Terry McGrady Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I'm lucky, I have a LMS that I like, I get on with the owner and he has a group of regulars that call in on a regular basis for a chat and a coffee. Out of choice I will support him and he is always my first port of call when I want a kit, he always gives me a discount too. Okay, so he is only 10 minutes from where I live and parking is either on the road or round the back so it is free. When I buy from the internet it is because he cannot get what I want or because I am buying a second hand kit that is no longer available. For me I suppose it has something to do with loyalty but more to do with the fact that I can call in and spend a pleasant hour browsing and chatting with like minded folk. Now, I also buy R/C model gear, there is a small shop about 20 minutes away, he does not have much stock and tends to specialise. Another shop is 40 minutes away but has more stock. Neither of the owners are as affable and don't offer a discount, the shops don't offer what I want much of the time, plus the distance and thus cost to get there is greater, so much of my R/C gear is purchased from shows and the internet. Over the years I have not bought much from MZ as I have not had a shop nearby. When I have visited they have not had much that appealed to me and to the extent that I would not make a detour to visit one, it would have to be a distraction from "shopping" I felt they were more like a toy shop rather than a model shop with no real identity (the R/C stuff they sold was definitely toy like). Well to be Honest I visit York quite frequently . There are a couple of Model shops there I visit along with an excellent bookshop which sells Aviation related books amongst other things Last Model shop purchases I made were the Eduard Spitfire and the Airfix Gladiator starter pack I wasn't particular desperate for either of them , but rather than return home and then think "I wish I'd have got them now " I bit the bullet as I knew that I wouldn't be able to find the former at MZ in Leeds Cheers Terry McGrady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I went into the Bristol MZ on Tuesday, as I live out in the sticks a trip to a LMS must be incorporated into other journeys, it was my first time to the one in Cabots Circus and I was surprised how small their stock was considering they have a sizeable city to pull customers from. One of the staff told me they had built up a contacts and that they were going to start up on their own, so I passed on my e-mail address, hope they succeed. Of course there are other model shops in Bristol; Antics and Modelmania were two I particularly liked. I rarely went into ModelZone as their range of paints and other saundries was quite limited compared to these two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaddy Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 MY SELF PERSONALLY WORKING FOR MODEL ZONE IN THE LONDON AREA, AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MANY OF YOU, ITS A COMPANY OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS BUILT UP A FANTASTIC CUSTOMER BASE, BUT I HAVE NOTICED A DECLINE IN KITS AND MORE SPECIALIST PRODUCTS, I REALLY DO HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATORS CAN SORT IT OUT, AND THEN HAVE A RE-THINK, NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR ROOTS AND SELL PRODUCTS WHICH CUSTOMERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES WANT AND NOT WANT SOME PEOPLE THINK YOU WANT, ITS NICE TO SEE SOME POSITIVE COMMENTS AND OBVIOUSLY LITTLE BIT SAD ABOUT THE NEAGTIVE ONES, BUT UNFORUNATELY SOME OF THEM I CAN SEE THEIR POINT I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation Stuart, as it's none of your making. It's a pity that MZ management haven't had the benefit of your insight over the pass few years. We all understand that a chain like MZ probably cannot sustain itself just from the likes of we plastic modellers, but there is clearly something wrong with their current business model. I really hope something good comes out of the current situation, In the meantime I hope that you and the rest of the staff can get yourselves sorted. Please accept my best wishes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 We all understand that a chain like MZ probably cannot sustain itself just from the likes of we plastic modellers, but there is clearly something wrong with their current business model As others have said, the stated cause of their woes seems to be over-extension rather than having the wrong approach to stock. It's a moot point whether having a different balance of items in stock would have made the "excess" branches more profitable. But if Muddlezone survives, I wouldn't necessarily expect the shops to be all that different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwentsider Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Souless drones is a little bit harsh. I am a Modelzone employee of fifteen years service and a modeller for over thirty. I can say the same for many of my colleagues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWFK10 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Well to be Honest I visit York quite frequently . There are a couple of Model shops there I visit along with an excellent bookshop