Harburn Hobbies receives Bachmann Retailer of the Year award for 2023

The award was presented to owners Bob and Gillian Baird and members of their team by their Regional Account Manager, Ron Jones and Bachmann’s Head of Sales, Pauline Hinkley.

After presenting the award, Pauline said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit the store and present this award to Harburn Hobbies who have been supporters of all things Bachmann for many years. Their professionalism, vast product knowledge and dedication to the hobby are all so evident from every member of their team, and I’m sure this is the key to their longevity and success. I wish them many more years of providing excellent service to the people of Britain and beyond.”

On receiving the award, Bob Baird said: “Gill, Grahame, Ann and I, and all the team at Harburn Hobbies were very proud and delighted to be awarded the Bachmann Retailer of the Year 2023. Harburns dates back to the 1930s and was incorporated as a Private Limited Company in 1959, with the Baird family acquiring the business in 1966.”

“We have dealt with Bachmann UK since they started and have endeavoured to give the best service to our customers, be it in the shop, over the phone or through our internet site. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers, both local, national, or indeed international, who have bought Bachmann products from us, and we thank them for their support and encouragement over the many years.”

“With Edinburgh being such a famous tourist destination, we're always very happy to welcome customers from around the UK and the world. Now it couldn't be more convenient to visit the shop since the extended tram service from the Airport takes you straight to the shop door - just alight at "McDonald Road" (Harburn Halt)! Once again, very many thanks Bachmann for this award!”

Harburn Hobbies was already well established in Edinburgh by 1938. It was a partnership between a Mr Hargreaves and a Mr Burns, with the resulting shop named Harburns. On July 15th 1959 a limited company was formed – Harburn Hobbies Limited – and the Baird family took it over in 1966. Owner Bob had started out working in the original shop (near the Foot of Leith Walk) as a Saturday boy in 1961! Gill, Bob's wife, joined the business and a move to their current larger premises nearer the city centre was made in 1978. Following years of construction, trams now run from the Airport down Leith Walk to Newhaven and as owners Bob and Gill say, the upheaval has all been worth it. The McDonald Road Tram Stop is conveniently right at Harburn's door!

With its 90th anniversary on the horizon, Harburn Hobbies remains one of Scotland’s leading model shops, which continues to cater for a variety of hobbies but with a strong emphasis on model railways.