Mark Boyce posted:Kirk R posted:I, for one, am excited to go from a non-TCA perspective and a newbie to the hobby (well, decades from childhood). I'm an hour and a half away and both my 5 YO son and 8 YO daughter want to go. I was shocked when they said that, but for them I think they want to go because "daddy is into this" and they want to understand why. So it'll be more viewing and buying some cool stuff that may get them engaged in trains. I still see this as a STEM platform from an educational point of view, better than video games. I may lose that bet but I'm trying.
Looking forward to stopping by the booth and meeting you all! If I can find horse related stuff (daughter) and military/space stuff (son) I think I'd have some happy kids.
clem k posted:Well that may be true Rich. When I go to York I am buying less and socialize some. But I am shopping. I stop by and talk with your team but not to much. I talk with Steve across the aisle from you(Ross switches) also, do some talking but still shopping didn't buy anything just maybe some small stuff. then I wonder around, some more talking and meeting people and business(Muffins) on the forum, don't buy much but still shopping. Get home feeling good about the business(Stockyard,Scenic Express, GGD) I talked with(socialize). Go down in the basement and start thinking, now its 6 months and a little poorer but I have new switch tracks, wire, supplies and new trains. Cause when I got home and started working on the layout, I got on the phone when I needed something, I called the people I socialized (shop) with at York.
Thank you..... all you business people for being there and letting me socialize with you.
Clem
Kirk, I think you have an excellent perspective that a trip to York is an early STEM opportunity for the kids!! We have two daughters who are now in their mid-20s. We encouraged them to spend less time on the computer, and they developed interests aside from computer based options, one in art, the other in music. Their husbands are another story. Both are into computer games, but one has turned that interest into a side business. The other has gotten into Pokemon Go, and that is how he gets his exercise. I saw others with young kids at York, and think it will be a great experience for them and you!!!
Clem, I made my first trip to York last October, and am going for part of the time this spring. My hobby budget isn't much, but I did as you making purchases I may not have made if I hadn't gone to York.
Getting to talk with Steve of Ross Custom Switches, Steve aka Mr. Muffin, Mike Wolf, and Ed of OGR directly led to purchases at York but also more during the months after I returned home. I am hobbled a bit by an arthritic knee that is probably going to lead to a replacement in the next few years, but now I know how to shoot directly from one place to another if it get to be a problem.
Alan, Allan, Rich, Thank you for your transparency in sharing with us the situation with OGR at the present!! All of you do a great job, and I count you as good friends!!!
Mark....We consider you a good friend too! I do want to make sure that you and others know that there is no "situation" with OGR. We are doing just fine because of our subscribers and advertisers... (hey we always want to do better!) but it made sense to go this route for the Spring York for a variety of reasons as stated above. With Mr. Muffin's handling fulfillment services for OGR that we used to do for ourselves, we saw an opportunity that may work for both Muffin's and OGR. You might say that this is an experiment at this point....and if it works, even if it needs adjustments, we will learn to do it better. As I said, the plans were to try this for the Spring York and then have the usual stand alone OGR booth in the fall...but we found out that we may not be able to get our space back and since we didn't want to invest in an empty area for this Spring in order to assure the fall space, we may be looking at other alternatives. OGR has been a very long supporter of the York meet but times are changing in this hobby. We want to continue to support York but we have to be able to do so and at least come close to breaking even. Proper and appropriate promoting of the York event to new demographics could help increase sales and participation...and...OGR is ready and willing to work with the great folks in the Eastern Division to make that happen!
