Hi, im new and could do with some help....

[wonwinglo]

Toby all this sounds really exciting stuff,you are obviously working very hard to achieve so much so quickly,but that of course is what working for yourself is all about,we are all delighted that you are getting somewhere into your venture in a difficult marketplace.

You know in any business people only see you standing behind that counter or setting up your stall,they hardly ever think about the hard graft that goes on behind the scenes,when I had my very own shop I worked all night getting things ready,as you have no doubt found out there is so much to do ! doing a show is just like moving house every weekend as you lug goods back and forth from your car or van,it is hard sometimes soul destroying work but if you can succeed then it is great.

You are young,have the enthusiasm and stamina so go for it.

[Guest]

glad to hear all is going well squiffy- keep up the good work !- plus if you need a good adhesives distributor let me know- there is one i can well recommend ! !

[Guest]

Thanks for the surport guys!

Just trying to build up my stock levels at the moment by pumping everything back into the business so i can order new manufactuers etc. (that and being boggled by the vast amounts of them)

Wonwinglo, theres a couple of things i wouldnt mind picking your brain on actually. The first being the various suppliers available and the second being shows.

You mentioned you used K.H.Norton at one point? what did you think of them? Im finding that ordering direct from the manufacturer seems vastly cheaper and more benifical?

Shows- your right, its like moving house every time but with the added bonus that if you dont sell anything its the equivalent of moving into a cardboard box! Although saying that i did Duxford last weekend and couldnt believe at one point there was actually a que of people waiting to come into my tent, the made models went down a storm and i sold half my stock!

This is totally difference to the response at say Euromilitaire which was dull! The odd thing is that at duxford i would say, literally a third of all stalls were selling model kits, old and new yet i did really well, however Euromilitare wasnt the case. Im thinking doing airshows and focusing at that market with the 72/48 stuff is a better idea as the customers are after a specific aircraft 90% of the time and couldnt give a rats arse what brand it is. Model shows and modellers in general seem to be much more "anal" about the kits they buy.... (i hope this makes sense, just trying to bounce a couple of ideas around!)

Thanks for all the help guys :-) :-) :-)

Toby

[wonwinglo]

Thanks for the surport guys! Just trying to build up my stock levels at the moment by pumping everything back into the business so i can order new manufactuers etc. (that and being boggled by the vast amounts of them)

Wonwinglo, theres a couple of things i wouldnt mind picking your brain on actually. The first being the various suppliers available and the second being shows.

You mentioned you used K.H.Norton at one point? what did you think of them? Im finding that ordering direct from the manufacturer seems vastly cheaper and more benifical?

Shows- your right, its like moving house every time but with the added bonus that if you dont sell anything its the equivalent of moving into a cardboard box! Although saying that i did Duxford last weekend and couldnt believe at one point there was actually a que of people waiting to come into my tent, the made models went down a storm and i sold half my stock!

This is totally difference to the response at say Euromilitaire which was dull! The odd thing is that at duxford i would say, literally a third of all stalls were selling model kits, old and new yet i did really well, however Euromilitare wasnt the case. Im thinking doing airshows and focusing at that market with the 72/48 stuff is a better idea as the customers are after a specific aircraft 90% of the time and couldnt give a rats arse what brand it is. Model shows and modellers in general seem to be much more "anal" about the kits they buy.... (i hope this makes sense, just trying to bounce a couple of ideas around!)

Thanks for all the help guys :-) :-) :-)

Toby

***Wow Toby you sound dynamic,and if you have that young energy to get what you want then why not ? you remind me a bit of myself in my youth,the built up models are a real hit because nobody else does this type of thing,I notice that even on E-bay that are gaining momentum,the airshow markets revolve around 'Joe public likes to see aeroplanes and its a day out for the family' you will find that your sales that day have very little bearing on enthusiasts shows,it is exactly the same as air museum visitors,90 per cent are public with 10 per cent enthusiasts,so straight away you can see where your main revenue is located,its a fact and every trader knows it.

Enthusiasts are far more picky,and go for brand names,very true,once again this is where the general warehouses like K.H.Norton come in handy,you can stock your van Friday night ready for the airshow onslaught,ok there is a big gamble in any outdoor event,but hit it right and you can do well,stall fees are high as you have probably found out.

Frankly I find the big warehouses a bit too reserved,they seem to just want high street businesses and seem to eye the itinerant retailer with suspicion,they had better change their ways as more big wholesalers are setting up,this silly minimum order nonsense helps nobody except themselves,who wants masses of one item anyway ? better to cherry pick and take your trolly around a friendly warehouse like K.H.N even if it means a long trip by road to get what you need it pays in the long run.

And here is another tip that will pay dividends,get yourself noticed by wearing something daft,I used to wear a wartime tin hat ! boy what fun we had as everyone got to know me and we sold tin helmets anyway,you need to be a showman so get yourself a set of flying goggles and helmet off E-bay and wear them at the shows,the punters love it,this is why market traders have a raport with their customers,you need to stand out and not merge in,just try it and tell me that it does not work ?

You have probably found out already that your airshow stock could consist entirely of Red Arrows Hawks,B-17 Fortress bombers and Spitfires !! forget the lesser types at shows as you will be bringing them back home.

This is all grass roots stuff but at least you know that it is true and not feeding you with wild promises,go for it Toby we are proud of you.:goodnews: