Model Zone in Administration & to close

[Stuart91]

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.

Thanks, appreciate the comment, it would be a shame if it went as some of you on here seem to be frequent customers, my self personally have only visited 3 or 4 other Model Zones particually in the London area, and the one thing i have never got my head around is how each shop sells different products to the other, and how some shops miss out on bigger kit orders and r/c items, hopefully something will get sorted and who knows may see some of you in the future

[Séan Pádraig]

Just back from the London store and it was heaving like the old days.... sadly for the wromg reasons..

20% of plastic kist meant I bought two, and 30% of paints meant I picked up a dozen Model Colour.

I have to say that the staff were extremely positive and gave no impression of gloom...

[Hardtarget]

Just been to the MZ in maidstone, £75 of paint later but all for a good cause as hopefully they will raise enought funds to entice a buyer and keep the place open. Lads in there are still upbeat which is good to see.

[roymattblack]

MZ in Ipswich....

I'm KICKING myself for not buying the 1/12 Tamiya McLaren M23 last weekend, reduced to £59.95.

I went in to get it today - back up to £99.99 with a 20% reduction = £79!!!!!

As it's not actually a kit desperately want, I didn't buy it.

At £59.99 I would have.

Oh well....

I'll have a mooch round in there tomorrow.

It makes me feel a bit guilty for apparently 'cherry-picking' now they are in trouble, but if I don't, hundreds of others will.

At least I gave them some support over the past few years, buying a gigantic digital Scalextric set and packs of extra track, plus several larger kits - most recently the Revell Routemaster bus and numerous paints, die-casts, etc......

Roy.

Edited July 5, 2013 by roymattblack

[chaddy]

At least I gave them some support over the past few years, buying a gigantic digital Scalextric set and packs of extra track, plus several larger kits - most recently the Revell Routemaster bus and numerous paints, die-casts, etc......

Roy.

They needed more customers like you Roy. i.e. People with several interests.

[roymattblack]

They needed more customers like you Roy. i.e. People with several interests.

And the funny thing is, the Scaley stuff has been sitting boxed and untouched in a cupboard for 18 months as I have nowhere to set it up - with all the extra track I bought it's HUGE!!!

EVENTUALLY I want to get a BIG half-decent shed and set it up permanently with some landscaping.

Roy.

[jeff1200]

I visited Modelzone Portsmouth today. Kits are 20% off and Paints and tools 30% off. Apparently that shop is going

to be open for at least a week.
As it happens I don't need an airbrush or a compressor, but if I did I would be tempted by such savings, if a

problem developed there would presumably be a UK agent to provifr support.
Kits: Airfix and Revell are well represented, also some Dragon and Round2 (AMT/MPC/Moebius).
I was tempted by a "Jules Verne Nautilus" but the £40 pricetag with discount was still outside my price range.

My own feeling is that Portsmouth was probably part of the "over-reaching" problem and it may well not be saved in

any buyout.

As it happens there are a few independent model shops along the South Coast and so the demise of Modelzone would

not be a total disaster for modellers in the region. Indeed they might be hoping that that will happen?

It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Jeff

[roymattblack]

Unfortunately, it doesn't help that MZ aren't exactly famous for being 'cheap' in general terms.

Yes, they have had some good sale stuff and reductions on certain items, but they still have always listed everything at 'top-dollar' with a so called discount.

This still comes nowhere near to umpteen other shops/websites selling the same thing.

Even WH Smiths are now cheaper for Airfix and Revell kits.

Where have you seen, apart from MZ, the Airfix 1/12 Bentley at £99???

Or at the other end of the scale, the Airfix 1/32 E-Type at £12.99!!!!!

Sorry MZ - I'm sad to see you go but in all honesty, I've seen it coming for the past year.

I really do hope someone bails you out, and you come back as you were three years ago - a PROPER 'MODELzone' and not a half hearted no-idea toy shop/model shop.

No doubt I'll get shot down in flames now but I really do wish you the best.

Roy.

