The State of Modeling and Hobby Shops

My LHS while good, they mark up the prices in the last year, a revell car model is in the 35 to over 40 bucks, I can find the same kits for 22 ,  I pretty much stopped buying there, other than things like glue and BMF,  also the store use to be 2 whole stores wide, earlier this year they have shrunk down to one side of the retail space, and shoved the models in the basement. With the top floor being art supplies.  I shop more and more at Michaels with the 50% off coupons than support the LHS, and prefer to order from an online hobby shop located in another province, since the prices are drastically cheaper even with shipping!

modelcrazy

 My LHS doesn't/won't carry the variety of paint I need, instead, they can order it for me. So I look at the cost of driving my F150 down to the store (7 miles away x 13 MPG), ordering the items, waiting for them to call me, drive back down and pick them up. I can get my paint cheaper w/ shipping, and in the same amount, or less, time.

Steve,

I know exactly which HS you are talking about, since it is the closest one to me as well.  Yes, I had the same experience the last time I was down there.  I was looking for some Alclad II and asked the kid in the store if they carried it; oddly enought he didnt know what I was talking about.  I finally found it on my own but the bottles they  had looked very old and the labels had turned yellow.  They didnt have the color I was looking for but told me they would order it for me.  After finding out the price they were going to charge for it, I was able to buy the color I was looking for and another color for the same price they were going to charge for one.

I think it's a shame that the good ole "mom & pop" type hobby shops are closing.  I remember when there were quite a few around that you could spend hours in.

I loved the Spare Time Shop when I was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. When I was stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, I used to travel to visit various National Guard and Army Reserve units in the Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi area. One of the first things I'd do upon reaching a destination was to check the local phone book to see if there were hobby shops near by. I also learned that you had to scour the yellow pages to figure out how/where hobby shops were listed. The section of Fine Scale Modeler where local stores paid to list themselves was very useful.

I imagine the internet would make this a much easier endeavor than it was in the mid 1990s.

I travel a lot, and if I have any spare time, I like to look up model shops on Google Maps, call the shops to see if they're open, and go visit. Given how volatile the world of retail has been for the past decade, you never know until you talk to a store employee if a Google Maps listing is current and the shop is still open. (Back in the day, before Google Maps hit its stride in terms of place listings, the back pages of FSM used to be my source for hunting down shops.)

It seems that most hobby shops these days cater to RC (which is fine by me, because I'm also an RC enthusiast), but I still love browsing through rows and rows of plastic models.

On a trip to Portland, OR earlier this year, I was happily surprised to find a handful of shops that were within 20 minutes driving distance of downtown, including Bridgetowne Hobbies. Unfortunately, soon after I made my visit to Bridgetowne (and purchased a few things), the store closed.

Last year, I was motorcycling my way up through CT, and I dropped into Time Machine Hobby just east of Hartford. Wow — what a place! Luckily, I had enough room in my top case to fit a few models and other toys.

In Pensacola, the LHS count is quite high (understandable since there's a big military population there), and even the local Hobbytown stocks a decent selection of models. Bobe's in Pensacola impressed me even more — a great store worth visiting if you happen to be in town.

Like Pensacola, the DC metro area seems to have a healthy number of shops — although none of them really stood out to me enough that I felt I needed to make a second visit.

And if I'm anywhere near Marlborough, Massachusetts, I try to make my way to Spare Time Shop. The store has rows of model kits, floor to ceiling, including many vintage and hard-to-find kits, even in this age of being able to find things so quickly online.

Anyway — with all that said, I'm not sure if there's truly been a hobby shop revival, or if it's just that Google Maps (and other online resources) have made it easier to find open hobby shops.

Nankin also has a store in Farmington.  It burned a few years back.  Mostly RC stuff and a friend who was fighting the fire that night said it was one of the hottest he's fought in 20 years of firefighting.  I figured it was done but they actually rebuilt and I get in about once a month.  Their scale model stuff makes up about 25% of their stock but they continually add great items.  Recently they brought in MIG and Vallejo products.  No photoetch yet.  They used to price their models way below online and I would sit in the aisle with my phone and price shop but now they price accordingly.  Most recent addition is the Meng M2 with interior.  Really happy to have this shop in my hometown!

