New Train shop, what would you want there ?

Garden Railroading
1

I have had a few people ask what would make a great LHS.

What would it take for you to patronize a shop repeatedly?

Which is more important to you price discount, or extremly friendly service that is helpful, knowledgable and good?

How important is local repair?

So many have switched to mail order or the internet, what do you like about where you shop there? Price is usually the main reason, but is attitude or service important at all ?

What would it take to get you to switch shops either LHS or internet shop?

Tim

2

For me, a well stocked selection of detail parts is important. It’s important to be able to see them in the flesh, to better determine how they’ll work on a model. Sure, a photo in a catalog shows what the piece is, but it’s next to impossible to get a feel for size and proportions. Alas, they also don’t turn over very quickly, so they’re expensive to stock, but I think the modelers in your local community would find it invaluable. Also, you’re unlikely to have a great deal of price competition from mail order and online shops on those…

Also, a well stocked wood, metal, and styrene materials selection would be huge. Like detail parts, those are always “just in time” kind of purchases. If I’m working on a model, and need wood to a certain size, it’s very easy for me to stop by the store on my way into work to pick up the particular bits I need, so I can continue the next day. (I’m spoiled–my local shop is Caboose Hobbies.)

I rarely buy r-t-r equipment, so I can’t really comment on that. I would think that you’d have a tough go competing with the mail order places on price, but I won’t say it’s impossible to do so.

Later,

K

3

Tim,

I used to make a run down to Reed’s in Escondido every week. Most of the time, I didn’t have any thing in mind, just wanted to look around. I’m new in Model Rail. I got into N just about a year ago. So it was just about the time they decided to close the store. I spent some where close to $1,000 before the met thier demise. And turned 4 families onto MR by showing them the store and small HO layout they had.

I still make a special trip to LA to visit Allied on a monthly basis.

Ok, here’s my perspective on what I (newbie) want.

  1. I want a friendly, knowlegable staff. I want them to be proactive. Don’t let me get into trouble via my own ignorance. At least mention when something don’t make sense.
  2. Decient prices. I’m more than willing to pay higher prices to get #1. I don’t expect LHS to match Mail Order, but I do expect them to be competitive with each other.
  3. Stock. I want good stock in what I model. Be it r-t-r or parts for scratch building. But if it’s not in stock, be able to respond to special orders. Make sure the consumables are well stocked. Nothing bugs me more than to make a trip to the store, and find they are out of flex track, or styrene, or anything else. Being out of higher dollar items is not a big deal. The hobby is to scattered to be able to fully stock every little item there is to stock.

The only way I would start an LHS right now would be as a store front to a large internet and mailorder sales warehouse.

4

I think your right, I 've often thought of opening a Large Scale shop here in Columbus Ohio. I do believe you would have to be tied into the internet to keep prices down. To be able to offer low prices you need to buy from the manufactures a large enough quantity to get the price break yet be able to move the quantity to stay alive. If a LHS could offer merchadise at a internet price with shipping included as a retail cost it would survive. It could offer what was said above by others and carry a small plant selection as well as ballast. A Garden Railroad super store, a one stop shop.

5

Steve

About 4 years ago, I said to my wife that I would like to find a place in Culver City before we caught the plane back to England. We found it. Wow what a size. I hadnt progressed up to G then. She sat outside in the car until I told her about the christmas decorations section they had there. We spent an age in there. Enjoyed a long conversation with some of the staff . Thats what I like. The available goods, good service and a good chat.
Allied Trains. Recommended. [wow]

Ian P
PS Also did the stores in Escondido.

6

What would give me the incentive to shop?

Free Postage

Tony

7

Allied Model Trains is the bomb.

Here’s my business plan for an Train Shop. (going to ramble some, but it’s how I think. Sorry!!!)

Pick a scale, any scale. For fun, lets pick G Scale.

Now go find a defunct nursery. One with plenty of room. Close to a freeway, and at least a couple of good size population bases. Say somewhere between San Diego and LA (or Riverside/San Bernardino)

Now, make sure you have some secure warehouse area.

Stock as much g scale stuff as you possibly can. Engines to grab rails. Freight cars to freight loads. If it’s for g Scale, have it.

Go find someone that understands how to grow miniature trees and stock them. Be a full scale nursery. Make your nursery cover the cost of the business.

Go to your local construction rock supplier. Get a good supply of crusher fines. Screen them so it’s consistent material.

Go get good pond supplies. Everything needed from start to maintenance.

Build a reputation as the be all end all to G Scale.

I’m a newbie, so I don’t have a clue what all needs to be stocked, but stock it all.

You need two layouts on site. One that is truly Garden Railroad. The other is an Outdoor Model Railroad. (see comment about local society)

Get a heck of a web site. Push internet sales, push mail order. Make it run fast, and make it easy to navigate. Stand behind your products. Get as many how to articles on it as you can. Get good forums up, with good people behind them.

Hold classes on Saturdays. Workshops. “Demo Days”. Get manufacturers to support a flyer to annouce demo days. Get the barbeque going for these. Coupon for free hotdog and soda with $10 purchase.

Make sure there’s room for local societies to hold their meetings there. Heck, give them some space on the property to build a club layout. They do the work, you supply the materials. Then they come and ru

8

Hi TurboOne
there are two things I look for
A knowledge of and abilaty to supply what I want
and second service then service and just for good measure more service
Failure in the above as far as i am concerned is an instant fail and loss of my business.
To me local repair is not essential my repairer is 500 miles away but reliable service is again a must.
Buy off the internet you have to be kidding that is one method of purchase i do not trust.
As for a local hobby shop whats one of those??
[censored] The discount most discounters i have dealt with don’t offer the required service then servive then more service they don’t have the back up structure or cost ability to provide it
regards John

9

At a minimum, the shop would have to stock the essentials, in the big four scales, N, HO, O ,and G. Many modelers in my club cross model in different scales. An operational layout, preferably outside, so that folks could get an idea of scale. this may scare away a few but could help in “hooking” many more. Service with a smile. I absolutely DETEST being treated like I’m not even there without so much as a sales clerk coming over to see if there’s something in particular I’m looking for. Many people blast Home Depot for their employees lack of knowledge. Being someone who used to be on the inside of this mega store, let me tell you, they do customer service right. Many mom and pop shops could learn a thing or two about customer appreciation and training on the level that HD gives it’s employees. Lastly, prices have to be competitive or they would never even get off the ground in a brick and mortar environment. I agree, they would probably have to have an internet presence to cover their store losses. Oh, and I like the idea of a nursery as well. One dedicated to scale size plants. Alright, I keep thinking of things. Workshops. things like wiring, how to lay ballast, weathering. Also why not act as a hub location for club meetings? Okay, I think i’m done now. One more thing. Get the word out. Advertise. Generate business locally. That will help keep costs down by driving in the business.

Mark

That last sentence was probably a little off track, pardon the pun, but I feel it’s important if the LHS is to survive.

10

Real men do not go to train shops, they spend their time at landscape suppliers like Jack and I.

Rgds Ian