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Key people at The Hobby.
The Hobby Company Limited is a leading distributor of high-quality toy and hobby products throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. It supplies diverse merchandise from international brands, including model kits, 3D puzzles, brick construction, and radio-controlled items. Leveraging its established network, the company provides trade access to a comprehensive range of recreational products.
Incorporated on June 27, 1988, The Hobby Company Limited evolved from industry roots dating to 1966. While specific founders remain undisclosed, the company was established based on insight into growing market demand for specialized hobby goods and efficient retail supply. This understanding enabled it to become a key intermediary, connecting global manufacturers directly with UK and Irish markets.
The company primarily serves businesses in the trade sector, encompassing independent retailers and commercial entities. Its vision centers on fostering hobby engagement through consistent, extensive supply of quality products. The Hobby Company aims to remain a pivotal supply chain link, making the passion for crafting, building, and collecting accessible across its regions.
The Hobby Company Limited is a UK-based distributor of high-quality toy and hobby products, supplying leading brands to retailers across the UK and Ireland.[1][2][5] Operating from a 40,000 square foot facility in Milton Keynes, the company focuses on wholesale distribution of items like plastic model kits, RC cars, trains, and military models from brands such as Tamiya, Italeri, Dragon Models, Zvezda, and LGB, emphasizing quality, customer service, and industry expertise.[1][5] Its SIC code classifies it under wholesale of household goods (46499), serving the trade with consistent stock, dedicated sales teams, and professional support in sales, customer service, warehousing, and marketing.[1][2]
The Hobby Company's roots trace back to 1966, building a reputation in the toy and hobby sector through quality and service, though the legal entity The Hobby Company Limited was formally incorporated on 27 June 1988 as a private limited company (company number 02271541).[1][2][3] Initially named Liverpool Street Properties Limited until 2000, it evolved into its current focus on hobby distribution, now active with its registered office at Garforth Place, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (MK5 8PG).[2] Key milestones include expanding to a purpose-built warehouse and establishing nationwide coverage, with recent filings showing accounts up to 31 March 2024 and ongoing operations as of 2025.[1][2]
While not a tech startup, The Hobby Company supports the hobby industry's intersection with technology through brands offering tech-infused products like RC cars (PD Racing), self-build brick models (CaDA), and detailed plastic kits requiring precision engineering.[5] It rides trends in niche modeling and scale hobbies, fueled by growing interest in STEM-adjacent activities, collector communities, and post-pandemic demand for hands-on retail experiences amid e-commerce shifts.[1][4] Market forces favoring it include stable wholesale demand in the UK/Ireland toy sector, where physical retail persists for specialty items, and its role in curating era-specific collections (e.g., WWII tanks, aircraft) that tap into historical simulation gaming and maker movements.[1][5] By enabling retailers, it bolsters the ecosystem for hobbyists, indirectly influencing tech hobbies like drone/RC tech and 3D-printing complements to model kits.
The Hobby Company remains a steady player in hobby distribution, with next accounts due 31 December 2025 signaling continued activity amid reliable operations.[2] Upcoming trends like AI-enhanced model design tools, sustainable materials in kits, and expanded RC/electronics integration could amplify its brand portfolio, while e-commerce pressures may push deeper B2B digital tools.[1][5] Its influence may grow by strengthening community hubs for enthusiasts, potentially evolving into pan-European distribution if UK hobby retail rebounds, tying back to its core strength in quality service that has endured since 1966.[1][3]
Key people at The Hobby.
