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Our Towns Business Profile: World Wide Hobbies
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
World Wide Hobbies
116 South Haskell Avenue
Willcox
(520) 384-3197
Hours of Operation:
Monday and Tuesday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday
9 a.m. to Noon
Closed Sunday
A 1970 Willcox High School graduate, Kevin Pollard moved to Willcox when he was in the second grade, living here "almost all my life."
He and former business partner Steven Porter opened the hobby shop about 17 years ago.
In the beginning, it was located on Haskell Avenue near the South Circle K Store. About 12 years ago, the business moved into the former Austin Drug building on the "stoplight corner" of Haskell Avenue and Maley Street.
Pollard moved World Wide Hobbies to its present location almost two years ago.
"I've worked with the public long enough that I'm getting their great grandkids in here," he said.
What made you pick your business?
We started it to try to provide something for the community that Willcox didn't have.
There was no place in town to get hobby supplies at that time. There wasn't even a place in Safford at that time; you had to go all the way to Tucson.
We thought that it would provide a community service.
We are probably the last hobby shop in a small community in this part of the country.
The nearest one I know of is in Las Cruces (N.M.).
We used to get a lot of our business from Safford and Sierra Vista, but the price of gas has taken that away.
One lady from Globe still comes here, and there are still a few from Safford, but we have just about lost Sierra Vista (customers) due to the price of gas.
How tough is it to operate a hobby shop in a tough economy, and compete against bigger stores, both in Willcox and out of town?
With the economy the way it is, I have lost some customers because they can no longer afford to do something they love.
One elderly customer, whom I am sure was on social security, made a comment that crochet thread at $2.32 a ball was getting high and could not afford to buy much of it, and now it is almost $3.
I am sure there are places, besides here, where people cannot afford $150 projects or $25 socks.
In my place of business, there are two distinct groups - those who can afford the better quality yarns and those who cannot. We had to ask several customers not to make remarks to those who cannot afford to spend what they do, as it caused problems. I also realize that companies are being affected by the economy, and all they can do is raise prices so they can stay in business.
Freight is another matter, which is coming to a point that it will have to be added to items, as it has gotten so high. My last yarn order figured out at 37 cents for each ball, skein, or hank, and there were several different size balls, so it may come down to figuring freight out by the ounce and adding it to the selling price, which I am sure will make more comments about the price.
Nowadays a brick and mortar store has to compete with the net. Manufacturers want us to carry their products, but then they offer through their websites better deals or offers than they give us, and we do hear the complaints about how we are ripping customers off because they can get it online at a better deal.
One magazine company offers extra patterns on the web if you subscribe to their magazine, but if you purchase the magazine in my store you are not allowed to look at or obtain the patterns they say exist. Would you buy the magazine from a shop?
There is so much free stuff out there. One manufacturer has lots of free patterns on their site and I have several older customers who do not have a computer. Though we carry their yarn and the customer wants to buy it, we are not allowed to download or print a pattern to give the customer with their yarn purchase.
What's your favorite part of operating in Willcox?
The people -- you get to meet so many different kinds. They break your heart when they can no longer afford to do what they love anymore.
What would you like to see improve in your business?
The cash flow. I would like to be able to work one job instead of two. (In addition to owning the hobby shop, Pollard offers bookkeeping services and also works at a Willcox service station.)
If you could do anything over again, what would it be?
I would look at trying to go to an Internet business to supplement the store. But that's hard for a "one man show" to do.
Do you co-own the business with anyone?
I am the sole owner - the whole ballpark.
What specialties, if any, does World Wide Hobbies offer?
We offer free knitting and crocheting classes - whether you buy it here or not. We have yarn -- from basics to novelty - acrylics, bamboo, wool and alpaca. We have art supplies and cross-stitch. We have model trains, cars, ships, airplanes and rockets.
116 South Haskell Avenue
Willcox
(520) 384-3197
Hours of Operation:
Monday and Tuesday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday
9 a.m. to Noon
Closed Sunday
A 1970 Willcox High School graduate, Kevin Pollard moved to Willcox when he was in the second grade, living here "almost all my life."
He and former business partner Steven Porter opened the hobby shop about 17 years ago.
In the beginning, it was located on Haskell Avenue near the South Circle K Store. About 12 years ago, the business moved into the former Austin Drug building on the "stoplight corner" of Haskell Avenue and Maley Street.
Pollard moved World Wide Hobbies to its present location almost two years ago.
"I've worked with the public long enough that I'm getting their great grandkids in here," he said.
We started it to try to provide something for the community that Willcox didn't have.
There was no place in town to get hobby supplies at that time. There wasn't even a place in Safford at that time; you had to go all the way to Tucson.
We thought that it would provide a community service.
We are probably the last hobby shop in a small community in this part of the country.
The nearest one I know of is in Las Cruces (N.M.).
We used to get a lot of our business from Safford and Sierra Vista, but the price of gas has taken that away.
One lady from Globe still comes here, and there are still a few from Safford, but we have just about lost Sierra Vista (customers) due to the price of gas.
With the economy the way it is, I have lost some customers because they can no longer afford to do something they love.
One elderly customer, whom I am sure was on social security, made a comment that crochet thread at $2.32 a ball was getting high and could not afford to buy much of it, and now it is almost $3.
I am sure there are places, besides here, where people cannot afford $150 projects or $25 socks.
In my place of business, there are two distinct groups - those who can afford the better quality yarns and those who cannot. We had to ask several customers not to make remarks to those who cannot afford to spend what they do, as it caused problems. I also realize that companies are being affected by the economy, and all they can do is raise prices so they can stay in business.
Freight is another matter, which is coming to a point that it will have to be added to items, as it has gotten so high. My last yarn order figured out at 37 cents for each ball, skein, or hank, and there were several different size balls, so it may come down to figuring freight out by the ounce and adding it to the selling price, which I am sure will make more comments about the price.
Nowadays a brick and mortar store has to compete with the net. Manufacturers want us to carry their products, but then they offer through their websites better deals or offers than they give us, and we do hear the complaints about how we are ripping customers off because they can get it online at a better deal.
One magazine company offers extra patterns on the web if you subscribe to their magazine, but if you purchase the magazine in my store you are not allowed to look at or obtain the patterns they say exist. Would you buy the magazine from a shop?
There is so much free stuff out there. One manufacturer has lots of free patterns on their site and I have several older customers who do not have a computer. Though we carry their yarn and the customer wants to buy it, we are not allowed to download or print a pattern to give the customer with their yarn purchase.
The people -- you get to meet so many different kinds. They break your heart when they can no longer afford to do what they love anymore.
The cash flow. I would like to be able to work one job instead of two. (In addition to owning the hobby shop, Pollard offers bookkeeping services and also works at a Willcox service station.)
If you could do anything over again, what would it be?
I would look at trying to go to an Internet business to supplement the store. But that's hard for a "one man show" to do.
Do you co-own the business with anyone?
I am the sole owner - the whole ballpark.
We offer free knitting and crocheting classes - whether you buy it here or not. We have yarn -- from basics to novelty - acrylics, bamboo, wool and alpaca. We have art supplies and cross-stitch. We have model trains, cars, ships, airplanes and rockets.
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