modelzone in administration??

http://www.modelzone.co.uk/holding/

That's a real shame, hope they can sort out some kind of recovery deal

Buy up now lads you wont see models this cheap from them again

working at trafford centre tomorrow may have to call in modelzone if its open

Just read on the Guardian site that the shops are staying open but they have shut down the website already

I nearly bought from the site yesterday lol

Model zone is owned partly by the importer of models into UK so if this has gone its massive news

Gift vouchers are now only worth 50 percent of their value. Not looking good at all for modelzone

Dosn't surprise me. Last time i went in one the selection of models were awful and top money. Shame though.

Reading that says that Amerang the parent company has gone as well. Bloody hell that is major and will have repercussions including less competition and possibility of less supply as well..

Oooooerrrrr! That's bad news!

I did wonder what was going on when I was having a look around their reduced items on the website. They were offering a huge discount on an unreleased model of the Mini 1275GT which would fit beautifully with my collection). Thought it rather odd, or very desperate to do that in order to get some cash through the door! Didn't fill me with confidence, so I didn't order the Mini. Now I'm very glad I did.  

Feel sorry for the guys and girls working in the shops, warehouses and supply chain. Things are hard out there today!  

Bring back Beatties, I say!   Cheers, Steve

Got an interesting email from Modelenium today - they wished Modelzone staff well as they know many of them and they did say that Amerang are still trading albeit in administration and are profitable in their own right so they expect a quick sale and minimum interuption to imports.

Some good news then. Probably keep the wholesale going and close down the shops. The internet has killed the high street.

Can we expect a closing down sale at local branches any time soon? I'd rather they stayed open for business, of course, but being realistic, if there's a give-away sale happening any time soon, I'd rather know sooner than later! I'm sure we could all grab a bargain or two!!  

Cheers, Steve

As we all know, problem is, no body is buying these days, I have been buying in bulk from Amerang for 13 years, but the e-mails stopped 5 weeks ago, its a sad state of affairs really, and last year Auto Art UK closed down (and they were only in business some six months), for me sales have gone down over 50% in the last year alone..........

Guys, I have just been into modelzone and they have an upto 20 and 50% clearance sale on all items in shop. I think I was a little late as the Tamiya paint cans I was after for my 6R4 project, were completely empty, well, apart from 1 lonely can of white all by itself! lol I decided to get it for when I start work on a sunstar 6R4. Not bad for £3

They had 20% off IXO and Sunstar models in stock, and was 50% on paints, brushes, glues etc. When I bought a few little bits I said to the chap at the counter "Its surprising how many people are in here now they see the clearance signs out the front" he laughed and agreed.

Thanks for posting, Nicky. I'll call in tomorrow morning but sounds like there might be nothing save empty shelves in Kingston!   Cheers, Steve

Well, I got to the Kingston branch of Modelzone yesterday morning, about 10.00. I've never seen it so busy!

Everything was at 50% discount apart from models and some kits whch were at 20% off. Loaded up a basket with Milliput fine, some glue, some rattlecans and several enamel paints including the Revell number 52, which is Computervision Blue  .

I asked the guy behind the till what's going on. They haven't heard much and are hoping for a last-minute buyout like the one Modelzone did when Beatties folded! Given the internet is so much stronger now in the market place and that the specialists behind Modelzone couldn't make it stack up, I'm not very hopeful!  

The end of an era!   Get your bargains now, if it's not too late already! Cheers, Steve

Did anyone see any Corgi or highspeed Ford focus wrc models in Modelzone going cheap??

There weren't any models going 'cheap' when I was there! 'Only' 20% discounts, but by now, if there is anything left, maybe the discounts for models and kits will have increased. Maybe!  

Has anyone been in a store in the past week or so? Cheers, Steve

Yeah went in Bristol one yesterday, nothing dirt cheap in model section yet...
Paints etc are half price which is OK.
Also HWE 1/18 Ferrari F12's and F355 going for 47.99, dunno worth an ebay flip or not?

Any news on the Modelzone situation?

According to MARs editorial this month

W.H. Smith have bought the Modelzone brand, not the shops, and the main model buyer from Modelzone has joined W.H. Smith. It looks like they are planning to trial the Modelzone format in a selected number of stores to see if it works. If it does they may well expand it across their chain of stores.

Chris

Hi Chris,

That's an interesting and potentially successful arrangement!  

Given that WH Smiths have, I belive, been struggling due to the internet, I can understand them lookingnat 'Modelzone' and diversifying a bit. Given they already stock stationery and tols/ materials that could be used for handiwork/ model making, there's a logic.

Let's hope it works!  

Cheers, Steve

Interesting