Are you familiar with Nankin?  Its a local Ace Hardware franchise that's always had a great hobby section.  They just opened two or three hobby only locations in the metro area.  But the Ypsi location is on Washtenaw just west of EMU.  Its heavy on RC, but they have a nice scale modeling section, and all the paints, finishing supplies and tools I need.  The staff is young guys who are more in to the RC, but they've always been friendly and helpful to me.

The other is "Model Cave" downtown Ypsi, at Michigan and Huron.  Its a smaller store overall, but ALL scale models.  VERY nice selection of both kits and supplies.  This is a true "mom and pop" store; the owners are friendly helpful and knowledgeable.  The only knock I have on this place is that they're closed Monday and Tuesday, my days off.

Where are they, I'm in the area and would love to do business with them.

The retail environment is brutal for everything right now.

But I'll agree with those who call this a golden age for the hobby overall.

And here in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area, after going a couple years with no hobby shops at all, we just had two new ones just open up.  A new Golden Age!

Even as a school kid in the fifties I occasionally ordered mail order- anyone remember America's Hobby Center in NYC that had one or two page ads in all the modeling magazines.  This was only for special deals that my LHS didn't have, but the problem has been with us for at least that long.

One online supplier has a thing that helps.  When you order online, the item is delivered to a partipating LHS, where  you pick it up.  This is a model RR supplier (they have a great selection of scratchbuilding supplies, even though I am not into RR).

It is not just the hobby shops that have this problem- there is an economy of scale in retailing, so small local shops have long had a problem. Franchising is a partial answer, but the increases in telecommunication, and the reduction in delivery times are likely to make problem worse in future.  Problem with online or mail order sales is, when you run out of that fancy color of paint you need to continue, it hurts to wait a day or two to get a new bottle.  That is where the value of LHS is priceless!

Also helping the LHS is the very poor catalogs and web pages of some online dealers.

The LHS can't move any kind of merchandise regardless of the attitude if people aren't walking through the doors. I myself (shame on me) order my paint through the internet. My LHS doesn't/won't carry the variety of paint I need, instead, they can order it for me. So I look at the cost of driving my F150 down to the store (7 miles away x 13 MPG), ordering the items, waiting for them to call me, drive back down and pick them up. I can get my paint cheaper w/ shipping, and in the same amount, or less, time.

Most people find a larger variety of kits and less expensive on the web. Prior to the turn of the century there was no other choice.

I am ecstatic that there are shops doing well. My local Hobby Town seems to have people in it when I visit, but they are a franchise and diversify greatly, however that is just not the case in most areas. Most people are just not interested in the hobby anymore. There are just too many other "Shinny Objects" to attract them.

Like I said before, I believe my lifelong dream is gone, unless I win the lottery. Then the doors would just be open for me and It would loose money, but I would have it to loose for a little while. At least I could live the dream.

Its been a while since I posted to this forum but here goes. Currently we travel as brand ambassadors for a couple of mfrs in the hobby industry. We attend local club meetings, events and contests. We also call on hobby retailers to help them promote the hobby by doing in store product demos and training for their staff and their customers. We have seen both ends of the spectrum of retailers...good and the bad.

Much of whether or not any particular store does well depends on its owners and the staff's attitudes towards the public that enter through the door. Whether or not they even want to be in business and how they feel towards their business.

Selection has a lot to do with the clients they service and the amount of sales they muster from the items they sell. If only one or two of the locals want plastic kits and supplies, it doesn't really justify bringing in much because they'll never get sufficient return in a timely manner to warrant stocking.

The number of LHS continues to decline, yet the amount of products continues to grow. This growth in selection continues because products continue to sell, albeit probably not through the local shop down the street because in most communities they are gone. The are several great local stores out there...and we have seen several and are looking forward to visiting more as we crisscross this country (USA) visiting them.

Beats my usual Christmas Village.

MJames70

...And I think even the tradition of holiday trains under the tree is disappearing, too...

Not in my house.  Well, not trains, but rather, this is my usual display...

That's the Kaiser-Alexander-Grenadier regiment, in a Christmas parade.  The grenadiers were made by Guard Corps back in the '90s, and I have other figures by makers like Stadden, Rose, Imrie-Risley, etc, which I painted myself.  The artillery sets are by Britains.

