wh smith buys modelzone

[brbluewill]

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

[EtchedPixels]

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.

[Jerry Howlett]

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

[Tank]

Well I am surprised as I had thought Smiths was in trouble?

[brbluewill]

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

[EtchedPixels]

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

Thats a problem Amazon had on and off including "People who also bought [[some religious book]]' also bought '[[bdsm gear]]'"

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...)

[thebrighton]

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

[EtchedPixels]

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.

[Izzy]

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

[texhorse]

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

[mr bachmann]

Smiths mmm' , do that mean we can play with the trains as well as having a 'free' read of all the magazines 
also  bad news for us OAP's with the Post Office moving in , its good-by pension 

( this happens when you get home  )

mr bachmann

[H]

Thats a problem Amazon had on and off including "People who also bought [[some religious book]]' also bought '[[bdsm gear]]'"

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.

[edwin_m]

"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"

[brbluewill]

"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

[EtchedPixels]

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 ;-)