EHobbies’ Online Store Is Opening Today

Santa Monica-based EHobbies will launch its online store for hobbyists today. The site will offer more than 5,000 items for sale ranging from model trains and radio-controlled cars to tools and supplies. More than 100 million hobbyists are online, and they typically spend $1,100 a year to support their hobbyist habits, EHobbies Chief Executive Brad Sobel said. That’s enough to make the market attractive to online retailers. Earlier this month, online toy retailer EToys opened a Hobby Shop on its site to appeal to the $3-billion to $5-billion hobbyist market. Sobel said EHobbies plans to expand as well to include hobbies ranging from amateur astronomy to fly-fishing.