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Sad News Ian Allan Birmingham is to close


Chrisjh
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2 minutes ago, melmerby said:

Maybe Midland Counties was at HInckley?

 

That's correct, the 'Ian Allan' stand at Warley each year was actually Midland Counties. 

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I think Ian Allan took over Midland Counties which was originally a separate company, about 10 years or so ago. MC used to have a stand at the Hartlepool exhibition, then one year it was Ian Allan instead (this was when the exhibition was held at Wynyard Park). Needless to say, they haven't been for quite a few years now.

There seem to be less and less specialist railway booksellers as every year goes by, and less and less stocking of specialist books by Waterstones (and WH Smith for that matter). The Amazon effect?

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A sad loss.  It was a well organised shop.  However, I tend to pick most books up at shows.

 

The City Centre has moved around a bit and retail has moved towards New Street.  There are some large offices opening where the Library was and on Broad Street so footfall will rocket.  Can see why rents would rise. There was a Mcdonalds under the library snd now there is none between New Street and the Broad St entertainment district so its a possible.

 

 

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Many thanks for the gent who reminded us of Mikes Models in Kingstanding north Birmingham. I live only a few miles away and I never knew it existed. Great stock in N, OO and O Gauge, I was really impressed.

 

We have to support these shops as opposed to going on line, otherwise there will be nobody left

 

Best,
Chris

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1 hour ago, Pandora said:

It is not always the landlords who drive up rent rises, operations such as coffee baristas  with their high margin habit-forming wares identify and bid up rents for their favoured outlets

 

A large rent increase is exactly why Starbucks closed their outlet at 31 Colmore Row Birmingham.

The site was being "improved" by the owner Horton's Estates and they were ask for a substantial increase, they just upped sticks and left.

I know of at least 4 in London that have closed probably due to the same reason.

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i was near New St station today  and thought i would pop in as hadnt been there for few months..only  to find a sign saying ,,sorry we  are closing at 4 today...i got there about 4.30..typical..and saw a sign saying closing down sale..ill have to go again tomorrow and see what its like

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On 25/08/2019 at 00:13, Chrisjh said:

Many thanks for the gent who reminded us of Mikes Models in Kingstanding north Birmingham. I live only a few miles away and I never knew it existed. Great stock in N, OO and O Gauge, I was really impressed.

 

We have to support these shops as opposed to going on line, otherwise there will be nobody left

 

Best,
Chris

yes  i go to Mikes..its good ..so is Mr Models in Smethwick  and Parabellum just outside town centre

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ive just been for a look , the book floor down stairs looks same , but models upstairs looks half empty , loads of empty cabinets and empty shelves ..looking at the vultures circling they will be empty before their closing date. There is a sign saying Up to 50% off , so i asked ..how do you know much anything is ?    a slightly depressed guy said ..everything is half the marked price  ..and the sign saying they close at 4 today is still there so looks like they closing early every day

Edited by andymorris
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1 hour ago, andymorris said:

ive just been for a look , the book floor down stairs looks same , but models upstairs looks half empty , loads of empty cabinets and empty shelves ..looking at the vultures circling they will be empty before their closing date. There is a sign saying Up to 50% off , so i asked ..how do you know much anything is ?    a slightly depressed guy said ..everything is half the marked price  ..and the sign saying they close at 4 today is still there so looks like they closing early every day

I'll be in there tomorrow so I will see what has gone.

As has been mentioned most of the stock will go to Waterloo, only that not worth taking will be sold off.

Booklaw will be taking some of the books.

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23 hours ago, andymorris said:

ive just been for a look , the book floor down stairs looks same , but models upstairs looks half empty , loads of empty cabinets and empty shelves ..looking at the vultures circling they will be empty before their closing date. There is a sign saying Up to 50% off , so i asked ..how do you know much anything is ?    a slightly depressed guy said ..everything is half the marked price  ..and the sign saying they close at 4 today is still there so looks like they closing early every day

 

I went in there yesterday too. I regret not buying anything now because I thought that the marked prices had already been reduced, but at least at the moment my layout doesn’t need anything. It just goes to show how much we should support our local model shops.

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Just been in too much to list. All @ 50% off normal. (Most locos removed from stock).

Loads of Bachmann coaches, mainly BR, some wagons left.

Farish coaches and wagons. Some NG.

A couple of Oxford WD Dean Goods with railgun.

5x Dynamis Ultima

1x Gaugemaster D.O(?)

Loads of Woodland Scenics.

Loads of Bachmann buildings.

Plus all the books and plastic kits.

Bachmann track, spares such as couplings and wheels.

 

 

 

Edited by melmerby
corrected dynamis type
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Further to the above post, some pictures.

Coaches:

 

204159163_coachesa.jpg.e2c91022ffd1b8ab63c88cfb70c4695f.jpg

 

1185946227_coachesb.jpg.41da2b0f5d7631b105f8765430a4916b.jpg

 

Farish:

 

farish.jpg.04f5e012714c3c322b3d15a3e6ba0f9a.jpg

 

Dynamis: Was £240

dynamis.jpg.9e94b4f8a607ec8f96fea3ebf0c3c8a9.jpg

 

Gaugemaster D.0: (Was £100?) for O gauge locos.

gaugemaster.jpg.e311a54b60be4a59bdacc68d423bd134.jpg

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2 hours ago, stewartingram said:

Amount and variety of stock! Though I do remember when it had a large model bus selection.

 

Stewart

I have visited it a couple of times whilst in London but was somewhat underwhelmed comparing it to the the Birmingham shop.

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On 03/08/2019 at 19:30, Chrisjh said:

Sad news today another retailer announces closure ...

 

Ian Allan Birmingham are to close on the 1st of October, although this hasn't been widely disclosed as of yet.

 

I model N Gauge and I prefer to purchase from a shop, can anybody suggest a good model shop to visit?

 

Many thanks

Best,

Chris

 

 

 

On 03/08/2019 at 19:30, Chrisjh said:

Sad news today another retailer announces closure ...

 

Ian Allan Birmingham are to close on the 1st of October, although this hasn't been widely disclosed as of yet.

 

I model N Gauge and I prefer to purchase from a shop, can anybody suggest a good model shop to visit?

 

Many thanks

Best,

Chris

 

 

Try Mikes Models in Kingstanding 

https://www.mikes-models.co.uk/

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Ian Allan was a regular shop for me to buy from, ok mainly from the discount table but I did buy quite a few non discounted locos and wagons from there such as the China clay silver bullets and a couple of Bachmann 66s and now it’s closing I’m unlikely to get there before it shuts because of my roster! 

 

Still need to use the £10 on my loyalty card though! 

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JIm if you do manage to get to Ian Allan there not accepting the loyalty cards but you can cash them in against purchases there's really not much (Models) in there as I was in today probably for my last time due to shifts etc.. 

 

Would you be able to use it at the Waterloo shop as that's staying open just an idea if that's an option.

 

 

Cheers 

 

Colin

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