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Would you open a hobby store if you won the lottery......??

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  • Member since
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  • From: N.H.
Posted by panzerguy on Friday, July 31, 2009 7:02 PM
   Absolutely not! But I'd keep mine and Jadgpanther 302's in business for a very long time.

"Happiness is a belt fed weapon"

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  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:45 PM
If you won millions in the lottery, you wouldn't need to buy or open a hobby store. Like Hans, stocks, bonds and real estate are where there is to make the money, not a couple of bucks off a new kit. Besides if you did win millions, why not buy and build, for your never going  to get rich selling the stuff. I'd much rather build then run 30% off sales.

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 Eric 

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  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Thursday, July 16, 2009 8:39 PM
 smeagol the vile wrote:

I know, thats what I said, you open a hobby store...

No, that's what I meant by "making the money work"..  Making the money work means I don't...  Investing in stocks, bonds, etc and living off the interest and dividends... Or by something like say, I bankroll a person to open a hobby shop and they pay me to work it... My initial investment plus interest...  Me actually standing behind the register?  No way...

 

  • Member since
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  • From: near Nashville, TN
Posted by TarnShip on Thursday, July 16, 2009 5:34 PM

I would, and since making a profit (except for every few years in order to stay open, per the IRS) wouldn't be a big deal,,,,,,I'd probably get hate mail from the struggling stores, online shops, "real" resin makers, decal makers and book printers

think of a "hobbysuppliesandpublishing.org" type of place

almost gone

  • Member since
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  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:40 AM
well people say that its dieing, and it might be, but its the LHS thats dieing, not the hobby, because internet stores are doing great.  Im in my 20s, I know others in their 20s that build this, and I know alot of you have your kids/grandkids/(in hans case) greatg reat great grandkids building

 

  • Member since
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  • From: The Great Canadian West Coast
Posted by Rudi35 on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:06 PM

If I had enough money that the shop would not have to make a profit (or any money for that matter) I would open one and invite the local IPMS to use it as a hang out. I would sell everything at cost and anyone who wanted to shoot the breeze all day would be welcome - perhaps a coffee counter would be appropriate. There would be no RC kits either, just scale plastic and resin.

This thread has been an eye-opener. One of the questions I had was if the hobby would die with this last generation of modelers (in their 30's and 40's) and it seems it probably will according to jtilley's observations. I also noticed in my local shops that the only guys under 21 were there for RC equipment. They didn't even have a look at the scale models shelves. It is odd though that with fewer customers there has been an increase in kits, manufacturers and aftermarket parts. I think that must be due to the fact that the older modeller has quite a bit more disposable income (and we throw it away with abandon) as well more time.

  • Member since
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  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 3:24 PM
just check the scifi forum, the names thrown all over the place over there.  Www.gundamstoreandmore.com

 

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Posted by KAYSEE88 on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:10 PM
 smeagol the vile wrote:

Heres a good example, in michigan there is a store that sells almost nothing but gundam model kits.  Normally that store wouldnt stay open long, being so specialied, but they sell their stuff online, and have a MASSIVE cataloug which has almost every kit that was put out in modern times and some older ones.  They do very good buisness, enough that they have redone their site with a 110% pricematch garuntee and weekly deals of 50%+ on a single kit.  Its a small buisness all in all, if you call them your likley going to get the same nice people every time.  Their prices are very cheap, not much markup at all, and the shipping is very fast.  They do very good buisness

Hi....whats the name of the biz you mention here??  (or just PM me its info.) ;)))

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 1:27 PM

I know, thats what I said, you open a hobby store (since its something we all like and the topics about) you follow successfull buisness models of other stores, things like keeping new kits in stock, discounts, having the catalog online for people out of driving distance to purchase from you.  You make deals with non mainstream companies that make resin kits and such to carry them in your stores, giving you something that other walk in hobby shops dont have.  You hire a staff to work there so you dont have to, just come in once or twice a week, or sit in the store and build and supervise.  Have other people do the crap work. 

Since your owning the store, and it isnt a chain or anything, you dont have some coperate a$$ telling you 'oh order these kits' you know what kits are nice and new and people want and you order those, instead of the same old revell kits.