Edited July 5, 2013 by roymattblack

[sturmovik30]

the MAJOR problem with MODELZONE has always been markup,the buyers have always been insisted upon making a 80percent markup, and to stick to it no matter what,so if the profit margin isnt there then dont buy it,all well and good in running a business i suppose but at a cost,if the suppliers dont play it their way then they dont buy,in the long run it reduces the ranges they keep and end up buying endless r/c tat from china and the like ,hence the problem they have now,not only have they destroyed any rep they did have ,but they have alienated themselves too.also they dont actually own any of the hornby and scalextric they sell,its done as a concession,which is why they also get the new release long after anyone else,and sell it at a higher price.not good business....

[jargonking]

Modelzone's woes lie squarely with parent company Amerang and not really with the shops themselves....they have been simply selling their stock at prices set by Amerang.

A classic example of their flawed pricing policy is with the imported sci-fi kits from Moebius and Pegasus. Amerang appear to take the dollar retail price, double it and then add VAT at 20%. This resulted in the relatively tiny Battlestar Galactica kit retailing at £50. This directly due to the fact that Amerang were the sole UK distributor for Moebius.

Moebius then do a deal with Revell to rebox the Galactica kits and the price miraculously drops to £19.99 due to Amerang having no say over Revell's RRP. It also led to the ridiculous situation of the Moebius and Revell boxings of the same kit sitting side by side on a MZ shelf with a price disparity of £30.....hmmm, which one shall I buy?

I'm guessing the same situation applies to the Hasegawa prices...Amerang need to get real and stop taking us for mugs.

[roymattblack]

I just came home from the Ipswich MZ.

I bought some rattle cans, and nothing else.

Everything has gone back up to maximum RRP, then a 20% discount which brings it down close to the price you will pay anywhere.

An example - MZ today had the Revell Ferrari California for £22.50, with 20% off.

That brings it down to £18.00

I walked 100 yards to The Works bookshop and bought it for £9.99!

They have a STACK of Revell kits - all £9.99.

How do MZ hope to compete?

As awful as it sounds, I'll keep tabs on MZ, as if they don't get a buyer, the prices will no doubt drop even more.

Roy.

Edited July 6, 2013 by roymattblack

[prowler0000]

Just back from the New Oxford St branch.

VERY nice staff, very helpful & friendly. 1 lady helped a young tourist family out with a Revell car kit & all the glue & paints: She seemed to know her stuff!

I bought several Vallejo paints, including 2 of their Liquid Gold range on a whim, at 30% off, some 6mm STUK masking tape & a set of 3 Taimya Hi-Finish brushes. Then i spotted a Tamiya Ninja bike i missed in the last sale, so that joined the list.

As i was paying, i asked if there was "any news"?

"Monday" i was told......

MONDAY....... Hope the staff get treated with the respect they deserve!!!

[gregg136]

Went in today (bought a Spitfire Mk.IXc and the Chipmunk) they've not been told anything but there was one party looking at the company over the next few days so who knows.

Fingers crossed, I know they're not everyone's favorite but it'll be a crying shame if they were to go, ordering online is good if you know what you want but I like the impulse buys. Plus unlike Boyes at least they sell their kits with the instructions and decals inside.

[AWFK10]

I just came home from the Ipswich MZ.

I bought some rattle cans, and nothing else.

Everything has gone back up to maximum RRP, then a 20% discount which brings it down close to the price you will pay anywhere.

An example - MZ today had the Revell Ferrari California for £22.50, with 20% off.

That brings it down to £18.00

I walked 100 yards to The Works bookshop and bought it for £9.99!

They have a STACK of Revell kits - all £9.99.

How do MZ hope to compete?

As awful as it sounds, I'll keep tabs on MZ, as if they don't get a buyer, the prices will no doubt drop even more.

Roy.

Yeah. I called in at another branch, which shall remain nameless, this afternoon. Even with a 20% discount, there wasn't a single kit among their rather limited stock that I wanted badly enough to pay the asking price. But I thought I'ld offer at least some support by buying some Vallejo paint - which, with a 30% discount applied, was now at about the price I can pick it up for any time at Boyes. Immediately, a member of staff came up and asked if I was interested in any particular colours. He then practically elbowed me out of the way in order to tidy up the row I'd just been looking at, in which the bottles had fallen over - effectively stopping me looking through the rack, instead of waiting till I'd finished. So I just left, without buying anything - another £8 or so lost to Modelzone. I might have been less sensitive if this same guy hadn't managed, every time I've been in the store (including the numerous occasions on which I've handed over cash), to convey the impression that he suspected me of being about to perpetrate some crime or other. When you're already under the disadvantage of trying to sell a rather poor selection of overpriced goods, that's not an attitude that's going to help you. In contrast, I paid a visit earlier in the day to a genuine LMS that I've patronised for over 25 years, had a good chin wag with the owner and spent some money with him (and got a discount on the purchase). Says it all, really.

