Switch on! W
hen I first started writing for the RC hobby press over 20 years ago, the idea of anyone flying an electronic helicopter indoors was a pipe
dream. Back then, the machines were big, petrol driven monsters and you had to be able to pat your head and rub your tummy while calculating pi just to get the thing off the ground. Nowadays, you can’t go to a trade show without having to dodge swarms of micro- copters hovvering in the aisles. The technological advances in batteries, motors and most importantly, gyroscopic controls has brought RC helicopter flying within the reach of anyone and blurred the lines between what is a toy or gadget and traditional hobby-based models. Likewise in RC cars, the self-same advances in
battery technology and brushless motors allied to more sophisticated manufacturing techniques means that modern day, out-of-the-box RC cars are far more powerful and ‘controllable’ than ever before.
Back in the early 80s when electronic RC buggy
kits from Tamiya and Kyosho were developing into a nationwide craze, the split between hobby stores and toy shops was much more profound. Only Beatties seemed to straddle the divide, helped of course by the fact that they were run by the UK Tamiya distributor, Richard Konstam (RIKO). Ever since, in RC terms, there has been a split
between hobby and toys with the latter refusing to get involved in the more top end RC products. That situation is beginning to change however with the aforementioned advances in motor and battery technology, allied to cheaper but more sophisticated electronics taking away much of the mystique surrounding radio control for the average consumer and giving them a far better product into the bargain. At this year’s Nuremberg Toy fair is was obvious
to me that top end competition RC has developed into something that you would need a science degree to get the most out of and which is still very much the preserve of the dedicated hobby store, whether retail or online. But there does seem to be a crossover point
emerging where toy retailers could get onboard and offer their customers a viable, high performance RC option that could be a profitable extension to their traditional lines. What has held back toy shops in the past is the ‘fuss’ and ‘mess’ of spares and repairs or the need to stock go-faster aftermarket parts. With the modern mass-market RC products now available, that doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue.
70 Toyworld
People these days seem to accept that if they fly their RC helicopter into the ground, they may need to buy some new blades and be prepared to fit them. Moreover, the technological aspects of motors and batteries have become more user- friendly, negating the need for a science degree just to put the thing on charge.
“Advances in motor and battery technology, allied to cheaper but more sophisticated electronics taking away much of the mystique surrounding radio control for the average consumer and giving them a far better product into the bargain.” So, does a very real opportunity exist for toy
stores to dip their toe back into RC? The answer is a resounding yes. Let’s face it, toy stores need all the help they can get and if there’s untapped potential in a category it makes sense to make the most of it. Other factors point to a benefit from boosting
your RC offer: Price. Yes, some of the more sophisticated RC helicopters for instance can command a higher price and margin, which customers seem happy to pay for. However, the real bonus is the wide range of price points being offered by the manufacturers for product lines ranging from beginner to expert. Potentially, you can sell an entry-level ‘copter’ one week and see that customer walk back in the store a while later and buy a more sophisticated model. But the real clincher for toy stores is that these
products work straight out of the box. There’s very little ‘modelling’ to do to get them to work and perform. Plus, the manufacturers and distributors have distribution and replenishment systems in place now that provide a much quicker backup if the store needs to replace or repair anything, thus taking the hassle out of the retailer’s hands. Back in the old days of the RC revolution I
remember enthusiasts and model shops all over the country waiting in hope for the sea container from Japan to land to replenish the spare parts shelves. These days, those problems seem to have been solved. That said, toy shops considering an RC strategy
need to make sure they go with a supplier that can offer the right backup in terms of stock and spares. Bladez Toys understands the requirements of toy shops in the RC arena and has tailored its range to suit.
“We understand just how important it is for
the retailer to offer the right products at the right price points,” says Iain Morgan. “That’s why we
Lewis Eckett argues that now is the time for toy retailers to look harder at the opportunities arising from recent RC developments.
Revell’s Super Micro range of RC heli- copters are just 12 cm in size.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86