[newhobbyshop]

I am taking a poll on what kinds of kits you would like to see in your local hobby shop. what kinds of products you would like to see ect.
My husband has already given me some great ideas but i would like some more. thank you for your help
sharon

[voyager_663rd]

kinds? as in manufactuers or models? For mfg, skyshark. for models, off beat --not the usual stangs or spits. Stuff like lightnings, stukas, stuff from russians like IL2's and Yaks.

Where are you?

[newhobbyshop]

lethbridge alberta

[Inroad]

I wish you well with a new venture.I had a hobby shop at one time and I think some of the same basic's will still apply.Always have a good supply of the small essentials,hardware glue wood etc.Also kit wise have good trainers and second aircraft,kit or arf.On exotic kits engines etc you can compete with the mail order planes if you get full or partial payment up front and order in,this is no different for the customer.
I too like to be able to walk into a shop and hold a 5 cyl radial,and paw through a$500 scale twin kit, but this is not prudent for the shop owner.I notice you are in Lethbridge,we were in a similar size town and had railroad and plastics plus toys to make the shop viable.Go for it 80% of the people will support you and don't let the others get to you

Gregg

[newhobbyshop]

thank you very much for your info

[SpaceCowboy]

Hi ; I wish you all the best in your hobby shop venture.

I have been in r/c since 1991 and now am getting into ducted fan jets and large gas models.

My local hobby shop stocks lots of park flyers , trainer kits and second and third type kits. He also has the usual Dubro & Sullivan lines.

What he doesn't stock is pattern type , large scale or jet hardware. Also no jet kits ,ducted fans. No high end hardware gas engines or parts etc. He also doesn't deal with some distributors in Canada since they are to brutal to deal with , thus not able to get certain brands for me.

I realize he cannot stock everything but if I have to order it I may as well go to great hobbies or to the manufacturer. He also only puts out an order once a month. Too bad he didn't offer at an extra cost to me priority post shipping.

I realize the main business is forty & sixty size aircraft but many guys in my club are into jets and gas engine giant scale. We have to go elsware to get our supplies when at least I would rather shop at the local hobby store .

Just my 2 cents worth.

[newhobbyshop]

thank you for your opinon and help
sharon

[Gary Maker]

With the advent of on line ordering so readily available and now ARFS gaining such popularity, I think a hobby store is mostly utilized for every day things a builder pilots needs to complete or repair a project.

Usually I only go to the hobby store for such things as covering, props, spinners, nuts and bolts for mounting engines, hinges, fuel and basic hardware.

Most kits and ARFS will list in the manual what is needed to complete a particular kit/Arf being built. Other than these things, I may purchse replacement parts for engines or battery cells and shrink wrap.

Usually when a newby comes to me for advice I will tell him to go to the local hobby store for all his startup needs. He will usually purchase a trainer kit/ARF, a basic radio system, an engine in the range of a .40 size and such goodies as a field box, glow igniter, fuel, glue and covering if needed as well as a few basic tools to help complete the job.

Hope this input helps. All the best!

[newhobbyshop]

thank you for your help
sharon

[nony]

My advice, after years and years, of being a LHS customer is that "it is a business" It needs to survive as an entity from one financial period to the next. And the natural laws will prevail - the weak will perish. Nobody benefits in the long run when a hobby shop goes out of business.

-know your market

-don't compete head on with the big guys unless you have a competitive advantage

-diversify. Very few hobby shops can focus exclusively on RC airplanes. The market is not big enough to support a specialty this focused. Most expand their product lines to serve the car, heli, boat, railroad, or craft markets. I have even seen one that was tied to a vacuum cleaner store.

-it is impossible to please all the people all the time. Inventory only those items which will turn over in a reasonable time. Offer an order-in system for more specialized items. As mentioned above, the convience purchase and consumables will probably be the most common.

-Consignment sales offer an cost effective way to provide variety in products and prices for customers, while minimizing inventory costs.

-be knowlegeable on your products and be able to field questions. For example, if you choose to carry helicopters or cars, you must be able to answer questions and offer setup advice to customers.

-Service what you sell. The best way to keep customers coming back is to provide exemplary service.


I wish you the best of luck in your new venture!!