30/04/2026
Two years ago today, I picked up the keys to what would become Phillips Hobbies first ārealā home.
Iāll try not to get too emotional writing thisā¦ but if you know me and how much I love this place, youāll know thatās not going to happen.
It feels like a lifetime ago, yet I remember it so clearly. The agent handed me the keys, wished me well, and drove off. And there I was, stood there on my own, thinking: what on earth have I done?
There was no getting out of this one!
One minute youāre a 21-year-old working out of a crammed spare bedroom. The next, youāve taken on a space that feels enormous, with overheads about to start piling up - and no real idea how youāre going to fill it.
I knew what I wanted to do. Iād spent years dreaming about it. Thereās a big difference between having a dream and actually standing face-to-face with it. Itās humblingā¦ especially for a ākidā whose only job before this was a paper round.
Four days later, the first shelves were up, and orders were going out.
It still took me months to properly open the shop. I wanted everything to be āperfectā.
But what Iāve learned since is that thereās no such thing as perfect, and thereās never a ārightā time. Sometimes you just have to jump in feet first and trust that the rest will follow.
These past two years have been incredibleā¦ and bloody tough. Iām slightly surprised I havenāt found any grey hairs yet - but hey, Iām sure theyāre on the way! š¤£
Truly: whether youāve visited the shop, ordered online, or supported from afar - I see you. Every order, every message, every bit of support means more than I can properly put into words.
SO, for as long as youāll have me, Iāll keep doing everything I can to be your go-to model shop.
Thank you ā¤ļø
George
Cue a few (reflective) pictures and bad hair days!
