Support Your Local Hobby Shop!
By Joseph E. Palko
If you've ever been that forlorn-looking kid with his nose pressed up against the glass wondering, "How much is that airplane in the window?" then you know what a joy it is to be able to see and touch a model or engine before you buy it.
Where did you go when you first became interested in model airplanes as a kid? More than likely, after school and certainly on weekends, you haunted your local hobby shop. Probably you looked at the kits on the shelf, mentally picked out the ones you would buy if you had enough money, and built and flew them in your dreams — which invariably culminated (of course) in a smooth three-point landing!
The engines under the counter didn't escape your eager eyes. In your mind's eye you imagined which propeller and fuel you might use, and then had a good look at the section with tools and glue to see what was new or what you did not own yet.
All of this took place at a local hobby shop. If you were a novice, you could ask the person behind the counter for information on just about anything and expect to get an answer. Sometimes they introduced you to the latest items which had just become available. Then, with your limited budget, you bought a kit, took it home, and started to build it, maybe with some friends watching or building one of their own. There were exchanges of information, speculation on how well the latest creation would perform, and the fellowship born of mutual interest. Aerobatics during hangar flying were always hot and precise. And there were memories of the past and dreams of the future.
When you get right down to it, not a whole lot has changed over the years, has it?
If you spent a long period without model airplanes while you were growing up, where did you first think about going to get information again as an adult? Where did you go to find out about local clubs and flying fields, trainers and engines, propellers and fuels, radios and other equipment, and coverings? Where did you bring that first RC trainer, when you were building it, for advice and confirmation of your progress? Where did you go to buy a single issue of a magazine, just to have something to read?
If you're anything like me, the answer to most of those questions is, of course, your local hobby shop. Chances are we're alike in another respect, too. We have a limited budget and unlimited dreams — so we like to get the most for our buck.
When visiting new places, have you ever looked in the yellow pages to find a hobby shop in order to do a little browsing? I do it all the time, and have a list of 40 or 50 shops that I visit depending on where I travel. Many of the shops are near the interstate highways. How often do you go out of your way to visit a hobby shop?
It's an excellent way to exchange ideas. How many times have you walked into a shop and met a friend there, or met someone who later became a friend? Almost all shops are associated in some way with one or more clubs. They have maps to the flying fields posted on the wall, and they carry club membership blanks, newsletters, and photos. They offer discounts and specials to club members; donate auction, fun-fly, or door prize gifts; and advertise club activities.
As a potential source of new customers, beginners' classes are frequently advertised in these shops. This is a two-way street, of course. In our club, for instance, 54 of our 159 members are new names this year, including 10 young family members, which ensures longevity for our club. How did most of these newcomers find out about us? Not surprisingly, when we asked them, most responded that it had been through a local hobby shop! Think about it.
Your local hobby shop wants and needs continued customer support. One way it garners that support is by various forms of advertising, and especially by publicizing and supporting club activities.
What you want from a local hobby shop
In the first place, you want a large selection of kits to browse among and buy. You want to be able to look at a kit before you buy it and decide what extras you need to build it. Also, you want a large selection of engines and other associated hardware.
- If you are a weekend flier, those dreams about three-point landings don't always come true.
- Can't find what you want? Here is the place to special order it.
- Do you always need another tool to add to your inventory? Here's where you go to check the shelves and racks.
- Need a magazine, book, or calendar as a gift for a young person who might grow into the hobby? Again, this is the place to pick it out.
- Do you have a friend who is becoming interested in the hobby? Early on, of course, you will introduce him to your local hobby shop.
In our local area, we have several stores and we count ourselves lucky to have such a selection. Many areas of the country have no shops within 20 or even 50 miles. Whatever the distance to your nearest shop, remember that it is an important resource for the continuation and growth of our hobby.
Remember that these people are your neighbors and friends! Do you like their support? Tell them so! Is there something you need or want? Tell them! Is there something you don't like? Speak up! But always bear in mind how much they have done for you, and try to express your criticisms and suggestions as diplomatically as you can.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
