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Looks pretty slick. Now some suggestions, really lean into Unitrak. Keep some out and give new customers hands on examples of the system, most casual modellers don't have the time or space for a layout and always end up enamored with the stuff once they realize they can throw a spaghetti bowl on the kitchen table and have it up and down in 5 minutes. (I also love it for that reason) Hanging out at my LHS its hard to keep that stuff in inventory once enough people get hooked. And in the same vein keep a couple starter sets kicking around, both of trains+track and track packs.
Kevin, going by what has been happening to the brick & mortar hobby shops in the last few decades, you are very daring person. Having said that, I wish you luck, and I hope you will have a successful and thriving business.If you don't mind me asking, did you do any sort of research before opening the shop, or did you just decide to do this on a whim?You shop looks pretty slick. It looks a bit like a living room, or a coffee house - very welcoming. Bright and clean too. Nothing like some grungy, cluttered, darkly-lit hobby shops I have visited (although those have a different kind of "charm"). Your stock is pretty sparse, but I understand that you had to start somewhere.I'm glad that you also set up an online shop - that seems to pretty much be a requirement for surviving.I'm on the other side of the country, it will be unlikely I'll be visiting in-person anytime soon, but if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't mind doing some shopping at the N Scale Warehouse. I used to have a nice N-scale-only shop in my area. Like yours, it was clean, neat, and brightly lit. Unfortunately the owner retired (for medical reasons) and the store closed. I miss Ken's Trains.
From the pic, your store seems there is a new trend towards luxury LHS. Actually, the old Papa Ben's was pretty luxurious, and there is one in Amarillo that looks similar to yours. Of course, with such a luxurious setting, your customers might expect that coffee to be Starbucks Lattes, LOL.
This is, I think, a good thing.I mean, think about it. They're selling what are generally luxury goods, right? My own dream is to have a hobby shop down the street with a good whiskey and coffee program. A man can dream...
My own dream is to have a hobby shop down the street with a good whiskey and coffee program. A man can dream...