Poll! Is there utility in the forum keeping the "Hobby Showroom" section?

[Brad Cancian]

Hi all,

I would like to gather some feedback on our "Hobby Showroom" section of the forum.

This section was set up many years ago with an intent to use it as a place for various manufacturers to show off their goods, gather ideas, provide notifications on sales and offers, and communicate directly with the forum. An admirable aspiration, without doubt.

I am sad to say that I personally don't think there's been much action on these forums in quite some time. I also don't really think manufacturers have a strong desire to engage in this way, given other mediums that are available (and based off some recent conversations with some of those manufacturers). I also see limited engagement between manufacturers and the forum via these specific boards, despite some efforts over the years. 

I could posit that the 'what's new' section of the forum may serve a similar purpose?

Before I make a decision about what to do with these sub forums, I am interested in the forum member's views of the utility of these boards. Would people like to see them stay? Would there be more utility if there was better engagement with the extant manufacturers, or different manufacturers? Alternatively, could we look to wrap these boards up given their limited utility?

I'll start a poll here, and let it run for the next 30 days. I'll see where the popular vote lands from there, which will help guide where we go with these boards.

Throw in your votes!

Please also feel free to add your views on what you all think

Cheers,

Brad

[DaddyO]

Hi Brad

|||||Got to be honest and say I don't think I've ever looked at the Hobby Showroom section although I do enjoy the regular updates that you bring in the 'What's new section' so perhaps that has replaced it?

Paul

[richard.kiss]

Hi Brad,

I never looked at this section before, actually I just clicked on some recent forum topics. Broken links, missing pictures, little info - low added value.

[macsporran]

Hey Brad,
FWIW I don't look at these boards as a general rule.
I looked once when I first joined the Forum a decade ago, but not since.

Now I always just scan the 'unread since last visit' posts and select which posts to read and which to leave for a less busy day. I'll usually not bother with reviews/announcements in areas outwith my own little speciality of 1/32 plastic or resin, so I'll not look at new 1/72, 1/48 or paper/card products, although I do like to look at smaller scale builds and enjoy the skill of the builders.

I often search back on older builds/reviews of a kit I want to start and could hope for a better search function but I think it is limited by the platform.
Sandy

[Thumbs up]

Hi Brad

|||||Got to be honest and say I don't think I've ever looked at the Hobby Showroom section although I do enjoy the regular updates that you bring in the 'What's new section' so perhaps that has replaced it?

Paul

Agreed!

[Whiteknuckles]

Don't think I've ever looked at the "Hobby Showroom" section at all.
I'm like Sandy, scan the 'unread since last visit' and read what interests me or look for a specific build thread.
Stick to the "What's New" section.

Andrew

[PrzemoL]

Hi Brad

|||||Got to be honest and say I don't think I've ever looked at the Hobby Showroom section although I do enjoy the regular updates that you bring in the 'What's new section' so perhaps that has replaced it?

Paul

That is my position, too.

[WD]

As you said Brad, the manufacturers don't seem to want to be engaged here, or in that section. Perhaps archive it? The "What's New" section gets most of that traffic I'd say.

Just my two Pfennings of course,

Warren

[Brad Cancian]

Thanks all for the feedback so far, much appreciated!

Keep your thoughts / views coming

Cheers,

BC

[Kipperkid]

First time I even heard of it (sorry). As I see it, there is little value in maintaining if full of broken links and rarely looked at by list members, and not at all by the industry it was designed for. Declutter.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi Brad,
Manufacturers, such as 'Copper State' and 'Lukgraph', do post fairly regularly in the 'Whats New' forum.
I think that's the way to go as the 'Hobby Showroom' is under utilized,

Mike

[RAGIII]

As far as I know the "Original" concept was that Manufacturers who "Paid" to support the Forum were allowed to have a Spot on that board and post any and all info on their product. The "what's New" section was utilized by Modelers to pass on info on other makers but Des discouraged too much publicity for Manufacturers that didn't financially support the forum. Now that it seems a great deal of not only modelers but also Manufacturers are utilizing Whats New to announce new releases it seems superfluous. JMHO.
RAGIII

[Brad Cancian]

Thanks all for your views so far - any last thoughts? Poll closes in just under a week

Cheers,

BC

[uncletony]

Speaking as a vendor, I think a "Vendor's Board" ala Large Scale Planes might be the way to go. I do post here in the Hobby Showroom, but it seems to garner only modest interest (and the analytics prove it), and, thus it tends to be the last place I post to. I get much more traction from other sites and FB. Too bad too, b/c this is the go to site for WWI specific a/c modeling.

As for the broken links, in my experience anyway the shifting policies of Photobucket, Flickr etc are largely to blame. I've tried to cull the old crap from my board but sometimes it seems there is useful information mixed in with the obsolete and it becomes difficult to decide when to throw out the baby with the bathwater...

[uncletony]

As far as I know the "Original" concept was that Manufacturers who "Paid" to support the Forum were allowed to have a Spot on that board and post any and all info on their product.

Yes, this is correct. Des changed the policy sometime before he passed, however, and made the Hobby Showroom boards "free." The nice thing, (from a vendors POV) is/was vendors were able to moderate their boards and thus have some ability to curate them.