Retailer reveals his profit on the sale of a loco

[ikcdab]

19 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

When, since the demise of Beatties, has there been such a thing as a High Street model shop? Apart from that chain, I've never known a model (railway) shop in anything other than a run-down low-rent 19th-century building away from the town centre, usually with dodgy parking!

Paignton Model Shop?

 

[laurenceb]

A to B Model Railways Matlock Bath on the main road

Malcs Models on Bath Street in Ilkeston.

[Compound2632]

Paignton, Matlock Bath, Ilkeston - with respect to any inhabitants of those towns, hardly the retail megapolises of Devon or Derbyshire. 

[Robin Brasher]

Swanage Model Railroading Centre, High Street, Swanage.

[RichardT]

Monk Bar Model Shop, York. Round the corner from the Minster. Couldn’t be much more central.

 

RT

[Compound2632]

30 minutes ago, Robin Brasher said:

Swanage Model Railroading Centre, High Street, Swanage.

 

I'll give you that one!

[PMP]

4 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

When, since the demise of Beatties, has there been such a thing as a High Street model shop? Apart from that chain, I've never known a model (railway) shop in anything other than a run-down low-rent 19th-century building away from the town centre, usually with dodgy parking!

I wonder where Cheltenham Model Centre are?

[PaulRhB]

Ok I think we’ve established that Mr Compound lurks in the far flung corners of town, my father does as he’s a Yorkshireman and can’t stand paying to park  

He’s looking to create the Dickensian feel for period modelling . . .
 

Now if you wanted dodgier looking areas you went to Victors or MGSharp’s  

Thankfully all three of my local shops are in their town’s main shopping area, and somewhere I always pop in when passing, if a little further down the street than Boots etc but still very ‘respectable’ areas  

 

 

[F-UnitMad]

38 minutes ago, PMP said:

I wonder where Cheltenham Model Centre are?

In Cheltenham....

39 High Street to be precise....

 

Edit- but you knew that

Edited January 16, 2022 by F-UnitMad

[melmerby]

5 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

When, since the demise of Beatties, has there been such a thing as a High Street model shop? Apart from that chain, I've never known a model (railway) shop in anything other than a run-down low-rent 19th-century building away from the town centre, usually with dodgy parking!

Modelzone?

They had a decent chain on high streets and in shopping centres (pre smiffs)

Plenty of model shops still on "high streets" (just not one in my area, unfortunately)

[Compound2632]

7 hours ago, melmerby said:

Modelzone?

 

OK. Now gone what, five years at least? Even Hobbycraft no longer stocks any model railway stuff, which it used to, or even Humbrol.

 

7 hours ago, melmerby said:

Plenty of model shops still on "high streets" (just not one in my area, unfortunately)

 

Well perhaps that's it. A model shop on a high street is still just about a commercial proposition in the various small provincial towns that have been mentioned, where I suppose commercial rents are lower, but not in the more populous urban areas where, assuming railway modellers to be uniformly spread throughout the population, the majority live. Ergo, most modellers do not live anywhere near a high street model shop. 

 

Taking my own case, the nearest model shop is Berkshire Dolls House in Twyford; the nearest specialist model railway shops are, I believe, Alton Model Centre and Kernow's Guildford shop. The Twyford shop does not have a very wide range - I have bought Peco track there but that's about it. The other two are too far away for casual visits to be economically justifiable. 

 

I used to frequent Hobbyrail in Sutton Coldfield when it was in its old premises (described as a reverse Tardis - looked small on the outside, was even smaller on the inside) it being near my late parents') - that was a proper model shop, on a back street, measured by having a good range of Parkside kits. I am aware that they still exist in a new location but with changed circumstances have not had the opportunity to visit.

[Robin Brasher]

Commercial rents are high in Swanage but I think the owner of the Swanage Railroading Centre has got the freehold as it was a derelict building that he is restoring.  There is another model shop in Institute Road near the seafront that sells Airfix Kits, Oxford Diecast and a few Dinky Toys but not trains and there is another shop that sells antiques and sometimes sells Hornby vintage 0 gauge.

[JohnR]

41 minutes ago, Robin Brasher said:

Commercial rents are high in Swanage but I think the owner of the Swanage Railroading Centre has got the freehold as it was a derelict building that he is restoring.  There is another model shop in Institute Road near the seafront that sells Airfix Kits, Oxford Diecast and a few Dinky Toys but not trains and there is another shop that sells antiques and sometimes sells Hornby vintage 0 gauge.

 

And thats the other issue, you can save on rent if you own the Freehold, but that does involve tying up capital in that rather than, say stock.

[JohnR]

1 hour ago, Compound2632 said:

 

OK. Now gone what, five years at least? Even Hobbycraft no longer stocks any model railway stuff, which it used to, or even Humbrol.

 

 

Well perhaps that's it. A model shop on a high street is still just about a commercial proposition in the various small provincial towns that have been mentioned, where I suppose commercial rents are lower, but not in the more populous urban areas where, assuming railway modellers to be uniformly spread throughout the population, the majority live. Ergo, most modellers do not live anywhere near a high street model shop. 

 

Taking my own case, the nearest model shop is Berkshire Dolls House in Twyford; the nearest specialist model railway shops are, I believe, Alton Model Centre and Kernow's Guildford shop. The Twyford shop does not have a very wide range - I have bought Peco track there but that's about it. The other two are too far away for casual visits to be economically justifiable. 

