Local Hobby Shops... a few questions and such

Telling someone how to run the shop is the worst way imaginable to get a job. Sell yourself as a hobby enthusiast and once you have the job (assuming she can afford a retail assistant) then maybe start dropping ideas her way. If she doesnt give you a job start giving suggestions on how to improve things. Even if i was desperate, if some punk kid (no offence but everyone under the age of 20 is a punk kid to me lol) came in and started telling me im doing a terrible job and i need to do things this way id tell him where to shove it.

You have some good ideas, but throwing them at her to get a job is a REALLY bad idea. Shes gonna think your a smartass and nobody likes a smartass.

I would agree with the above post, your first task is to get the job.

So you need to sell your self.  Your strong points would be your enthusiasm to work in a store related to your hobby, IE you would be working in a environment related to your hobby, not some one just looking for a check at the end of the pay period.

You mentioned the attitude of the staff (with out being disparaging of them) try to explain how your involvement with the hobby would help you provide good customer service.

Good luck.

Thanks guys.

Well first, im not a kid, nor do I qualify as a kid in your eyes.  Just the field I got my degree in... doesnt have jobs and I need an income.  I meant it more as suggestions and not telling her how to run the store anyhow.  More like... these are a list of suggestions of how I would try to improve upon the store you have, as opposed to 'your wrong'

smeagol the vile

I meant it more as suggestions and not telling her how to run the store anyhow.  More like... these are a list of suggestions of how I would try to improve upon the store you have, as opposed to 'your wrong'

Whilst you have good intentions, the risk is she might not see it like that.  To which I reiterate ScorpionMikey.

I think you have a lot of great ideas, but the reality is, implementing them can be hard for some businesses - finding the cash to set up a new website that will integrate inventory, take online orders, generate receipts, details for shipping etc - is not a cheap task and, in reality, some people won't see that as a benefit, just a cost.

From reading your discussions online, you certainly are enthusiastic about the hobby and I'm sure you would be an asset to the store.  I think you should show the owner how great an asset you'll be (because of your knowledge and interest in the hobby).

Above everything else, I feel most people like good customer service from people who know what they're talking about.  Use that to get your foot in the door, then, once there, consider suggesting the other items in your list.

Chris.

smeagol the vile

I meant it more as suggestions and not telling her how to run the store anyhow.  More like... these are a list of suggestions of how I would try to improve upon the store you have, as opposed to 'your wrong'

Have to echo everyone else. You've got some solid ideas, but even as suggestions, they could come across as criticism.

Better to get your foot in the door. Sell your passion for the hobby as an asset. You can help customers find the RIGHT kit, help them select glues and paints and whatnot. Then, as you get a sense of how the store runs, what's possible/not possible from a cost/benefit standpoint, you can start making suggestions. 

But...from personal experience...two pieces of advice.

First - unless you are specifically asked to, stick to one suggestion at a time. Throw too much at the owner at once and 1) she might feel threatened, 2) she might feel overwhelmed (see #1), 3) she might do some quick math about suggestion 1, conclude it's too expensive and then shut down the rest. One suggestion at a time could be more organic, less sales pitch-y. And small, easy-to-implement changes can build up over time. Make a few of those and you'll may become the golden child over there.

Second, if at all possible, present suggestions in a way that make the owner think it's her idea. Easiest way to get something done ever.

I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm for a good LHS, and encourage you to get into the business! Hobby shops are disappearing and many of us would enjoy a revival of interest in scale models that included a personal involvement with the folks at the store. There are some market forces that work against that, notably, the inventory overhead. Who can afford to stock the volume of kits and aftermarket stuff available today? Answer...online retailers/discounters, who offer huge inventory, fast shipping, volume pricing and for some of us, no sales tax burden. But when it comes to meeting other modelers to share experiences and knowledge, the net only goes so far.

I enjoy two family owned shops in my area that are struggling and succeeding week by week, but they are adapted to the market. Both offer RC sales and service, and one has an RC airport that's available for use during business hours, plus holiday meets. Yes, I pay retail prices when I buy from them, but they price includes one on one contact with the owners and customers who also support the stores, and who share hobby interests and advice.

