Hattons Closure: My Personal Thank You, Thoughts and Things to check out before they go

When I returned to the hobby in 2014, Hattons quickly became my go to retailer for both new and pre-owned models and have been so ever since.
In this video I want to share a brief view of my personal journey with Hattons over that time including the services they added to help make them my retailer of choice to this day.
I also want to bring to your attention some of the excellent online resources that Hattons have developed over the years and why you should look to check these out before they disappear.
Finally, I want to consider the factors that may have ultimately led to Hattons demise before we ultimately say our good byes.
Links to Hattons' resources:
KZbin Channel: / @hattonsmodelrailways
Formation Guides: www.hattons.co.uk/newsdetail?...
Eras Explained: www.hattons.co.uk/newsdetail?...
History of Hattons: www.hattons.co.uk/list/eventd...
Product News: www.hattons.co.uk/news?type=2
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hattons...

[@northernblue1093]

Like yourself, Hattons was my go-to supplier because of its vast stock, competitive pricing and excellent trunk system. After the shock announcement, I've started looking elsewhere and it's clear that I'm going to be paying more if I choose proceed with my planned purchases - and that's a big 'if'. It's about more than cost, I'll miss the ease and confidence of dealing with Hattons. It feels like I've lost a friend.

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, I might have used the "lost friend" term myself. They were more than the "box shifter" term used on some of the forums. Thanks for commenting.

[@clipperrail8988]

I first started buying from Hattons in 1981 when delivery took about a week. They set the bar for the level of mail order setvice that everyone else has adopted as the standard. They were constantly innovating to improve their service and I have nothing but postive comments to make for the 43 years of service them and their staff gave me. I got back to modelling in 2017 and Hattons sales provided much of my rolling stock, but their recent relationship issues with Bachmann and Hornby really hit their previously massive stock choice and in the last couple of years they simply didn’t have much of the newer items. I can’t be alone in now buying very little due to my wages not keeping up with the massive increase in model prices. The market is surely crying out for manufacturers to give modellers the choice of lower detail lower cost models and make our hobby more accessible to newcomers. Maybe that’s what Hattons mean by changing demographics. I wish all the staff the best in finding new employment and opportunities. Their GNR teak genesis coaches were one of my top purchases last year - and I don’t even model pre-grouping. Thank you for everything Hattons.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@97SEMTEX]

Hattons were a great resource for people in the Uk and a very needed one for everyone outside the UK. Ultimately I think they could have kept going had they not made too many mistakes as close together as they did. But I'm gald they are wrapping up things in a controlled manor.

[@EuviRail]

100%. Thanks for commenting.

[@greenslider]

I found Hattons as an excellent retailer delivering to the the ROI as well. Will be missed. The industry is at a watershed or a cliff's edge. Depends on the timescale

[@EuviRail]

Yep, a huge loss. Thanks for commenting.

[@ArcadiaJunctionModelTrains]

Excellent and fair video. Hattons did all they could in the changing market and their information videos/documentation were indeed commendable. In the end, sadly it wasn't enough. For me personally the retail part of the store was very uninspiring and sterile to visit. It was also in the middle of an isolated industrial estate and hard to get to by public transport. Once one got there, what you encountered was friendly and professional staff is a woefully uninspiring retail environment. There was NOTHING to inspire new people to the hobby when inside the store.

[@EuviRail]

Sad for sure. Thanks for commenting.

[@andrewrice6596]

So true. Before they moved to that industrial unit, it was lovely to go and have a look around the shop. Plus, the shop was accessible for most people. After moving away from the city, a drive out to their later premises was like going to collect something from Argos.

[@ArcadiaJunctionModelTrains]

In Allerton I think? Yes I was there a few times. I was talking to someone who still has a 'look and browse' model train shop and told me about 30-40% of his customers were not model train hobbyists, but regular scale modellers and fantasy and historic wargamers coming into to the shop to purchase terrain materials, glue paint and so on. I bet it was the same for Hattons in their old store. I think whoever had the idea of creating a Model Train 'Argos' business model was way mistaken. @@andrewrice6596

[@loggior.speedweed4345]

Canadian here, I can attest to this; I visited the UK this past summer and one of the things on my bucket list was to visit them in person as I had been using them for over 5 years. It was exactly as you described it: plain, uninspired and in the middle of nowhere, I felt like I was getting my car fixed rather than buying a model train from a hobby shop, it honestly was a letdown as an avid online customer of theirs; that is one thing I'll give Rails of Sheffield over Hattons. However, they're/were still one of the number one online retailers for this hobby worldwide, their website and services were unique and unbeatable! Hell, Rails doesn't even tell you the number of stock they have in their facilities on their website. I've literally seen no one else do this, everyone else tells you how much they have ("More than 10" to "1 item in stock").

