Featured Hobby Shop: Hobbystuff Depot

We have a special treat for the next hobby shop feature.  It's a great store that will be new to many of you: Hobbystuff Depot.  Owner Justin Deng set up shop in Calgary last year, bringing Hong Kong pricing to Canadian modellers.  You’ll definitely want to check out their website, but first, meet the man behind the scenes:

RMMC: As an on-line retailer, you’re unique in Calgary’s modelling scene.  How did Hobbystuff Depot get started?

HSD:  It began back in 2009, in China.  We got involved in this industry because of a trading opportunity and that led us to research the hobby industry more.  We decided that it was a good business opportunity, so we opened Hobbystuff Depot.

We’ve been expanding ever since.  In 2010, we moved to Canada, bringing our inventory with us, and we get new shipments from China all the time.

RMMC: Did you grow up building model kits?

HSD:  No.  I really didn’t know about models until we were asked to export them.  I would love to start building because I’m amazed at what can be done, but the website keeps me so busy, I don’t have any time.

But I love looking at all the kits.  There are so many great models; it can get hard to resist the temptation.

RMMC: A lot of brick and mortar stores are struggling because of the competition from on-line shops.  What difficulties do you face that brick and mortars don’t?

 HSD:  The brands we are carrying are more limited at the moment, which is frustrating.  Some manufacturers, like Tamiya, have strong distribution chains, and require you to have a brick and mortar store before you can order from them.  So it can be difficult expanding our product lines as an online store.

And we also have to worry about competition.  We’re competing with local hobby shops and with other on-line retailers, just like every other hobby shop.  We’re the same as other hobby shops in that sense.  We’ve still got to invest time and money building the business.  Like I said, I wish I could build models, but I’m so busy with the store, I don’t have time.

RMMC: You said you loved looking at the kits.  Which one would you build if you DID have the time?

HSD:  Oh, the Trumpeter Leopold.  It’s so impressive, and I particularly like the military kits.  But it’s got so many parts, I’d need months to build it!

RMMC: In a crowded hobby world, what sets your store apart from the other shops in town and online?

HSD:  We import items by ourselves and skip the middleman, which means we’re able to keep our costs lower than others.  Our prices are in line with the Hong Kong based shops, but because we’re located in Canada our shipping is faster and there are no Customs charges to worry about. We stock real inventory and are able to ship out orders in the same day of payment or the next business day, and that brings our customer a superior shopping experience.

RMMC: Are there any upcoming releases that have you particularly excited?

HSD:  We’re expecting a lot of kits in the next few months.  Flyhawk are releasing a big detail set for the Scharnhorst.  Trumpeter has an 80t Rail Gun and the British Harrier coming.  And we’re also hoping to bring in some new lines, such as MiniArt.

Many thanks to Justin for sharing his time with us.  Visit our Hobbystuff Depot gallery for more pics, and be sure to check out the Hobbystuff Depot website.  You can also find them on Facebook and at eBay under Mr. Hobbystuff.  They’ve got a lot of great kits at some amazing prices.  And as a special bonus: if you’re in Calgary (or if you’re going to be), you can drop Justin a line and arrange for a local pick-up to save on shipping.

Featured Hobby Shops: Model Land

Our next hobby shop interviewee is Garett Willington, proprietor of Model Land.  Regular TV viewers might recognize Garett as the (in)famous Model Man.  All-right!

RMMC: Most modellers have fond memories of buying kits with their pocket money as children.  How did you get started in the hobby?

GW: I was born and raised in a small town, about two hours outside of Calgary.  We didn’t have any hobby shops around, so I had no idea what a model kit was and no exposure to the hobby.  The first kit I ever got was from my Grandmother.  She had moved here from England, and brought me back an Airfix kit after one of her trips back home.  I think it might have been the Fairey Rotodyne.  I’m not sure why she bought me a model; maybe one of my cousins in England told her how popular they were.  The box got crumpled in her suitcase, and the tube of glue had exploded and melted a few of the pieces, but I loved it.  Every trip, she’d bring back more models for me, and I’d get them as presents over the year.  The boxes were usually battered from the trip, and the tubes of glue had usually burst, but I still loved them.

