The Hobby Company

What The Hobby Company does

The Hobby Company Limited is a UK-based B2B trade distributor of hobby and toy products, operating from a single headquarters in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. Founded in 1989, the company serves as the authorized wholesale distributor for an extensive portfolio of international hobby brands in the UK and Ireland market, including Tamiya, Italeri, Bandai Spirits (Gundam Gunpla), ICM, Dragon Models, Zvezda, Beemax, IXO Collections, LGB, My Arcade, Buildarmy, Badger, CaDA Bricks, PD Racing, Pantasy, and others. Its customer base consists of independent hobby shops, model kit retailers, and specialty toy stores that source model kits, radio control vehicles, paints, tools, brick models, railway models, and retro gaming products for resale to end consumers.

The company's product portfolio spans plastic model kits (aircraft, tanks, military vehicles, figures, ships), radio-controlled vehicles and accessories, modeling paints and tools (including airbrushes and compressors), brick building sets, garden railway models, and retro gaming devices. Products are organized by era (WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Gulf War) and scale (1:6 to 1:200), with the business functioning as a single-country distribution channel for overseas manufacturers seeking UK and Ireland trade access. The technology footprint is limited to a standard e-commerce website (hobbyco.net) and organic social media channels — no proprietary technology, AI capabilities, APIs, or integrations are disclosed in source materials.

Revenue is generated exclusively through wholesale distribution to trade customers; pricing is not publicly disclosed and no consumer-facing direct sales channel is operated. The company is privately held with no institutional investors, parent company, or public listing identified in source materials. No funding rounds, acquisitions, leadership changes, or financial disclosures are present in the available data, and the business appears to operate as a stable, independently-owned distribution specialist in a niche hobby segment.

Name

The Hobby Company

Legal name

The Hobby Company Limited

Website

https://hobbyco.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hobby Company Limited is a privately-held UK B2B trade distributor, founded 1989, supplying model kits, RC vehicles, paints, tools, and hobby accessories from leading international brands to hobby retailers and model shops across the UK and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hobby & Toy Distribution

NAICS

Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423920)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Hobby & Model Kits Distribution (RC, Scale Models, Miniatures) (CRAOAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Model Paints, Finishes & Adhesives (CRALAKAH), Miniature Gaming Accessories (Dice, Mats, Tokens, Measuring Tools) (CRALAKAL)

Keywords

• Hobby product distribution
• Plastic model kits
• Radio control vehicles
• Hobby trade supply
• Model building supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Milton Keynes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: The Hobby Company operates as a wholesale distributor supplying hobby and toy products to trade customers including hobby shops, model retailers, and toy stores across the UK and Ireland. Revenue is generated through bulk product sales to business customers rather than direct consumer sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Hobby Company is a B2B trade distributor that supplies hobby and toy products to retailers, model shops, and specialty stores across the UK and Ireland. Its portfolio covers plastic model kits, radio control vehicles, paints and tools, brick building models, railway models, and retro gaming products sourced from leading international manufacturers such as Tamiya, Italeri, Bandai Spirits, ICM, Dragon, and Zvezda.

Product overview

The Hobby Company is a UK & Ireland trade distributor of high-quality toy and hobby products, operating as a wholesale distributor rather than a direct-to-consumer retailer. The company offers an extensive portfolio of plastic model kits (aircraft, tanks, military vehicles, figures, ships), radio control vehicles and accessories, paints and modeling tools, brick models, railway models, and retro gaming products. The product portfolio is organized around distributed brands including Tamiya, Italeri, Bandai Spirits (Gundam), ICM, Dragon Models, Zvezda, CaDA Bricks, LGB, My Arcade, and others. The company organizes products by era (World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Gulf War) and model type (Tanks, Aircraft, Figures, Ships, Trucks, Helicopters, Artillery). No AI, API, or modern technology integrations are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plastic Model Kits
• Radio Control Products Wholesale radio control vehicles, kits, accessories, and components including RC kits, trucks, tanks, pre-built kits, radios, batteries, and chargers from brands such as Tamiya, PD Racing, Double E, and Carson, supplied to UK and Ireland trade customers.
• Paints and Modeling Tools Wholesale hobby paints, airbrushes, compressors, and modeling tools from Tamiya, Badger, and Italeri, supplied to hobby retailers serving model builders.
• Brick Building Models Wholesale brick building sets from CaDA Bricks, Pantasy, and Buildarmy with military and construction themes, distributed to UK and Ireland hobby retailers.
• Railway Models Wholesale LGB large-scale garden railway models and accessories supplied to hobby retailers in the UK and Ireland.
• Retro Gaming Products Wholesale My Arcade retro gaming products including mini arcades, handheld gaming devices, and accessories supplied to UK and Ireland trade customers.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Others

• Hobbycraft: UK's largest specialist hobby retail chain. Comparable as a downstream hobby retail channel that shares the same end-consumer base and overlapping product categories (model kits, RC, paints, bricks).

Regional players

• Hobbylinc: US hobby retailer/distributor carrying RC, plastic models, trains, and accessories from many of the same international brands. Comparable assortment and supplier relationships, but serving US consumers and hobby shops.
• Sprue Brothers Models: US online hobby distributor specializing in scale model kits, paints, and accessories from leading international brands. Similar product mix and brand portfolio, but serving US customers rather than UK & Ireland trade.
• Amerang Group: US-based distributor of hobby, toy, and craft brands including model kits and craft supplies. Comparable distribution-focused business model serving retail channels, but in the US market.
• Stevens International: US hobby distributor carrying model kits, tools, and accessories for scale modellers. Comparable assortment and B2B trade-distribution model, but operates exclusively in North America.
• MegaHobby: US-based hobby distributor carrying plastic model kits from Tamiya, Hasegawa, Academy, Fujimi, and others. Comparable business model (B2B/B2C hobby distribution of international model kit brands) but operating in North America rather than UK & Ireland.

Direct peers

• Wonderland Models: UK hobby retailer and distributor carrying plastic model kits, paints, and RC products from many of the same international brands (Tamiya, Italeri, Academy). Directly comparable UK hobby trade-facing operator.
• CML Distribution: UK distributor of scale modelling, wargaming, and hobby products supplying trade customers. Closely comparable as a UK B2B hobby distributor with overlapping brand portfolio and customer base.
• Gaugemaster Controls: UK-based distributor of model railway, hobby, and electronic control products to the trade. Highly comparable as a UK B2B hobby distributor serving independent model shops with multiple third-party brands.

Broad incumbents

• Hornby Hobbies: UK-listed hobby group owning model railway, slot car, and die-cast brands (Hornby, Airfix, Corgi, Scalextric). Comparable as a UK hobby company with both proprietary brands and third-party distribution in overlapping hobby categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/tamiyauk
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/tamiya_uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hobby-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Hobby Company