Trains, Planes and RC Automobiles: Hobby Quarters in Foxborough Caters to Hobbyists

Jeremy Waltzer started his hobby business, RCHover, from his house as an online way to sell remote control helicopters.

“I’ve been a hobbyist my whole life,” he said.

Waltzer said he started selling remote control vehicles after he left a German manufacturer for remote control helicopters. He started RCHover.com and in 2003 started selling the first RC helicopters in the region.

“I imported the first [retail] electric helicopter in the U.S.,” he said. “The business picked up pretty quickly.”

Waltzer started by selling only RC helicopters. When he got more and more business, the demand for larger helicopters increased. He said because many companies that sell the helicopters require a physical store to sell, he decided to open Hobby Quarters in Foxborough.

“The intent was not to grow a walk-in business,” he said. “But what happened was this business grew tremendously as a walk-in store.”

Waltzer said he opened in 2007, and because of the store’s popularity he had to expand to trains, planes, RC automobiles, boats and rockets. He said ironically now the competition in the online side of the business has gotten to the point where the store provides a better space for sales.

“Everybody and their brother has an online store and the pie got small,” he said. “Our online business has come down a little and yet our walk-in store business has grown greatly and continues to grow.”

Waltzer said there’s a real difference between remote control vehicles that you might find in a toy store, and a true hobby piece.

“You have an RC at a toy store or a Radioshack and they’re breaking all the time. [Customers end up] buying three or four of them,” he said.

Waltzer said a hobby piece allows for repairs and customization, while a toy will just break and have to be replaced.

“You buy a hobby product, you know you’re going to get parts support and an upgrade or modification path,” he said. “That’s what the hobbyists like to do.  They tinker. Tires,  body, motor, make it go faster, you know what I mean. You don’t just buy it, play with it and you’re done. Tires, for example, can be outfitted for off-road, on road, drifting, grip, you have so many options and the variability of tuning a model.”

He said because of this and the cost of the products, most of his customers are between 18 and 50. He added an additional benefit to having the store is the ability to educate and repair anyone’s RC.

“The problem being online is a lot of people get into these forums and you don’t know if you’re talking to a nine-year-old with no experience or a guy who has 20 years of experience,” he said. “I’m always happy to share and teach people.”

Waltzer said the best-selling models right now are the four rotor helicopters, known colloquially as drones. He said the reason for this was not only their maneuverability, but they were the first to feature a first person view. The vehicle has a camera mounted on it and it sends a video feed to a nearby screen. He said there are even FPV goggles now.

“You actually feel like you’re flying in the aircraft without being in the aircraft, which is a huge trend right now,” he said.

Waltzer said he and the shop are starting up RC car racing outside the building on a little dirt track.

“Now that spring is here we’re going to freshen it up and start racing Thursday nights and Sundays,” he said. “The track is available seven days a week, you just come in and register to play on the track.”

Waltzer said he donates to several Boy Scout organizations, who always come in for their pine wood derby parts and Estes rockets.

Hobby Quarters is located at 369 Central St. and is open 24/7 online at http://www.rchover.com.