I got hooked on aircraft when I was a little older.  It was a Wen Mac Aircobra control line aircraft that started my love of R/C.  I had a friend who was a few years older and had turned his house in a modeller’s paradise – a room for sanding, a room for building, and plans all over the walls – and we’d watch the modelling corner segments on the old Buck Shot show.  It sounds really nerdy now, but we thought it was great.  He could drive into Calgary to buy stuff from the hobby shops, so he’d often give me his old equipment.  I’d build over the winter, and then fly in the summer.  I probably went through six or seven planes before I could really fly them; I’d love to get my hands on the first few transmitters I used – I bet they flat out didn’t work!

RMMC: What led you from small town enthusiast to opening your own hobby shop?

GW: I guess you could say it was an early mid-life crisis.  I was a mechanic in my home town, sort of a jack-of-all-trades, but wanted a change.  The hobby is what I enjoyed and what I’d think about while I was at work.  If I needed to head into Calgary, I’d plan my trip around the hobby shops: what time they were open, that sort of thing.  So it seemed like an ideal choice. 

B&B Hobbies had originally been in the Bow Trail Texaco station.  The owner was interested in stocking control line planes, and brought them up from the US.  Their business expanded, they moved a couple of times, and eventually they were running both a retail hobby shop and a successful wholesale business.  One day I asked him if he had ever thought about selling the shop.  It turns out he’d been wanting to focus on the wholesale side, so it worked out for both of us – B&B became a wholesaler and I bought the store, changed the name to Model Land, and have been running it ever since.

RMMC: Since this is something of a dream job for you, what is the best thing about owning your own hobby shop?

GW: There are a lot of things.  I’ve made a lot of good friends over the years.  A lot of our customers are regulars, and it’s fun to hear what they’re doing.  We also learn a lot from our customers and their input makes us better.  It’s also fun to see kids coming in with their parents to buy their first model.  It’s a throwback to that first, crumpled Rotodyne, and it means a new generation will continue the hobby.

RMMC: Are there any downsides?

GW: Well in terms of being a brick and mortar store, the internet has had its pros and cons.  It’s fantastic as a global information exchange – I mean, if I want to learn about something, the first thing I do is Google it – but that information isn’t always accurate.  There’s a lot of misinformation out there.  Sometimes that means we’ve got to set our customers straight.  They might read in a chat room that this kit is good or that kit is bad, this item is readily available, or that company is out of business, and it’s not always the case.

RMMC: What’s the biggest misconception modellers have about owning a shop?

GW: That they’ll make millions doing it!  And thinking that it gives me the chance to build lots of models.  If you have enough spare time to build models when you own a hobby shop, either you’re doing something wrong, or else everything is going right.  When I first set up Model Land, I had a little room in the back to build planes.  I think I finished one in the first six months and since then, it’s been too busy.

RMMC: In a crowded hobby world, what sets your store apart from the other shops in town and online?

GW: We’ve got a lot of kits in stock.  We bring in lots of new stuff, but we’ve also got a great selection of older, hard to find kits.  I think we’re known for our selection.  Our goal is to have what the customers want on hand, not have to order a kit or have them go home empty handed.  I guess it comes from my small town experience: when I’d drive two hours to go to a hobby shop, I wanted to be sure they had whatever it was I wanted to buy.  And I think it’s important to be able to touch and feel the kit you want, before you buy it.  You can’t do that on-line

RMMC: Are there any upcoming releases that have you particularly excited?

GW: For me it would be the two new AVGP kits that Trumpeter have announced and Sea Vixen from Airfix. There is a rumour of 1/350 scale kit of the tribal Class Destroyer too, which would be neat. And lets not forget that Trumpeter have announced a 1/25 scale Ford Falcon.

Many thanks to Garett for sharing his time with us.  After you’ve clicked through our virtual tour of the store, you can visit Model Land on-line or stop in to peruse the aisles in person (don’t forget to check out the basement for more hidden gems).  And you can always see what’s new and in stock with their handy on-line cagalogue.

Featured Hobby Shop: PM Hobbycraft

Our next hobby shop feature sees us sitting down with Doug Pepperdine, President of PM Hobbycraft.  As the owner of one of Calgary's oldest - and largest - hobby shops, it was great to hear Doug's take on things. 

(for an interesting look at the evolution of the store, you can read its history on the PM website)

RMMC:  You're the third generation to run the family business, which gives you a unique relationship with the hobby.  Were you always interested in the hobby, and in taking over from your parents?

