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Made in us
Alluring Mounted Daemonette





Springfield Plaza GW Store

If you could open a game store, what kind of miniature lines would you carry and how would you support them?

I would have amazing terrain and have plenty of warhammer fantasy considering the numbers of players in my area.

WAR GAMES ON MOTORCYCLES!!!! 
   
Made in gb
Calculating Commissar




Frostgrave

I'd have as much generic modular terrain as I could, and at least have a starter set for most games open & assembled to show people how it works. No point in focusing on a single game when there are hundreds of other games out there.
   
Made in gb
Brigadier General





The new Sick Man of Europe

I'd focus on ranges I personally like but are not supported by any LGS in my area. So I'd be stocking Bolt Action and other WG products, Infinity, Warzone Resurrection and CMON games amongst others, with a reduced focus on Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmahordes and cards games. For the favoured games I would have a number of demo tables for them, made from pre-made terrain from variety of manufacturers. There would also be 4 or so painting tables which I find my usual LGSs lack. FOW products would not be sold at the store and any who asks for them to be stock shall be banned from the store.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/07/27 13:16:07


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Made in no
Terrifying Doombull





Hefnaheim

 sing your life wrote:
I'd focus on ranges I personally like but are not supported by any LGS in my area. So I'd be stocking Bolt Action and other WG products, Infinity, Warzone Resurrection and CMON games amongst others, with a reduced focus on Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmahordes and cards games. For the favoured games I would have a number of demo tables for them, made from pre-made terrain from variety of manufacturers. There would also be 4 or so painting tables which I find my usual LGSs lack. FOW products would not be sold at the store and any who asks for them to be stock shall be banned from the store.


Wow Id totaly make it my mission to firebomb your store then

On a more serious note, I find such notions quite vile and cant see what anyone would gain from such an point of view.
   
Made in gb
Brigadier General





The new Sick Man of Europe

 Trondheim wrote:
 sing your life wrote:
I'd focus on ranges I personally like but are not supported by any LGS in my area. So I'd be stocking Bolt Action and other WG products, Infinity, Warzone Resurrection and CMON games amongst others, with a reduced focus on Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmahordes and cards games. For the favoured games I would have a number of demo tables for them so they customers can try out all these great games they likely don't know about, made from pre-made terrain from variety of manufacturers. There would also be 4 or so painting tables which I find my usual LGSs lack. FOW products would not be sold at the store and any who asks for them to be stock shall be banned from the store.



On a more serious note, I find such notions quite vile and cant see what anyone would gain from such an point of view.


Why exactly?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/07/27 14:16:07


DC:90+S+G++MB++I--Pww211+D++A++/fWD390R++T(F)DM+
 
   
Made in no
Terrifying Doombull





Hefnaheim

 sing your life wrote:
 Trondheim wrote:
 sing your life wrote:
I'd focus on ranges I personally like but are not supported by any LGS in my area. So I'd be stocking Bolt Action and other WG products, Infinity, Warzone Resurrection and CMON games amongst others, with a reduced focus on Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmahordes and cards games. For the favoured games I would have a number of demo tables for them so they customers can try out all these great games they likely don't know about, made from pre-made terrain from variety of manufacturers. There would also be 4 or so painting tables which I find my usual LGSs lack. FOW products would not be sold at the store and any who asks for them to be stock shall be banned from the store.



On a more serious note, I find such notions quite vile and cant see what anyone would gain from such an point of view.


Why exactly?


Really? If you have to ask about that question well..... Thats your answer
   
Made in us
Did Fulgrim Just Behead Ferrus?





Fort Worth, TX

I like to see FLGS stocking and supporting a wide variety of games. I like to see lots of gaming tables, with a wide variety of good terrain in different themes.
I also really like an open-gaming atmosphere. When I look into checking out a new store, and I see the calendar is filled with "X day is Y game day," I immediately reconsider going there. If you're sending the message that I can only play 40K on Thursday nights, and Thursday night is one of the nights I can't go out and play, then I clearly will not be a customer at your store. Make it clear that, while you have scheduled game days to encourage more people on those days, there will still be tables available for other games. I fully understand if there is a special once a month or so tournament that occupies every table at times, that is to be expected, but should not be every day.

"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see.
One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me."
- Twin Peaks
"You listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method... is love. I love you Sheriff Truman." - Twin Peaks 
   
Made in gb
Brigadier General





The new Sick Man of Europe

 Trondheim wrote:
 sing your life wrote:
 Trondheim wrote:
 sing your life wrote:
I'd focus on ranges I personally like but are not supported by any LGS in my area. So I'd be stocking Bolt Action and other WG products, Infinity, Warzone Resurrection and CMON games amongst others, with a reduced focus on Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmahordes and cards games. For the favoured games I would have a number of demo tables for them so they customers can try out all these great games they likely don't know about, made from pre-made terrain from variety of manufacturers. There would also be 4 or so painting tables which I find my usual LGSs lack. FOW products would not be sold at the store and any who asks for them to be stock shall be banned from the store.



On a more serious note, I find such notions quite vile and cant see what anyone would gain from such an point of view.