So go for it. At the very least you will get a job doing something you like, and it sounds as if you won't be content to pick your nose to fill the hours. She may like your ideas, and not be able to implement them at once due to costs, but over time may appreciate the active involvement you propose, and find that it works. I am certainly in favor of the return of the LHS on a scale that reflects the amount of money that is devoted to RC, train,plane armor, etc. I would like to think that a "magnet" hobby shops in a major metro areas like Philly can show us the future.

BTW, I grew up near Norristown, PA, and have great memories of a mom and pop train shop about ten miles north with a 20' x 20' (give or take) layout that was always running, and showed me early on what a great scale modeling project could become.

Best of luck!

mike   

I have a customer that did this very same thing. Last year he walked into a R/C store with no plastic. He presented his case and the owner hired him. That store today is moving some plastic and the owner has some extra green he did not have last year.....good luck.

Thad

One of the forum users, Hawkeye, is in the model retail business. I sugest you visit his site for the articles on operating an LHS. This can give you a good idea of the viewpoint of an LHS owner.

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/category/business-related/

Thanks for the imput guys, I appreciate it.  I'm not sure when I am going to head down there but it will be soon, I can only hope to catch the owner though.

The thing with the online store is that they have one already... and very little in it do they have in their physical store and its confusing, the online store has some 88 pages (it says) or plastic car kits the shop might have one shelf for them.

The only thing must sell in that shop is those little war game figures and whatnot because the rest of their stock has been stagnant for ages. 

I personally think the best idea I have here, besides the experience part, is the make and takes, because makes and takes don't net you much loss, the people buy the kits there, unless I'm grossly mistaken.

KINGTHAD

I have a customer that did this very same thing. Last year he walked into a R/C store with no plastic. He presented his case and the owner hired him. That store today is moving some plastic and the owner has some extra green he did not have last year.....good luck.

Thad

Can you name the store w/o being specific enough to circumvent advertising rules on the forum? I'm in Dallas and always looking for new shops to explore........

PM me if necessary, thanks.

Oh, and smeogle, sell yourself first, and maybe as part of the "sale", let the owner know you have some ideas, without being too agressive about what you think of the place. Good performance on the job always paves the way for constructive ideas.

Not sure I would WANT to work in my local store. Not because I have an issue, but because the store has enough trouble just being viable. The internet is not nice to too many of the physical sort.

My store stocks an array of products, you need to though. Warhammer table top, trains, puzzles, board games, RC gear as well as my precious models.

The shelf with the models is modest, but also slim in quantity. I think the shelf only has one function, tells who walks in the door 'yes we sell models' and having a few Dragon means you alert the buyer you realize what good looks like, and Tamiya same reason. She has a small selection of planes, ships, tanks, civilian items just enough to make the customer confident the store knows the basics.

But I buy all my purchases from a catalogue, and my local store realized early on, good idea to find a way to get catalogues for free into my hands. Because I come in with orders regularly. None of my kits ever hit the shelf.

Not sure how much my local store KNOWS models, but, she is willing to listen to me talk about them. I tell her what I THINK she might wish to know, but I leave it in her hands to act on it.

I recently explained my recent disgust with 'brokerage fees' and how mail order might fizzle with me, and could she find a linkage to Gaso.line products even if it adds a few bucks to my price. Told her a lot of these items = additional base kit order as well, which means she sells me two items per vehicle in a lot of cases. Up to her to hunt down a method though eh.

But as much help as I might offer her, I can't see it being worth it to her to hire me to sit in the store trying to move plastic. I'm more inclined to get a hot chocolate from Tim Horton's and just hang out periodically in the store for free :) But not much of use if you are needing work.

She already has the one woman that works there, also making a great Lanc too. Plus she has her husband. And to be honest, she seems over staffed with more than one person and a husband.

All there really is to do there, is man the cash when not re arranging the shelfs almost daily to make it seem like there is something 'new'. Hobby stores don't strike me as work intensive.

Honestly, I dig my LHS and the guys that work there, but yeah, it seems a overstaffed as well. Three regulars and one guy who's there every so often. 

If the financial situation ever works out, I think it'd be really awesome to start up a modest LHS, maybe along the scale of Hill Country Hobby in San Antonio. The three things I'd do if I could do that right now...

1 - Discounts and rewards for customers. My LHS gives out 20% off coupons when you spend more than $50. Awesome, but I know how my stashing mind works, and bumping that up to, I don't know, 30 or 40% off at a certain purchasing frequency (i.e. you buy three kits in a month, or spend $150 or whatever, the next one is 40% off). I know that'd get me in and spending more.

