Hornby update

[tigercat]

Spotted small article in the business  pages of paper .

Hornby Revamp . Toy train maker Hornby is to cut 40 of its product lines.

[NARSES2]

Yup it's also to close the franchises it runs in various stores throughout the country and deal mainly via the Web, where it makes money. The visitor centre near Margate is also being sold on

[PR19_Kit]

Yup it's also to close the franchises it runs in various stores throughout the country and deal mainly via the Web, where it makes money. The visitor centre near Margate is also being sold on

STUPID move! 

Without a presence on the High St. they won't make any sales to the young modellers, or their Dads and Grandads, and in the long term it'll be the end of the hobby if they're not careful.

[Snowtrooper]

40 product lines? Time to start stashing Airfix?

[tigercat]

Actually I mis typed it was 40 per cent

[Captain Canada]

That sucks. My LHS is talking of closing and being web based as well 

[PR19_Kit]

Remember that Hornby have a lot of product lines that they don't sell in the UK, only in Europe.

They own both Rivarossi and Arnold, amongst others, in the model railway area and only sell them in Europe, much to the fury of UK railway modellers who model the Continental scene, and have to buy their stuff from European dealers and have them shipped back to UK.

[rickshaw]

Remember that Hornby have a lot of product lines that they don't sell in the UK, only in Europe.

They own both Rivarossi and Arnold, amongst others, in the model railway area and only sell them in Europe, much to the fury of UK railway modellers who model the Continental scene, and have to buy their stuff from European dealers and have them shipped back to UK.

It's going to become even more expensive for them now...   

[Spey_Phantom]

i have a question,

not to get political, but with the UK now leaving the EU, what impact will that have on Airfix Products available in the EU?
will nothing change, will there be a limited availability or will the Brexit mean they will increase in price?

just asking as Hornby own Airfix 

[Dizzyfugu]

In a mid-term perspective, prices outside UK should rise due to customs and more complicated logostic processes. I am also not certain about further costs for other certifications that import stuff into the EU could need? In a short-term perspective, things will IMHO hardly change, Hornby's internal problems will certainly have more impact.

[loupgarou]

In a mid-term perspective, prices outside UK should rise due to customs and more complicated logostic processes. I am also not certain about further costs for other certifications that import stuff into the EU could need? In a short-term perspective, things will IMHO hardly change, Hornby's internal problems will certainly have more impact.

As the pound is going down and there aren't as yet custom duties, we in EU could do some advantageous shopping, not only on Airfix items.

[Martin H]

i have a question,

not to get political, but with the UK now leaving the EU, what impact will that have on Airfix Products available in the EU?
will nothing change, will there be a limited availability or will the Brexit mean they will increase in price?

just asking as Hornby own Airfix  

In the short term (the next two years) no change to the status quo before the result, as the UK will still be an EU member untill the seperation agreement is in force. Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty applies here, setting out the process and expected duration of talks to quit the EU.

I guessing that afterwards, and this goes for movement of goods in both directions. It will most likely be no differnt to ordering goods from out side the EU now. IE, import duty/VAT may well apply. Where as at the moment it doesnt.

What will happen post exit is all dependant on the settlement reached in the article 50 talks.


(edit due to grammer and spelling)

[NARSES2]

Martin has it spot on. There should not be any change in the short term (see proviso below) and in all honesty any agreement the UK gets will more than likely lead to minor changes in the long term, yes I am a cynic.

The proviso is currency movements. These will in all probability effect Airfix/Humbrol prices in the short term as Sterling is hit on the markets and raw material and indeed kit costs will rise as they will be based probably in US Dollars (China and India) and Euros ?

[zenrat]

Sterling needs to drop a heck of a lot more than it has before Airfix's postage rates are at a level i'd pay.

My sister is coming out to visit next month.  She's kicking herself for not booking a hire car before the EU poll.