W.H. Smith = Modelzone

[spanner570]

There is a very strong rumour going around that W.H.Smith have bought the Modelzone name and are about to sell kits amongst the books in their stores.....

Anyone heard anything?.......

[Guest]

News to me Ron i'll keep my ears open.

John

[Guest]

This is true

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10368590/WH-Smith-profits-rise-again-despite-falling-high-street-sales.html

In the annual results, WH Smith revealed that is has bought the Modelzone brand out of administration

The model retailer collapsed into administration earlier this year. WH Smith plans to use the brand to sell gifts within its stores. The company also owns the Past Times and Gadgetshop brands.

The final paragraph says about it

[Alan 45]

I'm always in WHsmiths so if I see anything I'll let you know be great if they do

[Guest]

The Manchester Arndale Centre store has been selling kits etc. for a couple of months now - Airfix, Revell and Tamiya from what I remember.

[rickoshea52]

Great. As if WHS isn't cluttered up enough. It'll be interesting to see how they fit in the MZ stock lines as they are more than just plastic models.

[Guest]

WHSmith stock Airfix and the occasional Revel kits in up here.

[Guest]

nothing in Scouseland, although Rapid Hardware have started selling kits of variouse makes/ sizes... ground floor next to Tesco Williamson Square

[Alan 45]

I poped into the Newton Abbott shop today and there is not a single kit to be seen anywhere mind you it is a small outlet so that's probably why

[Guest]

nothing in Scouseland, although Rapid Hardware have started selling kits of variouse makes/ sizes... ground floor next to Tesco Williamson Square

turns out they bought a lot of the closing stock.. didn't turn out to be much , as they haven't upped the quota any...

[john i am]

WHS in B'ham have a MZ section with quite a comprehensive selection but I don't hold out much hope for its success as I work in B'ham and have yet to see anyone show any interest

[Guest]

Tho its not modelzone branded, whs smiths in Ipswich have been doing not only a fairly good range of kits from airfix, revel, Tamiya,but also a fair range of Hornby as well, for over 8 months now.

Cheers, Andrew

[Dave W]

Looked in Southend WH Smiths and they only have a couple of the Airfix starter sets.Probably wouldn't be worth their while stocking a load of kits as Southends only model/ art shop (Lawrence Mathews) is close by.I noticed WHS hade the spitfire starter set priced at £7.99 and the same kit in a 'Haynes' manual labelled box for £12.99!.The only difference is you get an extra one of those horrible little Airfix paint pots in the Haynes boxing.

[Guest]

I will be looking out for this in the Birkenhead store.

Scott

[stona]

WHS in B'ham have a MZ section with quite a comprehensive selection but I don't hold out much hope for its success as I work in B'ham and have yet to see anyone show any interest

I'm afraid I have to agree with you. The fundamental problem, and why MZ went bust in the first place, hasn't gone away. I live in Birmingham and am guilty of never having gone in to MZ, and I very much doubt I'll be going in to WH Smiths in the city either.

Like many I tend to avoid the city centre. I do most of my model shopping online and most other shopping we do anywhere but the city centre!

There used to be a model shop at the bottom end of Shirley, now long gone, which I did pop into from time to time. Bob's Models in Solihull only went last year. Both were close to me, but the writing is definitely on the wall for bricks and mortar shops, and not just model shops.

Cheers

Steve