wakefield model and craft centre

[plarailfan]

I called in at Wakefield model & craft centre again today. There's very little stock left to sell now.

The Bachmann, Hornby, etc loco's, wagons, etc etc, are in a sale, but scenic items such as Harburn Hamlet boats ( around £20 ) and trees, balsa wood were not included in the sale for some reason ! and they were still the full / regular price, that they normally charge in there.

There was quite a bit of secondhand OO & N gauge ready to run stuff at fairly reasonable prices, but they appear to be, being very selective about discounting the remaining stock.

Michael was openly telling all the customers today, that the owners are looking at retirement and they have tried to sell the shop, as a going concern, without success.

There was a steady trickle of customers while I was browsing through the discounted Cambrian wagon kits, so I can't imagine them having enough stock to make it worthwhile soon, maybe they are going to have a "clearance day" to shift what's left ? Even Michael wasn't sure and he has been there years !

I wish everyone there, all the best for the future. I suppose this is one of those occasions when times change and you've got to move on ! I will miss them for sure !!

I suppose the shop could end up being a pram or bike shop, or a car parts retailer in the future, who knows ? Still a shame though ! 

[plarailfan]

Don't forget Millenium Models in Morely and 2K Technologies in Hipperholme.

 

How many of us go to our local shop and ask if they can price match (or at least get close to) the likes of Hattons, Cheltenham etc.

 

Happy modelling.

 

Steven B.

At Frizinghall, they have notices dotted around the shop, asking customers to respect the prices displayed on models and "reminding" customers that they are already being offered competitive deals ! so it looks like some people have recently asked the staff if they could improve...  

I'm afraid lots, but not all the customers who do go in there, are struggling along on "nat min wage" or thereabouts and they DO want recently released models, but they desperately need to nail the retailer right down on the price.

It's a nightmare ! but at least shop / retailers who do sell on the internet can reach a wider audience.    

[silverlink]

Whilst I understand most people will seek out the best deals around and nowerdays its so easy with the internet the one thing Wakefield Model & craft give us is a huge range of specialist parts and kits. Most of  the 'box shiffters' just sell popular ready to run items, at Wakefield you can see and feel what you are buying. I think in this day & age you need a good website thats constantly been updated with the latest inovations.

I'm suprised that as yet no one has mentioned the other shop in Wakefield that does offer some very good deals on model railways I refer of course to Mark Taylor's 'Going Loco'. A very friendly family run business that I'm sure many of you on here have dealt with. 

Ian H  

[Black Sheep]

I was in there the other day and it was a shock to see the big gaps on the shelves.  On the web site there is a comment to say Closing Down Sale now on.  Many traders are getting older and can't see any value in trying to sell up and are just clearing the stock.

 

I used to think they were expensive but have compared a couple of items at random with Going Loco and Frizinghall and there is just a few pence in it.  Many of the current RTR was on the shelves at current prices.

 

I'm sure that Jamie and Wakefield MRC club members will have the gen on why it is closing.  If it had been money they would have shut before now, I think it's a retirement.

 

Have been and spent in the shop for over 30 years.  When I worked in Ossett it was often a lunchtime port of call.

 

My father was in there the other day (I've been in and out of there for the past 20 years, since I was 8 or 9.

 

He can remember the shop being in the garage of the house before the shop was built (or was part of the house converted to a shop and then a house built next door) By all accounts the business has been handed down and the current owners are sons of the founders.

 

I have always found them helpful and amusing (especially Michael's anecdotes - He refused to sell me a beer wagon when I was about 14 due to being under age! )

 

As has already been said, they are choosing to close, which is unfortunate for those of us who use them.

 

Some stock still at normal prices might be on sale or return, so it is not in their interests to reduce it.

 

 

With regards to Hattons prices, the amount of stock they're shifting, they might have managed to get items on a slightly better cost price which is harder to achieve for a smaller retailer.

 

If any of the staff or owners past and present are reading, thank you for being there over the years.

[SGJ]

Whilst I understand most people will seek out the best deals around and nowerdays its so easy with the internet the one thing Wakefield Model & craft give us is a huge range of specialist parts and kits. Most of  the 'box shiffters' just sell popular ready to run items, at Wakefield you can see and feel what you are buying. I think in this day & age you need a good website thats constantly been updated with the latest inovations.

