Simon Owen

The Scalextric head of brand has a deep love of motorsport

- Interview by Tamara Hinson

I JOINED HORNBY Hobbies just under 16 years ago, starting out as a researcher for the Airfix brand. The job involved focusing on the detail and accuracy of our models, predominantly aircraft. I enjoyed it, but my real passion has always been automotive and motorsport – after all, one of my earliest memories is getting Scalextric’s Alpine Rally set for my fourth birthday – so, when the chance came up to work with Scalextric, I jumped at it.

I’d say the aspect of my job that I enjoy the most is its variety. One day I might be working with big national accounts such as Amazon, then I could be at the Silverstone Festival, speaking with the owner of a GT40 that’s caught my eye and wondering whether it would be a popular slot car with our core enthusiasts.

The process of adding new cars to the lineup starts with market and competitor research. We look at whether the model already exists, whether there’s demand for it, and whether we can produce it at a price that people are willing to pay. If the answer to all of those questions is yes, we approach the IP owner. If it’s a brand we already work with, we just add it to our existing agreement. If not, we start from scratch, creating a business plan and negotiating licensing terms.