 

Heres a good example, in michigan there is a store that sells almost nothing but gundam model kits.  Normally that store wouldnt stay open long, being so specialied, but they sell their stuff online, and have a MASSIVE cataloug which has almost every kit that was put out in modern times and some older ones.  They do very good buisness, enough that they have redone their site with a 110% pricematch garuntee and weekly deals of 50%+ on a single kit.  Its a small buisness all in all, if you call them your likley going to get the same nice people every time.  Their prices are very cheap, not much markup at all, and the shipping is very fast.  They do very good buisness

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:43 AM

 smeagol the vile wrote:
to all those who say they wouldnt work at all, those are the people who end up spending everything they have and having to go back to work in the end

You make the MONEY work, kid...     

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: San Tan Valley,AZ
Posted by smokinguns3 on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:48 PM
If i won a huge amount like 500 million after taxes, I would and the kicker here would be ,it would be my own private fully stocked hobby shop. And thee only way would get in is buy appoitment and id let my ipms club members in for free.
Rob I think i can I think i can
  • Member since
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  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:12 PM
Nope! I would help those who do own one get rich by selling me stuff though. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
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  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:42 PM
Just seems smarter to me to use a portion of that money to open a store, or something where you could work two or three days out of the week, inorder to keep money coming in, so there would be remnants of that lottery win for not only you but your kids.  Its what I would do

 

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  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3:23 PM
I would be too busy catching Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado and drinking Negra Modelo's and Patron Silver in Los Dos Cabos and La Paz. Big Smile [:D]

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:53 PM
Well you would have to balance it out and have a solid financial plan so that you could indulge your hobbies.Plus if you had a good tax attorney and money manager you could live pretty much stess-free if you didn't go wild and invested wisely.
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  • From: Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Posted by bilbirk on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:12 PM
 smeagol the vile wrote:
to all those who say they wouldnt work at all, those are the people who end up spending everything they have and having to go back to work in the end
     What in the world would be wrong with that? If I won a big lottery payoff I would do my best to blow as much as I could because I could use a break every now and then. Money is made to be spent and I would want to help stimulate the economy as much as I could. NOPE No work for me! Till I ran out anyway.
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  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 9:06 AM
    (I wish that stupid green Smiley would spell "ditto" correctly)

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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  • From: Pineapple Country, Queensland, Australia
Posted by Wirraway on Monday, July 13, 2009 11:21 PM

 smeagol the vile wrote:
to all those who say they wouldnt work at all, those are the people who end up spending everything they have and having to go back to work in the end

And that statement would be based on what ?

There are plenty of people who can manage a financial windfall sensibly, just as there are others who would blow it all inside of a year.

Blanket statements annoy me Steven.

 

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"

" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it"  -Norman Bates

 

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  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Monday, July 13, 2009 5:45 PM
Win the lottery and then work!!??  Hah! I don't even work now, much less after I'm rich! Fuggettaboutit.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
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  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Monday, July 13, 2009 1:36 PM
to all those who say they wouldnt work at all, those are the people who end up spending everything they have and having to go back to work in the end

 

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  • From: Prince George B.C., Canada
Posted by Bullet21 on Monday, July 13, 2009 1:27 PM
You bet I would. And it would be stuffed full of kits and parts and supplies of all kinds. And the best part is I wouldn't give a fat rat's a.. if it turned a profit 'cause I'd already be rich. Big Smile [:D]

 Keep SmilinLiberation of Western Europe'--it makes this world a nicer place.

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  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Monday, July 13, 2009 1:12 PM

If I won the lottery, I definatly would, though, first I would probably buy the entire stock of a hobby shop just for myself :D

But I'd open a hobbyshop just for this kind of hobby, models, not the generic kinds you see.  Itd have a nice sized section for each type, like we have on the forum, as well as linked online store for the store inorder to reach a broader market.  I'd have events in the store, like classes on how to build, those things where kids come in, buy a kit, and build it right there, competitions, all that nice stuff, to drum up support for the store.  I'd also try and make some kind of deal with some of the AM resin makers (figures and the like) to havem in my store (that normally are online only), and I'd only keep the top notch kits, no junk.

