I'm an AFOL (Adult Fan of Lego) and this channel is dedicated to the world of Lego and all aspects of the hobby. I will be bringing you videos of my Lego Hauls for both personal use and for inclusion in my Bricklink store. Tips on using Bricklink. I also aim to bring you Lego related reviews, city updates and anything else Lego.
Hope you enjoy the channel. Feel free to comment and ask questions.
It's not just you Keith Worldwide Buyers & sellers... there is i've seen an offshoot page called "(NEW) BrickLink Worldwide Buyers and Sellers" due to lack of Admin & Moderators activity. I habe last 6 posts with nothing. I guessed I'd been shadow banned..but it seems its a group mamangement situation, I was curioous to why others were getting through, it was mentioned that regulars have auto acceptance as trusrtred fans of the page.
Great vlog as always, glad you enjoyed the break away. Yes you did choose a good time to be away as it was quiet then. I don't recall you doing a vlog on the pros and cons of selling abroad, e.g. paperwork and customs returns. If you have , can you point me in the right direction. If you haven't done one, would you consider doing one? It will long lasting appeal on Yuotube
I'm sure I've mentioned paperwork and processes at certain times (i.e. Germany packaging act), but can't think of a specific video. I'll see if I can cover some of it.
@@BrickArena I've probably watched most of your vlogs and also tried doing a search but couldn't find it. But yes if you can cover the pros and cons of posting abroad at some stage, I'm sure it will be a popular vlog
Nooooooooo(in the Darth Vader voice) :D don't go :( Since I restarted my BrickLink store I haven't added anything to it & unsure if I will stick with it(I do like the extra money I get tho & it keeps my mind active to) + It will be interesting to see how you do sell it all(like Darth :D I don't want to see the end of it but that is life I guess. Things change. I hate change) :(
I had thought about running it part time, or a smaller store etc. But I think a clean break is best, though I will miss the income for sure and it would have been nice to have a way to earn some pocket money.
@@BrickArena You got to do what you think is right for you in the end 👍 😎 + that site you created looks well good to 👍 If I ever sell my store I'll put it on there ;)
Which brings us on to KDDK Time (shouldn’t have pressed return there…). Awaiting the live Big Big Train cd (should be here tomorrow but think our road is about to be resurfaced so who knows….) so hopefully will have a report on that for next week (but might not for Sunday as travelling north to visit relatives). Mostly listening to more Mostly Autumn, interspersed with Cats in Space, and Massive Wagons.
Had me a little concerned there :) Funny that you mention the Big Big Train live album because I've been listening to it all week on and off. It's my first and only introduction to the band (on your recommendation) and I really enjoyed it. It's off that it's so laid back but easy to listen to in the background. Other things on my virtual turntable have been the Pat Travers live in Florida 1984 album. An unreleased third album of Lonestar, Thin Lizzy's 1976 5CD set and the re-released "strings" version of Whitesnake/Coverdale's "Time and Again". Was considering going to see Cats in Space in Cambridge but the Boro are playing the same night and it would be a sacrilege to miss it. I am thinking of going to see Cody Johnson at Country to Country too, but ticket prices are insane.
Ah, mysterious grey (and blue) boxes of scientific equipment; I have somethings very similar in my workplace (though they tend to be more white and a strange shade of green…). Anyway, hope you got your money back from the trip and your Facebook issue has been resolved (or at the very least someone has told you what the problem is…). Referencing your letter, I vote for at least a guitar riff for the last Vlog 🤘!
They were weird little sets. I get how they would be interesting to those involved with the company though and can imagine them sat on many desks within Sciex. Just glad I got a reasonable amount for them after sitting on them so long. The money has been refunded, but was a really faff and apparently the issue with Facebook is related to any non-bricklink link and not an issue with me personally, which is good to know.
Keith, all the best to you in your retirement. I am slowly (very slowly 😂) building up my store for retirement. I have a ways to go until that day, but my thought is to keep myself busy doing something, and why not do something you enjoy. I do have hobbies, so we’ll see if this actually pans out the way I’m thinking it should. Who knows, I may not want to do it anymore when the time comes. I can say for most viewers that you have helped all of us in one way or another and your time spent doing this is invaluable. You will be missed and I am looking forward to the final journey. Thank you for everything!
Hi Keith, as I am loading parts into BL I am watching your vlog, it is a shock but a very understandable decision, Hopefully you can beat the average lifetime of your family but I understand you want to enjoy the time with your family instead of Lego time, maybe a smaller store with only figures is an option? Keep the vlogs going for as long as you have the energy, I really like watching them, thank you for all your time and I will see you for now in the vlogs.
