Since Menards (or someone working there) monitors this site (they are a paid sponsor) here's a GREAT marketing tip for them on their O-gauge line.
GO MAINSTREAM in the store!!!
Since Menards is a home improvement/lumber/electrical store, they carry the other basic necessities that you need to create a layout. Having a dedicated O-gauge aisle in the store will not only re-in force that image, but may just create awareness to others that Menards is the 1 place to get everything you may need to create your O-gauge empire.
Call it cross marketing or ??? but most people learn this the first week in business school......
Menards could offer a TRUE layout starter kit. All of the lumber, wiring, ect. you need to create a basic O-gauge layout along with a starter train set for XXX amount of $$. You could buy the set separate from the layout materials or vice versa.
Menards already has the building materials and electrical parts in stock. They could offer material plans (like they have for decks) and have many different layout options "pre-Packaged" for the consumer.
If anyone from Menards needs some help in getting this "on the shelf", just I.M. me.....
I second this idea. As a follow-on thought, they should start carrying 18-gauge solid wire, and I can't recall if they have terminal strips. They have just about everything else, such as toggle switches, solderless connectors, etc.
