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 Auswin wrote:
Correct stuff

Absolutely agreed with your evaluation, however there's one key aspect missing from your analysis - GWs website is a store with exclusive minis while Privateer Press is not. While PP maintains a small webstore, it is NOT a primary method of getting their miniatures - LGSs are. They also don't have website exclusives (as far as I know, or at least not to the same extent) so there aren't any minis which people HAVE to go to PPs site to acquire. With more and more of GWs stock becoming direct only, it's logical that there are people visiting the GW site to purchase minis that they can't get anywhere else.

Of course we have no idea how many people it is, but I suspect it would significantly effect the overall figures.

Agreed, Auswin has brought some real insight to the thread.

I'd also add that GW's business model is supposedly "churn and burn," what's the supposed mantra? "Two birthdays and a Christmas?"

If, as Auswin suggests, that there is a drop off in traffic of what could be considered the 'I'll-informed' user, that surely doesn't bode well for the type of customer that GW is going after?

GW shut down all their Facebook pages some time last year (?) I don't remember when.


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Interestingly though, Games Workshop's ranking on Alexa has clearly declined over the past year.

I suspect the reason is that since they relaunched it as a shop only, people have no reason to visit it except to check a price or buy something. There used to be lots more reasons to look at Games-Workshop.com.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
GW shut down all their Facebook pages some time last year (?) I don't remember when.


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Interestingly though, Games Workshop's ranking on Alexa has clearly declined over the past year.

I suspect the reason is that since they relaunched it as a shop only, people have no reason to visit it except to check a price or buy something. There used to be lots more reasons to look at Games-Workshop.com.

You're going back a bit there. Certainly I remember about 14 years ago (damn I feel old) there were articles from White Dwarf on there, such as they were. IIRC there's not been anything like that for years, certainly I doubt that they would make a significant portion of unique visitors per month. Personally I would explain the drop in rankings as simply being a continuation of the gradual decline in GW's business, as detailed extensively elsewhere. Or if I were being charitable I'd say it's because of the growth of third-party sellers...I think that's being optimistic though

Wish I could get more detailed information on the history of those rankings though. The chart on the site seems to only go back a year, I guess more detailed info is for paid customers only. Still interesting though.

 Azreal13 wrote:


If, as Auswin suggests, that there is a drop off in traffic of what could be considered the 'I'll-informed' user, that surely doesn't bode well for the type of customer that GW is going after?

Here's GW's problem though: How are they going after those potential customers? Basically they're a company operating with no advertising, no brand awareness and selling a specialty product. Forget slouching sales, it's miraculous their business model is staying afloat.

Essentially it's the old way of thinking that word of mouth and a brick-and-mortar presence is enough is beyond hilarious, but they're still making money -- somehow. Personally, if I was a bigwig at GW I would be disgusted by the number of people who walk into a GW store every day assuming they sell video games, board games, toys etc. That's not quaint or funny, it's a sign that a lot of people have no clue what you sell.

In 2014 an internet presence is vital and transparency between your brand and consumer is paramount. That's why companies pay big money to have people to run their Twitter and Facebook accounts to engage users. GW leans on enthusiast sites and Facebook feeds to do their own promotion and legwork.

It's always nice to have a product people are so passionate about that they'll create their own content, but ignoring these avenues of brand building is a huge problem down the road. GW should be trying to capitalize on the board game boom to position their product as a graduation from board gaming to miniature wargaming. Their starter set prices need to come down to a price point where they can be seen as an impulse buy, even if that means selling them near-cost. Codex writers and game developers should be engaging in regular Q&A's with the community to foster more open dialog -- which in turn will kill some of the secrecy and cloak and dagger stuff. The Black Library should make some of its back catalog available for free download, or at least section off a space free on the web to learn about the universe.

None of these things will happen, but that's where the company should look.

As has been said elsewhere, GWs policies irritate vets substantially so word of mouth is actively detrimental to them a lot of the time. That has to have a substantial impact now given how important it is in the hobby.

In my experience with GW stores the "right attitude" doesn't mean a nice guy. Most the GW employees are dicks unless your a new customer buying your 1st army.

The right attitude means how good you are at being a yes man to your boss.

Has KommissarKarl given us his analysis of the latest GW financial report, including Kirby's preamble?

 Alpharius wrote:
INFINITY is a little harder to search for especially since Disney released their 'Skylanders' killer...

Any idea on how to effectively use that trend search to get at Infinity the Game by Corvus Belli?

Haha thats the first thing I did too.

"Corvus Belli" has been downward, "Infinity the Game" has been upward. Both, unsurprisingly, have the vast majority of hits in Spain.