"A great surprise BOYES stores " Topic

Well I finally managed to get to a boyes store in Bridlington over the weekend and I was shocked! I knew it was one of the trial stores, but I never imagined they would have such a huge choice, paints, glues, hobby tools and lots and lots of lovely toys! Perry, warlord, PSC, GW, mantic, Airfix, my wife was not impressed the words "we are gonna be here awhile" echoed down the aisle! I came away with 4boxs of Perry napoleonics, more paints, brushes and a lighter wallet! I was impressed very impressed so if you get achance drop into one of the trial stores and support this ventur! Seeing our hobby more main stream and on the high street is a fantastic thing! And hopefully it will be rolled out to more stores. I would welcome one in my home town, it puts my local model shop to shame!

Yes. Likley to put the local model shop and small independants out of business too. That may not be a good thing.

Department stores like hobby craft etc, will only stock the "main lines".. they have a shelf time limit. If the stock does not shift fast enough they won't stock it.

Independants are more likley to have those.
Unless the staff at these stores know the products and can offer the gaming support etc, then how will this be any different to hobby craft?

They ditched mantic, because the stuff just didn't sell. Part of reason was the staff didn't know a thing about the products or how to promote them or support customers, with questions etc.

Will they sell enough week in week out to ensure a large area of a department store is dedicated to it? Hobby craft couldn, so now only carry a small selection of GW ranges, from what they used too. Simply, otherthings are more profitable and sell faster, so why dedicate the shelf space?

Wargaming and modelling, are niche areas. The playstation and xbox generations have very little interest in timely pursuits like ours, so without the gaming support that the likes of GW offer and small shops. Will these superstores be able to really increase the market..

I think I have my spectical armchair setup on the fence on this one.. :)

Glad you enjoyed your shopping spree bracken! Sounds like a great shop.

Sigh another northern store…nearest one is in Cambridgeshire not exactly convient when you live in Hampshire:)

Still any stockist of hobby goodies has got to a be a good thing.

The York one certainly goes through a fair amount of Vallejo paints and reasonable priced modelling tools!

Goose666 I hear what your saying about my local hobby store! But my local hobby store is only interested in model railways and radio controlled cars! Yes I do shop there but only for paints, brushes and glue! They do not stock anything of interest to me! They need to listen to what there customers want? I've asked about stuff! could they order it! Could they try to stock it! But has of yet no real joy! They have plenty of plastic kits Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon but I'm affraid it just not stuff I buy/want very often! I normally travel 30 odd miles to the nearest decent hobby shop! This shop listens to there customer base! And is nearly always well stocked and very friendly and interactive with there customers! I asked about stuff a couple of times, and purely from expressing an interest they have done there best to get it in! Not just for me but to sell from the shelfs, if it doesn't sell then they don't get it again! Evolve or die! Maybe over simplified but I think it makes the point!

i needed some matt varnish. The local hobby store was shut on the wednesday i needed it. So i called in at Boyes in Guisborough and they stocked it! I would prefer to buy from small independents but i canthelp it if they are not open!

Indeedy, bought paints, varnish & figures at Scarborough Boyes a week ago, good range of stuff & good to see. :)