Horizon Hobby
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Horizon Hobby, LLC. is an American multinational hobby-grade RC radio control (RC) model and model train manufacturer and distributor founded by Rick Stephens, Janet Ottmers, Debra Love, and Eric Meyers[1] in July 1985[2] and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois.[3] Horizon Hobby products are sold in more than 50 countries.[4] Additional facilities are in California and abroad in the United Kingdom, Germany, and China. [4]
History[edit]
The Early Years - 1985-1999[edit]
After Great Planes Model Distributors and Tower Hobbies merged in 1984, Hobbico, Inc. was created.[5] In July 1985, Stephens, along with Janet Ottmers, Debra Love, and Eric Meyers, formed Horizon Hobby.[5] October 1, 2005, was the first day of official business as the team started shipping inventory on orders they’d been taking the months prior. The company began distributing product lines such as Goldberg, Royal, K&B, Sullivan, and Du-Bro.[5]
In 1986, a second distribution center was opened in Paso Robles, California, allowing Horizon Hobby to service retailers west of the Rockies.[1] A year later, a third distribution center was opened in Ashland, Virginia, creating the ability to service retailers on the East Coast.[6]
The first proprietary brand, Dynamite, was created in 1988.[6]
Horizon Hobby purchased Hobby Dynamics in 1992 and secured exclusive distribution rights to brands such as JR radios and Saito engines, among others.[1]
Horizon Hobby acquired Indy R/C in 1998 and remade it into the first iteration of horizonhobby.com.[1] The early site featured the latest products, links to tech articles, a dealer locator, and more.
The Revolutionary Years - 2000-2017[edit]
On December 9, 2013, Horizon announced that the company was being bought by a group of investors led by Horizon's CEO, Joe Ambrose. The group includes Minneapolis-based Mill City Capital L.P. and Champaign-based Armory Capital LLC founded by Jacob Ambrose.[7]
Horizon Hobby entered an agreement to purchase some assets of failed competitor, Hobbico, in April 2018.[8]
Before being purchased by Horizon Hobby, the Losi radio-controlled car division had been a separate company founded by Gil Losi with the release of the JRX2 in 1988.[9]
The Post-Hobbico Years: 2018-Present[edit]
In November 2021, Horizon Hobby announced the acquisition of RealFlight RC Flight Simulator from Knife Edge Software.[10]
Proprietary Brands[edit]
Horizon Hobby consists of several brands:[11]
- AKA
- ARRMA
- Athearn
- Axial
- Blade
- Dromida
- Duratrax
- Dynamite
- E-flite
- ECX
- Evolution
- FMS
- Hangar 9
- Hobby Essentials
- HobbyZone
- Losi
- McHenry Couplers
- Onyx
- O.S. Engines
- Pro Boat
- Pro-Line
- PROTOform
- RealFlight
- Roundhouse
- Saito
- Spektrum
- Team Losi Racing
- Top Flite
- Trinity Racing
- Vaterra
- Zenoah
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d P., William (January 1, 2019). "The Rise of Horizon Hobby". Model Airplane News (January 2019): 10. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
- ^ "Rick Stephens". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "L&S sold to Horizon - 7/5/2007 11:52:00 AM - Playthings". Archived from the original on 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- ^ a b Horizon Hobby (Report). Mill City Capital LP. January 1, 2014. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b c Haughn, Rachelle. "Rachelle Haughn interviews Eric Meyers, cofounder of Horizon Hobby". The Park Pilot (Fall 2020). Retrieved 2023-10-05.
- ^ a b "Our History". Horizon Hobby. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Horizon Hobby being sold to investors". News-Gazette.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
- ^ Zigterman, Ben. "Bankruptcy judge OKs Horizon's purchase of Hobbico's RC business". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
- ^ "Vintage Losi". Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ T., Jim (November 4, 2021). "Horizon Hobby Acquires RealFlight Flight Simulator". RCGroups.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Our Brands". Horizon Hobby. Retrieved 2023-11-20.