2 - Focus on paint and supply stock. Maybe not a deep inventory - order more as needed and such - but a broad inventory. Model Master acrylic and enamel, Tamiya, Vallejo Model Color and Model Air, Gunze. 99% of the time I go to the LHS, it's because I need a bottle of paint. If they have it, I usually end up buying other stuff. If not, which is sadly often these days, I walk out without spending a dime.

3 - Operate a web store. Specialize in stocking the AM stuff that's always so hard to find. Maybe over time, take the consignment concept online as well. I don't think there's a chance for a LHS to compete in a stand-up fight with Sprue Brothers or Squadron, but you look at, say, Mid-Tenn Hobbies, and they've managed to stand out by selling stuff you can't get from the bigger guys.

RBAER,

I have worked in the industry for years and I use this site for fun not work. I know some try to sell their items here but thats not something  care to do besides rules are rules.

Shoot me a pm I have a few shops I like maybe you will to.

Thad

Doogs, if I could start up a store, I'd likely do price cuts for special order as it means the item comes in and goes out immediately, no wasted time on the shelf. I'd also make signage make this very plain too, so that everyone knew a pre ordered kit was cheaper.

I'd do volume discount ie 1 kit normal price, 2 kits both reduced a percentage, and the percentage of reduction gets better as the count goes up. I think I would also do loyalty coupons as well.

I'd do online store as I would use it to move old stock off the shelf, as nothing makes a store look worse than stock you can remember as being their from last year and further. The online option is mandatory in this age.

But the single biggest truth is you can't live off just models. Your store needs to appeal to almost anyone. That means you can't expect to survive if you can't handle products you simply don't like. Puzzles, might not be yer thing, but if they sell, they put money in the till. The slurs I see heaped on 'crafts', well I say deal with it :)

The business of business is to do business. You can always have fun gossiping about the latest kits with a couple of regulars, just so long as the cash flows.

The perfect store has a section for collectible cards, a spot for comics and manga, a section of model reference and magazines, the usual section for the Warhammer demons, the RC crowd, the model railroaders, supplies that are cross hobby capable, the gaming crowd, and the craft crowd. The only thing I'd likely omit is video games. If I could do it, I'd have a 4 machine cyber cafe and a spot for smokes and cliche pop and chips and candies.

Nothing says happy like reliable revenue stream keeping your model shelf healthy eh.

As they say, to make a small fortune (in some enterprise), start with a large one.

I could tell you one thing I would absolutely do.

I very often find model kits at the flea markets for a fairly good prices.  They are often not stuff I would build but if there cheap enough its a good place to buy older or odd kits that are oop now a days or just hard to find in general.  Also, I cant tell you how many back issues of Rail Road Modeler magazines I see at the flea markets, as well as A LOT of really cheap reference books, would be a great idea to have a discount reference shelf with that kind of material.  not all reference books have to be Osprey

I've been following this since last night.

Here are my thoughts. (They are worth what you're paying for them.)

"It is a poor example of a hobby shop but everyone in the Philly/Nj area knows it because its one of the few left." Sounds like Yogi Berra commenting on Coney Island, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." If it's surviving, it's doing something right.

Approach the owner with the attiftude you're going to tell her how to run her business and the two most likely responses are: A. "Why aren't you runing your own business?" and B. "There's the door. Don't let it hit you on the way out." or C: refer to A and B. Owners, even part owners, are very slow to take any advice. I worked in a chain hobby store in the mid 70's. the manager owned a small % of the company. He would not even accept placing models of the same type together, armor with armor, planes with planes, etc. because that how he did it.

Alternatively, present these ideas and she might like them. However, the response would likely be the same as above. When she puts your ideas into effect, she be so glad SHE thought of them.

The store sounds pretty well, if not over, staffed already. Adding another employee will only cut profits. Do you know the current employees are not family, being provid with a little extra cash and a reason to not be getting into trouble on the street?

Don't expect to get a job and get paid to work on your models. Even is a TV's on for the curent staff, that can be dropped in a second when a customer enters. You can't do that when you've just put together a delicate assembly. How long do you think you'd last if you told a customer he/she had to wait while adjusted the landing gear just so or you had to get the eyes just right on your figure because the mix of paint was going to to dry?