[@cedarcam]

@@andrewrice6596 I used to go to their shop and have a look around Liverpool, a town I still like to visit. I thought it was a bad idea moving out even though they had to vacate the crumbling shop, I hoped they would find something in town. Getting there by train was impossible so I never got to see the new place.

[@OlivierGabin]

Hattons had been my gateway into UK models 15 years ago, and I really enjoyed some of their products. I hope that someone will buy them the molds of their coaches and engines, they are excellent products at a decent price (P class for instance). As you said, when you lose your two main suppliers, customers go elsewhere, taht is what I did. Rails of Sheffield and The Model Centre had a new customer with that. And that is a pity, because Hattons had been very innovative. The trunk is one of their best ideas, I had used it at least a dozen times. Well, they close before going down under, that's a pity for everyone. I will miss them due to choice, prices, ease to buy from France, home products and services. There is no equivalent of them on those points outside pricing and maybe choice, that is a great loss overall for the hobby.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing Olivier. Yes, I hope someone picks up the moulds. I have pre-ordered the Class 66 from Accurascale so hoping that has all of the main issues addressed. Same as yourself, I've used Rails, TMC and Kernow who are all fine, but still not the same as Hattons. We will have lost something when they finally shut their doors.

[@colwichjunction3366]

Nice reflective video on what was a big player in our model world… My story is pretty much the same as yours Hattons being the main route for getting back into the hobby some years back, buying everything from decoders to ballast from them. I have two Hattons 66s on the roster here & they are fine models indeed, although I did like most have to return a couple of times before I got a good one….this whole episode would have damaged their reputation no doubt, but for me I still used them a lot alongside my local model shop. I’m sure the fractures with Bachmann & Hornby also had a more detrimental effect on business, but we are seeing repeated (I’m thinking Warley announcement) about the ageing demographic of the modelling community. I’m lucky enough to be in the position to buy a brand new loco now & then, but for a youngster where’s the pocket money stuff? like we all used to buy…. Couple to that a lack of spare income for most & ever increasing prices it’s a recipe for going out of business sadly…. Hattons will be missed……definitely by me, especially when looking for second hand models. Who doesn’t love a description of wether the box is in good condition? Despite the model inside being covered in glue & missing the odd wheel or buffer 😂 Cheers John b😎

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing John. I forgot to mention the box aspect!

[@andydavidson9440]

Thanks Eugene for another great review of a sad subject this time. As a recent returning modeller I only used Hattons a couple of times and keenly acquired their ICI hoopers developed with Oxford. I agree their videos are a great introduction and thanks for the advice about train formations and other downloadable references. I will be on to this !

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Andy.

[@Phil-oj5nr]

From the South Island, NZ. Thank you Hattons for your service over the last 20+ years. My own buying has wound down due to the shaky state of the world economy. In NZ we are in for a very rocky ride over the next two years, and retailers of all types are feeling the effect of this. The retail trade is under severe pressure from on-line sales, and has been for well over a decade. I have dealt with about six model shops in the UK, and in person in 2014 when on a three month holiday there. Once home on-line was essential, of course. For non model railway purchases I prefer bricks and mortar shops, and try to support in a small way those outlets. I noticed big price reductions at other UK model railway outlets, let’s hope more don’t go as well. To all the staff that I dealt with personally and on line, thank you, and hope you all can find future employment at this very difficult time.

[@EuviRail]

Yes, definitely hope all of the staff find good new positions. They deserve it.

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

Well ssid 👏👏👏👏 As a fellow Irishman ☘️ I can only confirm everything you said 😇 I will especially miss the Trunk and Pre-owned service 😪 As a "Family" business, I would suspect that the "next generation" are not interested in taking on the burden 🤔 and it makes sense to get out with your reputation still high 🌞Very best wishes from County Wicklow ☘️

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Paul. Yeah, I think Irish modelers will really miss them. Brexit was painful and this just adds to it.

