be interesting to see what they do with it.i suspect it will be basic kits and starter sets etc.very much doubt the serious modeller will be catered for.
http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail/wh-smith-unveils-50m-windfall-and-overseas-push-1-3134852 (http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail/wh-smith-unveils-50m-windfall-and-overseas-push-1-3134852)
(http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx212/stockiebasher/modelzone_zps294c0de5.jpg) (http://s757.photobucket.com/user/stockiebasher/media/modelzone_zps294c0de5.jpg.html)
It bought the brand, nothing else it seems so I imagine it'll be used as a sub-section in the shops for the lego and airfix etc and to sell online.
Could be very positive even if they only carry a tiny bit of model stuff in a general rather than specialist shop.
Agree with EP. I'm sure a lot of us started modelling by buying kits from the high street which was normally F.W.Woolworth. It may give kids of today / the future a start.
Jerry
Well I am surprised as I had thought Smiths was in trouble?
Quote from: Tank on October 14, 2013, 12:34:15 PM
Well I am surprised as I had thought Smiths was in trouble?
i had heard the same.i just hope my local smiths gets the modelzone treatment :D
Quote from: Arrachogaidh on October 14, 2013, 01:39:46 PM
Quote from: Tank on October 14, 2013, 12:34:15 PM
Well I am surprised as I had thought Smiths was in trouble?
So did I going by the threadbare look of carpets in their shops but maybe for another reason too :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24519179 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24519179)
Thats a problem Amazon had on and off including "People who also bought [[some religious book]]' also bought '[[bdsm gear]]'" 8)
WH Smith's problem is sort of peripherally related though
- book sales are going electronic quite rapidly
- music is going electronic very fast
- video is going download bit by bit
what are you going to put in the shop instead ?
(at least until 3D printing turns the model industry into download...)
My local model shop had heard this via their Hornby rep. Hornby were quite excited as it meant they could get a bigger high street presence. My local read between the lines that it would be at the detriment to 'proper' model shops.
Gareth
Quote from: thebrighton on October 14, 2013, 02:32:39 PM
My local model shop had heard this via their Hornby rep. Hornby were quite excited as it meant they could get a bigger high street presence. My local read between the lines that it would be at the detriment to 'proper' model shops.
Gareth
If its like WH Smith's IT products then I doubt it.
"I'd like to buy XYZ"
"Yes..." (bored staff teenager plays with phone)
"Is it compatible with.."
"I don't know" (tries to read the box and fails)
"Would anyone else know"
"I don't know" (goes back to phone)
I would have thought it more likely the model shop will be getting some of the custom after they buy a set and the WH Smiths doesn't have most of the bits they want to extend it.
A recent larger Smiths I went in already had a model section, where the likes of plastic kits and some Hornby stuff was available. Maybe they had already started down this route again, (I'm sure I remember they used to sell a small selection of these type of bits in past times), and saw the Modelzone brand as a quick way of gaining sales.
Izzy
Our local W H Smith has quite an extensive toy section, and some models. Also, Smith's have their own version of the "Kindle" electronic book. It's the Kobo. I've had both, and prefer Kobo, although the books are dearer than Kindle.
Anyway, that's going off the point. I for one, am hoping Smiths are successful with their latest range of models, and that they grow the range. Hobbycraft managed to make their model railway stuff range take off, after all. However, when I think of Model Zone, and Beatties before them, I fear the worst.
Andy
Smiths mmm' , do that mean we can play with the trains as well as having a 'free' read of all the magazines :claphappy:
also bad news for us OAP's with the Post Office moving in , its good-by pension :confused2:
( this happens when you get home :veryangry: )
mr bachmann
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 14, 2013, 01:59:37 PM
Thats a problem Amazon had on and off including "People who also bought [[some religious book]]' also bought '[[bdsm gear]]'" 8)
WH Smith's problem is sort of peripherally related though
- book sales are going electronic quite rapidly
- music is going electronic very fast
- video is going download bit by bit
what are you going to put in the shop instead ?
Newspapers
Printed magazines
Periodicals
Post cards
Greeting cards
Calendars
Stationery
Sweets
and so on.
All the stuff of the traditional newsagents and that they are having to get back to.
H.
