Stevens International, a mainstay of model kit and tool distribution in North America, has announced it will be closing in 2026. It will also be closing its online retail arm, MegaHobby.com, in 2026, too. I have included the text from the official announcement for Stevens International below.
Dear Stevens Suppliers/Customers
As Stevens enters 2026, its 50th year of operation, we’ve made the heartfelt family decision that the milestone year will also be our last. After months of honest and open discussion, our family decided that the time has come to close this chapter and begin the next – while the business is strong, stable, and in a place we can be proud of.
Founded in 1976 — with our family’s roots in the hobby industry stretching back to the 1950s — Stevens has been a source of pride and purpose for multiple generations. This business has supported our family, employed hundreds of dedicated individuals over the years, and, we hope, served as a trusted partner to our customers and suppliers across the world. The values instilled by our founders — integrity, honesty, and fairness — have guided every decision we’ve ever made, and they will continue to do so through our final day.
We recognize our exit will leave a hole in the hobby industry, but we’re hopeful that the market will be filled by companies who share the same commitment to integrity and honesty that we have always sought to uphold.
We have attached an FAQ document with answers to questions you will likely have. We will continue to communicate over the coming months as we move through this process.
To everyone who has been part of this journey — employees, suppliers, customers, and friends — thank you. We have never taken our accomplishments in the hobby industry for granted. We look forward to holding an event in 2026 with our industry colleagues so we can properly celebrate our family’s three generations of success.
With gratitude, Alan and Michael Bass
I haven’t provided the mentioned FAQ because it’s business facing, not consumer. However, here’s the FAQ from the MegaHobby.com release (which looked very similar to the one above).
When are you officially closing?
We do not yet have an end date, but we expect it to be sometime around Q3 2026 (Spring/Summer). As we know more details, we will share them with you.
Can I still place orders?
Absolutely! Our website will remain fully operational through much of 2026.
What will change at MegaHobby.com in the short-term?
Very little. We expect day-to-day operations to remain consistent through the holiday season and into early 2026. If anything changes, we’ll keep you informed well in advance.
Will MegaHobby.com still be receiving shipments of merchandise?
Yes. We plan to keep inventory of our key brands during this wind-down process, but at the same time we will be slimming down our offerings of other brands that we plan to drop in the near term.
Will there be a clearance sale or extra discount program for MegaHobby.com inventory?
Not at this time. You may have noticed that we have been systematically lowering some of our brand pricing over the last few months. This new pricing model will remain for the foreseeable future. However, since some brands will no longer be restocked, we encourage you to grab items you may need soon – while inventory remains available.
Can I still use my gift cards and/or rewards points?
Yes. However, please note that at the time we close, outstanding gift cards and rewards points will not be exchanged for any value. We encourage you to use all of these in the coming months to ensure you get full value for them. Please note that we will stop selling new gift cards on January 1, 2026.