[@BazMcDonnell]

Like you Eugene Hattons was my go two. I used their pre owned site regularly. With Brexit and been in Ireland Hattons made it easier. I was very sad to hear the y were closing during the week. I will really miss them. Couldn't deal with a better company. It's such a shame to see them go. Take care Basil.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Basil. Of all the retailers that might have gone to the wall, Hattons will impact us the most.

[@geordielad9636]

Happy New Year Eugene, it certainly was a shock with the announcement from Hattons and I hope all staff can gain future employment. I have used Hattons for years and if I had a problem it was sorted without any hassle. I pre ordered the 66 and when they arrived they did as yours, derailing immediately, they went back for a refund. I sincerely hope no other supplier goes the same way? as the manufacturers pricing, the state of the economy and now shipping disruption are all worrying factors, Bill.

[@EuviRail]

Many Happy Returns Bill and I wish the same as yourself for all of the staff. These are challenging times so I share your concerns.

[@MrMattMWH]

Good analysis. Hattons were one of the main websites I bought from when I returned to the hobby just before the pandemic. Must say I haven't bought anything from them in the last couple of years though which tells its own story. I will miss their database though.

[@EuviRail]

We all will - their entries pop up towards the top of any Google search for 00 gauge part nos at least. Not for much longer...

[@vectorbrony3473]

A sad day. Makes the genesis coaches i brought from them all more precious. I know there are a lot of reasons for the closure but Hornby did not help when they bring in their own 4-6 wheel coaches to undercut Hattons. Hattons made a big investment in their own ready to run models and sadly we won't see their like again.

[@EuviRail]

Unfortunately true. Thanks.

[@stephendavies6949]

One of the best Hattons closure-related videos I've seen. I too relied on Hatton's on returning to the hobby a few years ago, after getting stung a few times on eBay. I have a shortcut to Hattons on all my online devices. Whilst I remain a serial user of Hatton's database, over the last couple of years, I have purchased less and less from them. I have found them pretty price uncompetitive for new items, and other trusted retailers - such as Clark Railworks, and eBay, now that my knowledge and experience has improved on how to spot questionable items & due to its money back guarantee for anything that is not "as described" - have eroded their advantage in the used market too. Nevertheless, the passing of Hatton's feels like the end of an era. I echo your sentiment of wishing all involved in the business well, and hope you can find an alternative supplier to provide you with (relatively) hassle-free product from the UK.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Stephen for commenting. Even from the comments, we can see that they have definitely lost people over the years.

[@stephenpike3147]

Am amazed Hattons calling it a day, and my first thoughts are for the staff, so wish them well. Its never good when a company downsizes or ends its days. Totally agree they are great to deal with even when things not gone correctly, always been polite, reasonable and amicably sorted out. Trunk, new and pre-owned combinations will be sorely missed, a win win combination which coupled with Hattons high standards was head and shoulders above anything else for second hand purchases. A massive cost saving on p& p, let alone the convenience of holding for you. The high volume and turn over pre owned selections exposed me to things I would never have looked at and I learnt a lot as I researched and experimented with on the basis of I could use or should try that. I don’t think anyone can touch their database, for the sake of the hobby I hope access to that is maintained for modellers. I say this as an overseas modeller, they have been totally reliable in supplying the goods ordered and offering a variety of transport options and costs at very competitive prices. They will be sorely missed. A very good round up in your video. Best regards Stephen

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Stephen. Yes, there are so many side elements that will be missed. They weren't just a box shifter.

[@stephenchambers5900]

Great video Eugene. I agree the fallout with Hornby and Bachmann lost a lot of customers or no longer made them a one stop shop. Their product development lead to some fantastic models, sadly the other reason they lost some business was the withdrawal of installing DCC decoders in my view. Glad to see the 66 will live on and hopefully their other toolings will be sold on to live another day.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Stephen. I'm still in mourning but we must move on. I'm looking forward to revisiting the Class 66 "under new ownership". Here's hoping it finally lives up to everything we were hoping for first time out.

[@briancollier5145]

I too am returning after a long absence, and was just starting to find how helpful Hattons could be. They will be missed.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Brian - better get busy downloading some of those resources.

[@PeachyTT120]

A very thoughtful & succinct roundup. Well done.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@brianfearn4246]

Great video, if you go on BBC radio merseyside Tuesday 9th January you can listen to hattons md talking about the closure.

[@user-qm2pz3rf2j]

Sorry to hear about Hattons , bought a few items online previously great selection and service.

