2007 Greatest Success Story

[nblum]

In the January 2008 issue, Model Retailer, Kalmbach's dealer magazine, asked 14 hobby  shops what  their greatest success story was for 2007.  Some named model airplanes, one named just surviving for 17 years, one named $7500 in sales to Industrial Light and Magic, one named metal detectors. Four named specific model railroad products as their greatest success stories.  Three named the Hogwarts Express, and one named the Polar Express.  The only model railroad products mentioned out of 14.  Four of them.  All Lionel ;).  Not a scientific sample, but interesting.

[PostwarMan07]

Nice to hear that some LHS are happy with their sales of toy trains.  Although 4 out of 14 seems a bit low. I can see why both the Polar Express and Hogwarts Express are very popular.  I saw the HE for the first time at my LHS out of the box and the passenger cars looked great! Longer than I expected.  Its not what Im interested in but a nice set.  The Polor Express is a nice set as well.

[nblum]

Remember these are full service hobby shops in most cases, some carrying no O gauge.

 

Also of interest, this year's best sellers in model railroading, listed in Model Retailer:

 

From Model Retailer, this year's bestsellers as reported by hobby shops:

HO Locomotives:      Athearn
HO Rolling Stock:       Athearn
HO Accessories:        Woodland Scenics

N Locomotives:         Atlas
N Rolling Stock:        Micro-Trains
N Accessories:            Woodland Scenics

Other Locomotives:   Lionel
Other Rolling Stock:  Lionel
Other Accessories:     Lionel FasTrack

 

[ChiefEagles]

Now Neil, I would not expect you to say MTH.  We all know you are not brand loyal.

[nblum]

Hey Chief, I'm just reporting what Kalmbach's magazine published, since it isn't widely available to the consumer.

[Joe Hohmann]

I would'nt have been surprised if the hobby shops had'nt mentioned "O" trains at all! I think it's noteworthy that 2 "O" starter sets made the list, and I assume many of the purchasers were new to the hobby. Joe