Hobby Merchandiser is:

Robert Gherman
Publisher

Dennis McFarlane
Editor in Chief

David Gherman
President
Hobby Publications

Jeremy Dunning
Tom Grossman
Drew Heitiner
Cahren Morris
Cathy Lowman
Keith Pruitt
John Sipple
Ed Rogala
Matt White
George Zupko
Contributing Writers

Gary Coughlin
Art Director

Alan Pegler
Production Manager

Gary Coughlin
Assistant Production Manager

Robert Gherman
Advertising Director

Dale Confrey
Advertising Coordinator

Judy Silletti
Circulation Manager

t is hard to believe, but the Christmas season is here. There are always the various signs pointing towards the holiday’s religious significance. But for a hobby dealer, the season means that families and friends will spend time together exchanging gifts. And this translates into the primary selling season. A prosperous Christmas season is something every hobby dealer always looks forward to.
      So much has happened in the hobby industry this past year that it is hard to describe. There are so many new products available that it’s been next to impossible to stay abreast of the constantly changing market. Yet those who have ridden this wave of change have made the adjustments necessary to keep their stores operating.
       Model railroading has always been the largest segment of the hobby industry and will continue as such for the foreseeable future. Christmas is a boom time for model railroads. Starter sets with a basic loop of track around the tree have always sent sales through the roof, but there are options beyond the basic starter set.
       As an example, ceramic Christmas Village (Dept-56) structures are extremely popular. These can be found everywhere from specialty stores to local home improvement centers. The one thing many Christmas Villages are lacking is movement, but a solution is at hand. This month I’ll take a look at a Christmas trolley that travels back and forth along a straight or mildly curved section of track using an automatic reversing device. The result is a train much different than the traditional oval track around a tree. Not only that, but it also takes a minimum amount of space to operate.
       All dealers who sell trains should have one of these in their windows, along with a couple of ceramic structures for a basic display. Simply stated, many collectors of ceramic village structures will want one, and the sets will sell themselves.
       Radio control continues to be flooded with new and innovative products. Frequently this adds to the frustration of many dealers who specialize in radio control, for as soon as a new product appears in inventory it will shortly become obsolete.
       And let’s not forget just how important items like plastic model kits and general hobbies have become. Locally, plastic kits have seen a 5 percent increase in popularity. I’m certain there are a variety of reasons for this, but not to be dismissed is the return on investment. As a general rule, the assembly of a plastic model provides a significant amount of distraction from the daily grind for a minimal amount of dollars invested.
       General hobbies have also really taken off. One statement Al (Fuchsen) frequently made was, “Al’s is a hobby shop, not a toy store.” This is no longer the case. Although the vast majority of items available at Al’s Hobby Shop still would be called traditional hobby products, there is now a substantial selection of general hobby merchandise, including games, model rockets and items like science fair kits.
       It’s been a year to remember—one filled with success and frustration as you move your store in directions you never anticipated. However, there is one thing we can all say to each other: “Merry Christmas—we made it!”. HM

                       Until next month,
                       Dennis McFarlane
                       Editor-in-Chief