Hi guys,

Just wanted to say hello and update on what's going on!

I've just landed a job at a hobby shop which has just opened in Fremantle (15 minutes south of Perth). It's located next door to the old Toyworld (and is also owned by them). We're thinking "Hobbycraft" as the store name in memory of Freo's last greatest store that existed during the 80's-90's.

Rob is training me up to practically manage the store, so I've got a lot to learn about genres such as R/C, diecast. We have a huge floorspace and are already running out of shelves despite only receiving around 25% of our stock!

Anyway, this means that I'm back to building models after a 6 month + hiatus! Did some repairs/updates today to a few of my older aircraft models which are going on display in the store.

So if you're local, feel free to come in for a look. Our official opening is the 12th June, but we are operating now (albeit a bit messy and waiting on stock).

We are located cnr Queen Victoria and Parry St. Fremantle.

Sorry if this has turned into a bit of an ad, but I'm excited as there's only one or two stores in WA with a decent range (meaning plastic kits, trains... not R/C bias). We are certainly aiming to be up with WA's best.

So how have you all been?!

Chas

OMG Charles Young is it really you ?
Hey Charles great to see you posting again.
I hope that you are well .
Best of luck with the Freo store .
I look forward to venturing to Freo and catching up .
Great to see you posting mate !
See you soon .

Welcome back Chas, great to see you up and running again. Great to see another LHS setting up as well, there are just too many that have come and gone, so I wish you guys every success in your venture !!

Keep us updated.

Cheers, D

Welcome back Chas

Good luck with the new shop.

Good to hear Chaswazza!

Welcome Back Chas,
nice to hear from you!

If I ask nicely, Tony Dawe may wander in and give you a hard time, g;ad to hear you are doing well so far!

Good luck with it all,

cheers,

Jamie

Is that where Freo is? 15 min out of Perth - 30 years behind the eastern states

(that joke never gets old for me )




That sounds really promising. The running out of shelf space bit. Not much to learn regarding diecast, but R/C can be challenging - especially if you're catering to the whole suite of R/C genres. Just take it easy, and remember the golden rule: if you don't know, tell the customer, and tell them you'll ask someone that does know. Don't palm the customer off to other staff member, if it's not busy stick around, and listen to the advice offered by the more knowledgeable staffer. Listen and learn




So if we're not local, we're not welcome? Well, gee, THANKS CHAZ!




Just remember, at the end of the day it's all about revenue. I hate to say it but R/C sells better than plastic kits and trains. You may find in time your product split leans more toward R/C as that's what your community want and that's what you need to cater to. Don't be disappointed if/when that happens, just accept that not everyone shares your own interests and that it's just a job - and your job is to keep the shop going through sales, be it plastic kits, die cast models, or R/C cars/planes/boats.

Forgive the lecture - but been there, done that *shrugs*

I wish you guys all the best of luck with the new venture.

Rudi

p.s. I guess you won't be here for Expo then?

Hello!!

Great to hear from you all and see all the old faces (especially your old face Rudi ).

Brian long time no see, will be great to catch up soon, try get to the opening hey?

Hey Rudi, you bet. Just over the first 3 days the R/C has been selling like hotcakes. A specialist is coming in to train me on all things nitro, brushless electric, gas etc. I think the bug may be biting, very tempted to get a little petrol powered car myself.

As for more knowledgeable staff members... nada... it's all up to me. Going to be good fun though. Just like working on the Gemini on a smaller scale (for gasoline power anyway). Good advice though mate.

Plastic kit sales are actually going ok. On Friday a couple of middle aged guys, getting back into the hobby, left with Airfix 1/24ths along with handfuls of humbrols. Planning to get our advertising online as well as in the stalwart Modelart mag.

Nah will have to give the expo a miss once again. May be over there to stay in 2012 (providing the world doesn't end) running my recording studio.

Thanks for your well wishes!

Chas

Hi Chas , sorry mate I'm gonna hafta pass on the Grand Opening as I wont be back from the Eastern tour til the 15th . And then I fly back to work on the 16th at 10.45 am . I will catch you when I get back at the end of June . Are you working Saturday morning ? Or when ?
Hows your study going ?
Take care young mate .

G'day Charlie,

Haven't seen or heard from you for a while mate,and now I know where you've been. Good luckwith the store. Do you have a decent stock of figures? Please tell me you do???

Any chance of making it to one of the HMFS meetings? It would be good to see you before WASMEX.

Cheers

Tony