My local dive shop

Been after him for almost 10 years now to put a basic website up. I keep telling him, build a basic website, put all the info from your business card on the main page.  Also put your hours and a map to the store up.

Then put up a page with the brands you carry, and maybe some photos for fun.

Still no website. 

I was discussing

with another forum member off-line about hobby shop owners who don't seem to get it.  We both know of hobby shops that we've told about the free advertising here on MRH for hobby shops and neither seemed interested in even taking 5 minutes to post a free ad on a site frequented by what, 80,000 people every month???  Business is about exposure and exposure today means the internet.  If you aren't there, you are not doing your business any kind of service.  And if you don't understand that concept, its likely there are many other business concepts you don't get and will almost certainly fail.

And it's only going to get worse

And for those shops that have no website presence, it's only going to get worse as the mobile movement gains momentum.

If a local business has a website, then it's a small step to get yourself easily found in web searches for stores on a phone. With things like the Siri assistant on the iPhone, if a hobby store has a website, I can ask Siri to find such a store, and up it will come. If they don't have a website, it doesn't work nearly as well ...

These days, this is akin to the old days where a hobby shop was too cheap to put an ad in the yellow pages.

The thought that your store is sooo cool that people will just find it magically through the ether makes you wonder what they are thinking ...

Absolutely correct Joe!

I may not be the one to write it, but maybe an article on at least basic web sites and how to drive some people to it.  MRH in my opinion has been a phenomenal asset to the modeler and can't help but wonder why someone wouldn't want to partake in their own business success?  And yes the Yellow Page add mentality does play into this.  I suspect that the excuse is "I don't have the time or know how".   Hogwash,  Your running a business, it's your responsibility to know how! And if you don't know, find out how!  What is it about money that these hobby shop owners don't like!  

Websites

I am somewhat surprised there is not a basic advertising requirement for a retailer to represent a manufacturer.  It is only reasonable to expect a retailer to "market" a manufacturer's product. If I made a quality product and some entity wanted to represent me I sure would want to know how they intend to generate sales for my product. 

I like the idea of seeing and touching a product.  I can examine it and make sure it is what I want.  I think most of us would gladly pay a little more to have product on hand run by a local individual in our community.

I must say I've received quality feedback from our sponsors so far. I feel obliged to give them a shot and again it is serving my needs very well. 

Just a thought...

What about a company that has no Brick ad Mortar store? With Exact Rail, and a few others, going to an all internet format for seals, what is that going to do to the Hobby Shop owner?

I believe that this trend is not good Us Modelers. If it cost the Manufacturer cost is $10, to make an item, they might be selling it to the Wholesaler for $20. Now the Wholesaler sells it to the local hobby shop for &30, and the local shop charges $39.95 to Joe Blow Modeler. Yes I know this is not exactly right, but there is a lot of mark up from the Manufacturer to the Local Hobby shop. I have worked Retail, and I have seen the markup from the price Retailer pays to the retail price the Manufacturer puts on an item. In some cases it was 400%!  Most times it was around 100%. As a salesman I could make You fell like You got a ripping good deal on a set of stereo speakers by giving You a 25% discount.

So now the Manufacturer is making all the markup, instead of the $10 They use to make, now it's $40. That's a 4 times increase in this example. Even if They give a 50% discount They would be making $20, twice what They were making. And I really do not believe Them when They say They are trying to keep costs under control so They do not have to raise the retail price. That is only the excuse They give to cut out all the middle Men, and make a boat load of money. Ask Yourself this: Did the price drop when any of These Manufacturers went solely to internet sells? I have not seen it, but I could be wrong...

A wee bit off track here...

Anyway, I really like to see an object for Myself, to see how it's made, not just a photo, and someone's opinion on the product, before I buy it. I just like to 'Kick' the tires so to speak. The pure internet sales do not allow that interaction.

So in My opinion, if this trend continues of Manufacturers going to direct internet sales, and no Dealers, it won't be long (10 to 15 years) before their are no retail model Train stores.

Just think on how small Walther's catalog will be...

Web Presense is KEY!

I abhor the company that has zero web presence.  In fact, I'll take it one more step.  I would rather do business with a company online and communicate via email, than go into a store and talk to someone on the telephone.  Sure, not everybody is as antisocial as I am, (not that I really am, IMO) but I like being able to shop from my chair and have it arrive in my mailbox at a later date.

I would be pleased if the hobby shops in my local area would put up web sites displaying their inventory and a way to place a mail order, or arrange to pick-up in store at my convenience, would be fantastic!

Further, a way to special order online from my local shop would be a big plus.  I'd be more inclined to shop locally, though it would be bad for MRH supporters, so maybe it's better if they just leave things the way they are...[grin]

MRH Supporters!

That's the problem!  These shops DO NOT ADVERTISE in any form whatsoever.  How is someone supposed to FIND a hobby shop to go to if there is no effort in promoting the place of business.  I too, like shopping from home for things I need on a regular basis, but there are times that I need or want something and would like to go to a LHS and pick it up there.  While I am there, I will most likely browse the shelves for something else.  No sense in a wasted trip.  I rarely ever walk into a hobby shop and not buy SOMETHING!  Even if it's a $2 item!  Most of the time, I spend at least $20.00.  My point is, I can't visit you if I can't find you!  Place an add with MRH!  80,000 potential customers at your fingertips. Throw in a few items listed on e-bay with a link to your store and suddenly you have hundreds of thousands of potential customers now.  

...

Some people fear success...

The Key to shops nowadays, I do believe, is having something on the shelves I want to buy.  I will go to a shop and often if I know there's something to buy, but I will not go to the shop as often if I already know what is on the shelf before I walk in.  And I will not ask if there is something new, I will simply go into the shop and look through the entire inventory.  If the inventory does not change at all after the second/third time I've visited, there's a problem, because at that point I'll have bought up all the items I want and everything else doesn't pick my fancy!

The Other Key is to stop chasing the Manufacturers.  The manufacturers are not lying, they are reducing the length of the supply chain to contain costs to the end users.  We might not like to hear it, but every person in the supply chain has to eat, and that means they have to be "greedy" and mark the item up.  If the manufacturer cuts the supply chain, they can enjoy a better return on their investment and ensure that the price to their customers is indeed lower than what it would be if they had chased that figure to begin with.

So how does a Shop live, what does a shop sell? 

There is inventory available in every closet of the model railroading community.  This inventory becomes available when we decide to sell it or in the form of estates.  The prices are great, the quantities are limited and the demand for some of this stuff is terrific.  The people who inherit it usually want nothing to do with it, or are eager to cash it in, or are simply overwhelmed with the magnitude of it.  So number one, offer consignment services [and above all, ensure your store is more secure than a bank and you offer a good "insurance" policy in the event of theft! Theft will KILL your consignment service!], buy estates outright or even offer estate disposition services.  The survivors will get better rates, and the store gets traffic; this will only bring more estates in, and more traffic with it!!

So how do you "sell" your consignment services?  Put a couple pictures of the newest loot up on the website, and update[add to] the pictures each month!!!