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 14, 2013, 02:36:41 PM
"I'd like to buy XYZ"
"Yes..." (bored staff teenager plays with phone)
"Is it compatible with.."
"I don't know" (tries to read the box and fails)
"Would anyone else know"
"I don't know" (goes back to phone)
You forgot "would you like any of our £1.20 offers"
Quote from: edwin_m on October 14, 2013, 04:46:58 PM
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 14, 2013, 02:36:41 PM
"I'd like to buy XYZ"
"Yes..." (bored staff teenager plays with phone)
"Is it compatible with.."
"I don't know" (tries to read the box and fails)
"Would anyone else know"
"I don't know" (goes back to phone)
You forgot "would you like any of our £1.20 offers"
ha ha yeah these get on my nerves especially when the supermarket sell them for a quid.worse though is the fact they no longer give you a carrier bag but delight in giving you 6 trees worth of receipts and vouchers after your purchase
Quote from: H on October 14, 2013, 04:25:07 PM
Newspapers
Printed magazines
Periodicals
Newspapers - market declined 25% in 5 years, and all the free papers are increasingly skipping going via the shops. Only half the population now buy a newspaper even weekly and most of them are older people. Printed Magazines/periodicals - down 25% in 5 years. Stationery isn't doing that well either (due to competition from other sources).
Greeting cards are holding up still and online sweets are a bit tricky ;-)
The W.H.Smiths branch in Preston resembles a jumble sale as it is so I don't even use it for books :no:
I can only see EP's scenario happening :worried:
WH Smiths has been struggling in our area for a long time. My eldest daughter who, many moons ago, used to work for them used to ask customers if they had internet and if so, order the book from Amazon because it was a lot cheaper! They wanted her to be the deputy manager but she gave them her notice instead and moved on to greater things. She wont even go into a Smiths now. Her view was that area management couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery.
All that said, if by taking over Modelzone I can get some decent modelling paint locally that'll be a bonus. I can get Tamiya but I don't like it, dry's to quick for my liking.
W.H. Who?? :-X
Not a fan of Smiths... expensive for everything, poor service and run down shops... >:(
They will charge a fortune for modelling stuff, especially if their art & crafts are anything to go by...
oh, and NO I do NOT want a bar of chocolate for a £1 - IF I did, I would of picked one up... :veryangry: :veryangry: :veryangry:
Quote from: 4x2 on October 14, 2013, 06:35:56 PM
oh, and NO I do NOT want a bar of chocolate for a £1 - IF I did, I would of picked one up... :veryangry: :veryangry: :veryangry:
You would be suprised how many people do buy the chocolate that is pushed on them, thats why they keep asking.
I can only speculate that with the demise of Modelzone, W.H. Smith saw an opportunity in the market to sell models with the backing of a well-known brand in the high street.
Compared with Modelzone even at its height, they have far more branches nationwide.
If there's been a decline in sales of books and other print media, they've then got room to stock more profitable lines including models. I guess in some of their larger stores they'll be a Hornby concession selling the full range of their diecasts and trains.
QuoteHobbycraft managed to make their model railway stuff range take off, after all
I wish the Bristol branch listen to you! They had a big range of stuff until around a year ago when for some reason they reduced it to a couple of rows of quite pricy paint and aircraft kits.
Anyway back to the topic. I am thinking Modelzone was not a massive loss for me personally (with all due respect to those poor souls who lost a job, that I would not wish on anyone), and I am almost certain WH Smith won't change anything. I would also bet quite big that N gauge won't feature.
Don't think there will ever be a day when I am at the till paying for some spontaneous book or other and the assistant says....
"Would you like an 08 with that?"
A man can dream though....a man can dream....
Skyline2uk
Quote from: Skyline2uk on October 14, 2013, 08:29:12 PM
Don't think there will ever be a day when I am at the till paying for some spontaneous book or other and the assistant says....
"Would you like an 08 with that?"
A man can dream though....a man can dream....