[rayprit]

Popped into MZ Birmingham city centre today. Even with 20% discount, shelves had stock on them but the place was empty. As mentioned earlier, lots of places are cheaper now, or matching them..................I wasnt tempted by anything, so had a quick browse and left empty handed

[Rickpadwick1801]

I went into Brighton modelzone earlier today to help my Mrs sort out my birthday presents and they definately had the majority of kits on 20% off and paints at 30% off, so I think my mrs has sorted ut the present from her and the present from my dad ad step mum (possibly with all the required paints).

They still had a lot of stock, but can I say the staff in Brighton modelzone are extremely helpful.

[stevej60]

I have noticed good and bad comments on the stores and staff in this thread,Newcastle and Sunderland are the stores I use and find

the staff in both stores great,I know there are modellers among the staff which probably makes the difference.This got me to thinking

if Modelzone goes will we ever see a chain of shops like them again?and in reality how many modellers are out there to support them?

Apart from my eldest son I don,t know any other modellers at all! that includes a large group of friends and over 100 work colleagues

and I am sure that a lot of contributors to this site who are not in clubs are in the same boat,so I think we will have to depend more and

more on on line shopping,I wish all their staff the best,

[roymattblack]

S

.......in reality how many modellers are out there to support them?

Apart from my eldest son I don,t know any other modellers at all! that includes a large group of friends and over 100 work colleagues

.......

Sadly, I agree.

I have a large circle of friends and family.

I have ONE acquaintance who also builds model kits.

Unfortunately, today's 'yoofs' are only interested in exercising their thumbs with game controllers and using zero imagination.

It's a well documented fact that kids of today don't know how to 'play' any more.

It makes one wonder, sadly, is model making in all its forms a dying art?

There may be a 'few' of us left, in diminishing numbers, but business of today is all about BIG numbers.

If the companies don't make money, they shut up shop or change direction.

It's already been mentioned that 3D printing is getting more accessible.

Maybe it's fate?

Will the 'home produced' kit be the eventual road?

Ten years ago nobody would have believed you if you had described a current mobile phone or tablet computer.

3D printing is obviously the next step.

When?, is more to the point.

Roy.

[Jbbusybee]

I've been reading this thread with great interest. I've been making models since I was a boy, with a little bit of a hiatus whilst raising a family and pursuing a career. Hence I've not really posted a lot on the forum yet!

A couple of years ago I decided to create a new business in which scale car models where included. I gave equal footting to the variety of products we sell. I thought scale models was an interesting flavour that I'd like to add. I don't believe the hobby is dying, indeed I believe that the interest remains strong, but like all hobbies, and interests needs developing.

As an example my parents who are in their late 70's own an iPhone, iPad and even more Apple products. I don't believe they would have done any of these things without an Apple store at their local shopping centre.

I visited the Nuremeberg Toy Fair a couple of times and sadly I must tell you that the reaction we received from nearly all of the model manufacturers was indifference and disdain.

Here was I with an open cheque book ready to make an opening order of several thousand pounds and being totally ignored. In fact of the three manufacturers who did take notice of us our business steadily increased and we have grown nicely over the last few years.

Amongst the people we contacted were Amerang and despite maybe 4 or 5 phone calls, they never took our order, the rep despite several conversations never visited us and the best they could do was send a price list. In the end we gave up.

Perhaps they where more interested in their own chain of stores....but when they announced a London store opening I always felt it was a matter of time. In today's economy a multi chain retail outlet for a specialist is just a way of trying to build an empire for sale.....and quickly.

Indeed I had a chat with a well known non model brand ( a household name) who told me that their 2 London stores need massive subsidies from their Japanese owners to stay open.

Last week I rang one of the brands that Amermang carry to ask what would happen to their range in the UK. I was told that Amerang was such a strong business that it would have no end of buyers and in some form would continue.

I thought this was a very interesting comment.