which sells Aviation related books amongst other things Last Model shop purchases I made were the Eduard Spitfire and the Airfix Gladiator starter pack I wasn't particular desperate for either of them , but rather than return home and then think "I wish I'd have got them now " I bit the bullet as I knew that I wouldn't be able to find the former at MZ in Leeds Cheers Terry McGrady Terry, I'm pretty sure I know which bookshop you're talking about. For some weeks now, they've been offering a third off all their secondhand books (which they've done before) and when I went in last weekend they'd also started doing a '3 for 2' promotion on all their reduced price stock. I've picked up some bargains but at the same time, considering the comments that have been made about Modelzone's constant sales, I'm starting to feel a bit concerned. That's one shop I really would hate to see close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afv_rob Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 It is a sad state of affairs and my heart goes out to those employee's who face the prospect of loosing there jobs if this does truly go pear shaped. Unfortunately, I, like many others on here, fall into the catagory of an occasional browser and purchaser only when items are on sale. Having said that I think there are branches of ModelZone which could be successful. The Norwich store which has already been mentioned has a very broad range of products and actually quite a sizable selection of kits, tools, paint etc as well the 'other stuff'. I think if they are going to sort themselves out i'd rather they had a few very good stores, than tons of medicore stores. That way if those stores they did have were superb and had a reputaiton for carrying a good variety of stock people will travel to visit them. I wonder as well whether there isnt something to learnt from Games Workshop. They specialise in a very niche product that one would have thought would have declined in popularity due to other sources of entertainment, yet their stores seem highly successful and the company seems to do very well. I wonder whether ModelZone couldnt introduce some wort of space in their stores for building and painting sessions (like GW have), parents could even dump their kids in there will they go off and do the shopping. Heck thinking along those lines, couldnt those stores which have an IPMS/MAFVA group in the local town/village etc invite them to hold their weekly meetings in store!? Or if not invite people to set up their own model group in store. It seems to me that there are ways ModelZone could be made successful, but I suppose the issue is unless the company is run by a passionate enthusiast many of the options arent going to make someone mega rich and I guess thats what the problem has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWFK10 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 MY SELF PERSONALLY WORKING FOR MODEL ZONE IN THE LONDON AREA, AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MANY OF YOU, ITS A COMPANY OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS BUILT UP A FANTASTIC CUSTOMER BASE, BUT I HAVE NOTICED A DECLINE IN KITS AND MORE SPECIALIST PRODUCTS, I REALLY DO HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATORS CAN SORT IT OUT, AND THEN HAVE A RE-THINK, NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR ROOTS AND SELL PRODUCTS WHICH CUSTOMERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES WANT AND NOT WANT SOME PEOPLE THINK YOU WANT, ITS NICE TO SEE SOME POSITIVE COMMENTS AND OBVIOUSLY LITTLE BIT SAD ABOUT THE NEAGTIVE ONES, BUT UNFORUNATELY SOME OF THEM I CAN SEE THEIR POINT I second what Chaddy said - I really hope it works out for you and your colleagues, Stuart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Heck thinking along those lines, couldnt those stores which have an IPMS/MAFVA group in the local town/village etc invite them to hold their weekly meetings in store!? I've already mentioned that our local store wasn't even interested in displaying publicity material for their local model club... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspriss Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Popped in to the Plymouth shop to have a look and a chat with the staff. They are putting up liquidation sale posters, with 20% off kits. They have no idea how long they will be open for as no one is telling them anything. They told me the only thing they were told is put these signs up, they MUST be on display within 8 feet of the door but nothing else about how long the sale would last, how long they would have jobs or anything. I think they are being treated very badly by the administrators and their management Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaddy Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 As others have said, the stated cause of their woes seems to be over-extension rather than having the wrong approach to stock. It's a moot point whether having a different balance of items in stock would have made the "excess" branches more profitable. But if Muddlezone survives, I wouldn't necessarily expect the shops to be all that different. In that case we'll be having this conversation again further down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyK Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 