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Airfix 2019


jenko

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The issue isn’t missing a delivery date for a Phantom or B-25. 95% of modellers probably have enough stuff to build while they wait.

 

 It’s not having stock around a crucial sales period if you’re in the toy business that’s the cited issue by Hornby and how that has impacted their business.

 

It compounds issues when you’ve been trading poorly. Along with changing your trading terms with some of your customers.

 

Hence the profit warning to the city.

 

I’m guessing the supply issues with the Airfix branded stuff are only a small part of Hornby’s woes around supplier problems.

 

 

 

 

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Right now I don't know where I'd go round here in Oxfordshire to find a stock of Airfix.   They are not going to be selling anything to me on the basis of impulse buy because of box art if there is nothing to see in any shop I go into. Not in Hobbycraft any more, not in WH Smith's short-lived modelzone, no model shop for thirty=five miles in any direction AFAIK.   I don't know what their marketing strategy is now.  (And they don't do the subjects I like in the scales I follow, but that's another problem)

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Sad but true! How I miss the days of walking into almost any toy shop, newsagent, hardware store, gift shop, the seemingly endless local model shops and being tempted by shelves and racks of model kits! This 12 year old was like Homer in Candyland!

 

 

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33 minutes ago, 12by12 said:

Right now I don't know where I'd go round here in Oxfordshire to find a stock of Airfix.   They are not going to be selling anything to me on the basis of impulse buy because of box art if there is nothing to see in any shop I go into. Not in Hobbycraft any more, not in WH Smith's short-lived modelzone, no model shop for thirty=five miles in any direction AFAIK.   I don't know what their marketing strategy is now.  (And they don't do the subjects I like in the scales I follow, but that's another problem)

I was in Bicester last year and bought an Airfix kit in a toy shop (don't recall the name) - has it shut?

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4 hours ago, 12by12 said:

Right now I don't know where I'd go round here in Oxfordshire to find a stock of Airfix.   They are not going to be selling anything to me on the basis of impulse buy because of box art if there is nothing to see in any shop I go into. Not in Hobbycraft any more, not in WH Smith's short-lived modelzone, no model shop for thirty=five miles in any direction AFAIK.   I don't know what their marketing strategy is now.  (And they don't do the subjects I like in the scales I follow, but that's another problem)

I recall a shop in Banbury with a decentish selection of models: downstairs a hardware type shop, upstairs model railways and kits.  I think it was off the market square.  Could it have been Trinder Brothers?  Anyway, is it still there?  If not, you may spare me the need to visit Banbury ever again.

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31 minutes ago, Seahawk said:

I recall a shop in Banbury with a decentish selection of models: downstairs a hardware type shop, upstairs model railways and kits.  I think it was off the market square.  Could it have been Trinder Brothers?  Anyway, is it still there?  If not, you may spare me the need to visit Banbury ever again.

 

This might be useful.

 

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/stockists/england/

 

Although I'm a bit surprised Hannants isn't on the map!

 

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37 minutes ago, iainpeden said:

 

This might be useful.

 

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/stockists/england/

 

Although I'm a bit surprised Hannants isn't on the map!

 

More worrying to me is apparently there’s only two stockists in Cambridgeshire - one being Dobbie’s Garden Centre which has been closed for over a year (and I never saw a model, railway or Scalextric item in it) and one in Ely, which shows as Soham (roughly 5 miles inaccurate) on the map.....

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  OK,  I had forgotten a couple of those, Banbury falling outside my usual  circles.  I suppose the 60s are not going to come back, nor are the specialist model shops.   I am not thinking of the denizens of this site when I wonder where any modern kid at a triggerable age is ever gonna see that box top that screams 'BUY ME!!!'

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8 hours ago, PhantomBigStu said:

Has to be stated again and again but the delays to the Phantom, SF and b-25 were exceptions, a flamin cyclone was behind that while the ship with the toolings was in transist 

Stu, I'm with you, BUT, Airfix has had 'delivery on time' problems for decades, in fact, back to Haldane Place days.

More recently, does anyone remember the 'Christmas' release of TSR2?

Seems that 'planning' needs to take account of the 'where from?' and 'when's the Cyclone season start?'

You know......................the little things!

 

Paul

 

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2 hours ago, iainpeden said:

 

This might be useful.

 

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/stockists/england/

 

Although I'm a bit surprised Hannants isn't on the map!

 

That list is so out of date it's as much a joke as Airfix's release schedules. It still contains the Conncesion outlets which is a system Hornby did away with early last year whilst failing to put a system in place to keep the ex concessionaires on brand, or in the case of the one I know, never wanting to do business with Hornby ever again.

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There is a lot going on with Hornby at the moment

a new board,

they have acquired 49% of LCD enterprises (the holding company for Oxford Diecast),

they have changed how they would like to do business with some sectors of the UK market ,

 the share price hit a 52 week low this week, although it’s bounced back a bit since, and they are indicating another overall loss this year dispite increasing the market cap of the company.

 

Hopefully all of this is the bottom of the curve although I suspect once they release the full 12 months figures for 2017 there will be more commentary from the financial sector. 

 

Maybe we should all go out and buy and Airfix Kit tomorrow....