It's fine and good to buy stuff at flea markets and hope to resell it at a profit, but you need to get the right stuff and resell quickly. You think old kits are going to look bad in a store? How do you think old, used books and magazines are going to look? You might even have issues with distributors by reselling used product they sell new.

You do bring up some good points there. 

First I would never go up and say 'your doing it wrong' it would all be suggestion.  I know the owner wants to make changed, she is always adding something to the stock or removing something else to see if things sell, so she is open to that kind of thing.  I dont care if I get credit, just need to get in the door.

I'm pretty sure the current staff are not family, I cant be positive about it, but I would put down money on it in Atlantic City.

With the TV, the people dont look up from it untill you either ask a question or step up to the counter, its right in the middle of the paint and I feel like im blocking their view when im trying to shop for paints...  When it comes down to it, personally, the customer comes first.  I did it before, worked in a job with customer service, had a computer with games to pass the time, when someone came in I droped it all INSTANTLY and went to help.

If I have to re-glue the strut, or remix the paint so be it.  I'm being paid to help the customer, not build the kit.

Now, I did not think about the distributors and reselling the used product.  The old book thing that is an odd subject because I spend alot of time in antique stores and such and old books sell.  I wouldn't buy any that look ratty and junky, just ones that looked in good condition.  Even with the distributor, I cant imagine them having an issue with me re-selling an issue of Rail road modeler magazine from 1964

Interesting comment re used articles. Our local store here simply doesn't want used in the store at all. Guess 'used' sends a message some retailers don't wish to touch. Flea market = used junk. Some stores simply don't want to be mistaken as a haven for junk.

Regarding making models in the store. Only when it is not your shift. Sure have fun making them IN the store, but when you are working, you are working. If I were to walk into a store to see that TV scene, I'd say something rude. That crap wouldn't fly with this customer. Especially if they don't wish to acknowledge me till I interrupt them.

I worked graveyard at a convenience store. My only reason to be there was restock and clean up, something you couldn't do in the middle of the day. My tasks took me an hour if I felt like it. But no one at all came in most nights AT ALL between 2 and 5. Nature of the region.

I liked standing behind the counter working on figures. Easy work, if anyone actually DID come in, it was nothing to put down the part and the Xacto knife. Killed time like that for 4 years. Sure got a lot of figures made :) Was better standing there listening to the drone of the ventilation.

My retailer generally listens to me, whic makes sense. When a person spends a LOT of money in your store on a regular basis, what makes the retailer happy is anything that makes the customer happy.

The difference though, between 'making kits' and what I was suggesting is that one is building a kit, the other is using all products sold in the store as an active demonstration of the products for people to see how its done and how they are used.

Yea that can be construed as still 'just making a kit' but I feel it would draw people in.  Remember how toy stores in the mall used to be?  all the toys that moved on their own would be out front in a pen running to make the kids run over to see?  Its the same principal.

I do find it rude that there watching TV but I also understand that NOTHING HAPPENS in that store, which is a problem.  I would rather have something going on, make and takes, or something.  Heck, even have demonstrations scheduled for the clerks working at certain times.  Like, at 4 oclock on Wednsday there is a demonstration on how to do a wash using oils, or how to dry brush.

Yeah a dead nothing happening store is likely just waiting to die at the very first decent chance.

The local store here has a guy that manages the Warhammer table top scene. They have a day that they play in store, set up some tables and have at it. They pick a slow day of course.

I have pondered running a role game in the store, but I just have not gotten around to it.

Having card games in store is cool if you can find the space for 10-20 kids.

Having someone do a variety of crafts and or kits might make all the difference and would make the place more approachable.

Our current store is the reborn previous place that was bought out and renamed and expanded. The previous owner was an older woman, managing it for a husband that had tired of running it. When she reached retirement age she ditched it as she was just no longer interested.

I bet the moment the owner of that uninterested store gets to a point where they are likely in a similar spot, they will likely ditch it too. And if no one buys it, you can kiss it good bye too.

Just MNSHO, and nuthin' personal, but I'd probably run you off after a couple days, young Padawan... Plus, and this is the hard part to figure out:  She may just be using it as a hobby, or even may actually WANT the business to lose money and handle it as a tax write-off...

