"Hard times for models shops?" Topic

Just written about a recent visit to the local plastic model shop near where I live in Japan.

Are models shops in trouble where you live? What implications (if any) might this have for the wargaming hobby?

Your thoughts and comments much appreciated.

The full shebang is here:

link

Cheers,
Aaron

The local hobby shop here in Richmond, British Columbia is owned by a friend of mine and is doing very well.
He does carry a lot of product, books, magazines, you adult illustrated novels, figures, terrain, paint, models, die cast toys etc.

It's called Imperial Hobbies.
imperialhobbies.ca

I think that wondering why kids don't build models is like our Grandfathers wondering why we didn't carve cars from block of wood like they did when they were kids. Things move on. My kids build incredible things all the time, but they do it on Minecraft.
Of the shrinking business that's left, most has been taken by the internet. I can find a model, find a review of the model and get it delivered. I go to a mom and pop shop, they have limited stock and when I get my model home I find it needs a pound of filler for the gaps as it is an old worn out mould.
He may be a nice guy, but if he doesn't want to move with the times and sell online as well as retail then he will go under as he's just a bad businessman.

What model shops? The handful in my locale that existed five years ago are mostly gone.

some model shops are having a hard time, some are thriving.
I have emailed and telephoned a few models shops recently and had no replies after 3 days!
so do they deserve to do well?
it is not size either as the small ones can be as bad as the large ones.
in my experience a lot of the smaller model shop owners have little enthusiasm when you go in and you do not feel welcome.
the one in poole, dorset, uk. springs to mind!

I recently sent a friend to CRM Hobbies ( crmhobbies.com ) in Saint Louis ( in his own pre-marriage neighborhood! ) when he East Indian wife mentioned she used to build model sailing ships in the past.

IIRC, he bought one for $30 USD that is currently $80 USD new. That alone was one reason to visit the shop, he said.

The shop has, to my mind, very limited hours – Monday – Thursday 11-5 Friday 11-7 Saturday 10-7 – but the times I have dropped by I have have thought they had a great selection. I hear they do a very active Internet business also.

It is about managing a business in a changing world.

Don't have any. Well, there is one 3 hours away that seems to be doing okay but can't really say.

As far as I know, there are very few if any left in the DFW area – none worth the hassle to drive to from Denton. (The driving formula in DFW is "(miles as crow flies * 3.5)+ 30 = minutes of diving). I used to be a regular patron of Phil's in Carrolton, but they folded about 10 years ago. Their last dying words were "Damn Internet is killing us."

Went back home to Buffalo in September. The shop there that I grew up with, Field's, went all RC in my absence. ;(

The local model shop I`ve known for years is still going strong but I think they do a lot of their business on-line these days and the shop aspect is very much secondary to that.
These days the plastic kit side of things has declined compared to what it was but it is still going.

I go to one located nearly next door to the game store I frequent. It's going through some issues recently. I think the owner is having financial trouble. That's a shame as they do plastic models, RC and model rail roads. Real good and friendly service, too.

As stated the internet has radically changed the business model for many boutique and mom and pop brick and mortar stores. This is not just an issue for hobby shops. One of the best plastic model and hobby stores used to be in nearby Gastonia, North Carolina called Johnny's Hobby Shop. It was a Mecca for plastic model kits and all other types of hobbies in between. It closed its doors a few years ago. The long time owner had many reasons, one being his getting up in years, the continued rising rent cost of the rather large space he had in a declining shopping mall, and competition from internet sales.

I used to have at least three model railroad/radio controlled/miniature stores near me but all of those shuttered their doors during the latter 2000's. I think in those cases the internet was a factor but also just poor customer service and bad management.

I have to agree with JezEdger's analogy, today my younger son, who does like to build models, but only snap together Gundam and Mech models, far prefers to build and spend hours on Minecraft or more recently a similar outer space game. The things he builds and the learns about science and engineering are astounding!

Plastic model kits are not going to disappear just yet. However the market dynamic has changed significantly and those that can adapt will survive.

The last model shop in my town closed 12 months ago so only online shopping now.

Kallman- what is the name of the outer space game? My boys the same, loves model airplanes on his ceiling, but the only ones he enjoys making at Revel easykit.

I bought a Tamiya Ba64 in my local model shop for $52 USD which I thought was good luck as I have not seen it before. A week later I found one on a local Tamiya website for $16. USD The shop is run by a former IPMS club mate and is also a workmates brother but I will buy online for the cost savings and selection.
The shop seems to do well but you have to wonder for much longer.

I was also trying to buy some GW craters from a shop that thought they had some in stock. Several phone calls and emails from me were never answered. I cannot be bothered driving there which would take 30 minutes. eBay seems a better use of my time.

I am not sure I remember specialist model shops, but a lot of shops carried a selection, department stores, local bike shop etc etc.

Now I am not sure where to go, the likes of Walmart and Target for example do not.

Times have changed, interests have changed.

There have never been that many Wargames shops, seem to remember four in London, doubt any have survived.

I understand why it has happened and why his children do not want to take over.

Thanks for your thoughts, all. From what people say it seems that some do well and some (most?) don't, but good service and carrying a diverse range of hobby and gaming products give the best chance of longevity.

Cheers,
Aaron

JezEger

It is called Space Engineers.

I found a link and posted below. It is pretty darn cool.

link

The ones in the Denver area are doing fine, although one of the dedicated model railroad stores closed a few years ago.

Thanks Kallman. Looks very cool. I think dad might have to just 'test' the game for a couple of weeks to make sure its OK for the kids, bit like my dad used to do with my new Scalextric!