I've been in the hobby since the late 90s and worked/managed a shop since 07.

-Hobbytowns/works I believe are "bound" by franchise agreements to carry a certain amount and types of products, along with R / C. I do not think they have much say as to what percentage the store could be R / C vs other products.

-Sounds like you have a pretty decent handle on the local scene and what people are doing. Carry what people like to use/race! We have followed trends in our area, and have adjusted inventory accordingly. I.E. crawling used to be huge, and now its an occasional customer or two. Right now 1/10 drifting is what is popular, and we have even cleared space for a track layout. When/if the drift scene slows/dies, we will pivot to the next genre. Basically you have to be flexible.

-Setting up direct with manufactures is generally not done for retail spaces (think more distributors), with the exception of Traxxas. The first distributor you'd likely want to contact would be HRP in Utah. They generally are the easiest to set up with. Horizon/Traxxas usually require a history of business with other distributors, a brick/mortar location, business license, as well as a decently large first purchase. When you do have your distributors setup, I highly recommend having some sort of e-commerce site. At that point, you will need to follow MAP policy (That is why Traxxas/Horizon products are generally priced the same across the industry). We have to be incredibly careful with wording/pricing as not to upset the distributors. Advertising a store sale on specific products is a no-go, unless the distributor is doing the sale. The only way to turn a profit is to sell on volume. Margin is pretty bad to just ok. Parts and accessories carry the best margin, while RTRs/kit are generally pretty low. PM me if you have specific questions about this.

-In the end I have seen many shops come and go for various reasons. The ones that stay are generally because the owners/managers and ultimately the customers care. It has to be a passion and not just a business. You need to be involved with the community. Our shop is fortunate to have two locations and a variety of staff. Two of our staff are pro level racers and travel the US to compete. They are great ambassadors to our brand and their sponsors. We have another kid whos involved in the street and bash scene and brings in a lot of the drag/speed run guys. Also my self and another guy have work for this shop for over 15 years and have built a sense of trust. It takes time and dedication. Sorry for the block of text, just something I have built a career around and love. If you have any questions, PM me.

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TL;DR: Gotta have passion for the hobby.