This is actually a branch from a topic from the community thread lamenting the demise of local hobby shops. Having seen every LHS close in my district of a large metropolitan area, I would like to offer my take on the how NOT to run a hobby shop.
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The owner/manager knows too little or is bored with the business. This is typified by owner X, who never moved from behind the counter, had half a store full of trains and half full of models, and didn’t give a rip about either.
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The owner knew too much and was too enthusiastic. Owner Y was an avid modeler himself, but it became obvious that he expected that everyone who entered the shop to build a superdetailed contest entry. I don’t think he could relate to modelers who simply wanted to make models that were very good, but not great (BIG gap there…). I think there are a lot of us who add a few aftermarket details, decals for a specific topic, a good paint job, and call that good enough. In many cases oob is good enough for me if the model is well detailed and designed.
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Musical shops. Yet another owner kept moving his shop from strip mall to strip mall as he found cheaper and cheaper space. I finally stopped trying to track him down.
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Don’t listen to distributors who talk you into giving shelf space to items that sell one unit every five years. Even if the distributor gave you the items for FREE, if the merchandise occupies space that real movers could occupy, you lose money. One shop I visited seemed to have 80% dead inventory. They put the new and exciting stuff up front - I bet if they walled off the back 3/4 of the store, they wouldn’t lose 5% of their sales. Most shops have a rack of Evergreen styrene with empty slots where the fast moving sheets and rods resided, and plenty of specialized sheets that never sell. Dead inventory.
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Flunked Psychology 101. One owner was so glad to have someone in his store that whenever I visited he followed right behind my shoulder every step asking if he could show me anything. Sometimes I just like to browse. Making the customer feel crowded and nervous is no way to get repeat business. A good shop owner will determine why you are there and what you want, and adapt to the situation.
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Goldilocks Owner. In a given region, a model shop will naturally be certain size. If the owner tries to grow it too large, or is unprepared to grow it as large as it should be, the shop will fail. Some are too big, some are too little, a few are just right.
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“Normally we have that, but not today.” Flat Black was out of stock at the closest hobby shop for months and months - the owner had a rack filled with colors that probably sold two bottles a year, yet no flat black!
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“We only stock model stuff.” Diversify and carry the other items modelers use. I have never seen “Future” in a model shop, nor a good auto body filler, nor a paint stripper. Not ribbon for seat harnesses, nor drafting pens, bottle ink, circle guides, shim brass. I never see useful machine tools like a dial caliper. For that matter, how many shops carry good organizers for modeling supplies? I would probably give a shop owner $10 for the Testors paint rack if he would remove the bottles of congealed paint.
In a lot of cases, comments on note cars on the shelf under the model would help. Something useful like, “Hard to Build, But it’s the only XYZ 123 in 1/72 scale.” Or something that saves me a trip, “The cockpit on this model should be painted OFFCOLOR BLUE, Testors 9876.”
If anyone wants to pioneer a modeling shop in my area, I would be glad to give them the benefit of my experience - I’ll take my consulting fees in kits and supplies. [:D]