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I can see the logic of retaining Hornby as their sale/distribution agent. Hopefully they will stay interested in the brand.
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(1st-Mar-26, 08:43 AM)BAracer Wrote: I can see the logic of retaining Hornby as their sale/distribution agent. Hopefully they will stay interested in the brand.
As a complete outsider there will obviously need to be a learning transition period before the business could be relocated at least in the UK, but I think with the current issues of imports into the USA there could be another management sales and distribution center in the States fairly soon perhaps.
I am sure as a successful business man in the US that's where increased sales revenue might be focused, I saw a sales forecast for Die Cast Model Cars in the USA to be around 35% increase in the next 10 years.
(This post was last modified: 1st-Mar-26, 10:02 AM by
Graham.)
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Dave looks absolutely shell shocked.
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Nobody cares that yet another British icon is sold to an American investor then? We own nothing, we make nothing.
Frank Hornby and Fred Francis must be revolving in their graves.
Leaving that aside the whole thing is very strange. The brand name, intellectual property and associated assets have been sold but Hornby continue to run everything else for the time being. No mention of what will happen to the current Scalextric staff or location of design and production facilities. Will everything eventually be shifted to the USA or left as is?
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Yes, absolutely do care but that changes nowt, it is what it is.
No doubt profits will reach record levels and we'll see a drop in quality/quantity/choice our end.
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I think sadly Hornby were backed into a corner of their own making, and probably although drastic this sounds like the brand stands a reasonable chance of being strongly supported and rejuvenated commercially.
I agree it is sad that the iconic name is no longer owned by a British Company, but in reality the value of the business in regards to British manufacturing jobs was lost many years ago. I kinda hope that the brand maintains its diversity of models, and some more American Classic cars would appeal to me. It would be nice to see a more Trans Am, NASCARS, Indy and Can Am cars that have not been done before.
I would expect to see a reduction of the number of car listings which is probably not sustainable, and I would expect that the current 2026 catalog cars might be curtailed to save some costs.
(This post was last modified: 2nd-Mar-26, 07:07 PM by
Graham.)