 

You ever go into a games workshop type store, see the tables there with people playing?   I'd do that kind of thing, have benches near the front of the store so that people could work on the stuff they bought there if they wanted, as well as letting me build while at work (cause who wouldnt want that?)  Also I'd offer a small discount to anyone who brought in Finished models purcased in the store to be displayed in the store, sort of as advertisment, sort of to let the modelers show their work to the public, and to show others what can be built.  On that note, with the kind of money I have, I'd comission armorguy for one of those 1/6th scale R/C tanks.  Nothinwould draw in buisness like one of those driving dwn the sidewalk.

 

Last thing (I think) If you want buisness, and if you hit the lottery, I'd get myself a big enough store, and offer to host the local IPMS at the store, thats a way to get buisness Ill tell you what

 

  • Member since
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  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Monday, July 13, 2009 12:29 PM
 Hans, may I be the first one in line for that school, should you win? (you do play the lotto, right?)

  • Member since
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  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Monday, July 13, 2009 8:58 AM

I actually have thought it out, lol... Just a quick over-view...

I wouldn't open a hobby shop in the traditional sense... My money would be going into aquiring the 1/1 scale items, were it the type of win that resuted in like 100 + million or so...

I'd be buying up restored AFVs and aircraft at a rate that would shame the Collings Foundation and hiring the folks to restore, maintain, & operate the future aquisitions as I move through the Korean, Vietnam and Cold War eras... Right of the top of m' head, there'd be a Jeep, Sherman, a Duece, a Tiger, a Mk IV, and a DUKW in the parking lot, and out at the local airpatch, a T-6, B-25, FW-190, P-51, and a B-17 would be in my new hangar...  The house would be built out of a C-141 fuselage or the like... My travels would be starting with getting all those things out on the living history and airshow circuits in order to help keep the history alive and in front of the younger folks... Then work the WW1 and "Golden Age" military aircraft into the mix...

I'd also build & run a WW2-era US Army Air Force Flight School... Training would-be pilots in the exact manner done throughout the war years from Primary Flight School through Operational Training Units... At rates that would allow "everday joes" that have the desire and brains, but don't have 40,000 bucks to learn the ropes...  And for the Ladies, the WASPs...Big Smile [:D]

I even figured out the areas of West Texas where the school would be so there'd be plenty of flight-time over the actual terrain used then..

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Posted by bilbirk on Monday, July 13, 2009 7:37 AM
Absolutely NOT! If I won the Lottery I'd be lucky to even want to work on a model for the next year! I'd be traveling to places I've always dreamed of and seeing the sites. Work or anything close to that would be the last thing on my mind.
  • Member since
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Posted by deadhead on Sunday, July 12, 2009 9:30 AM

Paintswithbrush:One area of the country?

Tip of the Mitt Michigan. Millions of hobbiest and one shop.

Work as a millionaire? How can it be 'work' if you love it?

That said, What is it Trump, Gates et al are doing?

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  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Sunday, July 12, 2009 7:58 AM

 philo426 wrote:
MG Mikael isn't that the  '67 Impala 4-door hardtop from the TV series "Supernatural"?Great car and cool TV series although it seems that Sam and Dean really screwed the Pooch by killing Lillith and breaking the final seal!

Yep, that's the car.....it's just so sweet.Big Smile [:D] Glad to find someone else who recognizes the car and the tv show. Yeah, that Ruby was a nasty little bugger by decieving Sam (Dean was always suspicious) for almost the past two seasons. Though now I'm really looking forward to the next season, with that finale.Cool [8D]

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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  • From: Pineapple Country, Queensland, Australia
Posted by Wirraway on Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:05 AM

No way, Jose....

It might be pleasurable work, but it would still be WORK.  Wouldnt that be a dirty word if you were a millionaire ?

We just had our biggest ever Lottery In Oz.  90 million bucks.  Not as big as some of the Lotteries in the states, or Europe, but not bad for a country with 24 million people.  In the end, 2 entries won 45 million each. 

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"

" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it"  -Norman Bates

 

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Posted by mitsdude on Sunday, July 12, 2009 12:00 AM

After over 40 years in the workforce a big ole NO!!!

I would be to busy travelling to my winter home in Hawaii and my summer home in the Swiss Alps and also "shopping".

I would very likely search out some highly recommened shops and became a handsoff "investor".

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