Thanks again to all those who answered my mini poll.
I am now asking fellow UK modellers for some extra feedback and help if possible.

The first thing is - does anyone know where to get information on the UK scale model market? Stuff like, whats the market worth, which manufacturer is the most popular, whats the market share for model planes, ships, tanks etc etc??

The second thing is just general feedback. After reading everyone's answer to my mini poll, I've now got an idea what to aim for with my online model shop idea.
I'm thinking of specialising in WW2 models from different manufacturers but instead of just selling kits, how about selling the kit, with some etch and canopy mask as a package? Of course kits and etch etc could be sold individually as normal but I like the idea of a package for more serious modellers.
What does everyone (UK only if poss!) think of that?

thanks
Mike

Guys, I'd really love some feedback on this idea!
thanks
Mike

Mike, for my thought, i'd love a package that included kit, and eduard seatbelts and masks, they are the two most useful AM things i use for every build.

Yep and you can prob bulk buy seat belts for a variety of kits. reducing your costs on the AM a bit. Could be a winner.

Supplying decent decal sets along with old kits or something like that. ( those sheets for multiple A/C which you might be able to split to sell with a single kit)

I really think you could be onto something. Folk that want all the bells and whistles will always get them. But providing something akin to an Airfix ProfiPack could be a real difference from other shops. Nice one.

Thanks Jaypee and Bigskip. Anyone else have any thoughts?

thanks
Mike

My apologies if this sounds offensive (which is certainly not my intention) but you should not be surprised not getting many reactions if you exclude +/-90% of the visitors of this site from your poll.

I don't think that UK modelers are such special animals that ideas from modellers from the rest of the planet would be irrelevant.

Further i don't understand why you want to restrict your market to the UK alone. there are delivery services that can disttribute worldwide, there are secure payment systems operating worldwide and the advantage of the internet is that it is worldwide. so why voluntary limit your market?

By the way: Your idea to make a package is great! In fact, this is exactly what brands like Eduard are doing. They take e.g; an old Kopro kit, add resin and photo etch and bring the package on the market.

And if you want to do this then you should not worry who the most popular manufacturer is. You should for every individual type of airplane get the best kit (from whatever manufacturer) and combine it with the most relevant aftermarket stuff, paint, decals in a package. Your product is not a kit, its the package.

With some research you should be able to make very interesting packages. in the long run yuo could even work together with producers of aftermarket stuff to design such packages.

Finally, i do not think that discussing such business concept on an open forum is a very good idea. This post can be read by everyone with an internet connection. Donating your innovative ideas to the potential competition (some of which already have a running internet business) before you are on the market yourself is a bit odd.

Thanks for your thoughts, I have thought about all those things you mention and no offense taken!

We are not restricting our market to the UK market alone. We welcome international customers but being based in the UK, we see that as our main market plus when we make a business plan for the application of grants/loans etc we need details of the UK market. Plus initially the postage costs will be high for international customers - we don't have the capital to take losses on postage at the moment.

What I'm trying to do is establish want serious modellers want and expect from an online retailer. Having little start up capital we need to know in which direction to go, which niche to fill etc. We can't supply every kit and every accessory unlike Hannants!

I agree, it is a risk discussing business ideas on here but I'm not sure what else to do. I want answers from a variety of people up and down the UK. I do intend to join the IPMS and join 1 or 2 of the local IPMS clubs and I can certainly ask members there but that would only give answers from modellers in my area of the UK. Plus I haven't revealed all my plans - I do still have some top secret ideas!

Anyway thanks again for your thoughts and I'm glad you think my idea has some merit! I hope this at least gives some explanation as to my ideas and posts on here.

thanks
Mike

When wanting to build something out of the ordinary one can spend easily more than 25 euro on trips to LHS and postage costs to collect all decals, paint, the kit itself...to build a single kit.

so, even when you make no loss on postage you can still be competitive in distributing a package.

The key is to make an interesting package by selecting high quality and relevant components. the package should be cheaper than buying the individual components seperately.


At best it should be something not readily available anywhere else (e.g; A Basler BT-67 based on a dc-3 kit)

Why not do a "proof of concept", create one complete package and bring it to the market.

I hope you don't mind a quick comment from the opposite end of things (geographically speaking) !!

We don't have anywhere near the range of AM goodies you guys in Europe and the US have readily available to you (I get jealous every time I look at the "postman" thread), so I tend to buy my kits locally and quite a few items from overseas. If I could source a package deal as you have described I'm sure it would be worth my while even taking into account exchange rates and freight costs.

I will always support my LHS wherever I can, but sometimes they just can't get the things I want.

Cheers, D

Drabslab - I have had similar thoughts. Certainly I can't see it making any difference in postage cost if some buys a mask and a sheet of etch to go with a kit. As for discounts, yes I agree with you but we need to do the sums first before we can categorically state if we can discount the products and how much by. If we can offer discounts by doing that, then we certainly will.

AussieReg - No problems with international customer as stated before - in fact if we can help you get what you want and help us make a living from it then everyone wins! The only problem I'm concerned with is the high cost of registered international post - I know this from being a private trader on ebay. We will work something out, I'm sure!

thanks
Mike