As I rarely go to central London anymore other than passing through it on the way to work I was quite excited when a MZ branch opened at Westfield in Stratford which is where we often go shopping anyway. I've been a regular visitor there since but haven't bought a couple of kits there (and those were on sale). The Holborn shop had been quite well stocked with kits, in particular Hasegawa (of course only at full retail price) and there was a good selection of paint and finishing products, raw materials, tools and ground work stuff I could use for bases. There were also the odd models on display and browsing there was a more or less pleasant experience (except for quite a number of grumpy and clueless staff). The Stratford shop is unfortunately worse. The kit selection is slim with Hasegawa, Tamiya and other "foreign" kits all but phased out, hardly any finishing products or tools, even the railway section is not up to scratch. The shop's display is very uninspiring as well, I don't think I've seen a singe built up kit there - R/C and die-cast take centre stage. However, the worst bit is the even less knowledgeable staff. When the Academy F-4B was released I tried to get it from them, asked both in person in the shop and phoned in as well. I dealt with three or four staff in total and none of them had a scoobie about model kits - didn't know who or what Academy is (tried to sell me a die-cast model), didn't know what an F-4 Phantom is ("is that that NASA one, yeah?"), hadn't really heard the words "new release" before... For a high street shop to compete with online retail (and in our hobby I admit the high street really has a hard time as we are always looking for that one particular item out of a vast choice of products and manufacturers) the shop HAS to offer something special, something the online world doesn't offer. The experience of being there, seeing exciting stuff on display, both products and built up kits/dioramas etc. , extremely knowledgeable staff that are up to speed with various genres of modelling, the latest releases, are willing to help, order in stuff that is not in stock at the shop etc. Ideally, you should feel compelled to buy something just because of that experience and come back because something like a bond between customer and shop/staff has been established. Unfortunately, no model shop in the London area is even close. MZ Holborn was quite well stocked, but I never really felt welcome there. Hannants Hendon has (or rather had) interesting stock, lots of products/tools/books and well-built models to look at, but again grumpy staff doesn't make me feel welcome there. MZ Stratford unfortunately fails in all aspects. I will keep going there as it's the closest shop to me and don't give up hope they sometimes do have something I might buy, but I won't be surprised if the administrators will cut that shop from the list. Jeffrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afv_rob Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I've already mentioned that our local store wasn't even interested in displaying publicity material for their local model club... Seems like a really stupid attitude to have, why on earth would they want to alienate their potential customer base!? I would say just as an aside, the Toymaster in Norwich, which has a very good model department were only to happy to display some of our groups models in their display cabinet when I suggested the idea (nothing ever came of this at the time though) and have always been keen for us to have our club show flyers in store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Seems like a really stupid attitude to have, why on earth would they want to alienate their potential customer base!? No idea to be honest. IIRC the reason was 'no space'....(not even for an A4 poster!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Managed to pop in very quickly in the MZ in Stratford a few days ago and I agree with what others have said about the stock in the shop. Still, I managed to leave with a couple of kits and some revell glue I needed. I'd have bought another couple of kits had my luggage not been on the verge of exploding already... I don't know if the staff knew much about kits as in the end I rarely ask for advice on (reading the posts here tells me almost everything about any kit), but one thing is sure: they were very, very nice people ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry McGrady Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Terry, I'm pretty sure I know which bookshop you're talking about. For some weeks now, they've been offering a third off all their secondhand books (which they've done before) and when I went in last weekend they'd also started doing a '3 for 2' promotion on all their reduced price stock. I've picked up some bargains but at the same time, considering the comments that have been made about Modelzone's constant sales, I'm starting to feel a bit concerned. That's one shop I really would hate to see close. Yes Wesley Owen on Fossgate , used to be the Barbican Bookshop After it moved from the Shambles when it was Pickerings. I've been using them for 30 years or more under their various identities ,The best Aviation related bookshop I've come across . Had some