NEWS AND UPDATES

04/07/19

A Tough Week But It Got Better Thanks To This Email

This week started out as a bad week due to problems caused by Trainland / Trainworld in New York. They complained to several of our manufacturers and wholesalers about our prices beating their prices.

Just an FYI, those issue have been resolved and we still beat TL / TW on numerous items as we do with most of our competition on a daily basis as most of you know.

But, because of this, it had me down in the dumps for a bit and then I got this email!

Thank You so much for taking such good care of me. I really appreciate doing business with you. We don't get to much interaction with the Hobby Shops any more because everything is done online and it's become so impersonal but you really put out an effort to change that. So Thank You from a First Time Customer I will definitely  be looking to you for more Train Stuff.

Email To Us From
Richie Simpson

Thanks Richie for the kind email. It helped me want to plow forward to save the hobby in my own way!

Something New For The For The Shopping Cart?

I will be adding a line and input field on the shopping cart personal information input form / screen for an the entry of a
"WA" number. The "WA" or "Wife Approval" number needed to be added on all orders.

Status Of The Model Railroading Hobby

With pending closure of NWSL, the so far, none return of Grandt Line products availability, lack of product availability and short supplies of the staples (track and scenery), not sure what is going to happen in the short term and especially  the long term.

Recently you may have seen some price increases across the board on NCE items that where forced upon us.
I will have a 'work around' soon to counter this issue. All I have to say is the MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is not a way to protect a product(s).

I have removed the manufacturers name.  Here is one manufacturers reasoning.

"This MAP policy has been established......to help ensure the legacy of ..... as a top producer of high performance, high quality, DCC products and to protect the reputation of its name and products. The MAP policy is also designed to ensure dealers and distributors have the incentive to invest resources into services for ...... customers."

First of all  a dealers pricing has no effect what so ever on a product line being a "top producer of high performance, high quality, DCC products and to protect the reputation of its name and products." In fact, in my opinion, they are hurting themselves by having an MAP policy. What a dealer does on the pricing side should be up to a dealer or wholesaler. If a dealer can have a price point on a product and still make money and stay in business they should be allowed to do so. In the case of Blue Ridge Hobbies, I now do not  "have the incentive to invest resources into services for ...... customers". I fact it is a disincentive for BRH! And who suffers? You the customer!!

One manufacturer was complaining about less then 10 items out of a couple of  thousand they offer and another about the same. In two of the three cases they did not even call me. Just an email!  I returned the email to one of them and have not even heard back in 6 days!

Also, it seems that the MAP manufacturers also want the wholesalers and distributors to police their MAP policies!
From the ones that BRH uses, they are not going to do that!

Case in point. Even with our great pricing, the products in question by two of the manufacturer have not even sold as pre order / advance reservations at our under "MAP Pricing". So what is the point. To sell product and offer you the customer the best prices available so that you have more to spend on other products. I guess it is not the thought process at this point!

One issue on the MAP pricing is that when products are announced there is absolutely no information on the pricing or MAP status of a product. So, they will whine about the MAP but no tell anyone which products are on the MAP. Communication is a two way street.  Sometimes the manufacturers will communicate but more likely than not, they do not communicate with the dealers or wholesalers. And do get me started on 'run' cancellations!

The point is that the cost of the product sold to the wholesalers is at the same cost regardless of the MAP policy they may have thus they are still making the same money. In the case of BRH, with the forced MAP pricing BRH will make more money and the product will cost you more. Who wins? No one. In fact the manufacturer will ultimately sell less product!

So, in the product status information for these products it will say MAP Pricing In Effect!

The work around will be coming once I have time to figure out how to implement it. Hopefully this week.

---------------------------

Also, the lack of communication for the manufacturers.

They put together nice advertisements and flyers but that is where it ends. Some do not even respond to email questions! So sad.

And we all wonder why the state of the hobby is what it is!

I have been trying to change that mindset for years and it falls on deaf ears on the manufacturer level. Our customers get it. The manufacturers seem not to.