Keith you were also one of my inspirations in getting into opening and running a Bricklink store, I can totally understand where you are coming from, Best of luck with the winding down and sale of the Bricklink side of things and I look forward to watching the process and gaining any hints and tips for when it's time for ICKLEBRICKS to wrap things up. Thanks for all you do..... Darren
Hey, I wasn't expecting it, but you seem to have reflected quite a bit on the subject. All good things must come to an end and I'm looking forward to watching the ending saga. Congrats on your future retirement, the fam and health allways comes first, and it's your time to enjoy it. Thank you for letting us take part on your journey! And here's to an epic end of the road!
Keith We will miss your videos a lot! It has been great watching these over the years and you and these were extremely helpful in us setting up our own small store, even kindly responding to our emails when we had a few questions. Thank you and we wish you the very best for the future and for retirement. As others have said we will be watching until the very last vlog! Take care and all the best to you and the family.
I remember watching you doing Lego hauls in your old office under the stairs. The videos you did showing off the progress of your house extension. The big Lego hauls in your office. The big purchase of a Lego store to expand Brick Arena. The weekly vlogs showing off what orders big and small customers made. Including spotting orders I made! I’ve really enjoyed watching your channel over the years. Best of luck. 😀
Thanks for all the content & it was a pleasure to follow you along on your BL journey. You have been one of my inspirations into setting up a store & I have now been full-time for 2 years. Gotta say that it is a tough market nowadays & I see more and more people thinking about letting go. Have to admit Brexit really messed up what UK stores are capable of on BL :/
Thanks for the kind words. I agree its not what it used to be. Brexit and too much competition (possibly some of my own doing). But ultimately, this was always the plan and its served its purpose.
I'll miss your Sunday video :( (I watch them all the time. Sorry I haven't commented for ages tho like you things have changed in my life & I'm trying to work out what is next for me) I did have my BrickLink store closed for about 2 years because I had to look after my parents. I opened the store a few months ago now just for extra cash really now 👍 I hope everything goes well for you & thanks for the videos that have given me loads of ideas for my store to :)
Thanks for all the great content and knowledge shared over the years. I have often wondered how people plan to exit Bricklink, especially those who build up stores to run in retirement. Best wishes for a long and happy retirement. Will you get back into building Lego?
Keith - Thank you for all that you have done for the Lego & Bricklink community from all the way over here in New Zealand. I got into Bricklink after stumbling across the vlogs and now I have been able to support my daughter's love for Lego! It has encouraged us to post our own content and has been a great source of fun. Enjoy whatever may come and I am sure many more Middlesborough games. If you are ever over our way, please reach out. Coffee on us! Jason (Kiwi Brick Exchange)
Best of luck Keith. Seems like you have given this decision plenty of thought and I doubt anyone would say prioritising health and family is not the right thing to do.
Yeah, given it lots of thought over the last year and its really always come down to being financially feasible. Paying mortgage off last month was a big step. Still some work ahead but the ends in sight.
I’m sad to see you going, you’ve been my inspiration since I started selling on Bricklink 4 years ago, your videos etc have helped me get to where I am today with my own store. I had noticed in a few of your recent Vlogs you were as passionate as you had been but didn’t see this coming. Thank you for all your help and support from all the Lego community.
All the best for the future Keith. As the inspiration for my own store opening last year and my education in operating from the beginning I wanted to say thank you for everything, it's been a pleasure to tune in each week and learn and understand how this crazy selling world works. Enjoy the wind-down, the retirement and the future with your family. Thanks and it's been a get ride!
Wishing you all the best! I have learned a lot from watching your channel and will continue to watch until you sign off! What a wonderful achievement, paying off your mortgage and planning for a wonderful retirement with your family.
It will be sad to see you go. I have followed your Bricklink journey the last few years - shortly after I began mine - and I still found it interesting to see your processes and progress. I know you never discuss sales numbers but your comment that 'bricklink could never reach the numbers of my previous salary,' intrigued me for two reasons - i) I've been in the Bricklink (and ebay) business, as a side hustle, for almost three years and my turnover has more than doubled year on year; ii) Your store whilst a decent size does not feature in the Top 50 for sales volume (not value) over six months in the UK - I have tracked that data for a while now. I haven't quite cracked the top 50 either, yet my current 12 month rolling turnover is £37k (BL & ebay). I'm curious to know what you think the ceiling is for a UK seller on Bricklink.