real bargains there Certainly miss it more than I would MZ. Though I do feel sorry for anyone losing their jobs Cheers Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaddy Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Went to York not too long ago after quite some years and was disappointed to find it had gone from the Shambles. Is that where it is now, Fossgate? That's good news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Batt Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 (edited) I wonder as well whether there isnt something to learnt from Games Workshop. They specialise in a very niche product that one would have thought would have declined in popularity due to other sources of entertainment, yet their stores seem highly successful and the company seems to do very well. I wonder whether ModelZone couldnt introduce some wort of space in their stores for building and painting sessions (like GW have), parents could even dump their kids in there will they go off and do the shopping. Heck thinking along those lines, couldnt those stores which have an IPMS/MAFVA group in the local town/village etc invite them to hold their weekly meetings in store!? Or if not invite people to set up their own model group in store. There is one thing that might be borne in mind if comparisons are made between 'proper model shops' and Games Workshop. They are a totally unilateral enterprise. I think that if anyone went in there and suggested, for example, trying to use conventional (i.e., historical) wargaming they would be shown the door in short order. That unilateral approach is perhaps their greatest strength, for a proper plastic LHS has to deal with a myriad different manufacturers and subject matter. Aside from that, my experience has been that a bit of building going on at a public display of modelling is a terrific draw. You still have to have a good range of finished models on display, for the building is very slow (it's not like throwing a pot on a wheel) and perhaps some kits laid out to show the contents, but at my local club's contributions to the air display circuit the 'living exhibits' will talk themselves hoarse. Edited July 4, 2013 by Dave Batt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Séan Pádraig Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Came past the 'new' MZ in new Oxford Street, London on my way home tonight... it has been open every day since the announcement but tonight it is covered in posters declaring closing down stock clearance 10-30% off in store... may just have to take a wander tomorrow lunchtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry McGrady Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 (edited) Went to York not too long ago after quite some years and was disappointed to find it had gone from the Shambles. Is that where it is now, Fossgate? That's good news! Yes mate Some great reductions I bought the Diver Diver Diver book by Brian Cull with Bruce Lander there recently Reduced from £30 to £7.99 Cheers Terry Edited July 4, 2013 by Terry McGrady 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWFK10 Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Chaddy, it's also worth mentioning that P&S Hobbies & Models is just a hundred yards further on down Fossgate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Donkey Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 (edited) Heading up to York from London later to get married tomorrow to my lovely Geordie lady...will of course nip in to the book shop (picked up a load of Russian related stuff last time) and P & S Hobbies - suspect SWMBO won't join me! Have to say re MZ, been in to Brighton, Reading. and Lakeside stores recently and really feel for the staff - mixed bag when it comes to product knowledge, but it's a rotten time for them regardless SD Edited July 5, 2013 by Swamp Donkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry McGrady Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Heading up to York from London later to get married tomorrow to my lovely Geordie lady...will of course nip in to the book shop (picked up a load of Russian related stuff last time) and P & S Hobbies - suspect SWMBO won't join me! Have to say re MZ, been in to Brighton, Reading. and Lakeside stores recently and really feel for the staff - mixed bag when it comes to product knowledge, but it's a rotten time for them regardless SD Have A great day tomorrow . Congratulations to you both Cheers Terry McGrady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Donkey Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thank you very much! It will be a lot if fun - neither of us are spring chickens, done it before, and in the immortal words of the Stones, 'this will be the last time'.......now, just need to move the rather large stash from Slough to her loft in Essex without her noticing....other than the heating bills going down..... SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaddy Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Chaddy, it's also worth mentioning that P&S Hobbies & Models is just a hundred yards further on down Fossgate. Thanks for the info. That's two excuses to go to York more often in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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