I've left messages at his home but he never calls back. LOL! I guess it must be true he's gone off to live like a hermit after losing his job at K&K. I never knew it was on Oriskany Blvd nor across Toys R Us. I guess I have been away too long after all. XD

The Hobby Connection was on Oriskany Boulevard in Yorkville, in a small plaza near Holland Farms for a few years. They then moved to a small strip of stores across the street from Toys R Us in New Hartford. That was several shops at the time; today it is all one bike/outdoor shop in the space. They closed up around 2000. The former owner still has some of the stock in his basement to this day.

And I think even the tradition of holiday trains under the tree is disappearing, too. The last several Xmas seasons were weak, I think Dan would tell you, compared to say 10-15 years ago. Which reminds me, I should call him; haven't talked in about a month.

MJames70 -

I know exactly what you mean regarding K&K and the trains on one side.  Here's the thing - K&K Hobbies always seem to be their busiest during the Christmas holiday seasons when finding train sets under the tree was sort of the norm. Once the holidays are gone, the interests isn't there anymore.

Hobby Connection... was it located on Whitesboro Street? I don't recall seeing it on Commercial Drive but then again it may have been at a time I had strayed away from the hobby back then. Where was it on Commercial Drive?

The mention of the Power Ball reminded me of an old farming joke.

"congratulations Mr Farmer, now that you have won the 2 million dollar jackpot, what do you plan to do?"

"aww, shucks, I'll probably just keep farming until it is all gone"

I am afraid that starting a hobby shop today *might* be as successful as starting a record store that hosts Sock Hops.

Rex

Frankly, given the economics of this area, I would discourage it, no matter how much I would like to see it happen. The economy is still poor nationwide, despite what the media tell you, let alone here. Trying to make a go of it on something that is a luxury item in an economically depressed area is very risky. One of the few remaining large employers in the area, Remington Arms, is on very shaky ground here in NY.

The railroad hobby is dying even faster than its practitioners, as they age more rapidly than the plastic model crowd. People that remember the railroad with affection and as the major mode of transportation in the country are disappearing rapidly every day.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen Gramps in the store futilely trying to get Junior interested in trains. Not going to happen - successful and necessary as they may still be, railroads and railroading simply are not a major factor of life that people give any thought to these days.

The glory days of people buying $500-$1000 sets of locomotives every couple of weeks are gone - they are dead, and the people that are left around here don't have that kind of money any more, even if they were interested. You may have seen this yourself at K+K over the last years - just about nothing sold on the train side, except whatever used stuff came in, or small parts. New locomotives and sets going out  the door were a rarity.

You may also remember another local hobby shop now long gone, The Hobby Connection, that used to be in Yorkville,and later Commercial Drive in NH. I was, and still am, friends with the family. A son and I had played youth hockey together for many years. We had a number of chances over the years since to talk about the business, and I had asked him what the worst decision he ever made was, hobby wise.

He told me 'Not closing the doors the minute the shuttering of Griffiss AFB was announced'. The shop lingered on for a few years after that, but the hobby, and the area in general have still not gotten over that event almost 20 years past now. And frankly, no matter how many pie in the sky schemes local politicians tout constantly, it is showing little sign that it ever will.

To sum up - if you want to make a small amount of money in the hobby business, start with a large amount...

It's possible if you have the start-up capital. You may want to think RC as well. Cars, at least here, are a huge hit, as well as trains. Also you may want to dabble in wargames, and science / learning kits, for the kiddies.

I still haven't completely given up on my dreams. There's still time to win the Power Ball.

I, too, had thought about starting a LHS myself since the one I frequented to closed down. I found a nice little storefront that was once owned by the folks who sell locally produced furniture. Yes, they build custom furniture/cabinets. It's located in just outside of North Utica  (Schuyler, NY in fact) and right on Old Route 5S. Not only I would cater to just model hobbyists, I would include train hobbyists as well since there is a huge interests in those in my area since Union Station is not that far from there as well.  Union Station holds model railroad shows every spring and is always a huge draw.

I would stock all brand of kits of all genre and scale as much as I can stock including sci-fi. I would carry a full line of Tamiya, Model Master, Life Color, Citadel, Humbrol, Vallejo paints, hobby tools of all sorts and more. My hours would be M - F: 9 - 6 pm, Saturdays, 9 - 3 pm.  

