Reinvigorating model shops: AI suggestions.

[Phil Parker]

3 minutes ago, BR traction instructor said:

I order directly from the manufacturer when I need three or four items and choose 50ml tins, which last a good deal longer than the little tinlets.

 

BeRTIe

 

Your planning is a lot better than mine!

[BR traction instructor]

...remote location, distance to travel to a model shop, half empty rack when I get there, wasted time, cost of travel all contributed to becoming very efficient at sourcing value for money modelling supplies, delivered to my door. 

 

Our modelling group membership is such that we normally have an ideal member for getting hold of specialist items.

 

BeRTIe

Edited June 20, 2023 by BR traction instructor

[jonhall]

1 hour ago, Compound2632 said:

 

To be Devil's advocate, from his local Hobbycraft, or, for more specialised colours, at an exhibition. Although I was surprised that at this year's Bracknell ExpoEM there was no vendor of Phoenix Precision Paints. If you can't buy LBSC goods green (or whatever obscure shade tickles your fancy) at ExpoEM, what chance finding a model shop that stocks it?

 

I'm pretty sure Roxey was there with his stock of Precision (in mostly SR constituent colours) although as he can't post them any more, and is reducing his exhibition appearances, he is quietly selling off his remaining stocks, which since they are pretty heavy, and Dave is well over normal retirement age, will no doubt be a relief for him to be rid of!

 

Jon

[Phil Parker]

1 hour ago, BR traction instructor said:

...remote location, distance to travel to a model shop, half empty rack when I get there, wasted time, cost of travel all contributed to becoming very efficient at sourcing value for money modelling supplies, delivered to my door. 

 

Our modelling group membership is such that we normally have an ideal member for getting hold of specialist items.

 

BeRTIe

 

But if there was a shop in town, would you use it?

[Ben B]

Maybe when the machines rise up and replace us, they might be tempted to keep a DCC "Flying Scotsman" as a pet, and the model shops will stay open.

 

I for one welcome our new Robot Overlords ;)

 

 

I'm a Clinical Education Technician, running and maintaining a dozen of these High Fidelity Simulation Mannequins. A friend jokes I'm a quisling, facilitating the machine uprising that will eventually doom us all. Personally? I doubt the robots can screw the planet any worse than we have ;)

 

...and yes, my copies of BRM go into the simulated ward as reading material in the waiting room!

 

[Flying Pig]

24 minutes ago, Ben B said:

Personally? I doubt the robots can screw the planet any worse than we have ;)

 

I dunno, there's the Green Goo scenario, where an AI trained on Hornby catalogues turns the entire planet into models of LNER pacifics. 

[BR traction instructor]

35 minutes ago, Phil Parker said:

 

But if there was a shop in town, would you use it?

 

...not for the sake of it. Once I'd gone to the trouble of finding the right suppliers for me online and set up links that I can just click on to reorder, then that is my normal go to option. I would pay attention to a new model shop in town and have a look at what was stocked. I would likely chat to the owner to get a feel for their intended direction etc. If it was mutually beneficial to source some of my orders via this outlet then I would do so.

 

BeRTIe

[rob D2]

We are well off the original topic…

 

I visit Cheltenham model centre - I save up what I need and get it there. Mainly track at present - the small quantities mean often postage isn’t efficient . Whilst I’m there I’ll have a quick browse and if anything else takes my eye..

 

I don’t overlook the attraction PF the nostalgia of actually being in an old fashioned shop like those of my youth…that’s one draw. The other is Cheltenham is nice and I’ll include it as part of a overall shopping trip to Holland and Barrett, primark etc..

Edited June 20, 2023 by rob D2

[BachelorBoy]

1 hour ago, Phil Parker said:

 

But if there was a shop in town, would you use it?

 

Would BRM have the budget to do a solid bit of market research for the benefit of model railway retailers (who are, of course advertisers or potential advertisers) on what modellers want from shops? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Phil Parker]

43 minutes ago, BachelorBoy said:

 

Would BRM have the budget to do a solid bit of market research for the benefit of model railway retailers (who are, of course advertisers or potential advertisers) on what modellers want from shops? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlikely, as to do it properly would be many thousands of pounds - it's not something you can do with a simple survey online, you'd need to employ a company to get in touch with people, or the results are self-selecting and not that useful. Publishing model railway magazines and running a free-to-use forum is not the licence to print money you think it is.

