News

Hobby Smith, a store that specializes in tabletop games such as 
Warhammer: 40k and Bolt Action, relocated to a larger shop after just a year in operation in Colorado Springs. Jessica and Rafael Rodriguez moved to the larger space in response to an enthusiastic community response.

The new location is a little over a mile away from the original spot. It has more than double the space than before, with about 2,500 square feet for shopping, gaming, and painting, Jessica said. The store was closed for four days during the move. Hobby Smith previously offered limited space for gamers to build, paint, and tweak their units, with three tables set up for gaming sessions. Given the store’s popularity, the 
Rodríguezes found themselves longing for more space.

“Everyone has been super supportive. We’ve grown way faster than we thought we would in the first year, which has been awesome,” Jessica said.

The larger new location means the store can carry even more games and may allow it to expand into other hobbies, like plastic models. The two have coordinated with the Japan-based giant Tamiya to bring its products, including paint, tools, glue, and model kits, to their store. Even with limited space at the old location, Rafael and Jessica continued to introduce new brands and games as their customer base grew.
“Over the last year, we’ve brought in different brands that we didn’t have before. We have Star Wars Legion, and now we have Monument Hobbies paints and Magic: The Gathering and lots more,” Rafael said.

“Luck Dog,” the large animatronic puppet at the center of the Broadway magic show AMAZE!, was brought to life with the help of Hitec servos and won the prestigious 2026 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Puppetry.
Axtell Expressions built the epic mechanical creature for Jamie Allan’s magic show that originated in London and later moved to the stage in New York City. The Axtell team spent six months developing the star of the show. With its imposing 6-foot head, featuring intricately designed blinking eyes that command attention, and a 16-foot neck that allows dramatic movement, this groundbreaking marvel of puppetry and technology elevated the visual and innovative spirit of this Broadway production.

“Hitec Commercial Solutions looks forward to continuing our collaborations with Steve Axtell and his talented crew as together we push the boundaries of drama and performance in the cultural landscape of puppetry and animatronics,” said Suzanne Lepine, client and media relations manager for Hitec.

The new A24 film “Backrooms,” which hit theaters in May, has roots in a Wisconsin hobby shop.
The film’s inspiration was an internet meme based on normal photos taken on the second floor of the old HobbyTown in downtown Oshkosh. The photos showed the empty, spooky upstairs rooms before they were converted to an indoor racetrack.

The store rooms were on the upper story of the 110-year-old building that owner Robert Mazza remodeled after he bought it for the store, which opened in 1994. He added RC carpet, dirt tracks, and an off-road course, among many other improvements.

The space was remodeled, but the photos remained online. Somehow, the images went viral, and enthusiasts spent 10 years tracking down the 
location of the creepy, outdated rooms. Online rumors swirled that the rooms were a gateway to 
another dimension, or people could be teleported there and trapped.
Over the years, Mazza has fielded calls and emails from around the world, as well as from visitors who are surprised that the building still exists.

The now-viral photo was taken back in 2003, but, as Anna Murphy-Pociask with Discover Oshkosh described it, the internet discovered it 16 years later and gave it a life of its own.

“So somebody took it over and basically described this, this photo as the quote-unquote back room,” Murphy-Pociask said. “So they saw this photo and thought it to be this creepy fluorescent light, carpeting, kind of never-ending space from the photo, and it was taken over.”
Mazza sold the store to John Hetzel, who also owns John’s Hobbies in nearby Hartford.

AMain Distributing is now the sole wholesale distributor for Savöx servos across North America and Mexico, promising full stock, fast shipping, and one-stop ordering for dealers and racers alike.

As the new exclusive wholesale distributor, AMain will stock the full lineup of popular Savöx surface and air servos. Hobby shops will be able to carry less inventory while still meeting customer demand. Dealers and consumers can 
now source Savöx, along with many other leading RC brands, through a single, streamlined distribution partnership, 
according to Shawn Ireland, director of product at AMain Hobbies.

AMain’s West and East Coast distribution centers ship most orders within one business day, with arrival typically inside three days.

Savöx has been a fixture in RC for more than 20 years, building its entire servo lineup in-house, from race-winning surface servos used by World Champions to high-precision air servos. Savöx is vertically integrated, controlling both in-house engineering and manufacturing, which allows the company to innovate quickly while maintaining quality standards.

The model rocket market is projected to grow from $1.42 billion in 2026 to $1.81 billion by 2030, according to recent forecasts, driven by STEM education, hobbyist experimentation, and the growth of online rocketry communities. Demand is also being supported by lighter materials, more customizable kits, and a shift toward reusable
recovery systems and multi-stage designs. Industry activity has expanded through education-focused programs, such as IN-SPACe’s model rocketry competition in India, and product collaborations, such as those between Blue Origin and Estes Industries.

North America was the largest region in the model rockets market in 2025. The Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period.

Traditional toys and games are projected to grow from $111.4 billion in 2026 to $225.8 billion by 2036, according to research firm FMI, with a 7.3% consolidated annual growth rate (CAGR) fueled by demand for hands-on, screen-light play and products that support learning and development. Board games lead the category with about a 42% share, while online retail accounts for roughly 38% of sales, as parents compare age fit, features and reviews before buying. FMI says the Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe will remain key growth regions, with China, India, Brazil, the United States and Germany among the fastest-growing markets.

While online retail commands the largest share of distribution, hobby and toy specialty retailers and department stores maintain relevance through in-store demonstrations and experiential purchase environments, while institutional procurement programs represent an expanding supplemental channel.

Growth is supported by rising parental concern over screen exposure, stronger curriculum integration of educational toys, and sustained cross-generational purchasing patterns spanning children, parents, and extended families. Even as digital entertainment and mobile gaming intensify competition, manufacturers are reinforcing demand by positioning traditional toys as tools that support cognitive development, skill-building, and structured family interaction.

