Revell sales up 90% in March

I believe it. Right before the lockdown I went to the local Hobby Lobby for supplies and there were folks in the model aisle taking their kids looking for models to start them on and keep them busy in the weeks ahead since schools were going to be closed.

On a related note, just look how busy the forums here have been recently, and how many new members returning to the hobby have joined since the lockdowns began. 

I gather Revell USA is the local branch of Revell GmbH.

Reminds me of that old Chris Rock routine.

"Barbeque sauce? They take my culture, put it in a bottle and sell it back to me".

A bare spot is now on a shelf in the stash barn.

I wonder how much of this is getting Bandai's star wars kits. They were a hot ticket item for ages.

GMorrison

I gather Revell USA is the local branch of Revell GmbH.

 

Revell USA was launched in 2018. The business has 10 employees and a small network of commission based salespeople. Revell USA is based in Fox River Grove, IL. Fox River Grove is an outer suburb of Chicago. Aguilera, president of Revell USA, used to work at Motorolla until he joined Revell in 2011.  In 2018, Revell's parent company Hobbico, filled for bankruptcy. Aguilera was general manager of Revell under Hobbico. When Hobbico went bankrupt, its assets were purchased by Quantum Capital, a German investment group. Aquilera convinced Quantium Capital that he could make Revell USA a success, so Revell USA was reopened in 2018.

Looking at the Revell website, it does appear that Revell USA is still a sub branch of Revell GmbH.

stikpusher

On a related note, just look how busy the forums here have been recently, and how many new members returning to the hobby have joined since the lockdowns began. 

Yeah, I was anticipating a month long shutdown at work. Instead, they offered a voluntary Leave of Absence (LOA) to those who qualified due to health, child care, contact with persons of risk (like having an older parent live with you or a spouse that is at risk), etc.

So many people applied and others stopped coming to work, that they had to shut down certain shifts and shuffle those workers to other buildings in the factory complex.

I was hoping to get some serious modeling time done, but instead, I'm on mandatory overtime. It's an easy job for the same pay (plus a $2/hr appreciation pay), but it is more time consuming.

I use a lot of gloss black.  I managed to get a jar before hobby lobby closed.  Michaels was open a couple of days longer, but when I got there they had a fair stock of most colors, but not a single bottle of gloss black.  Already mixed up all I bought- have to ration what I have left now.

 

I'm very happy to see that for them. It is, however, a 'smash and grab'. They'll have a tougher time in April as the 70% of sales outlets are mostly shuttered. How the future lays out will be key to their success. One thing in their favor is the introduction of their paint/finishing lines. If they can take all of Testors, and yes, I mean all since Testors is receding here, it will bode well for future revenues. These places are where their 70% of sales are. Tie this in with being able to increase shelf space for their kits, and they'll be around a good long time.

The revell usa is actually revell germany. Much of their line is not and will not be available here.