Originally posted by Less than Super Ostrich@Jan 5 2006, 12:18 PM
Haven't you heard that the LOCAL HOBBY SHOP is dead? It's all online now my friend. Seriously, I try to patronize my LHS when I can (mostly for basics), but most of my hobby purchases are online these days.
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Hehehe man no offense, but you have no idea what you're talking about.
I know for a fact that the hobby shop industry is alive and well, and still growing in leaps and bounds. Yes, the online market has grown considerably, but the solid hobbiests have shown again and again that if a local store carries what they want or can readily aquire the materials they need, they'll shop at the LHS before going online. Especially if the staff is knowledgable and friendly and will help them with any problems or questions.
Granted, not all of the what we call "mom and pop" hobby stores survive, but this is usually because of 2 mitigating factors:
Not a large enough customer base- Although the internet has changed this factor some, as quite a bit of sales can be generated online, there still needs to be a set population size in a particular location for the store to survive.
Turnover rate- The inventory turnover rate in these "mom and pops" is usually attrocious. This is usually what breaks the stores backs, as they just sit on the same inventory for too long. Stores like Kit Kraft, the Doll and Hobby Shop, and the MIM store are exceptions to this rule only because they advertize extensively and have made a large push into the online ordering side of things.
There are other factors, I mean you wouldn't frequent a hobby store where the staff is rude and a-holes all around no matter what kind of inventory they keep onhand, but the two I listed are the largest factors into a stores downfall.
Ostrich, if you honestly do visit your local hobby shop, why do you not try to get your things through them rather than ordering them online???