DP:  Like you said, the hobby shop was the family business, so really I started when I was born.  I don’t recall a time when I wasn’t involved in the hobby in some way.  It was always around.  That being said, one of my earliest memories is building a model kit – a 1/32 Model A in an ugly yellow plastic – in the back of the store, while watching cartoons on an old black and white TV.

As for taking over, you would think that it would be a natural progression, but it was actually a tough decision.  Growing up, I was always in and around the store, sweeping up, carrying out garbage, that sort of thing.  Todd, who was like the manager of the store and something of a mentor to me, used to say that all of the employees were like a totem pole, and I was the big toe.  Gradually I expanded into scale model ships, R/C Cars and R/C aircraft, and I worked my way up.

By the time I reached my 20’s, I wasn’t all that interested in taking over.  It was one of the only jobs I’d ever had, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue the family heritage.  Plus, I had my own ambitions, wanted to do my own thing.  But I still helped out, and started making some improvements and changes, bringing in computers… that sort of thing.  And it grew on me.  Debbie (my wife and partner) and I still owe a lot of tribute to my parents and grandparents, but it’s now become our store, with it’s own distinctiveness.  Then, 11 years ago, we started the process to buy my parents out, and have just recently completed the process.

RMMC:  What sets your store apart from the other shops in town and online?

DP:  I think we’ve got a great selection, store-wide.  Plenty of kits for the modeller, plus all kinds of tools, paints and supplies.  Each department is really well stocked, and we’ve got everything from models and rockets to cake decorating and scrapbooking, so there’s something for everyone in the family.  I also think we’ve got good pricing; we may not be the cheapest in the world, but we’re definitely competitive, and when you add in the selection and service, I think it’s a great value for our customers.

RMMC:  What’s the best thing about owning your own hobby shop?

DP:  I like the fact that I control my own direction.  Creative freedom.  I can conceive ideas, make decisions and make it happen.  That’s less about being a hobby shop than owning my own business, but it’s nice to have the freedom – the only person I have to please is the customer.

I also think there’s something noble about it.  This is a hobby, and it gives you something to show for your input.  It’s productive.  Some people hit the bars to relax, but you don’t really get anything out of it; with a hobby like model building, you’re creating.

RMMC:  What’s the worst thing about owning your own hobby shop?

DP:  It’s a heavy weight knowing that all of my staff depend on me.  It’s not just my livelihood at stake, but all of my employees.  You also lose a lot of personal freedom: I’ve always got my cell phone on, in case some emergency crops up, or something needs my attention.  It doesn’t always ring, but the potential – and the worry – is always there.

RMMC:  What’s the biggest misconception modellers have about owning a shop?

DP:  People usually think that all I do is play.  Build the latest kits, fly the latest R/C.  Sure, I do get a chance to check out some of the newest releases so it’s certainly not all paperwork and drudgery, but this is a business first and foremost and just like any other business, there’s a lot of boring stuff to do.

RMMC:  With so many departments, it must be like Christmas every day when you get new stock.  Are there any model kits that you're particularly excited about?

DP: We’ve heard a lot of great things about the Hobby Boss 1/72 Easy-Build kits.  They’re not really new, but we’ve just started carrying them.  Simple to build, pretty accurate, and a great price.  We’ve also just started bringing in Master Box, and a few new resin and photoetch lines.  The new 1/35 Cougar APC has been a hit too.  Oh, and plastic ships.  People are going crazy for all the new ship kits that are coming out – they’re just flying off the shelves.

RMMC:  What is your all-time favourite kit or modelling product?

DP:  I tend to be more of an R/C guy, but the one model kit that comes to mind is the MRC Star Trek Enterprise.  The one with all the fibre optic lights.  I spent months on that, drilling out and installing the lights, applying maskol for the Aztec pattern…  It was fantastic.

RMMC:  What is your fondest memory in this hobby?

DP:  Probably flying remote control planes with my Dad.  It’s hard to beat those memories of quality time with a father and son.  I also remember the first time I hand-retrieved a glider.  I was 12, and it felt like I’d mastered the greatest trick in the world, that I had made it to the big leagues.

Once again, our thanks go out to Doug.  If you'd like to find out more about PM Hobbycraft you can visit their website or Facebook page.  For more shots of the store, you can check out the rest of our gallery.

