

HobbyTown is a well-established retail franchise specializing in hobby, collectibles, and specialty toy products. The franchise was founded in 1969 by Thom Walla, Merlin Hayes, and Mary Hayes in Lincoln, Nebraska, where the company's headquarters remain today.
The first HobbyTown franchise store opened its doors in 1986, and since then, the brand has expanded significantly, now boasting over 100 locations across 39 states in the U.S., making it the largest brick-and-mortar hobby retailer in the world.
HobbyTown's product offerings include a wide range of items catering to hobby enthusiasts, such as radio control vehicles, model trains, puzzles, board games, educational STEM toys, and much more.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
HobbyTown Franchise provides a comprehensive training program designed to equip franchisees with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully operate their stores. The training covers several key areas:
HobbyTown franchise offers territory protection to its franchisees, ensuring that each franchisee has an exclusive geographic area where they can operate without the risk of internal competition from other HobbyTown stores.
This territory protection is designed to help franchisees establish a strong market presence and grow their business with confidence, knowing that their efforts to build a customer base won't be undermined by another franchise opening nearby.
The protected territory is determined based on various factors, including population density and market potential, to ensure that each franchisee has a sufficient customer base to support their store.
Below are some of
HobbyTown
key competitors in the
Children Retail
sector.

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$49,000
$350,000
$620,000
n.a.
$1,264,000
$xxx,xxx
34.7%
n.a.
5.0%
n.a.

Rhea Lana’s is a children’s consignment franchise offering pop-up events selling kids’ clothing, gear, furniture, and toys, serving budget-conscious families, and known for high-volume consignment, strong community coordination, and flexible event model.
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Tippi Toes offers dance classes for children, promoting physical activity and creativity. Franchisees receive training, marketing tools, and support to run a successful children's dance business.
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Rocket Fizz offers a variety of nostalgic and unique candies, sodas, and gifts, providing a fun and nostalgic shopping experience for candy lovers.
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Specialty toy store franchise offering a wide selection of educational and developmental toys, providing a fun and engaging shopping experience for children and parents.
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Children's resale franchise providing a wide selection of gently used clothing, toys, and gear, offering affordable and sustainable shopping options for families.
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HobbyTown is a retail franchise that offers a wide range of hobby products, including remote-control vehicles, models, and games, catering to hobby enthusiasts of all ages.
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