[@EuviRail]

Absolutely Tom, thanks for commenting.

[@rprodgers1]

Hattons business model was built on shifting lots of units of model railway equipment through their well known mail order service. This was severely disrupted by the falling out with Bachmann then by Hornby “putting in the boot” with their tier system * ( Hattons were put in a much lower tier and had supplies severely restricted) and direct sales. It is easily forgotten that Hattons ramped up their pre-sold business and started to introduce their own products due to a lack of supply of new model railway equipment at the time. I am very sorry for Hattons and their staff, having been a customer of theirs for nigh on 45 years. Unfortunately due to B& H in the past few years I often could not see the items I wanted in stock. For the railway modeller they are a big loss and if B& H had their way will lead to much higher prices in the hobby. We are fortunate that Accurascale and Rapido have emerged as worthy contenders and Dapol is having a resurgence. I intend to support them all when I can in preference to B & H. *Hattons suffered a loss of customer confidence through issues with their own introductions but also found themselves, through no fault of their own having to cancel preorders taken for Hornby products.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for commenting. Hornby put the choke on them. I can remember the day, all my pre-orders for the Class 91, MK4s, FGW Class 43 and MK3 coaches were cancelled. If it shook me, I can only imagine how Hattons felt. They needed the volume of the B & H models over the last 3 years to cover their fixed costs.

[@rprodgers1]

@@EuviRail I omitted to say how much I enjoy your YT channel, having been a late convert to modern image. Thank you.

[@Michaelgoestofrance]

I second your sentiments and also extend my thanks to Hatton's and wish their employees the best of luck in finding new jobs be that in the railway modelling world or elsewhere. Being based in France, I also found the fact that Hatton's were VAT registered in France made buying from them so much easier and their willingness to help out should anything go wrong was refreshing. Sorry to see them go.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for commenting. Overseas customers in particular will miss them.

[@cprtrain]

Obviously the fallout with Hornby and Bauchmann had a huge affect on Hatton's. As a retailer, they were the best. Unfortunately, taking the plunge into manufacturing was a disaster. I feel for their employees and loyal customers. Brexit has also been a disaster for many UK businesses. Hopefully, that can be reversed.

[@EuviRail]

Such a costly mistake alright. Thanks for commenting.

[@Hascienda27]

Eh, A substandard service and underwhelming shop, the old place had the charm and was actually accessible to the public, tried to refine and ultimately cost them, plus telling Bachmann and Hornby to basically sod off doesn’t help, they should never of Got rid of smithdown

[@michaeldavies9600]

To say i was gutted Hattons are closing is an understatement! I like you have used Hattons when i decided to come back to this great hobby after a 40 year break.If i wanted to buy anything new i always used Hattons.I always found their website easy to use.I am not sure who to use now that is the problem i have :(

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing Michael. I guess, same as myself, it's going to become fragmented now with purchases more widely spread.

[@droneboxjg]

Speaking as an ex-hobby shop owner, another factor that is severely affecting retailers is manufacturers choosing to sell direct to customers via the Internet. They may charge RRP but, where items are popular, "having the stock ready to ship" tends to outweigh price.

[@EuviRail]

Yes, this is definitely having an impact. Unfortunately I don't think we're done yet.

[@jdenm8]

I've not seen any UK/EU channels talking about MB Klein, the US store that Hattons bought back in September last year. Had a longer comment with more of my thoughts and arguments, but it appears to have been eaten by the Spam filter.

[@Ianshandle999]

Really enjoying your channel. I think this is the first shakeout not the last in the hobby driven by the endless search for more detailed and specific models, driving up model costs exponentially. Luckily I could afford to buy the latest stuff at the latest prices, but I don’t. I started in the 1990s when Hornby top link in the brown box rivalled Lima in the blue box for which one could run the worse! When production moved to China, there was a spectacular improvement in detail and quality of running. Anything made 2005 to 2015 normally runs great has great detail and at normal viewing distance is indistinguishable from the current super detail stuff. I used Hattons in the uk and internationally far beyond Europe for many years. They are a great company but if they fail others will too. Then those pushing for endless extra details at any cost will rue the day…..sad for Hattons, their friendly staff, and all us modellers.

[@robd2184]

I’m not sure what you are on about. Even the undetailed Hornby railroad junk is knocking on in price, its inflation , pandemic, global supply and losing most of 2 major suppliers that I think has helped kill them

[@formidable38]

@@robd2184So, did Bachmann and Hornby stop supplying new stock to them then??

