Another HobbyTownUSA Bites The Dust

There are two great scale model shops within a 20-30 minute drive from me here. Both are heavily involved with the local model clubs. One is very tight with IPMS, and the other is tight with AMPS, but both shops support both clubs (10% discounts to members), and vice versa.  Plus we have Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and  another local chain store Hobby People (formerly Hobby Shack). And the usual RC & RR Hobby Shops of which some do and some do not carry scale models. But almost all of them carry something that I could use from time to time. Paints, tools, accessories, etc. I have seen some other great local shops close, usually for reasons other than the customer base, and some mediocre ones come and go. The ones that worked best with the hobbyists and emphasized that connection with the clubs have stayed strong. So yes, in my limited observations, I would say it partway does boil down to efforts by the owners to court customers by reaching out to them. If there is a local club, partner up with them. If there is not, get one going at the local shop, and post about it prominently. In an area with a population base that you describe of near 1 million people, there has to be enough modelers there to either already have a club, or if not get one going. And associate it with the closest shop that will support them.

Oh yeah, I love a library or book store too.

I completely understand it works both ways. No doubt at all about that. But, I have noticed that the HobbyTowns that were here until recently never advertised - well, at least I never saw any advertisements from them, be it radio ads, newspaper ads, billboards, etc. Hobby Lobby, Michael's, AC Moore - they all advertise. And are still in business. Now, I realize that they aren't as specialized as a dedicated pure hobby shop would be, and they cater to a much broader market, but they advertise. I feel that if the HobbyTowns and mom-n-pop shops would advertise, the population that hasn't experienced modeling yet might just wanna come in and check out what they have to offer. Plus, the current modelers will know that they're in town and in business. How did I find out about Hayes Hobby House? They advertise! It's a 2.5 hour drive from my house, but I know where they are, and I buy from them when I visit them. If they didn't advertise, I would have never have heard about them. Now, I know the Internet has hurt the local hobby shops - no doubt. But I have yet to read on these forums anybody state that they would not visit a local hobby shop and buy from the Internet only. Most on here lament the demise of them. But, if modelers are the only ones frequenting the local shops, that's not enough business. Gotta get out and let everyone else know you're there. Word-of-mouth advertising helps, but it ain't enough to sustain a business. If I don't know that a local hobby shop exists, how am I gonna buy from them? I personally would much rather buy from a local shop than from the Internet, but my choices for doing that are getting very, very limited now. I love going to a local hobby shop and seeing the kits, the tools, the accessories, and smelling all the smells that go along with that. To me, it's much the same as going to a library (and who does that any more??). I love the smell and ambiance of a library or a good book store. 

Whoops...sorry. I'll get off of my rant now. I like your points, Stik. Always good to get different viewpoints.

Your last statement is the answer right there- lots of modelers in the area to support it. I would wager though that they do not. To save a bit of money here and there, they shop on the Internet and lost the privilege of having an honest to goodness LHS. As long as their is a reliable customer base, the shop will be there. It is a two way street so to speak. We need the shop to support our habit. The shop needs us to pay their bills. When we shop elsewhere, the shops go away. It's as simple as that.

Unfortunately, for as big an area that Charlotte, NC, is (almost a million people), we have no other local hobby shops in the area. There is one in Rock Hill, SC, which is about 40 miles from me, but my one visit there showed me that they charge way too much for their inventory. They specialize in RC, but have a fairly decent selection of plastic kits, too - two long aisles full, top-to-bottom. Anyways, with this last HobbyTownUSA closing, that leaves us with just a couple of Hobby Lobby stores, and a few Michael's and AC Moore stores. There is an EXCELLENT mom-n-pop hobby shop in Fayetteville, NC (Hayes Hobby House - google it), but that's a 2.5 hour drive one-way. I try to visit it when work takes me near there. Another great hobby shop that I like to frequent when I go to visit my son and his family is a HobbyTownUSA in Augusta, GA. They are PACKED with plastic kits - it's almost as if they specialize in that instead of anything else, even though they have a great selection of RC, stamps, puzzles, etc - the normal stuff you see at any HobbyTownUSA. I would guesstimate that they have probably 3,000 kits in stock there. Plus, as much reference material as I have ever seen. I really like going there and perusing the aisles.

