Originally Posted by
Francis M.
You should close down shop if you cannot find a way to make a decent living keeping the shop open. You know the industry is the way it is and for you to depend on some hobbyist to pay more on a consistent basis out of loyalty is not a good business plan.
There is no simple magical business plan. Except to open in a high volume area such as a Mall where you can get every Tom, Dick and Harry. That throws out racing, and mostly caters to people who will buy a RTR, never to be seen again except to demand the shop fix their car as if it has some type of warranty.
What I see going on here is confusion with the above "Hobby Shop" being used as the example of what a "RC Hobby and Track" should be able to do. They really are two different beasts. We are talking Mom and Pop operations who cant afford those high traffic areas. Who can't offer prices online at any significant discount and be lost in the growing competition online.
Its a whole attitude of economics being argued here. The "buy local" versus "buy cheapest".