gismorail Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Was in Hattons myself a couple of days ago and would agree with all that you have said. I would say that in all the years that I have been going to that shop I have never seen it so short of Hornby stock very worrying I would agree Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 I wonder if Crapita might be interested in adding Hornby to their empire.....? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antrobuscp Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Was in Hattons myself a couple of days ago and would agree with all that you have said. I would say that in all the years that I have been going to that shop I have never seen it so short of Hornby stock very worrying I would agree I wouuld agree with this based on my last visit to Hattons a couple of weeks ago. Also, I decided I wanted a particular Hornby loco and did a web search. I was actually quite shocked at how little spread of Hornby product there seemed to be available. I suspect it's going to take a lot of time, effort, and cash to correct Hornby's problems. I just hope they start to "turn the ship" in time. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted February 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 15, 2014 Why does that one sentence make me think why things (not Hornby) are sometimes very bad in Industry? Agreed. If existing policies decided by the board aren't cutting the mustard, appointing a CEO who is in total agreement with them isn't likely to help. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted February 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 15, 2014 I wonder what time of day this was announced - the shares dropped several pence earlier today although they recovered (but are still on a largely declining path at present. i reckon the first stock market 'test' will come in the next couple of days. The RNS was announced at 07:00, before trading started for the day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Agreed. If existing policies decided by the board aren't cutting the mustard, appointing a CEO who is in total agreement with them isn't likely to help. At Hornby you have a new board who fired the old executive team for non-performance. They have now hired a new executive. You'd hardly hire someone who disagreed with you from the get go. The presumption is that you hire someone new to do something different from what was happening before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike Bellamy Posted February 16, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 16, 2014 The RNS was announced at 07:00, before trading started for the day. Thanks to this link, it looks like there has been another announcement that I haven't seen mentioned (and apologies if I missed it) which relates to other members of the Board of Directors. Others have left but I have copied below an extract about the new members . . . David Adams has enjoyed a long career primarily in the retail sector. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at FTSE 250 retailer Halfords Group, Chairman of Musto and also Non-Executive Chairman of Conviviality Retail and Park Cameras. He was previously Chairman of Snap Equity, the company that led the restructuring of Jessops. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chairman and Group Finance Director of House of Fraser. Charlie Caminada has a background in the global media and entertainment industry. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of HIT Entertainment, which is now part of Mattel. His most recent position was the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ludorum, a media investment company that focused on managing the IP franchises for children's entertainment brands, including Chuggington. Charlie led the company's IPO on AIM in 2006. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 16, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 16, 2014 Thanks to this link, it looks like there has been another announcement that I haven't seen mentioned (and apologies if I missed it) which relates to other members of the Board of Directors. Others have left but I have copied below an extract about the new members . . . David Adams has enjoyed a long career primarily in the retail sector. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at FTSE 250 retailer Halfords Group, Chairman of Musto and also Non-Executive Chairman of Conviviality Retail and Park Cameras. He was previously Chairman of Snap Equity, the company that led the restructuring of Jessops. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chairman and Group Finance Director of House of Fraser. Charlie Caminada has a background in the global media and entertainment industry. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of HIT Entertainment, which is now part of Mattel. His most recent position was the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ludorum, a media investment company that focused on managing the IP franchises for children's entertainment brands, including Chuggington. Charlie led the company's IPO on AIM in 2006. These appointments could be interesting in the wider context of Hornby Group (not just toy trains) as they suggest Mr Canham is looking for folk with a wider base and knowledge in the leisure industry business. Quite what these appointments would mean for Hornby Group is obviously difficult to divine but they clearly strengthen and widen the base of knowledge and experience on the Board which must reassure shareholders and in a a publicly quoted company that is a critical - and together with the new CEO could be responsible for the slight recovery in the share price. However Hornby still has a name built around a model railway reputation and history (even if much of the latter was bought-in) and it will be interesting to see how they tackle that in the coming year. While I am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt it is clear that the model railway brand faces an uphill fight from a poor starting point with the several years of supply problems now exacerbated by negative perceptions of quality (in at least part of the market) plus apparently increasing instances of poor quality control in manufacture and/or packaging. So in my view - from the railway modelling standpoint - the most critical appointment (or confirmation of person in post?) will be that of the Brand Manager for Hornby Railways and what he or she might be able to achieve in what amounts to an increasingly shrinking window of opportunity to salvage the brand's reputation, and possibly even its dominance in the marketplace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Thanks to this link, it looks like there has been another announcement that I haven't seen mentioned (and apologies if I missed it) which relates to other members of the Board of Directors. Their appointments were mentioned here, back in early January, Mike; in the "Hornby New Trade Terms - What will it mean for the customer" thread. In the last 12 months or so, they have acquired a new Chairman, a completely new board, including a new Finance Director and a new CEO. These appointments could be interesting in the wider context of Hornby Group (not just toy trains) as they suggest Mr Canham is looking for folk with a wider base and knowledge in the leisure industry business. Quite what these appointments would mean for Hornby Group is obviously difficult to divine....... 1. Retail experience - Hornby's branching out into direct retailing, from both bricks and mortar and cyberspace (I expect their poor showing in that dept. will be transformed at some stage in the coming months or years) ??? 2. Brand tie-ups with entertainment companies ? . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crantock Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Thanks to this link, it looks like there has been another announcement that I haven't seen mentioned (and apologies if I missed it) which relates to other members of the Board of Directors. Others have left but I have copied below an extract about the new members . . . David Adams has enjoyed a long career primarily in the retail sector. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at FTSE 250 retailer Halfords Group, Chairman of Musto and also Non-Executive Chairman of Conviviality Retail and Park Cameras. He was previously Chairman of Snap Equity, the company that led the restructuring of Jessops. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chairman and Group Finance Director of House of Fraser. Charlie Caminada has a background in the global media and entertainment industry. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of HIT Entertainment, which is now part of Mattel. His most recent position was the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ludorum, a media investment company that focused on managing the IP franchises for children's entertainment brands, including Chuggington. Charlie led the company's IPO on AIM in 2006. Those are non-execs on the board. Not directly doing day to day things. However, you can pick their brains on expertise (restructuring Jessops or brand management at HIT). Hattons list 147 Hornby steam locos I counted 7 with more than 10 in stock. The rest are limited but available or pre order. Conversely, perhaps you would expect a low stock period in Jan and Feb? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted February 17, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 17, 2014 Low stock in Jan and Feb only if you managed to sell it all in December, which I don't think is the case! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Some background on Hornby's troubles from Feb 2013. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/777a3eda-7370-11e2-9e92-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2u9173v1S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 23, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 23, 2014 Some background on Hornby's troubles from Feb 2013. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/777a3eda-7370-11e2-9e92-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2u9173v1S Not available without some sort of subscription, so I'll remain ignorant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 type "Iron will needed to keep Hornby on track". then go for google's cached version from the results found. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 The tone of the article is not optimistic about high quality RTR UK prototype models, or at least such being centre of Hornby's strategy... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 24, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2014 The tone of the article is not optimistic about high quality RTR UK prototype models, or at least such being centre of Hornby's strategy... But that was 12 months ago. New faces, new ideas, new hope? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 24, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2014 The tone of the article is not optimistic about high quality RTR UK prototype models, or at least such being centre of Hornby's strategy... But surely the announcements of the 2014 range point in a different direction - a 700 or D16/3 is hardly 'mass market' with a future appeal of thousands knocked out at toyshop level? I don't know if they'll deliver the detail and quality but they might and if they do they, and the J15, will represent a new sort of approach from Hornby and a sign that it is beginning to understand that part of the market which is prepared to pay £100 plus for a relatively small engine which delivers to a better standard of detail etc. Mind you if they fail to deliver to the standard that market area normally expects nowadays it could seriously backfire on them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted February 24, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2014 Posted with tongue in cheek.....if they deliver at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 The tone of the article is not optimistic about high quality RTR UK prototype models, or at least such being centre of Hornby's strategy... I think they are really going to be working hard on strengthening the synergies between their different product lines and working hard on leveraging their brands. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 24, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2014 I think they are really going to be working hard on strengthening the synergies between their different product lines and working hard on leveraging their brands. . Just because you've been on a management-speak course (or did you borrow a book?) And what about growing the business - there seems to have been enough 'manure' poured onto it in recent years to make that an easy task. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 ..........what about growing the business - there seems to have been enough 'manure' poured onto it in recent years to make that an easy task. That conversation is still ongoing, but I'm sure, going forward Hornby will be focusing on their core values, "leading to blue-sky discussions that will produce a very quick, mutual understanding of requirements to manage them well throughout the entire process.” Hornby's purchase of the Matillion Business Intelligence randomiser is a major step forward in understanding their business. Each press of the "process" button will result in the production of 25 long words arranged in a random fashion, with vague meaning. Such valuable output will provide added value to their business reporting, shareholder statements and communications with multifaceted media interfaces. New CEO Richard Ames has already put the system to the test. The first detailed analysis produced, on Hornby's recent performance provided the following enlightenment.... the - while - ship - deckchairs - the - sinks - rearranging . . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted February 24, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2014 Rumour further has it that a newly commissioned set of full imperial regalia adorned with gold brocade and stitched with the crest "H.I" has been delivered to Chateau Margate to commemorate the dawn of the new dynasty.Posted with a dedication to H.C.Andersen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 24, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2014 That conversation is still ongoing, but I'm sure Hornby will be focusing on their core values, "leading to blue-sky discussions that will produce a very quick, mutual understanding of requirements to manage them well throughout the entire process.” . Ah, so it was the 'long' course Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I think they are really going to be working hard on strengthening the synergies between their different product lines and working hard on leveraging their brands. . You forgot to add "going forward". And the potential of flexible income stream realisation in the context of on going asset management and the near-term influence of a capital float bearing on the mid-term risk profile for the group, given the potential of the above synergies and brand equity.. The opinion I gave a few messages ago was more a reaction to the style of language used in the article in the link than anything else. It's good that we can have a frank and clear exchange on these issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Wonder if they play Bulls**t Bingo in the boardroom at Hornby !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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