Thanks for following along. Glad to hear you're doing well. As you know, I don't normally talk numbers but can tell you my previous salary was around three figures plus a company car, 15% bonus and a very generous pension. Therefore Bricklink was never going to match it or come anywhere close. Also, peoeple never consider the benefits of emplyment like paid sick, holidays, & pensions. Doubling turnover year on year is great but depends on what those numbers are. To be honest, turnover is pretty meaningless too. It's profit that matters. I'm not clear whether you're still doing this as a side hustle or not, but there is a huge difference in being full time verse still having another job. When your full time every penny of expenditure (mortgage, council tax, utilities, food, spending etc) has to be covered by your income selling. Sometimes this means there is nothing left to invest in the store. This has been the biggest challenge for me. Hard to know what the ceiling is but you can certainly get beyond the VAT threshold but you need to scale to achieve this so depends what you want. I never wanted to be in a commercial property for instance, the convenience of being in my own home was paramount to me. Likewise, I don't want to work day and night. Everybodys needs and situations are different and you have to evaluate based on your own situation and standard of living. Mine was a single income, but if you have a working partner this can help. Hope this is helpful.
@@BrickArena Thanks Keith. That is extremely helpful. My twelve month rolling turnover is currently £37k. Operating out of large spare room and garage so no overheads - with room to maybe triple in size? Current net profit margin is 37% (before taxes). Thats with 150k parts, 9k lots and around 20 hours a week. Looking at Bricklink UK sales cumulatively, I definitely think there is room to >5x those numbers. Its a lot of work, but so is a full time job with hours travel either way. So no different really. Its not a get rich quick scheme. But it provides me with freedom, no boss and agency. Employed work doesn't compare.
Best wishes. It’s better to get out while you’re ahead. You don’t want to wait until you’re forced due to health reasons. Focus on family and health and all else will fall into place. Hopefully. 🙏
Ahh wow Keith, I feel so many emotions from this update. You've clearly had so many weighted decisions on your shoulders and I can only imagine how stressful and emotional it's been for you. It will be a shame to lose such a great member of the bricklink community and someone who's vlogs I have religiously watched for years now. But on the other hand, I am so very happy for you. It's really great to see your plans for retirement come to fruition and you are such a genuine and kind hearted person that you massively deserve it. You have inspired so many people, including myself, to start a bricklink store and given so much knowledge and entertainment freely to benefit lego fans around the world. So even though thank you doesn't hold the power of the true gratitude I and i'm sure so many others feel towards you, I will say it anyway. Thank you for everything you have done and given to us and I look forward to all of the remaining vlogs yet to come and watching you achieve your well earned retirement.
Ahh thanks for the kind words. It's always been the plan to get out in good time to enjoy retirement. However, as you say its still difficult and I'll really miss the community. Just glad that people have enjoyed the content and found it useful. I'll still be around for a while until I can get thins sorted and sold but the end is in sight.
Nooooooo!! lol.. I only just found your channel this year and I’ve found your Bricklink journey so interesting. I’d be sad to see you go but it’s sounds like retirement will be well earned. Will def watch right up til the end and perhaps it’ll give me the opportunity to go back and your journey from the stsrt. Thank you, congratulations and good luck!!
Can’t say it’s come as much of a supprise I remember having a call with you earlier this year and it was clear your heart just wasn’t quite in it any longer, I remember seeing brick seller hub and assuming that was your was of phasing out the store, I’ll be sure to hit you a message try get another call booked in before you pack up, but your doing the right thing looking after your health first mate 👍
Yeah no big surprise, its been coming for at least a year and honestly has always been my plan based on age. Thanks for your support in the past, Look forward to speaking again if you want.
I do love treasure hunting scrap lego ( luckily as have 1000's Kilos stockpiled) but the monotony of breaking down sets is mindnumbing, I recently purchased 15 Dark Falcons & what a job that was, sure it was kinda exciting all those minifigures & they easily covered the cost of the purchases. I myself am retired due to ill health, & 4 hours solid breaking down sets can play havoc with ya knees & circulation. Top tip guys every hour get up & stretch those legs get a cuppa then crack on, taking those breaks is essential. ( I try to follow my own advice but truthfully get lost in the podcast or audibook im listening to. ) I often ask myself why am I doing this but in truth its still to fund the hobby, not mine really more my fathers, he loves the big technic sets, Im more into epic modulars & flipping them. meanwhile my sales & my healthy pension allows/helps me buy in fresh sets & flip them so the ones we keep are pretty much free, this keeps things interesting. Exciting when I can grab half price or less deals & know im tripling up. Keeps my father happy & me out of trouble. Glad to hear you are improving your health & keeping up the gym, the brick store has kepy you afloat, been an experience & its served its purpose. I wish you well in your retirement & a big thankyou for keeping us entertained for all these years, your tricks & tips have been invaluable. Although its sometime away your channel will be sorely missed im sure. I had an idea about the amount of lego you have ,maybe you could within sales split it into 3 types, Bricks, Technic & minifigs - making the 3 portions more digestible to sell/ affordable wise. I mean shift the lot as one, but its an idea to shift in sections if it sits a while.
