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

[Guest]

Hi All,

Great forums (john your a star!)....My names Toby, im from Canterbury and have been modelling since i was a kid. My main intrest is planes and military figures although i also like the odd bike model being a keen biker!

I've also just started retailing model kits and accessories and would love to be able to pick peoples brains on the sort of thing i should be stocking, things they would hyperthetically stock themselves etc...At the moment i can get items from: Airfix, Tamiya, Revell, Hasagawa, Italeri and Humbrol....any advice on specific well selling lines or general modeling trade advice would be sooooooo useful!!!

Please dont ask me if you can buy anything tho! This is NOT an advert, its a plee for advice, as im sure john would agree with me, this is a forum, not an advertising plain and im just after advice please!

So glad to of found these forums, some nice people and ive lost several hours already reading threads where "i'll just have a quick peek because it looks intresting!"

Happy Modelling All

Toby

 

[John]

First of all welcome to the forum Toby and thanks for not using it as an advertising platform like a few people do, 1 post and never return :bash:

I would think wonwinglo could give you some good advice he had his own shop for long enough, what sort of models will you be stocking, will it just be static kits or r/c as well?

 

[wonwinglo]

Hi All,Great forums (john your a star!)....My names Toby, im from Canterbury and have been modelling since i was a kid. My main intrest is planes and military figures although i also like the odd bike model being a keen biker!

I've also just started retailing model kits and accessories and would love to be able to pick peoples brains on the sort of thing i should be stocking, things they would hyperthetically stock themselves etc...At the moment i can get items from: Airfix, Tamiya, Revell, Hasagawa, Italeri and Humbrol....any advice on specific well selling lines or general modeling trade advice would be sooooooo useful!!!

Please dont ask me if you can buy anything tho! This is NOT an advert, its a plee for advice, as im sure john would agree with me, this is a forum, not an advertising plain and im just after advice please!

So glad to of found these forums, some nice people and ive lost several hours already reading threads where "i'll just have a quick peek because it looks intresting!"

Happy Modelling All

Toby

*** Hello Toby,thanks for at least being honest and we will do our best to assist you,my best advice is to not get carried away with the distributors and get sucked in under pressure,they will attempt to sell you minimum orders,just buy sufficent at first to see the lie of the land in your own area,best way is to go to a local warehouse full of kits and cherry pick what you want,a few airliners,a few WW 2,a few tanks,ships,helicopters but not too many of each at first,you can always buy more but beware of stocking lemons.Follow this up with a good well filled cabinet of paints,supply thinners,decent paintbrushes,filler in fact anything to build the model.

Regarding r/c models,here there is a minefield,for starters you must have a decent trainer design,find one and test it out properly,use and sell recognised radio equipment,source a good engine if going IC but the market is fast turning to electric,it is the future of our hobby and we live in exciting times with sub miniature servos and radio gear,flying fields are now at a premium and we need quiet flight even more-electric is the way ahead.

Model cars,from my own past experience the most important criteria on these is a first class spares back up otherwise you will get caught out,offer a set up service and if necessary employ someone who knows his stuff,you are going to be busy I can tell you,especially in the early days of opening your doors for the first time,consider stocking kites,boats etc they are first class money spinners,really the sky is the limit for you and it depends on how heavy that you wish to invest,stock a little of everything good and above all do a weekly order to replensish them,do not for example run short on fuel and glo-plugs in the height of the season ! build up your customers slowly and have an open evening to show them what you have in stock,get the agents manufacturers to back you up with advertising material,advertise sensibly where it counts and get a good easily recognised name for your business,you will need energy,stamina and knowledge besides the necessary capital,dont think that is all about standing behind a shop counter all day,you will work day and night at first to set everything up properly,I have four shops now under my belt one which I owned myself,that died because the local council decided to get awkward with parking,make sure your customers can park up without being hassled by traffic wardens,sounds common sense but I have one shop near myself, which has been open for two years and every time I try and get near to visit is hopeless ! it is a tough life that will leave you very little time for yourself,but be successful and it is a great reward for yourself and those around you,my advice is to take it in steps nice and easy,if you need any more practical advice you know were to find us.

