Lothian Road institution Wonderland Models is celebrating 50 years of trading this month.
The family business was founded in 1972 by clothing retailer Peter Barton, who saw a gap in Edinburgh’s retail landscape for a specialist model shop.
It has since endured the ups and downs of the British high street, developing into one of the largest online model retailers in the UK.
Moving from its initial outpost on Rose Street to the larger store in Lothian Road where Wonderland still trades today, in 1982, the business passed to Barton’s stepson, Iain Reid, who remains in charge after 40 years.
Despite having no prior retail experience, Reid helped to continue the store’s success, diversifying the product range and launching an e-commerce site.
He said: “We are very grateful for the continuous customer support that has lasted over many generations - with parents, sons, daughters, grandparents and grandchildren all shopping with us through the years.”
One regular customer was renowned Edinburgh artist Eduardo Paolozzi, who would reportedly spend hours browsing the store, taking inspiration for his works.
While having to remain closed for months at a time during the pandemic, the trend in people picking up from-home hobbies has bee capitalised upon, with online growth meaning the business did not have to let anyone go, or use the furlough scheme.
Reid said: “It really forced our customers into embracing internet shopping, which we were thankfully able to cater for.
“We also found that with more time to spend at home, there’s been a big resurgence amongst adults in nostalgic hobbies like model making, model railways and construction toys.”
To mark half a century in business, Wonderland is working with local e-commerce agency Digital Six to develop a new and improved online store.
Reid concluded: “Our new site, launching in the spring, will be faster and more user-friendly with a host of new features that will deliver an even better experience for our customers.”
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