Lionel 2012 Holiday stores

OH NO... NOT A HOLIDAY STORE THREAD..

Yep. For some reason, the holiday store (Pop-up Store) thread last year went south quickly.

 

As for your questions, I’ve never visited one but seem to recall that most of their stock is starter sets and other so-called entry level items that will appeal to the novice or first-time buyer. Think Polar Express sets.  And I wouldn’t expect that you’d see limited run or hard to find items in one of these locations. As for pricing, you can probably do better at one of the larger online retailers.

Passed through the Rockefeller Center store a few times.  They were marketing to the masses in a great location for such.  Eye-catching and gimmicky items predominated, as one might expect.  Hope they did very well as the place was far more welcoming to the prospective first-time buyer than the typical train/hobby shop with helpful & friendly sales reps -- and better than big box stores with nobody to answer questions.

I doubt Lionel can afford to open any holiday stores. Do you have any idea what it cost to rent a store in Rock Plaza?

Eddie You are right about the rent for these locations.

 I worked in the CHERRY HILL NJ STORE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY MADE ANY MONEY. The new york store was outragious.

Dealers came in the last 10 days and bought all the sale items at lower than their costs.

They hired people that knew nothing about trains and if you tried to tell them what to do they told you to shut up. Theft was a real problem also.

 

Only 3 stores out of the 5 made money. Maybe 

 

I doubt you will ever see them again.

 

GG1GUYY

 

It's advertising like a Billboard in Times Square or a commercial during the Super Bowl and not strictly "sales."  And a lot cheaper than having a showroom open to the public 12 months out of the year.

I am pretty sure they said the Holiday stores were done as they served their purpose If i remember none were open last year

Guys, It was an experiment in marketing that failed with the Times Sqaure Store that was there a season or 2 ago. It was fun while it lasted though wasn't it? It may succeed in other areas with lower rent but not in an area like that, what a loss though! This business of selling trains is supposed to be profitable, when the profit goes so do the investors! Pick less expensive venues and the business may come back. But the stores will only be seasonal. Has anyone thought of approaching Christmas Tree shops that sell artificial trees year round?

Not a Christmas tree store but Feeneys Nursery in Feasterville, PA always has a great switchover to the Holiday season from about October thru Christmas. All decked out for the holidays plus a really nice train display each year with o gauge trains running. Those of you from the tri-stae and Delaware Valley areas who've never experienced it, treat yourself and any little ones with a stop here during the holidays - both for decorating ideas and the trains and possibly some unique, albeit pricey merchandise.

Dear Ogaugeguy, Thanks for the tip I will be sure to check this out when traveling to York this year! Looks like a side trip might not be a bad idea! Mike Maurice