PS-Start off by getting every model catalogue available to see the present market trends.

 

[Guest]

wow, THANKS!!!

Its very kind of you to post such a decent detailed reply and its really helps me, thankyou dude! John, im a forum mod on the airsoft forums and i know how irriating stoopid advertising spammers can be, i was very keen to make sure i didnt step over this mark!!!

Wonwilgo, im not selling from a retail shop as of yet, i have the opontunity to take a place in a local mall but im not sure about this yet as its a very big step and im only young with little capital! To start im planning on exhibiting at most of the UK airshows, boatshows, and the like with a website that should be online within the next month. Two retailers have told me that 50% of their sales now come from the web. This would make sense as i started dealing with second hand kits on ebay and was shocked at the silly money they commanded!

For distributors im using hobby craft and KHnorton at present although im looking into various differnet companies. Luckily with my currant company i have great referneces and such so oftern i can get away without the usal minimum order hassles.

As for various lines, im doing as you said and stocking small amounts of various "areas" i think that will do well. The Tamiya 1:35th military range for example seems very popular at the moment, as do their paints (althuogh personally i hate them)! ALthough i am stocking airfix and revell etc, their margins seems LOTS less than tamiya, hasagawa and most of the jap manufacuters for some reason, im not sure why?

As for Diecast and RC im trying to stay away from that at the moment because the capital required to do it properlly is quite extreme. The last thing i want is to stock 3 cars and have to "order" spares like so many shops! Although saying that i have a ripmax agent due to see me, im sure he will do his best to persude me otherwise! I think its best to stick with kits and "test the water" so to speak as i know lots about these, unlike RC stuff where i consider my self more of a n00b and thus not good groundings to start retailing. My plan is that if the next couple of shows go well i will go into partnership with a very good friend of mine, and he will cover rc while i stick to the more obvious stuff. Its seems silly to ignore the RC market as its growing so rapidly. The points you make about the switch from IC to electic are so vaild, and plain to see! what worries me about this area and switching is the influx of cheap chinese RTF foam planes that are flooding markets at currant!

Any advice you have on thinners and prefered painting materials woudl be great, as i hear items such as "futura" are hotcakes in this area at currant, jsut like the Aztec airbrushes, which i cant help rave about, i think they are great!

I have various promotional bumphs on their way, including the usal branded carrier bags, paint racks and flags...any other things i may of missed in this area? Hopefully one of the distriubtor is sending me some box damaged kits so i can make some samples? Your opinion on samples would be really intresting as im getting very mixed feedback on these. Some people say its pointless as most modellers dont have the required skills, other say its great as the customer can have an "idea" of what can be achieved!

also do you think its worth stocking tade publications as ive heard mixed things on these too, although the tamiya "how to" books seem to go down a storm at the local clubs...

Im sorry for the essay style reply, im sure theres a few things ive missed, but oh well! and thankyou so much for taking the time to reply to me, its really made my day!

On a sidenote, woudl you say that local model shops have been hit hard by the internet? as this seems to be a rising debate amongst most forum readers currantly!

Once again thanks to yourself and john!

Toby

 

[wonwinglo]

Setting up shop.

Toby,hate to say this but forget stocking the mags,you will be left with them on your valuable shelves,unless you get them on sale or return where you clip the covers and return these for a refund then forget the hassle ! unless they are worth your while then why spend the time and effort ? the internet is the way forward,and the way to do it is on e-bay,get your shop set up there and spend a week setting out your pages,aim at first for feedback and sell sensibly priced useful items on the buy-it-now option,when you work out the cost of getting to a show in fuel & stall money plus a move every time that equates to moving house every time,you could spend that laying out those listings at a fraction of the prices,stock gets dirtied when in transit,you have your time and travelling,its hard work,I know I had that T-Shirt.Try and get set up with a line that not many do at first,resin kits are the big sellers at present,get to know a cottage industry that will reliably supply you with a unique model kit,stick it on e-bay and watch it fly ! small park flyers are great fun,despite looking a bit tacky some are great flyers,the GWS range for example for the price are wizard sellers so dont be too picky with what not look quite businesslike at first,you only need to stock a few replacement parts,but please do not overlook the spares whatever you deal in,stock things that break like props and wishbones,wheels and tyres for cars if you venture forth with them.