After thinking how much this and everything  else would cost, I would have to double or triple my profits to break even. Thoughts on insurance, rent, rental insurance, not to mention hiring someone who will be willing to help run my business is enough to give me headaches.

That's another one of those good/bad things about the internet - it has made it very easy even for someone that is otherwise lazy about such things to comparison shop. No doubt it hurts retailers by driving prices down even more than they might be otherwise.

Modelcrazy, I have had the thought a few times over the last 5 years or so.

Anne and I have wanted to open a hobby paint online store, with a few different lines, plus a set of paint standard chips.

The shipping regulations pretty much killed that idea off, though. There are plenty of options for getting the paints to customers, but, unless we buy in a huge wholesale quantity, there is not a lot of options for receiving the paints that don't eat up all of the margin. And we all know what happens in today's market if any store sells anything for a Nickle less than you do.

Watching our friend only last 5 years with a brick and mortar store that also sold online and at shows sort of took all the "smart" right out of our "bright idea" too.

People might laugh at others that have a stash,,,,,,,but, there is a lot to be said for only needing glue and knife blades for the next five years or so.  (I have 3 times the number of 1/72 kits that our friend had in his LHS, so I will be okay)

Rex

Speaking of hobby shops, it was always my dream to open one, now it just doesn't seem possible. Even opening an e business is out of the question. There is no possible way I could compete with the likes of Sprue Bro's, Squadron, Tower Etc. (Tower and Great Planes are the same company, and I believe they own Champaign IL).

I looked into both prospects and you need a population of at least 10,000 people (and $50,000) so you can get the percentage of customers just to keep the doors open, not to mention make a living. And with the internet, unless your established, you don't stand a chance. As far a website, it's a similar proposition, just try it. The hosting, and around #3-$5000 to get a professional looking site, warehousing, and again around $30-$50,000 to start. Oddly enough though. Great Planes (and several other manufactures) will not sell to you unless you have a brick and mortar store.
Huh, go figure. 

Just to echo the assorted opinions, brick and mortar hobby shops are taking a beating, but models themselves are at a near peak. Many of the old kits from the dawn of plastic modeling are being reissued at non-collector prices to allow nostalgic builders to relive their childhood.

New kits are being produced at such a high quality that even the tiniest details are replicated to suit super detailers as well as more beginner friendly kits to accommodate the casual modeler.

While there will always be modelers who ask why a certain subject hasn't been done or re-done to a more modern status, there are plenty of subjects of a vast variety to suit most modelers.

I'm lucky that I have a local hobby shop within a 5 minute drive as well as a more comprehensive model shop less than an hour away.

Also www.freetimehobbies.com

www.scalehobbyist.com

www.luckmodels.com

www.redfroghobbies.com

I agree with those who believe this is a golden age. I believe the hobby has never been in better condition.  Yes, we have been losing hobby shops to internet sales, but as the OP says, that is happening within all retail businesses. It is sort of like the hardware stores- few independents left since they have all been taken over or killed by the large chain building supply stores.

One only has to look at the large aftermarket accessory and decal markets to see this.  When I started in scale modeling the only aftermarket items were paint and glue!

squadron.com

spruebrothers.com

hobbylinc.com

internethobbies.com

Glad to hear the hobby is thriving even if the local shops aren't.  Can anyone recommend me great online hobby sites?  I've looked on Amazon and Megahobby.com so far, but I'd love to know if there are any superior sites.

VM1138

...Are there still new products to look forward to in ship building, plane building and sci-fi? ...

I think there's been a veritable explosion of kits on sci-fi subjects, from injection-molded styrene to resin kits, especially short-run resin kits.  And in injection-molded kits, you'll find the old Aurora monster movie kits available, both in Revell's catalog (where they ended up, after Monogram bought the molds in the Aurora close-out, and then after Revell and Monogram were merged), and in catalogs of makers like Polar Lights and Moebius.  And those two have produced other subjects that can be seen as expanding on the old Aurora catalog, that is, subjects that Aurora never did but might have.  And then there are Star Trek kits, Star Wars kits, and on, and on, in great profusion.

Oh, and welcome back to the hobby, and to the forum!

Best regards,

Brad