Another LHS loses its battle against the big three.

[carcrazy19]

So the other day I was making a trip to my favorite hobby store. As I'm pulling up I see a for sale sign that's been mounted over the name of the store. I walk in and ask the owner if he was relocating and that's when he told me the bad news. At the end of July he will be closing his doors permanently. I asked why and he told me that he just can't compete with the big stores like AC Moore , Hobby Lobby and Michael's in a further discussion he said his kit sales have dropped significantly which is where his revenue comes from. All the accessories and after market stuff that he sells aren't enough to keep his business going. Unfortunately it seems like this is a common thing that's happening and its sad because the LHS's I feel are the best places to go for help, there wealth in knowledge, specialty items, and kits that that aren't sold in the big stores. I'm not innocent , I have shopped at stores mentioned above because of the 1/2 off coupons offered who wouldn't take the opportunity to save money it just sucks that the smaller hobby shops are becoming far and few in between cause the LHS's I think still have so much to offer no matter what your skill level.

Edited June 4, 2015 by carcrazy19

[mrknowetall]

What's the name of the hobby shop?

[LDO]

That's why I buy stuff at the LHS. It's worth paying a few dollars more to HAVE a local hobby shop. I always check to see if I can get it there first.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

That's why I buy stuff at the LHS. It's worth paying a few dollars more to HAVE a local hobby shop. I always check to see if I can get it there first.

Exactly. I always buy sanding films, little jars of paint, and plastic from the LHS. The small-town, regular-customer thing is nice.

[1930fordpickup]

Around here it it too late for saving them.

[carcrazy19]

Avenel Hobbies.

[philo426]

The owner of one of my main LHS is very business savvy.He owns the plaza that houses the hobby shop as well as several other thriving businesses that pay him a nice rent so he can thrive and survive slow times of year.He told me that the reason that the local Hobbytown closed was due to the high rent and overhead expenses it had.

[High octane]

I try to support my local hobby shop whenever I can, of course I do have a Hobby Lobby 1/2 mile from my house. I would hate to see my hobby shop close its doors so I try to always buy something there.

[asfastasu]

It`s sad to hear of a hobby shop closing. It`s a great stress reliever for me to peruse around my LHS. Of course 99% of the time I buy something!

[kruleworld]

he told me the bad news..

bad, but do go visit him in the next few weeks and try and snag a bargain or two.

[dartman]

We lost ours a few months ago here but it was not for lack of sales.The owner and his wife retired and closed.

While good for them it was a sad day for us hobbyists.Like a lot of shops they,they did rc and general crafts.It

was only a only a 5 minute drive from us.

[gasman]

I feel really lucky, I have two great hobby shops very close to me, and both are doing really well, ones been open since the 40's, and the other is in a very busy shopping center and is always full of shoppers

We did lose a local hobby shops about a year ago, but that was because of bad management, not lack of business

[ZTony8]

I consider myself lucky.In my area(metro Detroit),besides the Big Two,there are two shops within 15 minutes or less driving time,one about 30 minutes away and two more about 50 minutes away.

[kitbash1]

It's always sad to hear when a LHS shop closes it's doors. I'm lucky to have 4 LHS's with-in an hours drive of my door. We in Ontario don't have the big box hobby stores like you guys in the states do. And Wal-Mart in Canada still don't sell model kits like they use to so I support my LHS.

Edited June 5, 2015 by kitbash1