Why exactly?


Really? If you have to ask about that question well..... Thats your answer


If you don't like my hypothetical store, then don't go to it. It's that simple.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/07/27 19:22:30


DC:90+S+G++MB++I--Pww211+D++A++/fWD390R++T(F)DM+
 
   
Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






 sing your life wrote:
I'd focus on ranges I personally like but are not supported by any LGS in my area. So I'd be stocking Bolt Action and other WG products, Infinity, Warzone Resurrection and CMON games amongst others, with a reduced focus on Warhammer Fantasy, 40k, Warmahordes and cards games. For the favoured games I would have a number of demo tables for them, made from pre-made terrain from variety of manufacturers. There would also be 4 or so painting tables which I find my usual LGSs lack. FOW products would not be sold at the store and any who asks for them to be stock shall be banned from the store.




"No groaning in my store!"


I'd open up a store to which all of your customers which you're no longer catering to as you've banned them will come to me and you'd quickly go out of business. To keep with the Simpsons thing going, watch the episode "Husbands and Knives" to see this in action.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/07/27 19:39:35



Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in gb
Brigadier General





The new Sick Man of Europe

So why do you I think I should stock Battlefront products in mah store, when PSC, Peter Pig, West Wind, Old Glory, heck, even Wargames Factory offer higher quality 15mm miniatures for lower prices than them?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/07/27 19:47:50


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Made in jo
Wraith






I don't think it's so much the "Won't stock product 'x' " more than the "won't stock product 'x' and will ban you from my store for asking about it" bit.

I'd stock GW, Privateer Press, and Corvus Belli, and Wyrd, for sure, and encourage people to hold events for said game. I, personally, would probably try to carry at least one lesser-known line of games and organize events to promote it. Maybe even do biweekly or monthly rotations or something like that where my store hosts a bunch of, say, Dark Age demos, then Warzone: Resurrection demos, then some other game, or something.

Also if I had customers ask for something I don't normally stock, I'd do my best to try to get it for them, naturally.

I'm not the best at building terrain. Perhaps I'd have some kind of incentive program where people can get store credit or a discount for donating terrain. Ideally I'd have enough room for several tables for said events and game nights.

I'd also stock Magic. I don't play Magic any more and I'm not super-interested in Magic, but from what I understand, Magic is the main money-maker for game stores, and since it's not really my thing, I'd try to get a qualified and professional employee to run Magic-related stuff.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/07/27 19:59:05


 
   
Made in nz
Heroic Senior Officer




New Zealand

 sing your life wrote:
So why do you I think I should stock Battlefront products in mah store, when PSC, Peter Pig, West Wind, Old Glory, heck, even Wargames Factory offer higher quality 15mm miniatures for lower prices than them?


Because, clearly, its not what the masses want.
   
Made in gb
Brigadier General





The new Sick Man of Europe

I don't actually think I'd ban people. Just point to the supermarket so they can get some cheese to go with their whine. Or just tell them they can't have BF products.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/07/27 20:01:35


DC:90+S+G++MB++I--Pww211+D++A++/fWD390R++T(F)DM+
 
   
Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






 sing your life wrote:
I don't actually think I'd ban people. Just point to the supermarket so they can get some cheese to go with their whine. Or just tell them they can't have BF products.


Oh I get it. You're showing us how not to run a business. How thoughtful of you.


Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





I'd do some market research, find out what people in the area want, AND STOCK THAT.

Be it Warhammer, Warmahordes, Magic or even Yu-Gi-Oh, if that's what is selling I'd have to be an IDIOT not to stock it.

Yes, I'd have other stuff on hand as I could and encourage people to try new things. But to ban something that sells well in your area is just BEGGING to be put out of business.

And in the first, last, and ONLY analysis, a game store IS a business.

CHAOS! PANIC! DISORDER!
My job here is done. 
   
Made in ca
Commander of the Mysterious 2nd Legion





I'd sell what sold. if everyone's buying warhammer, I'll sell warhammer. if everyone's buying warmachine/hoards? I'll sell it. when you go into busniess you need to focus on what works. I'll certinly be happy to make reccomendations, but if people are buying something I don't play, they're buying it.

I'm certinly not about to make value judgements on the product.

Opinions are not facts please don't confuse the two 
   
Made in us
Stubborn Dark Angels Veteran Sergeant





Illinois

I would stock what sells. If the community is going to buy bolt action then ill stock it, if they dont buy much at all then it can be ordered but im not filling shelves with inventory thats not going to be moving. FLGS can order whatever they want in most cases so you will just have to wait for it like we do online stuff from GW. My FLGS had just a handful of items maybe 7 or 8 for Wild West Exodus. Now we have 40 people playing and a big crowd every tuesday night and guess what? a 10 foot section of wall space full of WWE minatures. That is letting your customers decide what to stock as it should be. If I only stocked what I liked then as a shop owner I would be bankrupt because I would have the entire LOTR minatures series, no MTG at all and a ton of WHFB with a box of tac marines next to it.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/07/27 21:57:56


RoperPG wrote:
Blimey, it's very salty in here...
Any more vegans want to put forth their opinions on bacon?
 
   
Made in us
Paingiver







I would test the market with starter products for many minis games. I know we have a small existing wm/h community in spite of having no store, so stocking that sounds like a smart move. I would love to see what games gain traction in a new community. If GW and battlefront rise to popularity then you can be sure they would have products in stock.

MTG is a great seller at the closest stores about an hour away so it and other ccgs would have a place. I'm not sure it is worth chasing the flavor of the month in card games but finding a modest second and third seller like vanguard and yu gi oh would make money for very little stock space.

I would avoid getting into a restrictive trade agreement with GW and likely use a distributor to get warhammer items, probably stocking less of those ranges because of the cost. It is crummy but if nobody plays fantasy here I'd rather have less of what sells than wasted shelf space on a full range of dead sellers. Then again, if the products sell well and have high enough demand it would be worth it to deal with the trade agreement and stock plenty. You have to keep at least the starters in stock because the warhammer name alone has some weight behind it.

Board games would be the most difficult to decide on. So many choices for customers and so little shelf space...

   
Made in us
Posts with Authority






I would want an old fashioned, general purpose, game store.

Reaper Bones and miniature painting tutorials - for young people. (Bones are perfect for teaching kids to paint. Inexpensive and forgiving.)

Kings of War - open to any miniatures on the appropriate bases (which is the official Mantic policy).

A Deadzone league.

A Dreadball league... dammit. :( (I hate sports games... but I know folks that love them.)

Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons.

Maybe Malifaux. Maybe the Malifaux RPG (Through the Breach? I think?)

If I ever win the lottery....

The Auld Grump

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/03 21:28:42


Kilkrazy wrote:When I was a young boy all my wargames were narratively based because I played with my toy soldiers and vehicles without the use of any rules.

The reason I bought rules and became a real wargamer was because I wanted a properly thought out structure to govern the action instead of just making things up as I went along.
 
   
Made in us
Combat Jumping Garuda



Everywhere

I would stock all the things people like plus all the things I like. I would have my wife make sure it is well organized so that first time goers or timid new people aren't scared off by the chaos from the majority of the stores I have ever walked in to.

I'd also run a sandwich shop or coffee shop... Or a combo shop.

 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut



Bismarck ND

Monday boardgames
Tuesday alternative mtg night (elder dragon, two headed giant, ect)
Wednesday open gaming
Thursday war gaming
Friday fnm
Saturday yugioh
Sunday open gaming

As for stock, you have to support what is popular. Befriend the "ring leaders" in the different categories of card games, board games, war games.
   
Made in fr
Drew_Riggio




Versailles, France

 Generalian wrote:
If you could open a game store, what kind of miniature lines would you carry and how would you support them?

Other scales than 28mm.
   
Made in gb
Brigadier General





The new Sick Man of Europe

Litcheur wrote:
 Generalian wrote:
If you could open a game store, what kind of miniature lines would you carry and how would you support them?

Other scales than 28mm.


Why don't you like 28mm? It's my favourite scale for balance between model size/price and detail.

DC:90+S+G++MB++I--Pww211+D++A++/fWD390R++T(F)DM+
 
   
Made in fr
Drew_Riggio




Versailles, France

 sing your life wrote:
Why don't you like 28mm? It's my favourite scale for balance between model size/price and detail.

It's not about removing 28mm minis from the shelves, it's just about bringing other scales to the masses.

Oh, when I'm still at that "try to sell something different, for once" thing...

Selling minis from manufacturers that only makes minis, and rulesets from editors that only write rules would be nice too.

I don't have anything against GW/Mantic/Privateer/Spartan/Warlord/FFG, but it would be nice to see the things I usually don't see in LGS, like fantasy football teams, historicals, generic fantasy minis...
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





The game stores in my area support all the games people want to play pretty well, so I would have a hard time opening a competing business because there really isn't anything lacking collectively. Yes, Kansas City is that lucky to have multiple amazing stores all within a 30-40 minute drive of each other. However, since this is a hypothetical, and I'm going to assume an unlimited start up budget:

I'd build/convert a large warehouse building, possibly one of the old downtown buildings with multiple floors. I want enough space to run a 64 person 40k, 100 person Warmachine, and 100 Person X-Wing events, all at the same time.

I'd keep the bare minimums of GW in stock, whatever their lowest tier retailer requirement is. If this was 15 years ago I'd see no problem stocking the entire range as the LGS of my teen years did, but this is 2014 and the GW-Retailer relationship is combative and I'd rather invest my time with retailers that actually want me selling their product.

Warmachine - Full Range, all the time.

X-Wing and other FFG products, full line.

Card Games - Magic, and whatever the popular kid friendly ones are. Running regular events throughout the week. These would be done just off the retail area in a dedicated card/board game space.

Miscellanious product - All the extra stuff like card sleeves, pages, binders, pluck foam, gaming bags, templates, etc. Offer as wide a selection of alternative products as possible.

Mostly, I'd want people coming to the store and not feeling cramped, even with multiple events going on at once.


   
 
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