Skyline2uk
The nearest you might get is an After 8... ;D
:laughabovepost: :smiley-laughing: :laughabovepost:
Skyline2uk
I have long been amazed how W.H.Smith has survived in today's internet environment. They must have made the decision to branch out (no pun intended) or to die as a business. Would I buy a bar of chocolate at 60-70p in Smith's when I can often get four for £1 in a supermarket? If they have indeed bought Modelzone then they will have to think long and hard about their pricing policy. Their normal prices are high on just about everything, tumbling dramatically when their shelves are left stocked up. We all know about box shifters as they are called, so they'll have to take this into consideration. They certainly have the High Street presence, so they could capture a fair chunk of the market in model railways. I don't believe their prices will be attractive enough to do this though...it's just not their way of trading. Just my pennyworth guys.
Maybe thats why modelzone is the perfect match - overpriced ;-)
sorry, but I've found their staff so unhelpfull, don't you dare interrupt their personal conversations just because you want to enquire about buying something, even rude, that I never go in there.
as said, prices are ridiculous, and the fuss at the till with pressuring to buy something you didn't want just made me decide no more.
just amazed they are still in business.
Don't expect anything positive to come from this. Having been a close observer of Smiths during my previous career, they are only continuing to survive a drastic fall in sales over the past five years by cutting costs to a terrifying minimum, and by charging out every square millimetre of space to paid-for displays, interactive legal advice zones, post offices etc.
Kate Swan did a very good job of cutting costs and boosting margin, but conveniently left (as with Terry Lehey at Tesco) when she had exhausted every avenue and the only way to boost profit is now to boost topline sales - which frankly few in retail have the foggiest idea how to do.
Smiths are also astonishingly dodgy with their promotions. They regularly offer 25% off both lego and airfix...having already inflated the price to 25% above RRP before putting them in the offer...a disgraceful practice.
Expect model zone branded shelves with basic airfix and Hornby concessions at eye watering prices.
David
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 14, 2013, 02:36:41 PM
Quote from: thebrighton on October 14, 2013, 02:32:39 PM
My local model shop had heard this via their Hornby rep. Hornby were quite excited as it meant they could get a bigger high street presence. My local read between the lines that it would be at the detriment to 'proper' model shops.
Gareth
If its like WH Smith's IT products then I doubt it.
"I'd like to buy XYZ"
"Yes..." (bored staff teenager plays with phone)
"Is it compatible with.."
"I don't know" (tries to read the box and fails)
"Would anyone else know"
"I don't know" (goes back to phone)
I would have thought it more likely the model shop will be getting some of the custom after they buy a set and the WH Smiths doesn't have most of the bits they want to extend it.
Thats the response I expect from WH Smith staff if you can find any to ask.
Dodger
I'm impressed ... you expect one "yes" >:D
WHS managed to get a foot into the door in my town last year ... can't say the local newsagents made any comments as both of 'em had closed by then !
Be "interesting" to see what happens, especially on the MZ front; not expecting much, so they may meet my expectations !!!
In the central Glasgow branch of WHS there were 2 suits at the door, a lot of the locals looked wary thinking they were store detectives, or even worse the polis, however they were just flogging gas or electricity .
Personally WHS doesn't bother me, I brace myself for the patter, " Do you want a receipt, do you want a bag,
would you like to buy a giant Toblerone half price."
PS it's also one of the few places where you can get Mad magazine!
Smiths may not be doing OK in the UK but they seem to be doing well in India.
It may only be a franchise operation but they have shops in all the international airports.
Mention of Woolworths as being the starting point of many a modelling hobby made me feel nostalgic. They also used to sell postage stamps (for collectors) - what ever happened to that hobby ?
Finally, in reply to EP, analogue is fighting back. Vinyl records are becoming more and more available, at least in Paris where I live (I bought a new record player last year). Having said that, Virgin Megastore in France ceased trading this year due to the Amazons of this world.
Dommage ! I like to handle the goods before buying.
Best regards,
Joe
Quote from: joe cassidy on October 16, 2013, 07:54:32 PM
Finally, in reply to EP, analogue is fighting back. Vinyl records are becoming more and more available
Same here but vinyl is a fringe market mostly about collectors and very limited runs - won't keep WH Smiths alive 8)
Alan
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 16, 2013, 07:56:43 PM
Same here but vinyl is a fringe market mostly about collectors and very limited runs - won't keep WH Smiths alive 8)
It didn't do them that much good when it was mainstream !