Model Retailer August 2010

August 2010

Ever wonder why customers buy one thing but not another, or why they buy anything at all? We investigate customer decision-making processes.

Special Report - Get Inside Their Heads

Understanding the decision-making process we all engage in can help make your store more profitable.

Business Basics - Grab Them by the Inbox

E-mail is one of the most direct, effective and least expensive ways to market your store. Here's how to get started.

Walthers, Conway inducted into Railroad Hall of Fame
The HMA Model Railroad Industry Division Council inducted two new members into the Model Railroad Industry Hall of Fame July 18 and recognized another with the Bobbye Hall Award.Wm. K Walthers Inc. CE...
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iHobby Expo set for October 21-24
It might be the middle of summer, but the 26th iHobby Expo is right around the corner.Scheduled for Oct. 21-24, 2010, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., the show will inclu...
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Lionel to discontinue K-Line products
Lionel LLC has announced that the end of 2010 will also mark the end of Lionel’s marketing of K-Line-branded products.“It’s something we tried for three years, and we gave it a pretty good shot,” said...
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Retailer tells manufacturers, "Earn your space"
In an unusual move for a store owner, Pat Fuge of Gnome Games, Green Bay, Wis., put game publishers on the spot when he proposed a contest for premium sales space in his store. Announced in April on ...
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Horizon Hobby issues R/C gray-market warning
Dear retailer!Many of you have been asking questions about the gray-market Spektrum receivers that have been publicized on the Internet. We would like to point out that importing, retailing, or us...
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American Hobby Distributors takes over Lenz distribution
With the retirement of Deb Ames, President of Tried and True Trains Inc., distribution of Lenz digital command control products — the Lenz Agency — in the U.S. is moving to American Hobby Distributors...
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NASCAR logo
Lionel, Nascar enter into die-cast car partnership
Lionel Electric Trains and the NASCAR Teams Licensing Trust (NTLT) have formed a joint venture to make and sell NASCAR replica die-cast race cars.According to a release from the NTLT, the joint ventur...
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National Model Railroad Association
National Train Show Comes to Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wis., will play host to the 20th anniversary National Train Show, July 16-18, at the Midwest Airlines Center.This year’s show, in conjunction with the National Model Railroad Association’s ...
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IHC's Bernie Paul Dies
Bernard (Bernie) Paul, owner of Philadelphia model railroad manufacturer International Hobby Corporation (IHC), died June 19. Graveside services were June 23. See the August Model Retailer for more in...
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Sanda Kan cuts manufacturing for some model railroad companies
Chinese contract manufacturer Sanda Kan has sent letters to a number of its customers worldwide, telling them it will no longer be able to make products for them.According to industry sources, among t...
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Welcome to Model Retailer.com!
Model Retailer covers the business of hobbies, from financial and shop management issues to industry trends and the latest in product releases. We provide hobby shop entrepreneurs the tools and information they need to be successful retailers.

If you're a hobby store owner, this magazine is for you!
They Never Grow Out of It
People love big things that move. Men especially can’t get enough of them. Ever. Case in point: Kalmbach Publishing Co., our publisher, recently had ...
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Thoughts on an airplane.
It’s always good to get out of the office. Not that I don’t enjoy what I do on a daily basis, but getting out to a show and talking to dealers and man...
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Hedonizing Technologies: a book review
Hedonizing Technologies
Once upon a time, needlework was a chore.Home brewing was a housewife’s duty.Engineers built models of vehicles and train layouts for practical purpos...
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More answers from retailers
Not much. I think I am old enough to be able to tell if a certain manufacturer is up to it or not. I carry all different model-related magazines, so I...
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2010HobbyDirectorycover
Our annual Hobby Industry Business pages contains almost 2,000 listings of manufacturers, distributors, publishers, associations, show promoters and service providers, and much more. Download it now »
7MR
How to Build Realistic Scenery
This special issue gives proven techniques you can trust to make scenery as realistic as possible.
Order here
12441
DCC Projects & Applications Vol. 2
This book answers questions about starting with or upgrading Digital Command Control equipment and selecting state-of-the-art gear.
Order here
8TR
Historic Trains Today
Explore the history and heritage of railroading with Historic Trains Today.
Order here
12435
The Model Railroader's Guide to Steel Mills
This book makes modeling this archetypical American industry possible for the average modeler.
Order here
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