Decline in local retail hobby market

Look at the history of VHC Snowy etc

they have ALL reduced the size of their relative ranges and stock levels and their service ethic over the past decade

now look at the decline and changes in distributors and their idiotic approach to supporting retailers not to mention some of them have little or no knowledge of their own markets

then look at the rise and rise of the internet and how easy and relatively cost efficient it is to obtain ANY product you require and i am aware some things cost more However the most frequent spenders and larger spenders that keep the hobby afloat dont really care about cost

to say those with less money and a will to support local businesses can keep these businesses afloat is naive in the extreme

welcome to capitalisim

consider that retailers are not operating just so local modellers can feel good about supporting them or for people without credit/debit cards they are open so they can make money

with the rise of the internet and decline of points above it is no wonder there is/will be a decline in shop numbers

and to say Snowy is trialling a new business model to stay afloat is lunacy (sorry) they have almost no stock, their service is almost non existant and they are away with the fairies if they think local modellers will support them over choosing the offshore internet,,,and their decline over the past decade has been dramatic especially in terms of sevice (now open saturdays only,,,,get real!!!!!)this is a capitalist democracy not a beneficial one in terms of hobby shops so if you want to feel sorry for them do so,,,,

the internet sites are growing surviving and providing excellent service and i for one am sick and tired of waiting for a kit or add on i've ordered locally only to be told the reason its late or not available is''its not our fault,,,its the distributer'' well thats too bad i just get online click buy and the product is with me within a few days

good luck snowy and vhc ,,,i think your days are numbered

just my two cents worth

and if you feel i have been harsh well lets just say i could have been REALLY personal but have kept it at a reasonably low level

long live the hobby ,,,,which for better or worse is now driven and fuelled by the internet