I'm suprised that as yet no one has mentioned the other shop in Wakefield that does offer some very good deals on model railways I refer of course to Mark Taylor's 'Going Loco'. A very friendly family run business that I'm sure many of you on here have dealt with. 

Ian H  

That shop has been mentioned on here before, I personally have been to it once, don't realay think I will go back any time soon because I didn't like the way he mixed second hand and new stock although he might have changed that now.

I have been thinking about going to one in Sheffield

 called Oliviers trains

( http://www.oliviastrains.com/pages/7/0/Contact_Us ), although not any time soon too, does look good for DCC though and i am thinking about doing a new layout later in the year with Digital sound locos and DMUs, already got a 08 and 47 with sound and a Hornby elite

I will definatly need advise when I do make the layout, I have built mainly train set type layouts in the past but nothing with scenery and detail

SGJ

[campaigner]

Wakefield's reputation of being a bit pricey may have been justified a few years ago, but in the last few years I found them to be on a par with any of the "big box shifters" in fact they were the cheapest in the country for the Dapol class 22s.

I pre-ordered and bought my Bachmann blue pullman from them just before Christmas, it's really sad to learn that will probably be the last model I buy from them.

[silverlink]

That shop has been mentioned on here before, I personally have been to it once, don't realay think I will go back any time soon because I didn't like the way he mixed second hand and new stock although he might have changed that now.

I have been thinking about going to one in Sheffield

 called Oliviers trains

( http://www.oliviastrains.com/pages/7/0/Contact_Us ), although not any time soon too, does look good for DCC though and i am thinking about doing a new layout later in the year with Digital sound locos and DMUs, already got a 08 and 47 with sound and a Hornby elite

I will definatly need advise when I do make the layout, I have built mainly train set type layouts in the past but nothing with scenery and detail

SGJ

Great shop Olivias, well laid out in fact very much Wakefield Model shop style, Neil Bishop the owner is very helpful. His son Steve also works there but mainly in the back doing all the sound fitting for customers. They have a massive selection of stock & DCC sound modules, give them a try.

Ian H  

[SGJ]

Great shop Olivias, well laid out in fact very much Wakefield Model shop style, Neil Bishop the owner is very helpful. His son Steve also works there but mainly in the back doing all the sound fitting for customers. They have a massive selection of stock & DCC sound modules, give them a try.

Ian H  

I suppose I could pop into Rails at the same time, but stated not just yet, I have a lot of stuff to do at home ( re-plastering, new floor boards etc ).

From what I have seen and heard Oliviers sounds like a realy good shop, hope it meets my expecations.

ttfn

SGJ

[Butler Henderson]

Not being able to find a buyer seems to be worringly a common theme quickly following on from Bromsgrove, and the news concerning MGS does make it seem that model shops are a contracting sphere. Wakefield did have a stab at the web but it the site was not particularly good. Frizinghall on the other hand do a lot of mail order, if possibly primarily the Mecanno stuff, such that they were able to convince Bradford Council that the retail use was secondary to their mail order business in order to get the permission to use their current premises. It does seem survival is becoming based on a good web presence and a mail order service that is reliable.

 

Too late now in the circumstances but what exactly lies in the drawers behind the counter? Fine if you know but if not then no chance of an impulse sale.

[Jol Wilkinson]

The recent media pieces including BBC News on the decline of the High Street, outlined the problems encountered by "traditional" shops compared to internet and mail order resellers. High rent and rates, access and parking difficulties and costs, etc.

 

The decline in model shops has been going on for years, lead by the popularity of the mail order companies that took several pages in RM (and still do) undercutting price and availability of the local shop. That decline has accelerated with the internet and the increased demand for low prices.

 

As all my modelling is based around kit building I have found that I have to focus on shopping at shows as even a reasonably successful local shop carries very little of what I want.

[jamie92208]

I went on on Thursday and picked up a few O gauge bargains but the stock is very reduced. Talking to the staff it is due to close in March. They said it's because the owner (The founders son) wants to retire. Apparently this has been a long term plan and they ahve been running stock down for the past 5 years.

 

Some stock in the shop is quite heavily discounted (The stuff I got is 33% of RRP) but each cabinet is being dealt with in turn and what has not been discounted is still being sold at the normal marked prices.

 

I will be sorry to see the shop close as for me it was the only nearby source of 0 Gauge items and parts. I just hope that the very knowledgeable staff will be OK. At least one is ready for retirement.