But, why Charlotte doesn't have at least one mom-n-pop hobby shop is puzzling. Lots of modelers in the area to support it.  

mississippivol

Ours in Memphis sold out, too.. The guy he sold out to seems to be doing ok.

Was that the one over near the Wolfchase Galleria Mall, mississippi?

plasticjunkie

Same thing happened when we lived in Greenville SC 5 years ago. We lost a Hobby Town shop just a short drive from the house but had 2 other excellent hobby shops to go to.

Hey, plasticjunkie, where would those two other hobby shops be in Greenville? I travel through there occasionally. Are they worth checking out? 

Ours in Memphis sold out, too.. The guy he sold out to seems to be doing ok.

About a year ago one of the last remaining 'local' stores became a HobbyTown franchise, In their case, and some others, I wonder if it is a last ditch attempt to save the business. The selection of what most of us would actually consider 'hobby' items has dwindled greatly, in favor of the junk that has to be carried to be a franchisee.

Not a good sign overall...the plastic model section is almost as bad as Hobby Lobby's, and the paint and tool racks are poorly stocked. Lucky if you can get a jar/bottle of paint, let alone 2. The end is nigh...

Devil Dawg

...Is HobbyTownUSA in general having financial problems?

I haven't heard anything about the chain itself, but for each franchisee is confronted by the same issues that the classic, sole-proprietary LHS faced or faces, especially competition from online sources that may not have the same overhead as a bricks-and-mortar store.

Our local franchisee sells out of the store and also via the Internet, but he just moved to a new location back in April.  His previous location was adjacent to the Lehigh Valley Mall, a location with easy access and visibility, but apparently the landlord upped the rent and didn't provide very good service (such as property maintenance).  The store was moved to a shopping center about three-quarters of a mile away, but its main access is from the southbound lane of a divided highway (there is another entrance to the center, but it's not too visible and well-known, especially to anyone who doesn't live in the immediate area).  Every time I go in, there are few customers there, and I wonder if this particular franchise is also gradually withering away.

And for me, they just can't get everything I need, even for something as mundane as paints.  I buy basic supplies there, but they don't carry all of the brands of paint that I use, and can't get them from their wholesaler.  I try to give them as much business I can.

I agree with Ed, Hobbytown can't be in general trouble because stores are franchise operations.

There is a store a couple hours north of me in Michigan. I visited it last year, chatted with the owner and they were in process of opening another store an hour or so away, so they must be doing ok.

I hate to see these stores close because to me Hobbytowns sort of represent the last hope of the sustainability of the LHS (even though from us modelers perspectives, they're not exactly LHS's as we remember them.

Just my 2 cents is all.

The sheriff's notice tells me that there may be management problems/taxes/outstanding debt.

It all depends on the local economy and the disposable income availability in the area.    HobbyTowns are franchise operations and generally carry a wide variety of 'gack' which is of little interest to the modeler (puzzles, kites, horses, doll houses).   R/C stuff is a big inventory item,  but can be a large investment draw if it doesn't turn over.    Model trains too.

One local HT just expanded and took over a sewing machine shop next door.  Didn't appreciably change their inventory -- just more space.  

Same thing happened when we lived in Greenville SC 5 years ago. We lost a Hobby Town shop just a short drive from the house but had 2 other excellent hobby shops to go to.

The one nearby me seems to have a ton but they always seem to lack people browsing or visiting very often.

No, but ours in Boise is loosing some space for a SubwaySanwitch shop.

I love a good hobby shop but what with competition from the online markets, it's hard for anyone to stay in business unless they're in a great market area.