Business is changing and changing fast. Those who don't adapt are destined to fail. The Internet has to be used as the main tool and high street retail as the minor.

Another brand we tried to carry and indeed have bought a few pieces has not been so successful, The Internet is filled with etailers selling their products at less than cost price, and sadly in most of the cases I know for a fact that most of these people are listing models that are unavailable or not even released yet. We often receive calls from customers who have placed orders from these people only to be let down.

We only list what we stock or models that we have pre-ordered and are marked clearly so. I suggested to the manufacturer that pehaps they should list their approved dealers on their website, it might help the consumer. They did not see the point.

Have you seen any model manufacturer give a list of UK retailers on their website?

What hope has a retailer got when their own supplier won't support the customer (the retailer ) in the most obvious way.

Anyway I just wanted to explain that it's my belief that its not always the lack of interest from the consumer that is leading to our hobbies seemingly sad demise.

Anyway thanks for reading and back to my Vampire T11.......

Edited July 7, 2013 by Jbbusybee

[Richard M]

Have you seen any model manufacturer give a list of UK retailers on their website?

Airfix, searchable by region, postcode etc;

http://www.airfix.com/stockists/

[Jbbusybee]

Point taken, but I think Airfix are embracing the 'New World' and doing an excellent job.

Shows, free kits, Hendon display etc.

Airfix, searchable by region, postcode etc;

http://www.airfix.com/stockists/

[Gary C]

We only list what we stock or models that we have pre-ordered and are marked clearly so. I suggested to the manufacturer that pehaps they should list their approved dealers on their website, it might help the consumer. They did not see the point.

Have you seen any model manufacturer give a list of UK retailers on their website?

What hope has a retailer got when their own supplier won't support the customer (the retailer ) in the most obvious way.

Kit manufacturers supply distributors, not retailers, the days of there being nationwide chains of 'approved' retailers are long gone. Unless you're like Airfix and do your own distribution then the sheer quantity of different e-tailers, everyone from MZ, Hannants, Model Hobbies and the like all the way down to the one man bands trading on ebay, make it rather difficult to compile an accurate list of everyone selling your product. In the old days a list might have saved slogging up and down the high street looking in shops, nowdays thirty seconds on google will find you what you want. In the end I'm inclined to agree, lists are kind of pointless now.

[stan]

Yeah. I called in at another branch, which shall remain nameless, this afternoon. Even with a 20% discount, there wasn't a single kit among their rather limited stock that I wanted badly enough to pay the asking price. But I thought I'ld offer at least some support by buying some Vallejo paint - which, with a 30% discount applied, was now at about the price I can pick it up for any time at Boyes. Immediately, a member of staff came up and asked if I was interested in any particular colours. He then practically elbowed me out of the way in order to tidy up the row I'd just been looking at, in which the bottles had fallen over - effectively stopping me looking through the rack, instead of waiting till I'd finished. So I just left, without buying anything - another £8 or so lost to Modelzone. I might have been less sensitive if this same guy hadn't managed, every time I've been in the store (including the numerous occasions on which I've handed over cash), to convey the impression that he suspected me of being about to perpetrate some crime or other. When you're already under the disadvantage of trying to sell a rather poor selection of overpriced goods, that's not an attitude that's going to help you. In contrast, I paid a visit earlier in the day to a genuine LMS that I've patronised for over 25 years, had a good chin wag with the owner and spent some money with him (and got a discount on the purchase). Says it all, realy.

I have had similar experences at my local branch.

Although can not tar all of the staff with the same brush and i hope someone rescues the company.

Edited July 7, 2013 by stan

[AWFK10]

I have had similar experences at my local branch.

Although can not tar all of the staff with the same brush and i hope someone rescues the company.

Absolutely, Stan - I should have made that clear myself. The vast majority of Modelzone staff are friendly and courteous, and I sincerely hope things turn out well for them.

[roymattblack]

I will also add that the 'older' guy in the Ipswich store is great.

I feel sorry for him as he seems to really enjoy his job, and somehow seems to 'know' the customers.

He always greets me with 'Hello mate' as if he knows me.

Sadly, 'some' of the others in the past weren't interested at all.

They might as well have been selling shoes.

I gather there might be some news tomorrow.

Maybe someone here will hear it and post.

Roy.