Hi again! I should have mentioned a couple of more special folks that supported the hobby shops that carry scale S: Jettie Padgett and Bill & Diane Wade.
Thanks again to all. Bill Winans ----- Original Message ----- From: Scale S Only To: [email protected] ; ed_loizeaux Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 2:15 PM Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Re: I'm IN!! Hi guys! As a former owner of a hobby shop that carried scale S, I feel compelled to respond. First, almost anything anyone could want is available in scale S these days, if you are willing to look and be patient. Secondly, even though I had a loyal and personable clientelle, they could not provide enough revenue to make carrying scale S truly profitable. I only carried it because I have been in scale S for over 25 years, and felt that not only could I enhance my own modeling position, but maybe could help the growth of S by showcasing it in my store. While I might have accomplished both to some extent, had I been a "smart" retailer I would have steered well clear. There are many reasons for the performance (or not) in the stores. Foremost is the incestuous nature of the scale -- we all have made something at one time or another that we sold to our fellow modelers, but rarely to the general public. As a result, direct sales have always had their way in the market. Lately another development has made life difficult for the average shop -- the coalescing of product lines that cannot be profitably distributed and therefore have become single source products not available to the shops. With only one or two major lines to sell, and very little accessory support available at wholesale, there is no incentive to carry S. I say this with no hard feelings, it's just the way it is. Again, as a long time scale S person, I will continue to support the market as well as I can regardless of what I have to do to get something. A last observation: SPECIAL acknowledgment needs to go to Don Heimburger, Don & Robin Thompson, Ron Bashista, John Verser and Bill Peter for their particular support of scale S and the shops that hold their product over the years. There are many others who have contributed, but these folks have been special. As always, have fun! Bill Winans Prescott Valley, AZ ----- Original Message ----- From: ed_loizeaux To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 10:09 PM Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: I'm IN!! --- In [email protected], "Andre Ming" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > WHY has this scale [not] been "discovered" by the modeling masses???? Andre..... As every long term S scale guy knows, it is because S is not carried in your local hobby shop. Hobby shop owners with a large investment in HO/N/G prefer to sell what is on their shelves rather than special order stuff that provides them with a below-industry- standard dealer discount. Hobby shop clerks have been known to say, "S died in the fifties when American Flyer went out of business, but I have some nice HO stuff right here." Of course, that smaller discount is necessitated by the tiny cottage industry nature (read: small sales volume) of our S manufacturers. With a few exceptions, most S products are sold via direct mail from S-only dealers or direct from the manufacturers or via eBay. Both the dealers and manufacturers are, for the most part, part time endeavors working out of basements and garages. Except for the big four, this is true of most all of the folks associated with S scale. Very few people actually make a living wage from S scale. If you are looking for an opportunity to help spread the S word, you might consider volunteering to work on NASG's promotions committee. Lots of opportunity there for someone to talk it up. Having fun yet....Ed L. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