Hasbro has expanded its U.S. supply chain by opening a new 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Midway, Georgia, to improve speed and efficiency across both retail and direct-to-consumer
channels.

The facility — Hasbro’s first fully developed, leased and branded warehouse in the U.S. — is located in Liberty County, less than an hour from the Port of Savannah. It will play a central role in the company’s North American logistics network, complementing existing operations in California and Illinois.
Company officials said the site is expected to handle roughly a quarter of Hasbro’s U.S. distribution volume while enhancing
omni-channel fulfillment capabilities.

“By opening our first company-leased U.S. distribution center, we’re expanding our supply chain capabilities to deliver products faster and more efficiently,” said Stephanie Beal, chief supply chain officer at Hasbro.
For retailers, the investment signals continued focus on faster replenishment, improved inventory flow and stronger support for both in-store and e-commerce demand.

Wes’s Model Car Corner is acquiring the assets of Gofer Racing Products, a longtime name in model car decals and accessories, in a move both owners say is designed to preserve the brand and keep orders flowing with minimal disruption. Retiring Gofer owner Henry Mason said the sale is driven by his health and his inability to keep up with the business, while Wes Hurst said the transition should be smooth for dealers and distributors.
Mason said he chose Hurst because of their long business relationship that dates back to the NASCAR boom years. “Wes is a straight shooter,” Mason said, adding that he is glad the brand will have “a very good home.” Hurst said the goal is to keep the Gofer name alive while folding fulfillment into Wes’s existing retail and e-commerce operations in eastern Tennessee.

Under the deal, Hurst is buying Gofer’s inventory, cabinets, 
trademarks, website, and other assets, and he said open accounts will continue to be treated as they have been.

He also said orders will ship from Wes’s facility, which uses UPS daily, a change he believes will improve speed and reliability. “We want to try to make it as seamless a transfer as possible,” Hurst said.
The acquisition also drives new product plans. Hurst said Wes’s Model Car Corner intends to develop photo-etched parts under the Gofer name and for Wes’s existing products, such as modifieds, trailers and new dirt late-model kits. Mason said he is pleased that Hurst’s family, including his wife and daughter, may also be involved in the business, bringing added energy and technical know-how.

For hobby shop owners, the message is continuity: same brand recognition, new ownership, and no immediate change in how accounts are handled. Mason said he expects the transfer to help preserve decades of Gofer Racing’s market presence, noting that he does not want the brand to disappear after more than 50 years in the hobby.

Hasbro has expanded its U.S. supply chain by opening a new 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Midway, Georgia, to improve speed and efficiency across both retail and direct-to-consumer channels.
The facility — Hasbro’s first fully developed, leased and branded warehouse in the U.S. — is located in Liberty County, less than an hour from the Port of Savannah. It will play a central role in the company’s North American logistics network, complementing existing operations in California and Illinois.
Company officials said the site is expected to handle roughly a quarter of Hasbro’s U.S. distribution volume while enhancing omni-channel fulfillment capabilities.

“By opening our first company-leased U.S. distribution center, we’re expanding our supply chain capabilities to deliver products faster and more efficiently,” said Stephanie Beal, chief supply chain officer at Hasbro.
For retailers, the investment signals continued focus on faster replenishment, improved inventory flow and stronger support for both in-store and e-commerce demand.

After three years in business, Lebanon Valley Hobbies has outgrown its Cleona location and reopened in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. Owner Jason Fidler said the new store will have a larger sales floor and more room for race tracks, including a Mini Z layout.

Fidler moved out of his house of 26 years and, two months later, relocated the store.
“Take it easy on us!” Fidler asked his Facebook followers. “We will be adding inventory weekly, as we didn’t want to move a lot.” Fidler remodeled the store with paint, flooring, and new fixtures.

HobbyTown opened the first two of five stores in the Houston area. These stores will be corporate owned rather than franchises and are designed to combine physical and online retailing. The new locations in Spring and Shenandoah feature collectibles such as Funko Pops and Gundam figures, as well as RC vehicles, LEGO sets, and model kits.

The refund process of eligible IEEPA tariff refund claims is under way, and importers should be actively checking the status of eligible tariff refund claims.

Limited refunds began with Phase 1 through CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) system operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. CAPE will consolidate refunds of multiple IEEPA duties, including interest, rather than processing refunds on an entry-by-entry basis.
While refunds are a real thing, the process may make it difficult for small importers to make claims, according to the Hobby Industry Coalition.

“For many small and mid-sized importers, this creates a practical burden: the process is real, but tracking remains the responsibility of the importer and its broker,” HIC said in an email to its members.
Members should avoid treating expected refunds as received cash until funds are actually paid, the HIC said.
Even where entries appear eligible, timing can vary. Certain entries, including extended, suspended, under-review, or warehouse entries, may require different timing or additional review before refunds are issued.
Companies should also be cautious about relying on third-party claims, online tools, or unofficial estimates without confirming results through their broker, ACE/CAPE records, or professional advisors.
The legal refund generally flows to the Importer of Record. How 
the importer handles the refunds is a separate accounting, tax, and customer relations question.

Companies may be in different situations: Some importers absorbed tariff costs directly and may need refunds to repair balance sheets, restore working capital, reduce debt, or rebuild inventory.
Some importers applied specific tariff surcharges to dealers, 
distributors, or customers, which may create different expectations. Some importers raised prices generally, without a separate tariff line item, making the relationship between the original tariff cost and later refund less direct.
HIC is not recommending a single approach. Each company should review its own facts with its broker, accountant, legal counsel, and management team before making commitments.