One thing that will tell me how the will move forward and promote itself with bringing in new customers is how the core group of manufacturers investment in the Miniature World of Trains™ project will go. I am supposed to have an answer on that in the next 20 days or so.

While I personally enjoy the hobby and several levels and will continue to model railroad no matter what happens, but the hobby's situation is so so frustrating!

I will keep chugging forward to make our hobby better and more affordable!

Miniature World of Trains™

The owner of the new property and I are getting closer and closer on the lease. One item that is currently is discussion is about the set of the roof (there are a couple of small leaks) and the condition of the HVAC systems. Hopefully these  questions will be addressed and finalized this week.

So MWOT™ continues to move forward.

So, now is the time!

The goal for phase I is $800,000 to start!

So, again, you can invest a minimum of $100 or donate what ever you would like  in Miniature World Of Trains™ and become part owner of what will be "the next big attraction" and a great addition to the model railroading hobby!
You could share in a projected $17M net profit in 7 years!

MORE INFO ON THE ATTRACTION OR HOW TO INVEST


Upcoming Preorder Deadlines

April 11: Broadway Limited Preorders
April 16: Atlas and AtlasO Preorders
April 30: Intermountain Preorders
April 30: Bluford Shops Preorders
April 30: Walthers Preorders

More About The "WA"

Just kidding!

03/31/19

NWSL / Northwest Shortline Gone!

Yet another manufacturer of model railroad manufacturer announced they where closing.

The press release states: After 60 years in business, NWSL will cease operations effective August 30th, 2019. The company will continue to take orders for in-stock products until July 1st, 2019. Closure is for personal reasons and sale of the business is not anticipated, although reasonable proposals will be considered.

Sad to see this product line go away!

Blue Ridge Hobbies March 2019

Wow, was it busy at Blue Ridge Hobbies this month. As a one man show, it is getting harder and harder to keep ahead  of the "game". But, I am keeping up and about a day behind on all the back order / advance reservations processing that have arrived for shipment. So, please be patient.

March sales up 14% 2018 vs 2019. 1st quarter was okay, up 2% over 2018. This was due to a slower than normal January. Also, within the last 90 days new customers up 10% and returning customers up 82%. 2018 vs 2019 new up 15% and returning up 103%!

The retail store foot traffic has been up as well with new customers from the local area, the USA and around the world  coming and purchasing from BRH!

So again, the sales trends are good.

Miniature World of Trains™ Update

I have received the counter offer for the new location from the property owner this week. I will be responding next week after I receive the general contractors proposal on project costs and the costs for the audio and video installations inside and outside the new building. For the most part we are in agreement all we need is the initial $800k in funding from the model railroad industry and private donors! I  personally have invested close to $100K in this new LLC version of the Miniature World of Trains™.

Also, I should be hearing from the main investor for the project within the next two weeks.

So, overall, things are still looking good for a May announcement!

So, now is the time!

So, again, you can invest a minimum of $100 or donate what ever you would like  in Miniature World Of Trains™ and become part owner of what will be "the next big attraction" and a great addition to the model railroading hobby!
You could share in a projected $17M net profit in 7 years!

MORE INFO ON THE ATTRACTION OR HOW TO INVEST


Best Deal On The Internet

Broadway Limited's New HO 4-6-6-4 Challenger
Now available for pre order!

MSRP $699.99
BRH PRE ORDER PRICE $479.99

TO ORDER


Upcoming Preorder Deadlines

April 30: Intermountain Preorders
April 30: Walthers Preorders

03/24/19

General Info

It has been busy at the retail store and online, but as the only employee at BRH, I  am holding my own but working 7 days a week. I should have chance to get all of the new and restock items out on the shelves at the retail store this week.

Traditionally during the NCAA Basketball Finals and the final weeks of tax season it is slow both online and in the retail store. But with that overall sales are up and sales should beat March 2018 sales and be the best March since 2013!

So things are looking up!