Endless sorting can be tiresome and tough on the joints as you have outlined. I'm glad that you're still enjoying the process enough to keep up for the sake of the hobby. As for me, it really stopped being a hobby some time ago and I think its evident from the vlogs that the passion has dwindled. It will be some time before it's all wrapped up so I am not going anywhere immediately but its only a matter of time. I'm glad you have enjoyed the videos and found something of interest from them. Thanks also for the suggestion on breaking down the store for sale. I'll share my thoughts in the video.
Watched you from the early days when you were buying LEGO when I used post LEGO videos on Little Posties! Hope you are enjoying your break Keith and hopefully you will enjoy your retirement. If you struggle for interest due to the size of the store let me know but I am sure someone in the network will take it off your hands!
Best of luck with retirement Keith, you’ll be missed. I’ll keep an eye out on what you’re selling! Thank you for the channel, it’s really helped me start of my store.
Sad to hear you will be out of the LEGO community for the most part. I have truly enjoyed your videos and watching yout journey. I do wish you the best! Enjoy retirement, I certainly have enjoyed mine.
You're a legend and inspired many. Now it's Keith time and slow down on the lego. I'll carry on watching, loved watching my orders for my MOCs appear on your channel. Enjoy your holiday
Sad to hear this, but fully understandable. I have been watching all your videos since the beginning, it was very interesting to see the full journey and really wish to see how the exit goes. Thank you for all the information you shared, it was a huge help. Greetings from Hungary Best Regards George
Just wanted to post my thanks for all the effort and time you put into putting out vlogs each week. I am not a seller or regular commentor but I do enjoy watching various Bricklink store vlogs as it is an interesting business in a hobby I love. Your vlogs were well done and a staple of my viewing rotation. I hope you are able to find a reasonable price for your store and enjoy your upcoming retirement, it is well deserved. Thanks again for your contribution to the hobby, I hope you do leave the channel up as it is documentation of an impressive journey. Best wishes in all future affairs!
Just wanted to add I will definitely follow your journey to the end and I think you bring up a great point about not a lot of people having spent time covering the ending of a store and it will be interesting to see you do that.
Saw this coming a mile off - as the weekly vlogs were getting boring to watch, and would have obvisouly been boring to film and edit too. To be honest I preferred it when you did the hauls on getting sets from deals you had found. You could have taken the cam to the local jaunts and taken us (the viewer) for the day, and filling the boot of the car. This would have got you out the house,, and maybe retained some of your mobility issues. I totally emphasise with the health stuff - as I have been stuck in a desk job for the past 25 years, and now take a proper effort to get away from the screen, and have a proper allocation of time strretching and moving my joints. I don't fear as much about losing my job, and if a manager dosent like me being AFK frequently, then tough! - health and family come first. (after oxygen, of course!) lol
Yeah, no big surprise. As you say, I was plainly aware that the vlogs were boring for me and the viewer. I could have just stopped doing them but lots of folks still seem to enjoy them. Regarding the deal videos, the economics of it all just got too much, which is why I transitioned to used. Ultimatley the Vlog is a secondary part of selling, so had to do what was right from a business and time perspective. Hopefully this will add a slightly different dynamic to the content for a while at least.
Just picked up your parcel this morning, much to my surprise. Many thanks for sending them, its really kind of you. I'll get them added to the store this week all being well. Really appreciate the support.
All, the best for the future Keith, your channel definitely inspired me to build my very large store. Processing all that bulk definitely would have lost your interest as it nearly did me after 3 years of continuous processing. I'll be keeping an eye out when your store gets listed. Good luck.
I'm not surprised about you wanting to enjoy some retirement and actually enjoy life fully. However, I am really looking forward to the change of pace on the blog and following the process of closing a business, that you very rightly say is not spoken about enough.
Really enjoyed watching your videos each week having first started when you were laying the foundations of your Lego room. Good luck with the sale and the retirement when it comes, I’ll have to get another bricklink order from you soon.
I’ll definitely continue watching, especially now as you’re entering a new phase. You’re absolutely right that nobody ever talks about an exit strategy, so this will be very interesting. One question: what do you think about the idea of continuing selling (but not buying) at ever reduced prices in order empty the store gradually?
Thanks for sticking with me until the end. - With regard your question, it is a strategy I have considered. The downsides are a: the time it will take to sell. b: You will never truly sell everything so you will still have to sell what is left. c: You still have the effort of picking (which is potentially means more work). The only positive I see is possibly getting a slightly increased return versus it all being gone from one day to the next.