[@andymacmac9151]

If you loose your top two suppliers, Hornby and Bachmann, then it’s going to be difficult to stay in business long term…. As you mentioned, customers go elsewhere, and you end up loosing more than H and B’s purchases…. I wish all the staff best wishes and hope they find employment quickly.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Andy. They were good people to deal with so definitely wish the best for all of the staff.

[@oceanfroggie]

Thanks good video and wholeheartedly agree. Like wise I returned to the hobby in August 2014 after a 20 year gap and found Hattons brilliant to deal with, superb range and excellent service. They will be missed. Sad to see them go. Did they get the wrong end of Simon C when he was still at Hornby? TT120 (ie betamax may have been his parting land mine to Hornby)

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. I believe there was a problem with Simon C. He heavily discounted the Hornby Class 66s when the Hattons 66 was coming out which was kind of laughable as the Hornby Class 66 is effectively a cheap Railroad model. He subsequently squeezed them on pre-orders. At the time I believe he was pushing for more web sales for Hornby to push up margins. Hornby fell out with Rails as well over the Terrier. There are ultimately no winners with this sort of carry on.

[@stbob]

Not surprised , never had any stock! Never felt confident shopping at Hattons. So, I wanted something and - ‘out of stock’. Expensive second hand stuff. For new shoppers, a waste of time, no stock to speak of!!

[@EuviRail]

I don't think they ever recovered from the Hornby and Bachmann fallouts. I did find the pre-owned stuff very pricey of late and preferred to buy new instead.

[@AutomatonArchive]

I will definitely miss the pre-owned stuff the most. I've seen a lot of complaints about their second hand prices lately but I never had an issue with this for N gauge - even the rarer items were usually within original RRP or close enough to it (compared to what the same items can go for on eBay etc. it could be night and day). Same goes for the wishlist service. That's not to say my experiences were 100% positive but their customer service was always quick to accept any faulty items and either replace or refund them. The time I received a powered loco instead of the dummy I ordered was a particularly memorable goof :)

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing. A dummy instead of a power car - that's a new one!

[@AutomatonArchive]

@@EuviRail It was supposed to be a dummy loco but they sent me a working one... seems like the previous owner had put the dummy body on a powered chassis (it was the correct running number for the dummy) and Hattons must have never checked it before listing. A working loco for about £30 was something I decided not to argue with lol

[@apples5503]

Very sad news indeed. As an Australian being in the hobby for 5 years, I’ve bought a substantial amount of products of which circa 70% have been from Hattons. By far they are the most competitively priced plus the trunk system & overseas freight costs set them head & shoulders above other UK retailers. This is a major loss for our hobby 😢

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for commenting. The trunk feature is going to be a huge loss for anyone overseas.

[@davidcook380]

Well said

[@EuviRail]

Thanks David

[@James-ih4gz]

My Murphy models mk 2s arrived this week they are excellent

[@EuviRail]

I picked up 3 of the Galway's to go with the EGV and Buffet. Had the Lima versions before but the the MMs are better.

[@James-ih4gz]

@@EuviRail I have the whole Galway set coming

[@rosseades4213]

Heart felt to Hattons I think with vat and taxes the hobby gone ,who can afford these prices now when on a small budget!!! 😢

[@shaunbarclaysentinal70]

Sorry to see them go great company hattons amodel service that will be missed by all in hobby

[@EuviRail]

100%

[@johncolley1844]

A good tribute to Hattons

[@EuviRail]

Thanks John

[@BritishRail60062]

I for one am sad to see these folks go after many years of loyal custom to them since 2009. They were a great supplier to deal with and they will be dearly missed. I wish someone could have kept them going even if new management. Quite sad news to start off 2024 in terms of model trains with the Hornby 2024 range which sucks and Warley Exhibition being cancelled too. I hope things will get better for the model railway field in the future.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing. Yeah, a rough start to 2024. Hopefully that's the worst of it.

[@leswall3061]

For those near Wigan, there is a good model shop in Ashton in Makerfield, >>Unit 21 Greensway Shopping Centre, 34 Gerard St, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN4 9AE with plenty of free parking

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing

[@TranscendentalAirwaves]

Wow as an American who watches British train reviews this completely caught me off guard. Crazy!

