Modelzone in administration Further Developments

[Biscuits]

"On 25 June 2013, Richard Michael Hawes, Nicholas Guy Edwards and Robert James Harding of Deloitte LLP were appointed Joint Administrators of Modelzone Holdings Limited, The Amerang Group Limited, Modelzone Limited and Amerang Limited (together the "Companies"). The affairs, business and property of the Companies are being managed by the Joint Administrators. The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Companies only and contract without personal liability. The Joint Administrators are authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). All licensed Insolvency Practitioners of Deloitte LLP are licensed in the UK"

[SirMeliot]

Bugger. I was trying to buy some stuff off there last night and the website was acting up.
Never bothered much with the shops but I was buying a fair bit online from them.

[Bufferstop]

Does Modelzone own the shops or are they franchised? It's always surprised me the number of high cost locations they have. A large shop on Deansgate in Manchester and another at the Trafford Centre strikes me as competing with themselves.

[whynot]

"Bugger. I was trying to buy some stuff off there last night and the website was acting up."

Possibly lucky - your payment may have been frozen before despatch!

[lozstlouis]

I just read something in Rail Express about them opening a new store on New Oxford Street in London. What an upset.

[sub39h]

bit disappointing as I was hoping to get some CCTs. glad i didn't preorder them now just in case the worst happens. not all that surprised tho - they charge an arm and a leg for their items. apart from ModelZone exclusives and the odd sale item it never seems worth it to buy from there. local model shops are cheaper and usually better stocked anyway!

[sandtrain]

Its said to be according to its former owner. that it expanded from 25 to 50 stores in far too short a time - and didnt offer people what they were wanting

[lozstlouis]

am sure the limited editions will be picked up by others or the Bachmann Collectors Club...

[alex3410]

signalbox also gone (part of modelzone)

http://www.thesignalbox.co.uk/signalbox-holding/

[sandtrain]

its sad that Signal box has gone....found them generally good to deal with

[GWR_fan]

Definately sad that Signal Box has gone as I also dealt with them and found the staff very helpful for overseas orders. Given that Signal Box had over twenty years experience selling goods, maybe the closure is temporary as it may be a franchise and may rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Let us hope, but then it may not have the same 'buying power' to offer box shifter prices.

Tim

[Bufferstop]

I think there's an optimum size for a chain of model shops and it's not particularly large. I think a group of independent shops pooling orders for discounts is probably a better set up than a centrally managed chain.

[hornbyandbf3fan]

I'm sad that thesignalbox has gone. I only just discovered them and although the website didn't show they were out of stock on a product I wanted, I found them helpful.

[sub39h]

I think there's an optimum size for a chain of model shops and it's not particularly large. I think a group of independent shops pooling orders for discounts is probably a better set up than a centrally managed chain.

you say this, but apparently they didn't own any of their Hornby stock - Hornby essentially had a concession inside every MZ. so for model railway point of view, they didn't have their money tied up in THAT much stock

probably also the reason why when the Holborn store moved the Bachmann items went on sale for example, but the Hornby ones didn't. if i were a betting man i'd bet that if they have an administration clearance sale that the same will happen again

also in regards to Signal Box, i had dealings with them and found them helpful as well. thing is despite being part of MZ they functioned pretty much independently of them. they didn't even have sales at the same times, or on the same items, or at the same prices! i reckon that part will probably live to see another day.

[Buggleskelly]

That's sad news.
As I don't purchase online, there's not an awful lot of choice left for me for kits, rail bits and the odd pot of paint. For the odd small item, the postage would preclude it's purchase.
All I can think of, that remains in my area is Hobbycraft ......for now !!