--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > One way to really get kids interested in trains again is to have a movie
Hi: One more post on Starters.... My son & daughter and I were in a YMCA program called "Indian Guides" from the time my daughter was 5 until my son turned 10, about nine years. When the movie "Man of the House" came out, which if you've not seen it promanently features the Y' program, we in the program thought we'd get a TON of calls, after all, Chevy Chase and Fara Faucett starred! It didn't happen. The program is GREAT BTW and any of you guys out there looking for a way to be sure you spend time with your boys or girls in the 5-10 yr range should call the Y'. The program recognition did go up, people would ask you about the program and you could say, " Have you seen the movie?" They'd go "Oh yeah!" and that hooked them a little longer so you could tell them what the program was really like as oppposed to the movie. Point? Tie-ins are great but probably won't send S' to the moon. BUT, it would increase recognition. Might be even better to have Jimmy Eat World put some S-Gauge in their next music video! Or get Old Navy to use trains in one of their ads. Or get Aber & Fitch to use them in some sexy ad with 1/2 neked guys, better yet, get them to use them on their Christmas shopping bags! Lots of mall exposure there. What i've come away with from this thread is: 1. More people are buying trains as they get older. Sales in general have been rising according to what i have read here. This means that more kids will get to see adults running trains so more kids will naturally want to run trains in the future. Kid still emulate the adults they love. This is a good thing, right? 2. We need to have liturature handy at any occasion where we display our trains. We don't currently have the luxury of sending the newbies to K-mart for a starter set. But, how many families do you know who do not have and use internet access? At a minimum, clubs or individuals can have a typed up list of websites ready to hand out to folks who show an interest. Websites are catalogs too. I know i drool occasionally when i cruise through ebay or look at SHS's site. After reading/catching up on this thread all morning I've convinced myself that i'm going to do this for ACSG's upcoming appearance at the Charlotte GATS show. 3. There's a lot of ways to skin a cat. Thanks to all of you who have and are producing all the fine equipment that's currently available. But don't ever expect Lionel to push Flyer. It's not in their best interest to dilute the liquor. I do think what little they are making is good quality, liked their version of Gabe. Wish they would bring the technology of the 21st century to bear on some of the stuff. But then, go back and reread the fourth sentance. 4. Computers have changed play and this has, i suspect, hurt sales of many types of toys that used to be popular. I just poled my 15 year old son and he couldn't think of a single kid he knows that builds models, plastic, wood, etc. except for two guys that are into gaming, Warhammer, they make their figurines. At least 1/2 the kids in the neighborhood i grew up in did this at least a little bit. Now kids mostly model on computers. 5. Grass roots efforts such as rehabbing old Atlantics are a good idea. Go for it and see how it does. Have enjoyed this thread, it's been more civil than many, in spite of the obvious strongly differing opinions. Nuff talk, time to go play with my trains! Regards, Ted S-Trains list sponsor: http://www.americanflyertrains.com All the "Flyer" you desire...books and accessories too! To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list send a note to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