Business owners (and I've owned a couple, which I sold for a pretty good profit) are like Soldiers... They can't stand the new guy that is some kind of self-proclaimed expert and shoots his mouth off about "how it should be done"... While you have some good ideas, they're not "Spectacular" ones, nor are they all that original.. 

 I know that you say that you're not interested in telling her she's "wrong", but I think I know you well enough, at least as far as your "on-line personality" goes,  to make an educated guess that the "subdued attitude" wouldn't last long...

For instance.. The "Make & Take" thing... Fine for a club, bad for a business, IMHO.. SOMEbody's gonna pay for that kit, and it ain't gonna be ME... I already paid for it, along with everything else to support it and others like it...   I ain't paying for the paints, cements, nothing, for the "demonstrations"...

Personally, it's been my experience that only experienced modelers are interested in learning new techniques too.. First-timers and other nuggets are happy just to get the paint and decals on without catastrophy...  Until a kid is about 12-14, he ain't buying with his money, and 1/72 scale kits ain't .39 cents anymore...  Parents are flat just not gonna spring for a 40.00 kit that will give them a permanent record of his fingerprints... 

Heck, my two oldest grandkids (who've built a couple-three each in the past) begged for models from me a couple months ago, I let 'em pick out two from my stash (BTW, they both grabbed copies of the same kit, Revell/Monogram 1/48th  P-38s, ) 

Last I saw of the kits, which was last Subday,  they were still sitting on top of the frige, un-opened... Neither are old enough t' buy model cement..  (And they don't like the Non-tox Testor's Fruit Salad either...) I offered to go get 'em some, but they didn't care right then, they'd get Mom to do it "later"...

The other thing about that if that there IS a liability issue... One kid rips through his thumb with an X-Acto, gets thinner or overspray from a rattle-can in his eyes, and *poof* you're in court...  Waivers of Liability are not "bullet-proof"... They only discourage a lawsuit, they don't prevent them... Ever...

Remember the Ferengi's First Rule of Aquisition too... While it may have been from a fictional race, it rings truer than ever in the small business world... I give you My Prime Directives, based (ok stolen from, but that's just TCOB) upon the Ferengi Rules of Aquisition:

1: "Once you have their money, you never give it back"

Others that apply (to me, anyway) to a small business owner, include, but are not limited to-

59: Free advice is seldom cheap.

141: Only fools pay retail.

189: Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.

211.  Employees are rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.

I also don't care what an emplyee is doing behind the counter when I'm in as a customer... I've been building models and dioramas for 40+ years, dunno what some 20-teen kid is gonna tell ME about a kit... I absolutely HATE when a clerk comes walking up to me to me with the "Can I helpya?" line, and follow me around the store.. I'll say something like, "Yeah, you can help.. Where's the Raid so I can get you to quit buggin' me.." 

I wanna be left alone, to think, search, to get inspired, get a dio idea, and may be there awhile... I can kill an hour in the LHS with not a second thought... I'm gonna look through the books and mags, kits, and paints, and especially that clearance bin or shelf.. "Demonstrations" of basic modeling techniques would drive me OUT of the store, not draw me in... That's what model forums are for.. "Events" just cost money, they don't make any... 100-10-1 Rule applies.. For every 100 folks, 10 are interested, and 1 will buy a major item(s)...

I DO like to shoot the breeze with the boss and anyone else there too, though... My LHS here, is more a "Floyd's Barber Shop" than a Hobby Shop... There're several guys, two or three besides me & the owner,  just batting the breeze about kits, then sports, news, politics, whatever was on the "Military Channel" last night... You get the idea.. It's a social event, not a sales pitch I'm looking for..

I may have strayed a bit from your original post...  But, while I see your point, I wouldn't pack up the toolbox and ask her "Where's my bench?" just yet...

Hans von Hammer

Just MNSHO, and nuthin' personal, but I'd probably run you off after a couple days, young Padawan... Plus, and this is the hard part to figure out:  She may just be using it as a hobby, or even may actually WANT the business to lose money and handle it as a tax write-off...  I Might agree with with you there except that this perticular store has lasted for a long time, its been around longer then I have been alive and outlasted every other LHS in the area that I know of.  Plus, the owner is constantly changing stock, adding this, removing that, trying to find new things that will or will not sell.