[@paulrounding5260]

Had used Hattons for years for model railway gear, two years ago I wanted to sell my n gauge gear and gave them a list, retail value would have been well over over £4k, the majority of items were in mint condition, the offer Hattons gave me was a joke less than £1.5k, since then I haven’t used them.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing Paul. That was very disappointing, particularly as online pre-owned prices would appear to have inflated over the years.

[@stepheng7586]

Great video and very sad news regarding Hattons but I'm not surprised. The hobby has become too expensive for the average person to sustain given the current economic climate which some manufacturers haven't addressed. I also think that most railway modellers have other hobbies which they would rather spend their money on,whether it's holidays,going to the football or like myself fishing.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Stephen

[@jameshatfield1194]

i stopped using Hattons when they started taking photos of preowned locos in their boxes they said they would remiburse for any returns but i live in Thailand and with customs duty and shipping i stopped buying from them the trunk service was great sorry to see them go

[@wapphigh5250]

Loved Hattons. Used them from OS before. And had lots of stuff in the pre-order trunk and ready to purchase. Great video. Is there any way to save the website?

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. Good question on the website. The big issue is their database which would need the infrastructure it resides on to be retained. Once they wind up this will be gone. The KZbin channel can still be there. There are minimum viewing requirements for a channel but that should be Ok. Could any ongoing KZbin revenue fund the cost of keeping the Product Database and some of the other reference pages alive? I suspect not. Some IT work would also be required to shrink their home page down to a minimum to just support the remaining reference features.

[@skilledarma]

The sole reason is Hornby and Bachmann are killing the hobby with their extortionist approach to pricing and it’s disgusting. Haven’t purchased a new model for almost 4 years due to that reason. Rip Hattons

[@formidable38]

Bachmann especially are getting way out of hand with their prices.

[@skilledarma]

@@formidable38 they’re as bad as each other (although Bachmann certainly do take the biscuit and if they didn’t have such a strong American market, they’d have become defunct years ago!) but I digress. Hornby’s latest A2, W1 and P2’s should have cost £150 at the very most. The motors alone cost less than £20 which says all we need to know!

[@airvisualltd3838]

very sad for all concerned, guess we will find out (maybe) when Richard is interviewed by Jenny Kirk on Monday. I met Richard and his lovely partner when they came down to see me to buy half of my collection over a year ago, so never saw this coming.

[@brianfearn4246]

Unfortunately its not just hattons thats closing down other big names in the high st have disappeared over recent years and its still happening. I think in this present climate with the cost of living some of us simply can't afford to buy new or pre owned items for our hobby i personally just perchesed the odd decoder from hattons and yet ten years ago I could walk into hattons and buy a brand new loco whitout a second thought.. it's a real shame..

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing Brian. I do believe the model shop experience to be a particularly unique one which you only fully appreciate when it's gone.

[@fougamagister8862]

it's a pity such a well organized retailer disappears. But it doesn't surprise that much. They had to be big in order to be able to run as they ran, but this probably wasn't sustainable due to the several reasons mentioned in the press release. Eg selling to the continent has become dire, and overall physical shops seem to disappear here in Belgium too. I assume we'll witness a shift towards more specialized distribution, e.g. sellers only providing certain brands or specific parts like decoders. And I already noticed they didn't stock up certain common things made by Peco. I suspected/feared problems at Peco's, but it turned out to be the retailer having trouble to maintain its business...

[@EuviRail]

There were definitely issues showing before the end. Thanks for commenting.

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

Hattons last year bought out modeltrainstuff here in the U.S and with the shut down we dont know if it will survive either.

[@EuviRail]

I would expect it to be sold off as part of the wind down. The purchase appears to have been a strange one in the context of where we are now.

[@onnomulder9775]

It's a shame that Hattons is stopping!!! It was the most well-known retailer in the UK!! Onno.

[@EuviRail]

Sad to see them go.

[@johnmeredith3652]

I have dealt with hattons it seems like forever and to loose them is a terrible blow however young people today have so many alternatives to choose from and consequently has resulted in massive reduction in model railway customer base

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for commenting. The manufacturers need to come up with a strategy to counter or they will start being next to go.

[@James-ih4gz]

There is marks models in Ireland they are really the best at this point for Irish and UK models.

[@EuviRail]

I've used them for a lot of my Irish stuff alright. Less so for the UK stuff. Don't have them locally unfortunately. Would use them more if local. Folks in Dublin and Cork should definitely check them out.

