HOBBYTYME DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

What HOBBYTYME DISTRIBUTORS, INC. does

HobbyTyme Distributors, Inc. is a privately held, full-line hobby product wholesaler founded in 1980 and headquartered at 64 C Oakland Ave., East Hartford, Connecticut. The company distributes more than 40,000 SKUs from over 300 manufacturers to more than 1,200 hobby and specialty retail shops across the United States and select international markets, operating from a single 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse with a staff of over 30 employees, including 9 in-house sales representatives and 3 traveling sales representatives. Its product categories span plastic model kits, model railroading, rockets, die cast, NASCAR, radio control, wooden ships, crafts, and supplies.

The business model is a dealer-only wholesale channel. HobbyTyme does not sell to end consumers; instead, retailers must request an account to receive pricing and access. Two ordering mechanisms are offered: a manned phone sales line (800-441-3302) and the QUIKTYME proprietary computer order entry program for electronic ordering, supplemented by a monthly in-house printed catalog with per-item stock status for dealers without computer access. Same-day shipping is offered for orders received by 4 p.m., and preferred vendor relationships with major hobby brands (Revell Monogram, Bachmann, Traxxas, Carousel, SCX, Trainwork, Auto-Thentics, DPM) anchor the inbound supply side. Marketing to the consumer is indirect and occurs through a dealer locator directory on the HobbyTyme website.

The company is founder-owned and operated: Joe St. John (President), Don Battalino (Treasurer), and Roger Harry (Secretary) all co-founded the firm in 1980 after prior tenures at Mayflower Hobby Distributors, and the same partnership has remained in place for over four decades. No external investors, parent company, subsidiaries, or institutional ownership is indicated, and no funding rounds, M&A, or material leadership changes appear in the available data. Revenue, financials, and headcount trajectory are not disclosed.

Name

HOBBYTYME DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

Legal name

HobbyTyme Distributors, Inc.

Website

https://hobbytyme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HobbyTyme Distributors, Inc. is a privately held, Connecticut-based full-line hobby wholesaler founded in 1980, distributing 40,000+ SKUs from 300+ manufacturers to 1,200+ hobby and specialty retail shops across the United States and select international markets via a dealer-only model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hobby Product Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423920), Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42392)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Crafts & DIY Hobby Supplies Distribution (CRAOAMAE)

Keywords

• Hobby wholesale distribution
• Model railroading supplies
• Plastic model kits
• Radio control vehicles
• Diecast collectibles

Headquarters

HQ city

East Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution to Hobby Retailers: HobbyTyme operates as a full-line hobby wholesaler distributing products from over 300 manufacturers to more than 1,200 hobby and specialty shops. Products include plastic model kits, model railroading, rockets, die cast, NASCAR, radio control, wooden ships, crafts, and supplies. Revenue is generated through bulk wholesale orders placed by authorized dealers, with same-day shipping for orders received by 4 p.m.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

HobbyTyme Distributors is a full-line hobby wholesaler operating a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse in East Hartford, Connecticut, distributing more than 40,000 items from over 300 manufacturers to more than 1,200 hobby and specialty retail shops across the United States and internationally. Product categories include plastic model kits, model railroading, rockets, die cast, NASCAR, radio control, wooden ships, crafts, and supplies. The dealer-only operation is supported by phone sales (800-441-3302), the QUIKTYME computer order entry program, a monthly printed catalog, and same-day shipping for orders received by 4 p.m.

Product overview

HobbyTyme Distributors is a full-line hobby wholesaler operating as a single unified wholesale distribution platform. The company maintains over 40,000 items in stock from more than 300 manufacturers, including plastic model kits, model railroading, rockets, die cast, NASCAR, radio control, wooden ships, crafts, and supplies. The portfolio centers on the core wholesale distribution service, supplemented by QUIKTYME (computer order entry program for electronic ordering), a monthly printed catalog (for dealers without computers), and an online dealer locator service. The company services more than 1,200 hobby and specialty shops across the United States and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Revell MonogramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner representing plastic model kits and hobby products
• BachmanncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner specializing in model trains and railroading products
• TraxxascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner for radio control vehicles and products
• CarouselminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner for diecast products
• SCXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner for radio control products
• TrainworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner for model railroading supplies
• Auto-ThenticsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner for diecast automotive products
• DPMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor partner for model railroading scenery and supplies

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Traxxas: Leading RC vehicle manufacturer and a HobbyTyme preferred vendor. As Traxxas expands direct-to-consumer sales and authorized-dealer programs, it represents both a critical supplier and a competitive disintermediation risk.
• Bachmann Industries: Major model train manufacturer and hobby products company. Listed as a HobbyTyme preferred vendor, but Bachmann's own direct dealer program and broader distribution footprint make it both a partner and a partial competitor at the wholesale level.
• Revell Monogram: Plastic model kit manufacturer and HobbyTyme preferred vendor. Like other major manufacturers, Revell sells direct to consumers online, partially bypassing the wholesale tier that HobbyTyme operates in.

Direct peers

• Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC): Long-established hobby distributor of plastic model kits, RC, and railroading products to dealers. Direct peer with similar customer base (hobby retailers) and overlapping manufacturer portfolio.
• Stevens International (dba Stevens Model International): Hobby distributor serving U.S. dealers and retailers with plastic model kits, decals, and books. Closely comparable B2B wholesale model and small-scale operations.
• Horizon Hobby: Largest U.S. hobby distributor (RC, models, trains), competing directly with HobbyTyme in RC vehicles, plastic models, and railroading categories. Carries many of the same manufacturers (Traxxas, Bachmann) but at substantially greater scale, with multi-warehouse fulfillment.
• Walthers: Specialty distributor focused on model railroading products to hobby dealers and consumers. Direct competitor in HobbyTyme's model railroading category with overlapping manufacturer relationships (Atlas, Kato, Bachmann).
• Tower Hobbies: Direct mail-order and online hobby retailer/distributor owned by Horizon Hobby, overlapping with HobbyTyme in RC, plastic models, and model railroading. Closely comparable assortment and customer base of hobby enthusiasts and small retailers.
• A Main Hobbies: Online hobby retailer/distributor carrying RC cars, helicopters, and hobby products from manufacturers also represented by HobbyTyme. Competes for hobby enthusiast and small-dealer demand.

Emerging players

• MBKlein: Specialty hobby distributor focused on model trains and accessories. Smaller-scale competitor in HobbyTyme's model railroading segment with similar B2B dealer model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hobbytyme-distributors-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 HOBBYTYME DISTRIBUTORS, INC.