Featured Hobby Shops: Chinook Hobbies

A few weeks ago, we went behind the counter to interview Rob Gale, owner of Chinook & Hobby West.  It's an interesting insight into what goes on behind the scenes, which old timers and new modellers alike should enjoy.

RMMC: What is the history of Chinook Hobbies, and how did you come to own the store?

Rob Gale: Hobby West was founded in 1972 by Hans Madsen.  It was up on 14th Street and was dedicated entirely to model trains.  In 1983, Hans opened Chinook Hobbies at its present location.  Hobby West moved in 1987 and the two stores operated out of the same building.  Even though they shared the same space, they were operated as individual businesses.  Around that time, Hans also founded H&D Distributing, which you may recall from their line of superglues, marketed as “H&D’s Own”.  This operated out of the basement of the building.

I started working at Chinook & Hobby West in 1988.  I enjoyed building models, but was ultimately a train guy, so I worked in the trains department.  I saw the store grow when H&D moved out of the building, into their own facility in 1990.  I left the company in 1992, to set up an automotive embroidery shop.  By 1995, the store had suffered a few bad years in a row and was on the verge of closing.  Hans approached me to buy the store, as he felt I would be the best person to turn the business around.  In September 1995, I signed the papers and became the owner of Chinook & Hobby West.

RMMC: What is the best thing about owning your own hobby shop.

RG: Well I don’t get a lot of time to build for myself, so my fun comes from seeing the enthusiasm of my customers.  Kids who come in and see the G-Scale train running around the store, or modellers excited to get the kit they’ve been anxiously waiting for.  I also love getting new stuff in all the time.  Every day feels like Christmas when we open the latest shipments and pull out the new stock.

RMMC: In that case, what’s the worst thing about owning your own hobby shop?

RG: For me, it’s the fact that I can never just be me.  When I’m at a show or a contest, people are always picking my brain about the business.  What products are coming soon?  Do you have this in stock?  How much will that be?  I can never seem to relax and enjoy things as a spectator.  I’m always tied to the store.

RMMC: You’ve done a lot to support our club, and the local modelling scene over the years.  What do you think should be the role of local clubs?

RG: Enthusiasm.  I think they should be injecting enthusiasm into the hobby.  Guys who join clubs love the hobby, they’re passionate and they’re knowledgeable about it.   I think they should do everything they can to pass that along, whether it’s to kids just starting out on their first model, or an adult building their first kit in decades.  Spread your enthusiasm to people with less experience so the hobby will grow.

RMMC: Most modellers seem to have a stash of kits, yet still get excited by the next release.  Are there any recent releases that had you particularly excited?

RG: The one that comes to mind is the Moebius Models Battlestar Galactica Viper.  When I heard it announced, I felt like FINALLY someone made the right decision.  It’s a great subject that fans had been clamouring for, yet appeals to newcomers as well.  And the customers have been really happy with it – it’s on it’s fourth or fifth run, I think.  And it also showed there was a lot of potential in other Battlestar Galactica subjects.

RMMC: What is your all-time favourite model kit or hobby product?

RG: Well I love Floquil paint.  It’s what I started out with and what I’ve learned to use, and by now, I can really make it dance.  I’m bummed that it’s disappearing.  As a kid though, I was crazy about the Lights, Action Sound kits from Revell.  There were three of them, a helicopter, an ambulance and a motorcycle.  They had flashing lights and made noises, and were run by little motors and elastic bands – they were the greatest things in the world to me as an eight year old.  Definitely my favourite kits.

RMMC: What is your fondest memory from this hobby?

RG: I actually have three of them:

• The first is building models and trains with my dad.  I loved spending quality time with him.
• The second is my relationship wit Hans Madsen, and everything he taught me about the hobby and about business.
• And finally, as a father, I really cherish the quality time I’m able to share with my son.  I love it when he sees me airbrushing a train out in the garage, and asks what I’m doing, how the airbrush works, and if he can try.  It doesn’t matter that the model isn’t a work of art.  He’s learning, and he’s having fun, and that’s what really matters.

Our thanks go out to Rob for his time, and for running such a great shop.  Check out their Facebook page for all the latest in-store news or drop in and say hi to Rob and the gang.  If you want to scope things out first, you can visit out our Chinook & Hobby West gallery for a virtual tour of the store.