N Scale Wherehouse

[Kevin C]

Hello to All.

I have just opened my ' N Scale ' model train store close to Henderson Texas. You can click on the link below to view my website. Please feel free to contact me using the contact page on the website if you have a query or if you are looking for a particular item. I may be able to help.

I hope to meet you all soon. The link to my website is www.nscalewherehouse.com

Kevin Chamberlain
N Scale Wherehouse
9993 County Road 317 South
Henderson
Texas

[dem34]

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.

[mu26aeh]

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.

I recently started working part time at LHS and can attest to this.  While we don't have stuff out of the package, I've rung up quite a bit of it.  And not just 1 or 2 pieces/packs at a time.  Once they get some, customers go all out on it.

[Kevin C]

All advice appeciated. I have a small choice of Kato Unitrack but will get more with my next order.

[EL3632]

+1 on the Unitrack. At my LHS, where I work, we have a good stock of the stuff, but it flies off the shelves. Also agree on starter sets. You would be surprised how many people come in to the shop not knowing where to start.

[CRL]

The Unitrack idea may not work for the OP. He’s way out in the boondocks in a rural area and won’t likely get much walk in or drive by traffic, so I’m guessing he’s counting on internet sales to make this work. If true, then it’s price & availability that will drive his sales and most of that from experienced modelers who tend to buy big ticket items from their favorite (price & availability) internet supplier. He’s more of an RHS than a LHS.

[peteski]

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.

[MK]

Unitrack = MRR's Lego. 

[Kevin C]

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.

Thank you for the good wishes. Our business has been over three years in the planning but Covid, lock downs and other technicalities have all got in the way. We are at this point now and determined to grow the business. N Scale trains is a passion of mine that started over thrirty years ago when I bought my first two Kato Burlington Northern SD 45 locomotives from a small family business in Albany. I have started and stopped building two layouts so far, the second of which is documented in the Layout Engineering Report section of this forum. I have the space available to start my third layout which I am hoping to start soon.

We made the decision to set up the retail store as it is a requirement for some suppliers wanting to only supply brick and mortar stores. There is a small bunch of N Scale guys in Tyler and a new club presently being formed in Mineola so I will get the word out to them. I have a vision of seeing the members of those clubs and groups coming into the store on a Saturday morning to have a coffee and a place where they can sit and talk trains.

You mentioned that you are on the other side of the country and there are many other modellers spread far and wide but if you are ever passing by, stop in for a cup of coffee and say hello.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

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.

Brilliant.

I'd say make a grown up version of a kids "train table" to play with the stuff. Bust open some of the K sets to get fully working stuff to really show how easy it is. You'll sell a TON.

[Rossford Yard]

Glad to have a new N Scale store.  I live near Dallas, and the other local stores, save one in Ft. Worth, seem to have given up N scale.  As it happens, I will be going to Kilgore on business Friday, but my meeting is at noon, so I will stop by some time before then to say hello!

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.

With the Plano train show starting back up, I know many on the layout tours go out to Greenville (I think that layout is still open) so advertising there (or even getting a booth) would probably get some of the typical 100+ patrons out your way.  Best of luck, and I think the DFW crowd will also be supportive.

[davefoxx]

Oh, man.  Everytime I see the caption to this thread, I think it says "N Scale Whorehouse."  My problem, not yours.  Good luck with the new venture!

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

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...

[mu26aeh]

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...

I'll run the idea past Brian

[Point353]

My own dream is to have a hobby shop down the street with a good whiskey and coffee program. A man can dream...

That dream should be a hobby shop (with a good whiskey and coffee program) combined with a Rise Biscuits Chicken franchise.