Business owners (and I've owned a couple, which I sold for a pretty good profit) are like Soldiers... They can't stand the new guy that is some kind of self-proclaimed expert and shoots his mouth off about "how it should be done"... While you have some good ideas, they're not "Spectacular" ones, nor are they all that original.. 

I know there not spectacular or new ideas, I'm not saying that, but there better then what they are doing.  They used to do those table top gaming things (they still may) and it would bring people to the store as well.

 I know that you say that you're not interested in telling her she's "wrong", but I think I know you well enough, at least as far as your "on-line personality" goes,  to make an educated guess that the "subdued attitude" wouldn't last long...

Heh, that may be true, but if I can talk myself into a job I wont say a bloody word, believe you me.

For instance.. The "Make & Take" thing... Fine for a club, bad for a business, IMHO.. SOMEbody's gonna pay for that kit, and it ain't gonna be ME... I already paid for it, along with everything else to support it and others like it...   I ain't paying for the paints, cements, nothing, for the "demonstrations"...

Well, I know (cant put my finger on it) some companies, I think Eduard actually, sells make and take kits for their planes.  And I know the store has an overstock of humbrol and other less then the best quality paints they sell in their cheap bin, wouldn't be hard to re-purpose them, just put it as part of the fee to get in, 10 bucks to get in and you get a teacher to show you how to build it, the kit to keep, the paint to keep, and access to the tools you need.  As far as things like brushes and what not go, there are alot of those really cheap low quality ones for sale in bulk which would be perfect for this kind of thing.

Personally, it's been my experience that only experienced modelers are interested in learning new techniques too.. First-timers and other nuggets are happy just to get the paint and decals on without catastrophy...  Until a kid is about 12-14, he ain't buying with his money, and 1/72 scale kits ain't .39 cents anymore...  Parents are flat just not gonna spring for a 40.00 kit that will give them a permanent record of his fingerprints... 

THERE I completely agree with you.  Younger kids wont be spending their own money, and the parents wont shill out that much for a new kit, BUT there are alot of things, like... 1/72nd scale vehichles, figure kits, 1/72nd scale planes, that can come in under 10$ for a kit (a set of figures in 1/32nd, the kind that already come constructed but not painted, im sure you all know the kind there are a BILLION of them, and in so many more themes then we get in KIT form could do a whole room of kits)

Also, one of the store's bigger sellers that I can see are those wargaming miniatures, those need to be painted and the people that paint them get fairly serious about them, im sure a few flyers in the window of the store could get people in for a demonstration.

Heck, my two oldest grandkids (who've built a couple-three each in the past) begged for models from me a couple months ago, I let 'em pick out two from my stash (BTW, they both grabbed copies of the same kit, Revell/Monogram 1/48th  P-38s, ) 

Last I saw of the kits, which was last Subday,  they were still sitting on top of the frige, un-opened... Neither are old enough t' buy model cement..  (And they don't like the Non-tox Testor's Fruit Salad either...) I offered to go get 'em some, but they didn't care right then, they'd get Mom to do it "later"...

Thats ashame, but then at a make and take they would have everything they need, wouldn't have to rely on mom go 'go get it' then loose interest when she didn't wanna go right away

The other thing about that if that there IS a liability issue... One kid rips through his thumb with an X-Acto, gets thinner or overspray from a rattle-can in his eyes, and *poof* you're in court...  Waivers of Liability are not "bullet-proof"... They only discourage a lawsuit, they don't prevent them... Ever...

That is something I did not think of and would be a problem.  you COULD avoid it by not letting them use Exactos and Rattle cans, or not without supervision from the person running it.

Remember the Ferengi's First Rule of Aquisition too... While it may have been from a fictional race, it rings truer than ever in the small business world... I give you My Prime Directives, based (ok stolen from, but that's just TCOB) upon the Ferengi Rules of Aquisition:

1: "Once you have their money, you never give it back"

Others that apply (to me, anyway) to a small business owner, include, but are not limited to-

59: Free advice is seldom cheap.

This is the only one that I want to argue with.  Especially at a LHS free advice is something that I always liked about them.  Bought something new, or needed help with something I could ask the old guy behind the counter who built all the planes that were hanging from the ceiling and he would help me out, or give me a bit of advice to point me in the right direction.  His advice is how I started using acrylics

141: Only fools pay retail.

