby shop, a five minute drive to the nearest Michaels and a ten minute drive to a Hobby Lobby.  My most frequent trip to a hobby shop is for paint or other supplies, and I can usually find what I want at HL.  I have occasionally picked up a kit there when I see something that catches my fancy.  Biggest failing of the big chains is lack of scratchbuilding supplies.  They do not have a good selection of styrene, nor wood nor metal.

Hey Don, I bet you are talking about Scale Model Supplies in St. Paul. I gotta get down there again. Been along time.

I guess we're lucky here in Denver.  Colpar Hobbies is great.  Every car, ship, plane, and tank model in every scale.  If they don't have it, they can order it.  They have R/C, railroad as well.  Big in R/C.  Colpar has 2 stores.  Yes, Denver used to have a lot of independent stores.  We have lost many.  We have several HobbyTowns, in Longmont, Loveland, and 2 in Colorado Springs as well.   I like shopping and looking through them.  We have an IPMS chapter that has meetings at Colpars on a Sunday.  They are great.  Yes Colpar is now with HobbyTown, that is new.  They used to be independent.  To me, they get stuff like they always have.  There is at least one store that besides some plastic kits does have lots of other craft and hobby supplies, pant and canvas as well.