The Local Hobby Shop must Change or Fail - a perspective

[grizlump9]

 let's not loose our perspective.  i too lament the passing of well stocked local hobby shops but i am not a model railroader just to keep somebody in business.   i don't eat to help the local grocer either.  i do it to stay alive.   i bought a vehicle because i don't want to walk or ride a bicycle, not to support the auto manufacturer.    it doesn't hurt to support a business if you want them to stay around and if you like to buy at retail for the experience of visiting the shop, then go ahead. you have the right to do so.  those who keep up with the times will survive and maybe even flourish.  those who do not will fail and rightly so.

grizlump

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 Generally I would agree with you but my LHS The Model Railroad shop in Piscataway NJ debunks your theory 100%. They have been around since Christ was a corporal and dirt was new. They sell trains and only trains no r/c planes or cars, no games nothing except trains and a few die cast collectible fire department pieces. They have a website but no internet ordering or online purchasing. If you want something and don't feel like driving to the store no problem you give them your order and credit card over the phone to a real live person and they box it up and mail it to you. you call them up. It seems like thye have the entire Walthers catalog and then some in their little store and then some. To be totally honest I kinda like it just the way it is. We all get too caught up in the internet I want it now mentality of instant gratification. I see nothing wrong with doing things old school some times. You take care of your customers, provide them with good service and fair prices and have the dedication and passion that your customers have and you will survive and flourish. They are getting the word out by advertising via the internet so I guess they are sort of combining both old and new to make it work.Even before they created a website I don't think there was a model railroader in the state who didn't know about these guys. I look forward to going there when I can and have enough stuff to make it worth my while. chatting with the other patrons, swapping stories, and how to techniques, etc. heck I've had total stranger I've met in there offer to come help me work on my layout to get past a particular problem or just to lend a hand

I personally feel that the demise of many hobby shops these days has more to do with the state of the economy and the lesser amounts of disposable income then it has to do with the internet and keeping up with the times. I say it safe to say that there is always an exception to every rule and these guys are it.

 

 

 

http://www.themodelrailroadshop.com/

[Motley]

We have Caboose Hobbies here in Denver, and they are doing great. They are always busy when I'm there. I believe they do alot of internet sales, but there are always customers there.

The most important thing is they are friendly and always willing to help me.

There is another hobby shop that is close by where I live that's in Westminster called Mizell Trains. It's a smaller shop but they have great prices but they can't keep up with Caboose. I beleive they also do internet sales but not as much. I think they are doing ok.

[MichaelC]

I agree wholeheartedly.

The closest LHS that carries enough MR inventory to make it worth walking through the doors is over an hour drive each way.  They do have a reasonable selection as far as rolling stock goes but they are very lacking in other items (building materials, kits, scenery products, etc).  Even so, I used to make the drive frequently in order to satisfy my "want it now" thirst and to also support the brick & mortar store.  Their prices are at least MSRP and seem to raise rather frequently. 

They do have a web presence but it is an amateur effort at best.  I guess I have to give them credit for trying to "keep up with the times" but IMHO, they are doing more harm than good to their reputation.

I must admit that I have found myself forgoing the trek to the store in favor of buying on-line.  Not as much for the lower prices (which does add up) but spending time & using gas only to return home without what I needed does get old.  Understandably, they aren't able to stock "everything" but it seems that the more I get involved in the hobby the less reason I have to make the trip.  I have found a couple of well stocked on-line dealers that ship quickly and have much better prices than I can obtain locally.  The bulk of my $ now goes that direction.

As with any business or industry, if you don't evolve, you cease to be.  Sad in a way, but it's a fact of life.

[Hamltnblue]

A nearby hobby shop has been in business for literally a hundred years.  You walk around their shop and it's huge, covering all gauges.  Looks old fashioned but the majority of their business is over the internet.  They've kept up with the times and are thriving.

http://www.nstrains.com/index.html

[gandydancer19]

We have seen many local hobby shops close their doors, and we all seem to think that it is a shame, and caused by the Internet.  The truth is, and this has been the case for ALL business throughout time, if you don't keep up with the times, your business or shop will go out of business or fail.

Most of the local hobby shops as we know them were started up in the 1950's and 60's when people in the work force started having more leisure time on their hands and took up hobbies as a way of fighting boredom and to pursue their individual interests.  People shopped at local stores, thus local hobby shops opened to serve them too.

Then came mail order.  The local hobby shop was challenged to provide better services and lower prices.  Times changed and businesses changed.  Some who didn't change, went out of business.  They didn't keep up with the times.

Now we have the Internet.  Most of the hobby shops that sell by mail order changed their way of operations to include and embrace the Internet.  The original local hobby shop owners that started in the early days are now older.  Computer technology escapes them and they refuse to embrace it, still relying on local sales which is no longer enough.  They are closing their doors.  This is what we are seeing, and it is nothing new.  I have seen this with my local hobby shop.  The owner, who is in his seventies, decided it was too much trouble.  He also tried to sell the business, but because of the lack of technology and low sales, no one bought it.  He didn't keep up with the times and thought he could get by.

There are some local hobby shops that are surviving and still doing business.  These shops have changed with the times and kept up with it.  Three that come to mind are Peach Creek Shops, M.B. Klein, and Toy Train Heaven.  I am sure there are others.  All three have kept up with the times by providing mail order sales, and embracing the Internet and selling by electronic means.  Orders are taken on-line and payment are made by credit card and PayPal.  Advice and research about anything is available on the Internet, so to learn about something, you don't have to leave your house.

Is your local hobby shop keeping up with the changing times, or are they going to close their doors?