Sure you will get big competition but who cares,you are young and keen it shows through your posting.

Whatever you deal in do it well,get to know your products by testing them out,pull them apart and see how they go together,dont show ignorance for anything you sell,it will get you back for sure.

I know this sounds like a lecture but it is facts about the model trade,there are bad & good out there,you need to be mega-good to succeed,try the water slowly but surely and I know that you will get there,above all dont do a runner on us ! keep us informed of your progress and we will listen with great interest,best of luck,you will need it.

I am sure that must be the same KHNorton that I used to buy from ? Northampton based ?

 

[Guest]

If I could chime in from the other side of the world, get the spelling and grammar sorted also, if you want people to be impressed with a professional outlook on your business you must present in a professional manner. Good luck on your venture.

 

[John]

get the spelling and grammar sorted also' date=' if you want people to be impressed with a professional outlook on your business you must present in a professional manner.[/quote']I wouldn't have thought spelling and grammar was that important here as this is not where his business is, I'm sure any business presentation would be carefully thought through before hand, he's only asking for advice at this moment in time.

 

[Guest]

Hey squiffy thewombat- sounds like you are grabbing the bull by the horns and getting down to it, for that i applaud you- i have always fancied running my own modelshop business but never had the balls to do it, so good luck, i would honestly say from my point of view some of the items i find i have to search high and low for are the real basics, but specialist basics.... these atr the things that i would happily hunt down at a show and even pay a premium for, these include, items such as smaller quantities of materials such as brass, acrylic, copper, and stainless steel, - yes most model shops stock the usual K and S metal strips in say 12 inch lengths but nothing more, - this is the sort of stuff along with the plastruct type stuff that is useful for scratch builders, - we often have to resort to scratchbuilding if there is no kit of the item we wish to make !

having started the build of a 5 ft long steam boat finding materials i need such as brass is tough, i dont want a 12 inch strip and i dont want a huge sheet..... something in between would be ideal !

i hear what you say about the RC cars bit, the market is huge, but everyone expects you to have all the spares in stock !- alot of parts are bought mail order !

the precision kits in resin is a good idea, and as said before this is a growing market, look at george turner for proof of that !

look at the model rail market too along with wargaming, there are alot of potential crossovers, model rail scenery items can be used for military diaramas and also for wargame displays, the same scatter materials and stuff have a wide range of buyers, also the adhesives buisness, with so many kits now containing so many materials then you need to consider a wide range of adhesives, - there is nothing more annoying than buying a kit in one shop or from one retailer then having to go elsewhere to purchase adhesive with which to put it together...... that punter may well go direct to the other retailer to purchase his next modelling goods, also consider stocking items as you state like, paints, airbrushes, and good quality brushes, not the usual tat the modelshops stock..... also consider things like the good quality masking films and tapes, the tamiya one i find is excellent.

i am a modelmaker as my paid job and i also make models as my hobby and i now buy 95% of my goods online or mail order or at exhibitions, companies such as EMA, 4D and similar get the majority of my business, good clearly laid out catalogues or websites, clearly stating sizes, material compositions and stuff needed to order, - backed up with a fast delivery service and quality aftersales care,

I buy silicone with which to make my own moulds on line, and i even buy resin for casting into the moulds on line, its easier and cheaper.

plastic solvents such as MEK ( often retailed under the plasweld guise) is also useful, but be careful as you will need to store it in a flammable cabinet if you hold a quantity at home for sale- and several types of cyano glues are useful plus the activators....

