Friends,
I'm not sure about other areas, or if Texas is that far behind, but in
Houston we have five fairly large shops devoted at least 50% to trains
(three totally trains). Of course, I'm told that Houston's city limits
are bigger than the state of Rhode Island, so traveling to the North
side shops can be a chore in heavy traffic. Anytime the newest comes in
from Walthers, Bachmann, etc. there is a fight to which shop gets the
most pre order sales--discounts are given. Unfortunately only one shop
handles any S at all and they are phasing it out.
I've mentioned this time and time again--you have to be everywhere and
everyplace to take advantage of the the buying public--'cause they come
from all over. Look at your auto manufacturers/dealers--on television
(English, Indian, Spanish and maybe Vietnamese), on the net, in magazine
ads, billboards, and local newspaper ads normally fill a weekend section
and you'll even see them flying overhead during the football games.
For us that translates into being evident at local and national train
shows, hobby shops, the net, mail order, and word of mouth all the
time! The Houston S guys just finished showing our layout at a local
show and we got some interested folks signing up--we'll see how they pan
out. Although one member has moved, we still have the largest
membership we've had since I've been in the group. I know alot of the
Eastern clubs have much larger rosters but we keep plugging along.
Bob Werre
BobWphoto.com
Harold Minkwitz wrote:
> The 'net is the hobby shop of the 21st century. We have two dreadful
> shops, Hobbytowne and one other. The next nearest is fifty miles, or
> $12 bucks in gas. Most people coming into the hobby are in the same
> fix, there is only the 'net as their hobbyshop.
>
> That is why promoting S scale is so much more important on the web than
> in print. Not to make it as big as HO but to expand the base so there
> will be more incentive for manufacturers.
>
> Harold
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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