[@michaelgrey7854]

I cannot believe it. Hattons is my only source for the U.K railway scene. As I live in New Zealand it's hard to get this.

[@Reaper1770]

I could recommend woodpecker as it is an australian supplier and theyve been fantastic

[@Reaper1770]

As someone who is a bit mystfied by this as someone who is in australia. It seems like the opposite is happening, in australia shops sell out of auscision hoppers within a day. It does see like a contradicting mess where in one country i reallt struggle to buy 300+ packs for hoppers just because they sell out so quick. I will miss hattons just because their database has been a lifesaver when it comes to buying models off ebay and the sets

[@cedarcam]

Many over here just cannot afford model trains any more Prices of most things have risen so much since the conflicts began causing fuel prices to rocket so naturally things like the hobby of railway modelling have to go The hobby is still there but people make do with what they already have, another thing is the lack of new models coming in. We are shown new releases and it is 2 or 3 years later we get them meantime the model shops have to sell something while they wait which is why my local shop has started selling kits as well as trains.

[@hotdogpilot6319]

Not fair for me to appraise a company I have very seldom used. I've always used local and mid sized shops like Kernow. It is obviously a great shame for many people, the staff and especially those abroad. Reasons why are difficult to nail down but better to withdraw than bankruptcy where more questions would be asked.

[@EuviRail]

Yeah, I would trust the Hattons management to have known when the time was right to make this call so that they could unwind in their own time and do the best by their staff, suppliers and customers. Thanks for commenting.

[@d-rail7271]

I'm sure a combination of all the factors you outlined. They're second generation owners who inherited the business, with very few exceptions those people don't care about or manage the business nearly as well as the founder.

[@EuviRail]

Unfortunately, you're point is very valid and we've seen this before in similar situations. Thanks for commenting.

[@PeckhamHall]

I don't see what the big deal is, who ever owns Hattons probably wants to retire and couldn't or didn't want to sell the business. Probably the later as they wanted to not see it run in a different way, same with the Warley show at the NEC, after 30 years they are due a retirement, that's life, other people will step into the void in the end.

[@EuviRail]

Second generation syndrome where the owner isn't as vested in the business as their parent. It was an excellent business in it's day.

[@bachmannobsessed2234]

Accurascale class 37’s having motor issues didn’t help n those who had their accurascale class 37’s professionally weathered and ended up being told by hattons themselves their locos is now not covered under a warranty!! So in my eyes that’s one of the reasons and also the website too ain’t professionally done like rails of Sheffield and rainbow railways!

[@user-xp2wy6zf9t]

It's worth all of you modellers to know the truth about Hattons. As a current employee of many years I can say the true reason for the closure is because the current CEO of the company has blew the company money up the spout on personal endeavours and doomed to fail company changes. He has continued to blamed the market saying that the company has been dying for a few years because of the core client base has died off. Despite smaller companies still thriving such as Rails of Sheffield and equally big names like hornby and Peco, Hattons has fell because of these internal issues with the CEO. Over the years he has used his ego and money to purchased more and more shares of the company. It's also worh noting he was also dismissive of any ideas on saving the company and was more interested in closing so he can retain the the money. He was (although on this i am note 100% sure myself so take this bit with a pinchof salt) in debt years ago and has use the company money to pay it off and is now walking away with a lovely few million in his pocket.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for sharing. It sounds like a case of second generation owner syndrome. Sad to see a successful business falter like this due to poor management.

[@christopheralexander927]

Hatton’s outrageous 2nd hand prices I won’t miss, but I do think the Bachmann fallout was unhealthy

[@EuviRail]

They did appear to have lost the plot on the 2nd had prices in recent times which has pushed me to purchase new. Online pre-owned bargains are hard to come by these days.

[@vizmortlock]

Also no 'Captcha' puzzles to solve before being allowed to enter a website and spend money.

[@Mike-kc8rl]

I have all my model railway life used Hattons ! That's about fifty years ! My own experience has been great with them. I must be honest when they fell out with Hornby it was a problem if you wanted anything from the brand, obviously. To part company with Bachmann was really the last thing they needed? You just can't operate without the two biggest suppliers in model railway ? Yes I also think the class 66 was a huge let down for all concerned ! It's a real game changer to lose Hattons from the hobby and maybe they have played it smart as this hobby is said to be losing sales hand over fist? Whatever the reason they are going to be missed big time!