Miniature World of Trains™ Update

I heard for the owners realtor for the new location for MWOT™ this week. He advised I should have the response from the building owners and their attorney this coming week. But,  according to the realtor, it looks good to complete the deal.

However, as I have stated in past updates, initial funding is the critical part of this 'attraction' and this is a great investment opportunity that will help promote model railroading unlike any other large scale model train display in the world!

Two weeks ago I was back at the facility with the Audio Video,  sheet rockers, painters and carpeting contactors for the project. That's right, for the most part MWOT™ employees and volunteers will not be working on the hard construction this time around. The MWOT team will be creating the new Christmas Model Train Display™ and the new main Miniature World™ display. Both displays have been planned and designed and are ready to start building tomorrow if the funding is in place!

So, now is the time!

So, again, you can invest a minimum of $100 or donate what ever you would like  in Miniature World Of Trains™ and become part owner of what will be "the next big attraction" and a great addition to the model railroading hobby!
You could share in a projected $17M net profit in 7 years!

MORE INFO ON THE ATTRACTION OR HOW TO INVEST


 
New April Sale On Now!

Over the last couple of months we have been experimenting with new sales and length of times the sales are being offered. That all seems to be working based on the overall sales increase.

To View The Latest Sale Flyer From Walthers


TO ORDER


Upcoming Preorder Deadlines

March 31: Walthers Preorders
April 30: Intermountain Preorders
April 30: Walthers Preorders

All-New WalthersMainline HO EMD GP9 Phase II with Chopped Nose Now Shipping

The new WalthersMainline EMD GP9 Phase II with Chopped Nose is already popular with modelers and selling very  fast! Featuring completely new tooling with a scale-width hood and our smooth, reliable WalthersProto(R) drive, WalthersMainline EMD GP9 Phase II Chopped-Nose diesels are based on 1950s-built high-nose units
rebuilt with low noses for better visibility. They're available with or without ESU(R) sound and DCC. These nicely detailed and affordably priced units feature road name-appropriate dynamic brakes and pilot plow. The separate modeler-applied Diesel Detail Kit for EMD GP9 Phase II, #910-258 will be available shortly for
those of you who want to add grab irons for extra realism. Chopped- nose "Geeps," have long been desired by modelers since hundreds have worn the colorful schemes of large and small railroads since
the 1960s. Some road names and road numbers are almost sold out -
order before they're gone!

TO ORDER


New SceneMaster HO Scale UPS Delivery Van will Deliver Sales!

The all-new SceneMaster UPS Delivery Van is great to going along with the Cornerstone UPS Hub
with Customer Center or The UPS Store(R) structure kits or SceneMaster UPS vehicles. This new model is a highly detailed replica of the smaller vans used to carry and deliver parcels all across North America. This layout-ready model comes finished in the correct UPS brown color scheme with authentic gold lettering and logos.
Preorder yours now!

TO ORDER


Bowser HO 100-Ton and Wood Chip Hoppers Rolling In

With multiple road numbers per road name, accurate decoration, metal wheels and knuckle couplers, Bowser ready-to-run hoppers are modeler favorites. Those of you who model HO Scale coal mining or coal trains needs plenty of 100-Ton 3-Bay Open Hoppers. For paper industry modelers 70-Ton Wood Chip Hoppers are
necessities for paper mill and wood chipper scenes. Available in several variations, these extended-height hoppers are distinctive cars on any diesel-era layout. They're all limited run, so load
up on these popular cars.

TO ORDER



New HO and N Arrivals from Classic Metal Works Include Structures and All-New HO Van

New HO and N products have arrived and there are some all-new products in HO Scalers. The newly
tooled 1990s GMC Step Van delivery is a typical delivery truck sued across the continent. Featuring colorful graphics and a detailed body, this model will look great on diesel-era layout scenes. Also just in are the HO Scale House on the Hill and the Old Victorian house kits. Based on mansions and homes from the 1800s to the present, these plastic kits will look great on any steam or diesel-era layout.

TO ORDER