189: Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.

211.  Employees are rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.

 

 

I also don't care what an emplyee is doing behind the counter when I'm in as a customer... I've been building models and dioramas for 40+ years, dunno what some 20-teen kid is gonna tell ME about a kit... I absolutely HATE when a clerk comes walking up to me to me with the "Can I helpya?" line, and follow me around the store.. I'll say something like, "Yeah, you can help.. Where's the Raid so I can get you to quit buggin' me.." 

I do hate the hard sell as well.  I personally want my space when im buying too, but I also really dislike it when you walk into a place and feel like your in someone's living room disturbing them.  Hey, fatbutt, get your pizza face away from the TV and do your job, this isn't your mama's basement!

I wanna be left alone, to think, search, to get inspired, get a dio idea, and may be there awhile... I can kill an hour in the LHS with not a second thought... I'm gonna look through the books and mags, kits, and paints, and especially that clearance bin or shelf.. "Demonstrations" of basic modeling techniques would drive me OUT of the store, not draw me in... That's what model forums are for.. "Events" just cost money, they don't make any... 100-10-1 Rule applies.. For every 100 folks, 10 are interested, and 1 will buy a major item(s)...

I sort of agree with you about the event not making money, but it wouldn't be a random spur of the moment thing, it would be a once a week product demonstration, kind of thing, at a specific time.  If you didn't want to see it well it would only last a half an hour, all it would take, product wise, is a single figure from a figure kit and a bit of paint (I would honestly just use my own I could care less as long as it was working for a project I was going for)

I DO like to shoot the breeze with the boss and anyone else there too, though... My LHS here, is more a "Floyd's Barber Shop" than a Hobby Shop... There're several guys, two or three besides me & the owner,  just batting the breeze about kits, then sports, news, politics, whatever was on the "Military Channel" last night... You get the idea.. It's a social event, not a sales pitch I'm looking for..

Yea, but you do buy stuff, you dont go in there just to hang out and talk now, do you?

I may have strayed a bit from your original post...  But, while I see your point, I wouldn't pack up the toolbox and ask her "Where's my bench?" just yet...

Oh, I know, I know, I just feel I have a better chance of talking myself into a job here then with the resumes and calls I have been making for the last few months, and I NEED some income... I'm dieing here man.

Also, this is the exact kind of reply I was hoping for, thanks Hans

 

 

Smeagol

I have not read through the whole thread yet, but I do have a couple of thoughts. First, I appreciate your desire and your drive to both get a job and get one in a field you are interested in. Particularly in these times, I know jobs are a tough commodity to find.

smeagol the vile

The difference though, between 'making kits' and what I was suggesting is that one is building a kit, the other is using all products sold in the store as an active demonstration of the products for people to see how its done and how they are used.

The problem here is that you are talking about two different things. Are you building a kit to kill time, which you would then put down to help customers or are you demonstrating building techniques? If it is the latter, than you would not be in a situation to help customers. Imagine you are demonstrating a technique for a couple of people, but there are others who are actually there to shop. How are you going to do both?

smeagol the vile

I do find it rude that there watching TV but I also understand that NOTHING HAPPENS in that store, which is a problem.  I would rather have something going on, make and takes, or something.  Heck, even have demonstrations scheduled for the clerks working at certain times.  Like, at 4 oclock on Wednsday there is a demonstration on how to do a wash using oils, or how to dry brush.

Well, there must be SOMETHING going on in that store or that store would be closed. Alternatively, there would not be the number of employees there are.

As to your idea about selling old, out of stock books, magazines, etc... while on the face that is an interesting idea, the challenge, I suspect, is to find those types of things in quantity that would make it worthwhile for an employer to pay you, the employee, to use your time to search this stuff out, purchase it at a reasonable price that would allow the store to cover the cost of your time AND make a modest profit. 

bbrowniii

Smeagol

I have not read through the whole thread yet, but I do have a couple of thoughts. First, I appreciate your desire and your drive to both get a job and get one in a field you are interested in. Particularly in these times, I know jobs are a tough commodity to find.

 

smeagol the vile:

 

The difference though, between 'making kits' and what I was suggesting is that one is building a kit, the other is using all products sold in the store as an active demonstration of the products for people to see how its done and how they are used.