[@physiocrat7143]

We can thank the Chancellor for this. If you are an EU customer you pay UK VAT and EU VAT. The EU has trashed Internet trading, and this was long before Brexit. The British government could have prevent this from happening. The damage is widespread.

[@EuviRail]

Unfortunately it is. Thanks for commenting.

[@1maico1]

The EU single market has boosted internal trade within the EU. When the UK was a member VAT was paid once at the point of sale and goods moved around freely within the single market. Now a UK company can take out VAT registrations in the main EU member countries, collect the tax and forward it. It is only paid once. The German company I use simply deducts German MwsT and if the value of the goods is less than £135 GBP there is no duty or VAT due in the UK making it cheaper than before Brexit. If the value is above £135, VAT and a clearance fee will be levied making it more expensive than before Brexit.

[@physiocrat7143]

@@1maico1 How would it work if I order from a UK company (I am in Sweden)? As far as I can make out I would have to pay British VAT and Swedish VAT, adding up to 45%! The Single Market was trashing internet trading before Brexit. I was doing a university course in Sweden, using English textbooks (many courses are taught in English). Most of the text books come from the US. We ended up paying VAT, a handling charge of £5, and VAT on the handling charge, plus two or three weeks delay if the goods didn't vanish completely. Gave up in the end. The Single Market is a disaster for the EU economy. It restricts supplies from the 165 countries in the world which are not in the EU - about 90% of the world's population. Because most trade is balance by a reciprocal flow of goods and services, the end result is that exports to the rest of the world are not what they would otherwise have been. VAT is another disaster area. It raises nothing like the headline figure, damages business, saddles companies with heavy administrative costs and is a major cost to government, especially when a lot of the population are on benefits, pensions or work in the public sector. It is just a circular flow of money.

[@SamM-oh2cx]

Hattons is the first Domino piece to fall and I feel in 2024, a lot more in this hobby are going to fall. It’s a dying hobby! The world is a different place, kids aren’t kids anymore, they want other things other than an overpriced bit of plastic going around a circle over and over. Was long priced out of the hobby, for years I just dip in and out of the odd KZbin channel and that’s about the level of my interest in the hobby today!

[@michaeltildesley537]

Excellent video and commentary. Like you I live abroad and Hattons provided an excellent service into Europe and beyond. This was probably responsible for about 30% of their trade. I really think that Hattons is yet another victim of the lunatic Brexit imposed on the UK by a bunch of self seeking twats! This bunch of fools have reduced the UK to a laughing stock. Sickening! And poor Hattons is yet another victim….such a shame. 😢

[@MrMattMWH]

How come the other online retailers seem to be managing ok?

[@1maico1]

If you look at Hatton's filed financial reports at Companies House exports were less than 30% even pre-Brexit. In percentage terms exports were fairly steady. 2015 (pre- Brexit) turnover £11.3m, profit after tax 243k, 54 employees. 2016 turnover £11.6 profit, £400k loss 2017 turnover £13.6m, profit after tax 700k 2018 turnover £14.4m, profit £975k, 62 employees inc. directors 2019 turnover £14.7m, profit £839k. 69 employees 2020 turnover £12.5m, profit £455k 2021 turnover £12.3m, profit £623k 2022 turnover £10.9m (UK £8.8m, EU 1.4m, ROW 719k.) profit after tax £23k They closed because of supply issues. Their costs were to high, for example the filed wage bill was over a million! (The 2023 report is due in April)

[@derekmulready1523]

And that's why Shopping local is my Goto. Marks Model's. Provides an excellent service.

[@johnlevey9935]

I feel that it was possibly a matter of getting out while the going was good. Almost a lifestyle choice. Over the last few years I have mainly used Kernow and Rails of Sheffield for competitive pricing on new rolling stock. However I have always found Hattons very helpful with used purchases. I particularly rate them highly for their service in letting me know when a particular locomotive or set has come into their hands for resale. They were always very much on the ball with this and created a high regard in customer service. Sad to see them go. About 5 years ago I tried to find their premises by crossing the new Runcorn Bridge. Unfortunately the sat nav on the car wasn’t aware of the new road layout and sent me back and forth over the bridge several times. I got a large toll bill to pay online afterwards!

[@EuviRail]

Yes, I think they chose to make this call when it was opportune to do so, and in the face of a lot of uncertainty. I never got to their premise either. It was on my hit list. Customer service has always been top notch as you say. Thanks for sharing.