then if you are to specialise in the plastic kit field then i would suggest some diversity and overall good product knowledge, so cars, boats, planes, military but maybe the odd, submarine or say military figure, maybe the old classic space shuttle plastic kit !!

the sci fi and fantasy kit market is one not to be overlooked too, just look at how much star trek and blakes 7 plastic kits go for on ebay !- its mental

but my one note is the product knowledge bit, i buy alot on line/ over the phone, and if i am dealing with a specialist then i expect them to know the products they are selling,i am happy to pay a premium for the knowledge and specialist service..... if i ask a question then it helps if they have the answer, - there is nothing worse than ordering parts for a model ( especially when you are being paid to make it) to find that the person on the other end of the phone has sold you the wrong item or has sent you something other than the part you ordered, - i will happily pay a bit more for a good quality service and fast supply, what i think lets some retailers down is there claims of being able to supply goods quickly and cheaply and these claims only being empty promises.....

anyway good luck, hope to do business with you soon !

 

[wonwinglo]

NTT this is first class advice and I endorse everything that you say to assist our friend here,can you please tell me where you get the resin and silicone moulding items,as I need some in the future ? Thank you.

 

[Guest]

yup - i generally get mine from replication technologies ltd, in essex- for more details see

www.reptech.co.uk

or try alec tiranti....

www.tiranti.co.uk

i prefer the bi resins from tiranti, the G26 especially...

 

[wonwinglo]

yup - i generally get mine from replication technologies ltd, in essex- for more details seewww.reptech.co.uk

or try alec tiranti....

www.tiranti.co.uk

i prefer the bi resins from tiranti, the G26 especially...

*** Thanks NTT,I will look into these for future reference,I have often thought about doing some limited runs of some of my wooden masters,that way I could cover the costs.

 

[Guest]

no problems, thats all i do, i fabricate my master, eg a fitting for a boat, i then mould it, make the few i need, but then make a dozen or so more, sell them on ebay and hey presto, you have paid for the materials needed to make the few or so you need !-

plus others get the benefit of your hard work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Guest]

Hey squiffy, I'm also new. I have had difficulty trying to find UK retailers that stock fine detail stuff, like aftermarket cockpits (1:48 for harrier, eurofighter, F4 phantom - can anybody help me with this?) so perhaps you could stock this kind of specialist stuff. Also, off topic, do you airsoft?

anyways, :goodluck:, give us a link when you get off the ground, so to speak

Simon

 

[Guest]

Hi guys,

Firstly, sorry for the incredable delay replying to you! Ive been having some major pc problems along with the mental task of setting up my own business!

Wonwingo, thanks sooo much for all your kind advice! The range of stuff im stocking is growing by the day. Like you said im finding resin kits a big hit, also any figures with the word Dragon on them seem to walk instantly.

Ive also manged to find several sources of nice and cheap kits, unlike KHN which is great. Ive done several airshows since my last post and all have seen a profit, which is mostly expanentional (sp?) so im so chuffed!

Im stocking most of the larger makes now but looking into the cottage industries which seem to offer such a vast range is hard to know where to start!

Compertition from overseas sellers with silly cheap kits are apparently being looked into by tamiya which is pleasing, but its still so odd to see these people with 10,0000 second hand kits in warehouses....thats some collection buying!

Ive also found that the made aircraft (constructed kits) seem to be a HUGE seller at the airshows and other such venues, however wheather its finaically productive im not sure yet....

Rc Spares, Copper/brass tubing (like you said) and paints all seem to be selling well although more so on specific lines.

My website is coming along a treat and should be ready in about 14days, i cant wait!!!! although the promotion should be ...er....intresting...

i'll leave it at that for now as im sure im boring you enough already!

RaZgriz....yes we do stock some aftermarket cockpits, ill have a look in the morning for you! Although im not sure what we have in that scale! If not i can look into it... and yes i do airsoft.....how did you know?

Toby

 

[Guest]

toby, glad everything`s starting to fal int9o place for you, keep us informed and let us know when teh website is sorted

Adz..

 

[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: