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What are Hornby up to ?

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simon

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Jan 22, 2012, 4:42:56 PM1/22/12
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Heard a rumour that they are only interested in the top 20 dealers, rest can
have a few crumbs but thats it. If it is true that am very dissapointed in
them, the smaller shops - especially general toy ones - can bring people
into the hobby. Grandad and granma go into toy shop wondering what to get
little johnny (or janet), see a trainset, thats 3 generations suddenly
exposed to trains. If one of them gets hooked then that can be a hundred
locos over the next few years.
So are Hornby going for short term profits and ignore the future ?

Cheers,
Simon

Wolf K

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Jan 22, 2012, 4:54:53 PM1/22/12
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"Shipping and handling", and other overhead, which costs far more than
people outside retail realise. I'm a small shop, shipping costs anywhere
from 5 to 15% of retail price. In addition to his own S&H, the
manufacturer/distributor must also figure in cost of
warehousing/inventory tracking/billing/advertising/etc, all included in
the net price I pay. You'd also be surprised how much packaging can
cost. Fact is, by the time an item ends up on the shop shelf, the
ex-factory price will make up 30% or less of what you pay.

HTH
Wolf K.

Mark Goodge

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Jan 22, 2012, 5:06:35 PM1/22/12
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On Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:42:56 -0000, simon put finger to keyboard and typed:
In order to have a trade account with Hornby directly, you need to have a
certain minimum volume of sales. Any retailer with sales volumes below that
has to buy from a wholesaler instead.

That's not particularly unusual; a lot of manufacturers have similar
policies. The difference is that Hornby is the only model railway
manufacturer big enough to be in a position to make that distinction.
Hornby's UK turnover is an order of magnitude bigger than all their rivals
put together, and their distribution model is correspondingly different.
But that doesn't mean it's harder for small retailers to get Hornby
products, because the fact that Hornby uses the wholesale channel (which
the other manufacturers mostly don't) means that there are several
competing wholesale suppliers that retailer can use.

If anything, the fact that Hornby uses wholesale distribution helps, not
hinders, them in the toy shop market, because toy retailers can get Hornby
products from the same wholesaler as their other products. Bachmann and
Dapol don't sell via wholesale, which means that a retailer which does want
to stock their products has to open an account directly, something which a
lot of smaller toy retailers - especially the ones that don't sell a lot of
model railway products - tend not to do.

Mark
--
Blog: http://mark.goodge.co.uk
Stuff: http://www.good-stuff.co.uk

Arthur Figgis

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Jan 22, 2012, 5:39:24 PM1/22/12
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On 22/01/2012 21:42, simon wrote:

> Grandad and granma go into toy shop
> wondering what to get little johnny (or janet), see a trainset, thats 3
> generations suddenly exposed to trains. If one of them gets hooked then
> that can be a hundred locos over the next few years.

Does that actually happen, given the cost of a trainset? Surely if they
were spending that much they'd at least check if it was wanted and the
right thing.



--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

Christopher A. Lee

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Jan 22, 2012, 5:46:26 PM1/22/12
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When my late father retired after 40 years on the railway, I gave him
a "high end" Graham Farish set and the only time it came out to play
was when my niece was there.

simon

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Jan 22, 2012, 6:31:35 PM1/22/12
to

"Wolf K" <wek...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:TA%Sq.31102$qa3....@unlimited.newshosting.com...
Not really suprised, often internet box shifters can sell for less than
small shops can buy. But the point am making is do we want only box shifters
as suppliers, doesnt that lead to reduction in mainstream buying in the
future. Tis like BR closing local stations as uneconomic cos ignore the
'feeder' quota ?

Cheers,
Simon

simon

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Jan 22, 2012, 6:34:12 PM1/22/12
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"Arthur Figgis" <afi...@example.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:wLKdnautX4iGDYHS...@brightview.co.uk...
Not as much as should, hence there are boxed trainsets in every toy cupboard
and loft :-)
Toys are expensive nowadays, just look at a computer game - GBP40 average
when first released, which is when children need it. Not a big package under
the xmas tree on its own.

Cheers,
Simon

simon

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Jan 22, 2012, 6:35:01 PM1/22/12
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"Christopher A. Lee" <ca...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:k94ph7570335pjitf...@4ax.com...
Yep, a chance for one of them to get hooked, not a bite every time :-)

simon

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Jan 22, 2012, 6:36:28 PM1/22/12
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"Mark Goodge" <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ma1ph7hj9kecb7anv...@news.markshouse.net...
If you leave out all but top 20 thats some big sellers.


Cheers,
Simon

Christopher A. Lee

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Jan 22, 2012, 6:44:08 PM1/22/12
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Especially considering that 40 years earlier my family all bought
different bits of Hornby clockwork for me one Christmas, much of it
pre-war second hand cos you got more that way.

He and my uncle very kindly set it up for me, laying the track on the
floor, and very kindly played with it for me.

simon

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Jan 22, 2012, 6:59:30 PM1/22/12
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"Christopher A. Lee" <ca...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:ii7ph7pe9sb2lqj1e...@4ax.com...
My father did similar, one xmas he built a layout for me, wasn't allowed to
see it till xmas day when it was complete. Few months later it was
dismantled and only allowed track+locos out on birthdays and high holidays.
Determined not to make that mistake, have laid track and done electrics
under supervision of tot, but refuse to do any more untill we both get a
paintbush out for track and ballast. Only been 6 months now.

Cheers,
Simon

news.plus.net

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Jan 23, 2012, 2:47:39 AM1/23/12
to
When I was going to set up an internet Model shop a few years ago, I was
stonewalled when I wanted to set up a wholesale account with Hornby. To
get a wholesale account you had to have a physical shop. Have things
changed now?

Rob.

Arthur Figgis

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Jan 23, 2012, 2:57:28 AM1/23/12
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No, in real terms toys are /cheap/ nowadays. 40 quid would get a lot
more than it used to. In ye good old days a computer game would cost the
equivalent of millions, and rather than shooting up aliens you could
only use it to read German government communications...

manat...@hotmail.com

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Jan 23, 2012, 3:58:18 AM1/23/12
to
Depends what you mean by "dealers". Small traders will buy through
distributors or wholesalers. When I looked at a local independent
toyshop that was for sale they bought most stuff through a group
buying scheme. A bit like wholesale but you had to be a member of the
scheme and collect from the warehouse yourself.

The "top 20" probably accounts for quite a proportion of Hornby's
sales.

It's usual in many industries to have some direct accounts and some
"channel" accounts.

MBQ

MartinS

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Jan 23, 2012, 3:09:49 PM1/23/12
to
"news.plus.net" <m...@here.com> wrote:
> simon wrote:
>> "Wolf K" <wek...@sympatico.ca> wrote...
>>> simon wrote:
>>>> Heard a rumour that they are only interested in the top 20 dealers,
>>>> rest can have a few crumbs but thats it. If it is true that am very
>>>> dissapointed in them, the smaller shops - especially general toy
>>>> ones - can bring people into the hobby. Grandad and granma go into
>>>> toy shop wondering what to get little johnny (or janet), see a
>>>> trainset, thats 3 generations suddenly exposed to trains. If one of
>>>> them gets hooked then that can be a hundred locos over the next few
>>>> years. So are Hornby going for short term profits and ignore the
>>>> future ?
>>>
>>> "Shipping and handling", and other overhead, which costs far more
>>> than people outside retail realise. I'm a small shop, shipping costs
>>> anywhere from 5 to 15% of retail price. In addition to his own S&H,
>>> the manufacturer/distributor must also figure in cost of
>>> warehousing/inventory tracking/billing/advertising/etc, all included
>>> in the net price I pay. You'd also be surprised how much packaging
>>> can cost. Fact is, by the time an item ends up on the shop shelf,
>>> the ex-factory price will make up 30% or less of what you pay.
>>>
>> Not really suprised, often internet box shifters can sell for less
>> than small shops can buy. But the point am making is do we want only
>> box shifters as suppliers, doesnt that lead to reduction in
>> mainstream buying in the future. Tis like BR closing local stations
>> as uneconomic cos ignore the 'feeder' quota ?
>>
> When I was going to set up an internet Model shop a few years ago, I
> was stonewalled when I wanted to set up a wholesale account with
> Hornby. To get a wholesale account you had to have a physical shop.
> Have things changed now?

Hatton's has a physical shop.

--
Martin S.

Mark Goodge

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Jan 23, 2012, 3:22:15 PM1/23/12
to
On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:09:49 -0500, MartinS put finger to keyboard and
typed:

>"news.plus.net" <m...@here.com> wrote:
>
>> When I was going to set up an internet Model shop a few years ago, I
>> was stonewalled when I wanted to set up a wholesale account with
>> Hornby. To get a wholesale account you had to have a physical shop.
>> Have things changed now?
>
>Hatton's has a physical shop.

Amazon doesn't.

simon

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Jan 23, 2012, 6:04:23 PM1/23/12
to

"Arthur Figgis" <afi...@example.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:OsWdnTE-oJt6j4DS...@brightview.co.uk...
Perhaps, but then are we talking about apples or pears :-)

Cheers,
Simon

simon

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Jan 23, 2012, 6:07:58 PM1/23/12
to

"Mark Goodge" <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in message
news:28grh7dae0t2m3qf1...@news.markshouse.net...
You sure about that - could be an 'accountancy' one :-)

Cheers,
Simon

simon

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Jan 23, 2012, 6:14:39 PM1/23/12
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<manat...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:63eef720-ce6e-4d01...@g4g2000pbi.googlegroups.com...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well Hornby list 850 stockists on their site for UK and ROI ....
http://www.hornby.com/stockists/england/

But am not talking about volume, its visibility. Think of it as a type of
advertising. Go to toy shop to buy present, not decided what present, see
trainset .......

Cheers,
Simon

MartinS

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Jan 24, 2012, 1:57:44 AM1/24/12
to
Mark Goodge <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
> MartinS put finger to keyboard and typed:
>
>>"news.plus.net" <m...@here.com> wrote:
>>
>>> When I was going to set up an internet Model shop a few years ago, I
>>> was stonewalled when I wanted to set up a wholesale account with
>>> Hornby. To get a wholesale account you had to have a physical shop.
>>> Have things changed now?
>>
>>Hatton's has a physical shop.
>
> Amazon doesn't.

I wouldn't know. Amazon.ca doesn't sell models.

--
Martin S.

Arthur Figgis

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Jan 24, 2012, 2:44:33 AM1/24/12
to
Well, Apples might be a bit more expensive.

manat...@hotmail.com

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Jan 24, 2012, 3:41:59 AM1/24/12
to
On Jan 23, 11:14 pm, "simon" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> <manatba...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:63eef720-ce6e-4d01...@g4g2000pbi.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 22, 9:42 pm, "simon" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
> > Heard a rumour that they are only interested in the top 20 dealers, rest
> > can
> > have a few crumbs but thats it. If it is true that am very dissapointed in
> > them, the smaller shops - especially general toy ones - can bring people
> > into the hobby. Grandad and granma go into toy shop wondering what to get
> > little johnny (or janet), see a trainset, thats 3 generations suddenly
> > exposed to trains. If one of them gets hooked then that can be a hundred
> > locos over the next few years.
> > So are Hornby going for short term profits and ignore the future ?
>
> Depends what you mean by "dealers". Small traders will buy through
> distributors or wholesalers. When I looked at a local independent
> toyshop that was for sale they bought most stuff through a group
> buying scheme. A bit like wholesale but you had to be a member of the
> scheme and collect from the warehouse yourself.
>
> The "top 20" probably accounts for quite a proportion of Hornby's
> sales.
>
> It's usual in many industries to have some direct accounts and some
> "channel" accounts.
>
> MBQ
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Well Hornby list 850 stockists on their site for UK and ROI  ....http://www.hornby.com/stockists/england/
>
> But am not talking about volume, its visibility. Think of it as a type of
> advertising. Go to toy shop to buy present, not decided what present, see
> trainset .......

How is that affected by Hornby's choice of who they supply direct v.
via distribution channels?

MBQ

Mark Goodge

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Jan 24, 2012, 1:18:50 PM1/24/12
to
On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:57:44 -0500, MartinS put finger to keyboard and
typed:

>Mark Goodge <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
>> MartinS put finger to keyboard and typed:
>>
>>>"news.plus.net" <m...@here.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> When I was going to set up an internet Model shop a few years ago, I
>>>> was stonewalled when I wanted to set up a wholesale account with
>>>> Hornby. To get a wholesale account you had to have a physical shop.
>>>> Have things changed now?
>>>
>>>Hatton's has a physical shop.
>>
>> Amazon doesn't.
>
>I wouldn't know. Amazon.ca doesn't sell models.

Amazon.co.uk sells the complete Hornby range.

MartinS

unread,
Jan 24, 2012, 6:17:04 PM1/24/12
to
Mark Goodge <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
> MartinS put finger to keyboard and typed:
>>Mark Goodge <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
>>> MartinS put finger to keyboard and typed:
>>>
>>>>"news.plus.net" <m...@here.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> When I was going to set up an internet Model shop a few years ago,
>>>>> I was stonewalled when I wanted to set up a wholesale account with
>>>>> Hornby. To get a wholesale account you had to have a physical
>>>>> shop. Have things changed now?
>>>>
>>>>Hatton's has a physical shop.
>>>
>>> Amazon doesn't.
>>
>>I wouldn't know. Amazon.ca doesn't sell models.
>
> Amazon.co.uk sells the complete Hornby range.

Amazon is bigger than Hornby.
I'm sure they were able to negotiate a deal.

--
Martin S.

Mark Goodge

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Jan 25, 2012, 2:52:23 AM1/25/12
to
On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:17:04 -0500, MartinS put finger to keyboard and
That's kind of my point.

Charlie Hulme

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Jan 31, 2012, 9:58:19 AM1/31/12
to
On 22/01/2012 22:46, Christopher A. Lee wrote:

> When my late father retired after 40 years on the railway, I gave him
> a "high end" Graham Farish set and the only time it came out to play
> was when my niece was there.
>

Eyesight too old for N scale, maybe?

Charlie

Christopher A. Lee

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Jan 31, 2012, 10:45:22 AM1/31/12
to
He'dspent a lifetime with the real thing.

MartinS

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Jan 31, 2012, 3:03:15 PM1/31/12
to
Charlie Hulme <in...@davenportstation.org.uk> wrote:
> Christopher A. Lee wrote:
>
>> When my late father retired after 40 years on the railway, I gave him
>> a "high end" Graham Farish set and the only time it came out to play
>> was when my niece was there.
>
> Eyesight too old for N scale, maybe?

Back in the 1950s and 60s, Graham Farish made OO railway models. They were
more expensive than Hornby, and many diecasts crumbled due to the use of
poor quality mazac. They got into the N Scale market in the 1970s.

Grafar was taken over by Kader in 2001 and absorbed by Bachmann Industries,
which moved production to China.

--
Martin S.
Message has been deleted

Charlie Hulme

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Feb 2, 2012, 6:51:52 AM2/2/12
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On 31/01/2012 22:27, damdu...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:03:15 -0500, MartinS<m...@my.place.invalid>

>>
>> Back in the 1950s and 60s, Graham Farish made OO railway models. They were
>> more expensive than Hornby, and many diecasts crumbled due to the use of
>> poor quality mazac.
>
> I've wondered if a coach I have is one of those. Acquired it years
> ago when I was still at school. Unpainted black plastic body with a
> reddish brown tin roof with no detail on it. Diecast Metal bogies and
> a sort of tension lock coupler that differs from the Tri-ang ones that
> were on my other coaches. Metal strip on the underside appears to be
> there for strength or a weight. No corridor connections and no makers
> name I can see easily either. The diecast bogies seem to have remained
> intact so far.
>

Sounds very much like a Graham Farish one to me. They did make a
non-corridor coach with a tin roof, ca. 1960, and their couplers
were as you describe.

Charlie


Charlie Hulme

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Feb 2, 2012, 6:58:35 AM2/2/12
to
On 31/01/2012 20:03, MartinS wrote:
> Charlie Hulme<in...@davenportstation.org.uk> wrote:
>> Christopher A. Lee wrote:
>>
>>> When my late father retired after 40 years on the railway, I gave him
>>> a "high end" Graham Farish set and the only time it came out to play
>>> was when my niece was there.
>>
>> Eyesight too old for N scale, maybe?
>
> Back in the 1950s and 60s, Graham Farish made OO railway models. They were
> more expensive than Hornby, and many diecasts crumbled due to the use of
> poor quality mazac.

Indeed they did. I have (in bad condition) one of their 'Black
Fives' with a motor in the tender driving the loco through a
flexible shaft. I doubt whether these products could be described
as 'high-end' though, although their Pullmans had a good
reputation IIRC.

They also made flexible 00 track 'Formoway' which was advertised
on the back of magazines. Looked OK, but the points gad huge
'dead frogs.'

> They got into the N Scale market in the 1970s.

Yes - I had some of their first wagons from about 1970, which
were undecorated, but you could get a set of dry-print transfers
for them.

I've dabbled in N a few times, but never really felt happy with it.

Charlie



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