We’re in tough financial times, there’s no getting around it. It’s rough out there. REALLY tough! However I ran across an idea the other day that just could help your small business. It was a recollection from living in the big city. This was in New York City. The cold would force us into a department store during the holiday. I think it was Macy’s, I’m not sure. But anyway there would be these great train setups there. The store would always be crowded with kids and their parents no matter what time it was. Golly was it a gigantic track! Bigger than the apartment we lived in! It was a complete dimension onto itself.
And here’s the point, even though my mom didn’t have a lot cash and always came in with the determination of never parting with a dime, by the end of the day it seemed like we without fail ended up leaving with some little toy, even if it was just a soda from one the street venders. So here’s the thought I had:
Try g size toy railroad designs in the display window of the store:
Toy retailers have known this for a long time and hardware stores have found this a natural combination since people can buy the accessories and tools for model railroading all right there. But you don’t have to be a toy retailer or hardware store to capitalize on model train displays. If you’re part of a line of stores or by a entertainment center this could be perfect for your establishment. It wouldn’t even have to be a store associated with model trains. A family physician’s practice might just have a locomotive display to keep the kids busy while they waited for their appointments or for prescriptions. The display would give the business a considerable leg up over its competition. The locomotive babysitter would allow the grateful parents to see to their own goals. The augmented business would be well worth the drawbacks in terms of space, start up costs and maintenance. Really, anywhere parents and children are forced to cool their heels would benefit from such an addition. Grateful parents would create loyal business.
G-Scale Model Railroad Designs could also make for unique businesses in the hospitality industry:
You know how you’ve been planning on making your old Victorian into a B & B now that your children have all flown the coop. Want to have a special feel for your cool barbecue but can’t think of what to do? You could advertise your Bed-and-Breakfast as a locomotive Bed-and-Breakfast and you could have a locomotive motif. If you have a swimming pool in the back or a patio where customers eat you could have a train that winds around by the tables and rig it so that the train actually brings out the drinks to people. The quirkiness would be sure to draw parents with their children and you could make a little bit of extra money by selling toys. If you have a local tourist site that is locomotive related you could create a tie-in to this site. If you are in the American west this shouldn’t be difficult since most of its tourist sites are related to the rise of locomotives.
It’s a tough world out there these days. Now’s the time to act aggressively and imaginatively to maximize your business not sit back and be tossed by the waves of change. A distinctive business theme is sure to help you succeed in these rough financial conditions. I’ve only touched the surface. Imagine a miniature golf park where a model train winds through the entire course, going over ponds and across runways and where the players alter the train’s track by sinking holes…
Here is more information on G Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
