If you love to keep your mind and hands busy with non-virtual things and not trapped in the Internet, then Andy Imrie's Hobby Spot is sure to let your imagination run free.
The Hobby Spot is packed to the rim with educational sets, 3D puzzles and models, scale-model building kits, wooden ships, flying models, kites and planes. There are also materials, and paints to make sure your hobby can take flight.
For Andrew, it is all about creativity and an activity that the whole family can do together. In fact, this is how his love for model aviation started - his father introduced him to it. It was love at first sight and he was only five years old when he announced that he wanted to own a hobby shop one day.
The road to his dream was at first paved with ... cupboards! After military service and a marketing management course, he worked for a company fitting cupboards. He then left and started two companies simultaneously - fitting cupboards as well as his dream of a hobby business. After three years his hobby business had grown to such an extent that it became his one and only full-time business.
Imagination and passion are words that regularly come up in Andrew's conversations. He is especially passionate about involving children in hobbies from a young age, engaging their skills and minds on various levels, stimulating their artistic and creative side as well.
Scale modelling kits can especially assist with accumulating all kinds of sought-after skills such as aviation and architectural skills, says Andrew. For example, some of the young shop assistants he has had over the years have become airline pilots, UAV operators, ROV pilots, and two are in the commercial aviation cargo helicopter field, while another two own an aerial cinematography company.
It is not only young people who find that they can carve a career from their hobby. Even one of Andrew's retired customers has become a paid model builder, building aviation models for a wealthy customer who collects model aircrafts.
Andrew believes that while having hobbies does not always make your life easier, it most definitely makes it better. He is not wrong. Research shows that hobbies are good for your health. It keeps you in the moment, relieves stress, and stimulates creativity.
Does he still have a dream? Absolutely!!!! Andrew would love to own a scrap yard where he can sell vintage cars. And why not ... Andrew is in the business of making dreams come true; from holding a box with a model craft in your hand and imagining yourself building it, to finally seeing it up in the air, taking flight.
Andy's Hobby Spot can be found at 92 Letchworth Drive, Edgemead. Contact number: 073 875 3014