 

 

Jamie

[Ruston]

I'm very sad to read this. I've been going there for over 30 years and it was a shock to see the closing down sale banner in the window. As someone else has said, it's far more than a box shifter. I buy all my scratchbuilding materials and parts for O gauge wagons there. When I did N gauge I bought most of my rolling stock there because it's 10 minutes drive away and if there was ever a problem I could take them back. You can't do that with mail order and the likes of Hattons! Not only that but Michael's product knowlede is second to none.

[NeilMac]

Does anyone know what the current level of stock is currently? I will be passing near to the shop on Saturday and if it would be worth my while then I will try and make a detour to call in.

 

Hopefully there is some stock left (and preferably at a good discount), as I would also like to see the staff one last time and say goodbye. Michael has been serving me there since I was at school, and even though I have now moved away I have still managed to get back from time to time. A great shame they could not find someone else to take over the business.

[jamie92208]

Does anyone know what the current level of stock is currently? I will be passing near to the shop on Saturday and if it would be worth my while then I will try and make a detour to call in.

 

Hopefully there is some stock left (and preferably at a good discount), as I would also like to see the staff one last time and say goodbye. Michael has been serving me there since I was at school, and even though I have now moved away I have still managed to get back from time to time. A great shame they could not find someone else to take over the business.

As of last week all stock is now downstairs I'm not sure what they still have but it's worth calling in.

 

Jamie

[SGJ]

I have a free day on Saturday, Does anyone know if Wakefield Craft Center is still open or has the stock now gone ?

TTFN

SGJ

[SGJ]

To answer my own post it is closed

http://www.modelandcraftcentre.co.uk/

( on home page with a "BYE"

[richierich]

Heard from a friend that Wakefield Model Centre had closed down yesterday. Earlier in the thread, Monk Bar Model Shop in York was mentioned. Prices are competitive with the box shifters when you included P&P. A good range of stock, so despite the loss of Wakefield, always worth a look there, plus they do mail order via their web site. I speak as nothing more than a satisfied customer for the past 30+ years.

[SGJ]

Heard from a friend that Wakefield Model Centre had closed down yesterday. Earlier in the thread, Monk Bar Model Shop in York was mentioned. Prices are competitive with the box shifters when you included P&P. A good range of stock, so despite the loss of Wakefield, always worth a look there, plus they do mail order via their web site. I speak as nothing more than a satisfied customer for the past 30+ years.

I have been there before, nice enough shop in my opinion, maybe make a day of it and go to the NRM for the kids, happy days :-)

SGJ

[Respite]

The area around Wakefield is still well served by model railway shops, use the UK Model Shops directory.

 

I did a model railway shop crawl a few weeks ago and came home with two Bachmann Mark 1s from Millenium Models in Morley for £14.95 each and a weathered renumbered Bachamnn A2 'Trimbush' from Going Loco who has a display cabinet of such things. Going Loco have also just extended the shop to include plastic kits etc. There is also the model railway shop in Featherstone near Pontrefract.

[sir douglas]

hope its okay bringing up this old thread,

 

A former employee of the shop has recently set up his own model & craft shop nearby in Flanshaw, i only found out about it last night so haven't been to look yet..

 

78 thirlmere Road

Flanshaw

WF2 9ER

 

Google maps

[MickD]

Hi sir douglas,

Please keep posted on this, who is the ex-employee? Michael??.

A much missed shop for me, used to make  a day out for the wife and me.

MickD.

[jamie92208]

Hi sir douglas,

Please keep posted on this, who is the ex-employee? Michael??.

A much missed shop for me, used to make  a day out for the wife and me.

MickD.

Hi Mick

 

It's Paul who used to run the downstairs shop.  His new venture is called "Detritus" and he specialises in paints, weathering products etc.  He was at our show handing out flyers and I certainly wish him well.

 

Jamie

[MickD]

Hi Jamie,

Many thanks for the info, I cant say I remember Paul, but as you say I would certainly wish him good luck in this new venture.

Its nice to see somewhere new opening instead of closing.

MickD.

[sir douglas]

http://www.wdh.co.uk/News/post/New-business-makes-Paul-a-model-tenant1.aspx

[Shedman5]

Well I wish him all the best, I really enjoyed visiting the old shop when I was in the area. Have put his address in the book for a visit when nearby, as said nice to see something opening rather than closing!

 

Alan