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Was wondering what the future will be for BLTO items and even any new items coming out by Lionel, MTH, and Atlas with so many closing of Hobby Shops and maybe the few that are using the internet for their business. This limits exposure for the younger generation and makes them unaware whats available, or even what scales.

I say this with experience over the weekend were 3 adults ranging from 24 to 36 were unaware that "O" scale still existed when I invited them over from the neighborhood street picnic we had. The Wally worlds, and department stores don't have any MR items, neither for Hobby Lobby. This past Christmas, for first time, and I asked, had no "O" scale train sets for sale or on display. No Hobby shops in my area, were there use to be 4. So the built to orders will or may come only from sites like this. Fewer and fewer as times passes and so do we. I think we need to recruit potential and those interested in our Hobby to come visit sites like this.

It seems that weeks rarely pass were we don't read or hear of another Hobby Shop closing. My thoughts.

Last edited by josef
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I think the closing of Hobby Shops / train shops is irrelevant to the future of the hobby. I doubt that many of those not already aware & interested in trains are going to wander into these stores and develop an interest in trains.

Interested folks are going to look on the internet. Or they are going to see a feature story on the news. Maybe they will go to a local clubs open house. Or they are going to meet someone who is into trains and willing to help them get started.

 

If people were shopping at local hobby shops, they wouldn't be closing.

I opened my train store in April and it has been an interesting experience.  My store only sells trains and train related items, not a hobby shop per say.  I have found that there are many youngsters out there that know a lot about trains and have trains in there homes that they use on a regular basis.  Parents are bringing them in to buy rolling stock suitable for their age and/or to upgrade into a better RTR set, something better than what is available at the department stores.  I have also encountered middle age customers that could not believe there is a train store where they can come and see what is available and actually test run them before they buy.  This group remembers trains from when they were children and are now able to afford to buy what they want to get started once again.  The third group are people (I hesitate to say just men so I'll use people) who have been enjoying the hobby for years and know exactly what they want whether it is vintage or modern.  The final group are those that are interested only in the latest technology and they know what they want before they walk in the door, this final group is more likely to do the internet buying as there is much more available than I could ever have in my inventory although I offer them discounts on catalog orders.  I have yet to have one person ask me if I have built to order items coming In.

 

I don't think this hobby is dying, it surely is not what it once was but store traffic is brisk and business has been much better than I had expected for the summer months.  I'll not make a fortune at this but there is enough out there to keep me my doors open.

 

Bum

BTO is here to stay. Many of the smaller suppliers have used this approach for some time. Lionel appears to have had a great success with this program since it's introduction. And for the hobbyist, it is also good not to have a glut of new product waiting to be sold.

 

So get uses to it. this is not going to change for the foreseeable future.

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