 

I used to frequent Hobbyrail in Sutton Coldfield when it was in its old premises (described as a reverse Tardis - looked small on the outside, was even smaller on the inside) it being near my late parents') - that was a proper model shop, on a back street, measured by having a good range of Parkside kits. I am aware that they still exist in a new location but with changed circumstances have not had the opportunity to visit.

 

I used High Street in the vernacular sense, ie, as opposed to an out-of-town retail park, or an online only retailer.  

 

[melmerby]

1 hour ago, Compound2632 said:

 

 

 

I used to frequent Hobbyrail in Sutton Coldfield when it was in its old premises (described as a reverse Tardis - looked small on the outside, was even smaller on the inside) it being near my late parents') - that was a proper model shop, on a back street, measured by having a good range of Parkside kits. I am aware that they still exist in a new location but with changed circumstances have not had the opportunity to visit.

Hobbyrail in Riland Road closed. (due to retirement?)

There was also a chap in Sutton Coldfield town centre's "Market Village" with a small unit selling model railway items, later he arranged with the former owner of Hobbyrail to take on the name.

Edited January 17, 2022 by melmerby

[Compound2632]

1 hour ago, melmerby said:

Hobbyrail in Riland Road closed. (due to retirement?)

There was also a chap in Sutton Coldfield town centre's "Market Village" with a small unit selling model railway items, later he arranged with the former owner of Hobbyrail to take on the name.

 

That's them, in both cases. On my one visit to the Market Village it was evident the continuity was just in the name and possibly a small amount of stock.

 

I was consistently patronising the Riland Road shop in my RTR-buying days; most of my 1950s LMR (Midland Division) locomotives and carriages came from them.

Edited January 17, 2022 by Compound2632

[melmerby]

36 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

That's them, in both cases. On my one visit to the Market Village it was evident the continuity was just in the name and possibly a small amount of stock.

 

 

I went to the stall in the market once before he had taken on the Hobbyrail name and his stock was very much just basic stuff e.g. popular Hornby items, some Peco code 100 track and a few other things. It wasn't very extensive.

It's quite clear from this You Tube video that he has expanded his range considerably.

 

 

[2E Sub Shed]

 

3 hours ago, JohnR said:

 

And thats the other issue, you can save on rent if you own the Freehold, but that does involve tying up capital in that rather than, say stock.

 

Not in the Model Railway business, but some years ago I knew the owner (freehold) of retail premises in a High Street.

 

He was offered a sum exceeding the profit, (including his notional salary), he was making for the business, for a full repairing lease, (i.e. the leaseholder maintained the building). 

 

Therefore he ceased trading and another small business went from the local High Street. 

 

Hence the freehold in this case formed the owners pension fund. Given the number of empty premises seeking "market rents" these days, probably unlikely to occur now.

[LimboBrit]

On 01/01/2022 at 14:58, col.stephens said:

As soon as an item leaves the UK shores it becomes untraceable

Not necessarily true. It probably depends on how it is sent. I have ordered enough stuff from the UK that is traceable to my door in NL

[Compound2632]

2 hours ago, melmerby said:

I went to the stall in the market once before he had taken on the Hobbyrail name and his stock was very much just basic stuff e.g. popular Hornby items, some Peco code 100 track and a few other things. It wasn't very extensive.

It's quite clear from this You Tube video that he has expanded his range considerably.

 

 

Alas I'm now unlikely to go there; having sold my parents' house I have less occasion to visit Sutton.

[Joner]

Antics have several shops dotted around, as well as their warehouse/shop in stonehouse.

 

Paul

 

 

 

 

[Jol Wilkinson]

4 hours ago, melmerby said:

I went to the stall in the market once before he had taken on the Hobbyrail name and his stock was very much just basic stuff e.g. popular Hornby items, some Peco code 100 track and a few other things. It wasn't very extensive.

It's quite clear from this You Tube video that he has expanded his range considerably.

 

 

 Having watched that video I would suggest that the shop owner is not maximising his sales opportunity for the available space. There are too many spaces where additional items could be displayed and empty hangers would indicate that he is running on rather lean stock levels. It may be that his available capital or cash flow doesn't enable him to hold more stock. That is a vicious circle if it limits sales.

[melmerby]

1 hour ago, Joner said:

Antics have several shops dotted around, as well as their warehouse/shop in stonehouse.

 

Paul

 

 

 

 

dotted around Gloucestershire/Somerset/Cardiff.

Not what I would call a national chain. Well served in the immediate area though.

 

24 minutes ago, Jol Wilkinson said:

 Having watched that video I would suggest that the shop owner is not maximising his sales opportunity for the available space. There are too many spaces where additional items could be displayed and empty hangers would indicate that he is running on rather lean stock levels. It may be that his available capital or cash flow doesn't enable him to hold more stock. That is a vicious circle if it limits sales.

When I went round there was nothing much anywhere but on the walls, nothing from the Bachmann portfolio at all, it looked sparse. He did say he intended to broaden his stock somewhat and I assume the later acquisition of the HobbyRail name helped his sales.

 

He did say if there was anything I wanted he could order it, (only wanted some Peco rail Joiners, so I didn't take up his offer).

[Joner]

8 hours ago, melmerby said:

dotted around Gloucestershire/Somerset/Cardiff.

 

 

 

Not what I would call a national chain. Well served in the immediate area though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last time I looked , Plymouth was in Devon, Bristol is in the county of Bristol and there are no shops in Somerset. The point I was trying to get across was that that it's a chain of model shops that successfully sales from the high Street.

Edited January 18, 2022 by Joner