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I have bought most of the recent 1/48 and some 1/72 all online but can't remember the last time I bought an Airfix model from a real shop. Probably Telford 2016 or perhaps a discounted one from TKmax.

Much as I may want to buy the nearest stockists (assuming they havent been struck off with Airfix changes in marketing) would be Invereurie or Dingwall both over an hour away by car. Too far away to just pop over for a browse.

Making online the only practical option for me to support them, is that the way Airfix really want to go?

Sea Fury next!

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I haven't read the full discussion, but after the triumphant success of the British molded Victor, is there a reason that the Phantom was molded abroad, thus running the risk of delayed/lost shipments and lower quality plastic?

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49 minutes ago, 71chally said:

I haven't read the full discussion, but after the triumphant success of the British molded Victor, is there a reason that the Phantom was molded abroad, thus running the risk of delayed/lost shipments and lower quality plastic?

Greed.

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12 hours ago, Ratch said:

A few years ago I spoke with Dale Luckhurst at Airfix and warned him about specifying arrival dates for new product because, in my experience, things only slip backwards and the modelling community would use these slipped deliveries as a stick to beat Airfix. He replied that everyone at Airfix was confident that (on current performance) dates would be met. I suppose by and large (if we clinically review delivery performance) most kits do meet their specified date and the modelling community do use any slipped deliveries as a stick to beat Airfix. So what would we rather have:- projected delivery dates that may alter or New Kit arriving in 20XX?

Airfix could take Tamiya's approach and not announce anything publicly until delivery on a date certain is assured. This typically gives 2-3 months of lead time from announcement to product on shelves. Eduard also only makes firm announcements a month or two ahead of release although we have some idea of development that's going on in the background. 

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9 minutes ago, SleeperService said:

Greed.

Greed! Really! At this point, Hornby is just hoping for survival by any means possible. Furthermore, if your motivation is greed, you are not going to start or work for a hobby company. I'll also note that a number of kits that were tooled in China and initially molded in India, are now molded in the UK: the recent 1/72 Blenheim release and the re-released Swordfish are examples.

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8 minutes ago, VMA131Marine said:

Greed! Really! At this point, Hornby is just hoping for survival by any means possible. Furthermore, if your motivation is greed, you are not going to start or work for a hobby company. I'll also note that a number of kits that were tooled in China and initially molded in India, are now molded in the UK: the recent 1/72 Blenheim release and the re-released Swordfish are examples.

Could just be, finally, realisation has hit home.

You have more control if productions on the doorstep.

Don't think mould making will return though. :(

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10 minutes ago, VMA131Marine said:

Greed! Really! At this point, Hornby is just hoping for survival by any means possible. Furthermore, if your motivation is greed, you are not going to start or work for a hobby company. I'll also note that a number of kits that were tooled in China and initially molded in India, are now molded in the UK: the recent 1/72 Blenheim release and the re-released Swordfish are examples.

Greed! The decision to move all production overseas was based on incomplete information, overstated savings and under-estimated difficulties. The lure of more money for bonuses and senior renumeration overrode any doubts that may have dimly arisen. In the UK it's been a huge ongoing issue for a very long time now. But companies keep doing it. 

A more cynical mind than mine might think the headline 'bringing production back to the UK' meant ALL production and thus all releases would be to a similar quality, the 'Halo' effect (and another facet of what Germans call the British Disease). In fact what was planned was a few back to the UK in the hope that the market brought other releases at lower quality but the same prices. Greed again.

Yes, they are struggling now but only because they've been greedy in the recent past.

If your motivation is greed in the UK then you asset-strip a company jump before it fails and do it again. Senior management in the UK is like musical chairs there's always jobs available for the 'right' people because the one you help today will be helping you in the future. 

A final thought Oxford Diecasts, how much is that company really worth? How much did the owner moving to Hornby increase the value?

This may sound harsh but lots of people make a fair pile of money identifying companies following this path and betting on them to fail.

 

 

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5 hours ago, PhoenixII said:

Stu, I'm with you, BUT, Airfix has had 'delivery on time' problems for decades, in fact, back to Haldane Place days.

More recently, does anyone remember the 'Christmas' release of TSR2?

Seems that 'planning' needs to take account of the 'where from?' and 'when's the Cyclone season start?'

You know......................the little things!

 

Paul

 

Paul, do you hold Hornby responsible for all the late deliveries before they owned Airfix? C'mon!

Airfix is a brand name that has been owned by a procession of companies since the original collapse in 1980. Palitoy, Humbrol, Heller and Hornby since 2006. Most of the new tool kits have met the schedule since Hornby started their re-investment in the brand.

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3 hours ago, VMA131Marine said:

Airfix could take Tamiya's approach and not announce anything publicly until delivery on a date certain is assured. This typically gives 2-3 months of lead time from announcement to product on shelves. 

They could but their current marketing strategy around Airfix is built on a Teaser campaign / co creation footing. With a heavy social media presence. 

 

That  is a very modern way to run a relatively low cost marketing campaign and one that’s targeted directly to enthusiasts. I think it works really well for them and they do a great job up to a point.  The modern marketing of Airfix is one of its very great successes. More so than some of the tangible items in the range.

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