HobbyTown and AMain team up!

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By Thomas Tran
LiveRC.com

Press release from HobbyTown Unlimited:
www.hobbytown.com

With one of the biggest mergers to happen on the retail side of the RC industry, Hobbytown Unlimited, Inc has joined forces with AMain Performance Hobbies to provide another level of customer service and RC purchasing experience. It's not often the big two franchises play nicely together in the sandbox, but this could benefit the consumer in many great ways.  

Hobbytown Unlimited, Inc., the franchisor of the largest chain of independently owned and operated retail hobby stores in the US is partnering with AMain Performance Hobbies to manage and execute hobbytown.com online merchandising, sales and e-commerce fulfillment. AMain Performance Hobbies, an industry leader in online hobby retailing will utilize the amainhobbies.com platform to host and manage the hobbytown.com website.

In addition to online collaboration, HobbyTown will license the AMain brand to franchise brick & mortar retail stores and racing facilities. AMain franchise stores and racing facilities will operate with the full support of the HobbyTown system including the exclusive SMART POS and inventory management system, performance reporting, operational and marketing services, and access to exclusive BuyersClub product distribution including proprietary products developed by Firelands Group. Radio control products will be the focal point of the AMain retail store merchandising mix, promotions, and racing activities.

The successful HobbyTown co-branding or conversion model introduced in 2012 that blends well established independent retailer brands with the added value, services, and support provided by the HobbyTown franchise will be extended strategically to qualified independents under the licensed AMain brand.

HobbyTown President Bob Wilke credits the alignment of core values, mission, and vision shared between the organizations as the key motivation to pursue the joint effort to grow and expand brick & mortar hobby retailing. “The alignment between HobbyTown and AMain extends beyond shared values and the opportunity to gain synergy from the focus on core competencies. We are on the same page with the belief that the future growth of the hobby industry is dependent upon increasing the profitability and viability of the brick and mortar retailers. If the hobby industry focuses on increasing retailer profitability, the result will be an expanded physical footprint of stores to showcase and promote the hobby industry. When that happens, the profits will follow all the way through the industry supply chain.”

AMain Co-Founder and CEO Kendall Bennett believes that the brick and mortar hobby stores are vital to our industry. “As an avid hobbyist and owner of two brick and mortar retail stores, we have learned a great deal about the hobby consumer over the last 10 years. Brick and mortar stores provide a critical entry point for new hobby enthusiasts, while online retailers cater to hobbyists in need of a wider selection of unique and hard to find products. Over the past several years, it has become increasingly clear that the relationship between online retail and brick and mortar must become better aligned to serve the hobby customer and to increase the overall health of the hobby industry. A partnership between HobbyTown and AMain provides an amazing opportunity to accomplish these goals.”

HobbyTown is promoting the 2016 HobbyTown National Convention theme “Retailers First” as a rallying point for increasing the viability of hobby retailers for the greater good of the industry. #retailersfirst

About AMain Performance Hobbies. AMain Performance Hobbies is a leading online retailer of radio-controlled vehicles. Founded in early 2004, AMain Performance Hobbies has rapidly become one of the largest online retailers in the world. AMain Performance Hobbies prides itself on having the products customers need, when they need them, and providing first-class customer service and product support. AMain.com, Inc. is a privately held California Corporation.

About HobbyTown. HobbyTown is the largest brick & mortar retail hobby franchise in the industry with 160 stores open or under development with locations in 42 states. Founded in 1980, HobbyTown began franchising in 1985 and continues to evolve and innovate the hobby retail environment and operations to live out their mission “we help hobby retailers grow”. Hobbytown Unlimited, Inc. is a privately held Nebraska Corporation.