 

Perhaps it needs to be properly independent - something to crowd-fund?

[JohnR]

8 minutes ago, Phil Parker said:

 

Unlikely, as to do it properly would be many thousands of pounds - it's not something you can do with a simple survey online, you'd need to employ a company to get in touch with people, or the results are self-selecting and not that useful. Publishing model railway magazines and running a free-to-use forum is not the licence to print money you think it is.

 

Perhaps it needs to be properly independent - something to crowd-fund?

 

Well, theres my retirement plan out the window. 

[BachelorBoy]

13 hours ago, Phil Parker said:

 

 

Perhaps it needs to be properly independent - something to crowd-fund?

 That's a good idea

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

23 hours ago, Ben B said:

Maybe when the machines rise up and replace us, they might be tempted to keep a DCC "Flying Scotsman" as a pet, and the model shops will stay open.

 

I for one welcome our new Robot Overlords ;)

 

 

I'm a Clinical Education Technician, running and maintaining a dozen of these High Fidelity Simulation Mannequins. A friend jokes I'm a quisling, facilitating the machine uprising that will eventually doom us all. Personally? I doubt the robots can screw the planet any worse than we have ;)

 

...and yes, my copies of BRM go into the simulated ward as reading material in the waiting room!

 

 

Is that a "Do not resusitate" example?

[JohnR]

A few years ago Model Rail did some market research, although it was, I think only readers of their magazine. They asked things like how much did you spend, and on what category of item, whether you went to shows, etc. The idea was (i believe) to encourage advertisers that their readers spent money on the products they wanted to sell. 

[Phil Parker]

1 hour ago, JohnR said:

A few years ago Model Rail did some market research, although it was, I think only readers of their magazine. They asked things like how much did you spend, and on what category of item, whether you went to shows, etc. The idea was (i believe) to encourage advertisers that their readers spent money on the products they wanted to sell. 

 

We've done them in BRM, and most recently, RMweb (Results can be found here) but if the responses are from self-selecting people who are probably keener than average. I'd suggest that what @BachelorBoy is looking for is a wider survey, which means bringing in professionals so the results are properly representative of the public as a whole, and that isn't going to be cheap, especially as sharing those results will see valuable data being handed over to people who can make use of it, for free.

[JohnR]

It was carried out by an external company as I recall - I suppose Bauer had some money to throw around back then. 

[vikingsmb]

On 06/05/2023 at 22:40, Philou said:

 

I wish! The nearest big stockist of railway material that would be of use to me ie: 00 gauge stuff, is a 160km (100 miles - or 2 hours) journey each way! Unfortunately, not only is it far, far away in another universe, they haven't anything outside of Peco and Heljan products and compared to UK prices quite a bit more expensive.

 

I don't have much option but to let my fingers do the walking, though I tend to do a lot by 'phone to the UK to Lord and Butler in my case. I do have to take a chance though that I don't take a hit VAT-wise - I think I'm winning at the moment.

 

Just to pick up what @tomparryharry said at the beginning regarding Lord and Butler, they did indeed start in one very small unit in what used to be the old sewage pumping station in Cardiff, selling mainly S/hand and then moved onto selling new items, outgrew the unit and expanded into an adjoining unit. It was so crowded with stock it was wonderful! They outgrew that too and had to move across the road (car park actually) into a larger unit.

 

I went there this February and it was packed to the gunnels again! BUT, it has taken them over 20 years to get there and it's only been achieved by customer care and satisfaction and knowing what the customer is likely to want even if it's only a tin of paint or a yard of track - not only did I get a cup of tea there, but my lunch as well. (The lunch was an exception as he is my brother after all! :)) ) Chats come free!

 

Shameless plug over,

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

 

They have come a long way, I remember the old shop in the pumping station, feel old now, I'm glad to hear they are expanding, which is what cardiff needs