HobbyLinc.com
Family-owned online hobby retailer founded in 1971, selling 70,000+ hobby products (model trains, plastic models, paints, supplies) from 400+ manufacturers to individual hobbyists via a single e-commerce site, fulfilled from a Braselton, GA warehouse.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersBraselton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HobbyLinc.com does
HobbyLinc.com is a family-owned online hobby retailer founded in 1971 by Fred Botts Sr. Originally established as B & B Sales, a 250-square-foot C.B. radio shop in Snellville, GA, the business pivoted to hobby products in 1973 and transitioned to an online-only model in 1994. The Hobbylinc brand was formalized in 1996, and the company is currently operated by founder Fred Botts Sr.'s son, Fred Lee Botts Jr. Operating from a 70,000-square-foot fulfillment warehouse in Braselton, GA, the company employs 1-10 people and has remained entirely bootstrapped with no external investors, parent company, or funding rounds.
HobbyLinc.com firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HobbyLinc.com
- Legal name
- HobbyLinc.com
- Website
- https://hobbylinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Family-owned online hobby retailer founded in 1971, selling 70,000+ hobby products (model trains, plastic models, paints, supplies) from 400+ manufacturers to individual hobbyists via a single e-commerce site, fulfilled from a Braselton, GA warehouse.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HobbyLinc.com industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Hobby Retail
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars) (CRALAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Model Paints, Finishes & Adhesives (CRALAKAH), General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)
Keywords
Where HobbyLinc.com is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Braselton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HobbyLinc.com business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: HobbyLinc.com generates revenue through direct online retail sales of hobby products. Customers purchase products at listed prices with standard shipping. The company does not charge membership fees. Revenue is generated from one-time product transactions rather than subscriptions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with dynamic shipping calculation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift certificates available in fixed denominations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
HobbyLinc.com product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HobbyLinc.com is an online-only hobby retailer that sells over 70,000 hobby products from 400+ manufacturers through its own e-commerce website, shipping from a 70,000-square-foot fulfillment warehouse in Braselton, GA. The catalog spans model trains, plastic models, hobby paints, building supplies, slot cars, arts and crafts, diecast models, wooden model ships, model rockets, science kits, and books, with a gift certificate program and a customer rewards points program offered as ancillary services.
Product overview
HobbyLinc.com is a family-owned online hobby retailer offering a single e-commerce platform with multiple product categories. The company sells over 80,000 hobby products across distinct categories including Model Trains, Plastic Models (airplanes, figures, vehicles), Hobby Paints (acrylic and enamel), Building Supplies (glues, tools, styrene plastics), Slot Cars, Arts & Crafts, Diecast Models, Wooden Model Ships, Model Rockets, Science Kits, and Books. Additional services include a Gift Certificate program and a Rewards Points loyalty program. The platform does not represent a unified software product but rather operates as a traditional e-commerce retail website.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Model Trains Online product category covering model train locomotives, freight cars, buildings, and scenery, with over 35,000 products for hobbyists and model railroaders.
- Plastic Models Online product category of plastic model kits covering airplanes, figures, vehicles, cars, trucks, and space models, with over 18,000 products for hobbyists.
- Hobby Paints Online product category of hobby and model paints including acrylic paints, enamel paints, paint sets, and brushes, with over 8,500 products.
- Building Supplies Online product category of hobby project materials including glues, hand tools, hobby woods, and scratch-building plastic supplies, with over 12,000 products.
- Slot Cars Online product category of HO scale slot cars, track, parts, and sets from manufacturers including AFX, Auto World Racing, Round2, and Bachmann.
- Arts & Crafts Online product category of general arts and crafts supplies for hobby enthusiasts.
- Diecast Models Online product category of diecast model cars and collectibles for hobbyists and collectors.
- Wooden Model Ships Online product category of wooden model ship building kits and supplies.
- Model Rockets Online product category of model rocket kits, engines, and rocket building supplies.
- Science Kits Online product category of educational science kits, projects, and experiment sets for learning.
- Books Online product category of hobby-related books covering modeling techniques, reference materials, and hobby guides.
- Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates available in $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, and $200 denominations, redeemable for any of 80,000+ products on HobbyLinc.com and delivered via email within 1 business day after payment verification.
Quantifiable outcome
- 55+ years in business as The #1 Hobby Shop
Companies that use HobbyLinc.com
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
HobbyLinc.com technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HobbyLinc.com partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HobbyLinc.com competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Walthers (Wm. K. Walthers): Specialty retailer/manufacturer of model railroad products with deep assortment in locomotives, rolling stock, and scenery — directly comparable in core category and online hobby retail model.
- Micro-Mark: Online hobby retailer focused on modeling tools, miniature hardware, and craft supplies for scale modelers — overlaps heavily with Hobbylinc's plastic model and building supplies categories.
- Midwest Model Railroad: Specialty online retailer carrying model trains and accessories from major manufacturers, with similar product assortment and shipping-from-warehouse fulfillment.
- Tower Hobbies: Long-standing online direct-to-consumer hobby retailer specializing in RC vehicles, model trains, and related hobby products with similar broad-catalog, warehouse-fulfilled e-commerce model.
- Sprue Brothers Models: Online-only specialty retailer of plastic scale model kits, paints, and accessories serving scale modelers with a comparable curated, hobbyist-focused e-commerce approach.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon: Massive online marketplace that lists many of the same hobby brands and categories as Hobbylinc; competes on convenience, shipping speed, and price rather than depth of selection or community.
- HobbyTown USA: Franchised hobby retail chain offering a broad mix of models, trains, RC, and games; broader in scope and brick-and-mortar-led but overlaps in product categories served.
- eBay: Online marketplace where many hobby products, including collectibles and discontinued items, are sold directly by manufacturers and individuals; serves as both competitor and demand source for hobbyists.
Emerging players
- Woodland Scenics: Manufacturer and online retailer of model railroad scenery, structures, and diorama products — a partial overlap with Hobbylinc's scenery and model train categories.
- Bachmann Trains: Manufacturer of model trains and RC products that sells both through distributors like Hobbylinc and increasingly via direct-to-consumer channels — a key supplier that is also an emerging competitive channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HobbyLinc.com social profiles
Digital presenceHobbyLinc.com financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HobbyLinc.com leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HobbyLinc.com funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HobbyLinc.com M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HobbyLinc.com
What does HobbyLinc.com do?
HobbyLinc.com is an online-only hobby retailer that sells over 70,000 hobby products from 400+ manufacturers through its own e-commerce website, shipping from a 70,000-square-foot fulfillment warehouse in Braselton, GA. The catalog spans model trains, plastic models, hobby paints, building supplies, slot cars, arts and crafts, diecast models, wooden model ships, model rockets, science kits, and books, with a gift certificate program and a customer rewards points program offered as ancillary services.
Is HobbyLinc.com a public or private company?
HobbyLinc.com is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was HobbyLinc.com founded?
HobbyLinc.com was founded in 1971. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HobbyLinc.com based?
HobbyLinc.com is headquartered in Braselton, United States, in the North America region.
How does HobbyLinc.com make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Product Sales.
Who are HobbyLinc.com's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Walthers (Wm. K. Walthers), Micro-Mark, Midwest Model Railroad, Tower Hobbies and Sprue Brothers Models. Broad incumbents are Amazon, HobbyTown USA and eBay. Emerging players are Woodland Scenics and Bachmann Trains.
Does HobbyLinc.com have an API?
No public API is recorded for HobbyLinc.com.
What industry is HobbyLinc.com in?
HobbyLinc.com's product category is Online Hobby Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAKAA, Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars), with a secondary code of CRALAKAH, Model Paints, Finishes & Adhesives. Its NAICS code is 459120 and its SIC code is 5945.