 

 

The problem here is that you are talking about two different things. Are you building a kit to kill time, which you would then put down to help customers or are you demonstrating building techniques? If it is the latter, than you would not be in a situation to help customers. Imagine you are demonstrating a technique for a couple of people, but there are others who are actually there to shop. How are you going to do both?

Well there are normally two people working in their store at a time, and at the current time no one ever leaves the counter to help people unless they come up and ask, in which case everything SHOULD be dropped, regardless, unless someone else is actively speaking/asking/buying from you at that time

 

smeagol the vile:

 

I do find it rude that there watching TV but I also understand that NOTHING HAPPENS in that store, which is a problem.  I would rather have something going on, make and takes, or something.  Heck, even have demonstrations scheduled for the clerks working at certain times.  Like, at 4 oclock on Wednsday there is a demonstration on how to do a wash using oils, or how to dry brush.

 

 

Well, there must be SOMETHING going on in that store or that store would be closed. Alternatively, there would not be the number of employees there are.

Oh There are things going on in the store, just... all that ever happens is someone comes in, shops, brings something up and pays.  Out of all of that the cashiers only do something when someone enters the store (they say hi) and comes up to purchase the item.  By 'nothing happens' I mean some hobby shows do events and things like im suggesting (or atleast should) it would bring people in.

As to your idea about selling old, out of stock books, magazines, etc... while on the face that is an interesting idea, the challenge, I suspect, is to find those types of things in quantity that would make it worthwhile for an employer to pay you, the employee, to use your time to search this stuff out, purchase it at a reasonable price that would allow the store to cover the cost of your time AND make a modest profit. 

Well, as far as that goes I go to the flea markets on the weekends anyway and come across these.  If I had to go out and find them on my own it would be one thing, but I already know where to find them and in large quantities at a place I already go, which is why I would even suggest it.  PLUS they make alot of their profit on trains and such, old issues of Rail road modeler and such would be an interesting thing to have imho

 

For Hans von Hammer with no intent to offend, but some serious laughter AT you is required :)

You are one atyipcal grumpy old *** :)

We have both likely forgotten more than most will ever know about models, but, I have learned one valuable lesson from sad unfortunate experience. Grumpy old bastards are no asset in anyone's life. That includes retail.

I understand all of your observations, I just don't care about them :) Ya old coot.

My local store owner, she knows nothing about making models to my knowledge. It would be risky though to presume she knows nothing about selling them.

I do believe, if all a stored stocked, was the wants of a few grumpy old bggers and their expert needs, the store would roll over and die.

I'm not impressed with your claims to previous businesses. I've known people clever enough to start businesses, and clever enough to sell businesses, but not clever enough to run businesses.

smeagol the vile

Well there are normally two people working in their store at a time, and at the current time no one ever leaves the counter to help people unless they come up and ask, in which case everything SHOULD be dropped, regardless, unless someone else is actively speaking/asking/buying from you at that time

PLUS they make alot of their profit on trains and such, old issues of Rail road modeler and such would be an interesting thing to have imho

OK, fair enough, but from your points above consider: I am a customer. I walk in the store and need some help. I see two people, one apparently doing something (that would be you building a model) and the other standing around twiddling his or her thumbs behind the counter. Who am I most likely to ask for help? So, from the owner's perspective, where is the advantage in having you there 'displaying' your expertise?

Second point - if they already make profits from trains, perhaps models are not considered to be a significant or important source of revenue for them. I'd be careful going in with a grand plan to 'make things better' before you get the lay of the land and figure our exactly how important the models are in the overall business operation.

By the way, as a point of clarification.... I am not trying to discourage you or to imply that you should not try to get hired at this shop. I'd just suggest you do a little research into how the place operates and where the models fit in to the overall picture before you make grand 'suggestions' about restructuring things.

Good luck with your job hunt!

I'm not going to look at any of the other responses so my apologies if someone beat me to it:

Enthusiasts ALWAYS have the "grand ideas" for how the store that sells their hobby should be run. Offer to buy her out rather than to be her employee. You don't walk into an independently owned business and tell that person, who put up their own money and takes all the risks, that you know better than they do.

If you think you can do it better, put your money where your mouth is.

Go for it , smeagol. Just do it. What have you got to lose? What is the worst thing that can happen? Less talk and more action. Let us know how it turns out.