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hehe ... I am still planning a biz of my own someday.. but I decided I'd rather keep the game stuff as a hobby and instead open a burger joint That'll probably be even harder to pull off, but still

...and of course the place will have to have a spare room big enough to run tournaments in

From obersvation and analysis of ANY business plan, structure..
here are a few suggestions of plans that would

Does NOT guranteee success, but it provides insurance/reassurance to YOU the owner, to NOT get burned,
in case of a 'FAILURE' or store flop. This is probably the most effective means to ensure stability.


I am no business major myself, nor do i need to be one.
It all depends on an individual however, some do - and they could probably do things differently/better admittedly.

I am just pulling from my past knowledge.




METHOD 1: membership method

you guys are thinking right - but there is other ways which you guys could think about.


Find an affordable location (of course this is subjective to where you live).

For me, it would cost maybe 700-800$ a month to go - i've managed to go with a place that is really 'desperate and the lease time wasn't by X~ years, but by shorter commitments.

Make the place look like a LGS - table, etc etc.

You want to ensure survival? Create a membership.

20% off to normal customers
maybe 25-30% to people who have monthly payments of XX $.
etc.


(Bit Kingdom did/does this)

This WORKS, you just have to make people want to do it. I've seen it done to a place that rented out a location - it appears as a 'store' but in reality it is a gaming club.

They don't hold much inventory at all - they do by order/request basis.

They also hold monthly paid to play tourneys.



What will this do for you? this may or may not provide you profit. however if you get enough people to pay membership pool - you CAN cover the rental space cost.

This eliminates the RISK, if you flopping, and if you do end, you have minimized your losses considerably. All you would have lost IS time.

This is a business model i've observed from two local gaming stores in washington, who are going strong.





METHOD 2: ebay seller / joint venture method

If you don't want to get a brick and mortar, you can talk to.. store owners or people around.
You have to approach them right.

I now get a near equivalent discount - from various stores around the USA.

I proposed them a clear plan, stating a joint venture business. All in all - i would be making sales they wouldn't have obtain otherwise. So they have nothing to lose- but EVERYTHING to gain.

Planned out a commitment - that I would get XX% off IF, and only if I purchase X,XXX amount.

Example: (my true percentage depends on provider - this is a hypothetical example, and explanation how and why it works)

A store gets - say... 50% off MSRP. I get 40%.

I tell them i will make a 5k minimum order - they gain 10% for JUST supplying me. That is 500$ to the LGS..
For not doing much but just 'having' the items supplied to me.

They will NOT shy away from this - that 500$ to some LGS's WILL help their monthly rental, etc. You profit, they profit.

Hence Joint Venture.

then I have a full section in my house that houses all the products. No rental cost to you.

Rehash and sell it out.







I will tell you - this is the secret on how MANY ebay sellers are able to do what they do.
Not just me.






Method 3:


Employ method 1 AND Reverse method 2.

Do the membership business plan - like normal to your local area.

for online wise -

THEN, build a pyramid like business plan. So two ways.
Then find OTHER entrepreneurs in areas where you are not tapping sales.
People like us, who want to resell. You will BE the provider for method 2.

You tell them, they must buy X,XXX, for XX% off.

You will be gaining XXX$ or whatever for simply supplying them.


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Another greatest issue - totally separate from business plans,

Is marketting - a lot of owners aren't that great on it.

A lot goes by 'word of mouth' admittedly - is strong and effective.

However there are more other means.

thats another topic though.






This is all simply through 'affiliated marketting'. Interdependency. Why be alone.

Joint ventures hold the best, rather than a solo man.
Its proven in other industries.

Its proven by examples such as bit kingdom, and i've seen it done to local gaming 'clubs' / stores
Also how people

Did you just advocate setting up an MLM business in the gaming world???

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Maybe I can sign up and hold a "Modeling party" and get comps for how many people come, how much product is bought, etc.



Ozymandias, King of Kings

hahaha

I didn't exactly - meant for it ... lol i guess.

Would not be multi-tiered or anything like that crap you see on craigslist.

So not pyramid scheme. I'll just say mlm type stuff already exists, though i dont see it as that.
Its just being a 'middle' man provider to others who might not want to be in the circumstances of Brick mortar?

Or pretty much just saying. Hey - I'm going to get larger discounts - by buying HUGE.
Then i'm just being cool and resellin



No.. parties. Wouldn't that be fun though heh.

And it would NOT be like - oh... pay me X amount of money minimum (like those stupid... 500$ up front) - then you get commission.. then it raises up if you do this and that.

Neither are you going to be further hiring others.. and getting rev share commissions out either.



Yes it is coined as 'affiliate marketting' - though this doesnt have to follow the common mlm, it has the same concept though.

Simply just stating - if you do get a trade account - you hash it out to other guys - put no minimum order in.

As far as method 1 stating - it wouldn't be a mlm commission style progress - it would be a 'membership' style thing.

(I am an internet marketter by hobby as well - while going to college - just as an extra).


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I didnt even get started with drop shipping... =D j/k


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btw Ozy - do you play at Cal Poly? (totally random)

Just saw that you are from San Luis Obispo.

Fafnir wrote:Are you ready to work 3 hours extra every day without overtime because people keep coming in at the last minute and wasting your time?

Are you ready to give up all of your free time for your business?

Are you ready to spend at least 2 years making no money?

Are you ready to make very little money when you actually start to turn a profit?

Are you ready to get out should something go wrong with the business?

Are you ready to accept the responsibility of a $100,000 loan?

To be honest this is the life of the average wage slave, who owns a house ( in the UK at least )!

Yeah, but take all of that if you own a home, then try to to double it to do a business.

Having a 100k loan on a house is no big deal, having 100k loan on a business that doesn't make money for two years can really suck. Although it's totally normal for a start up game store.

I have noticed a trend. most gamers in my area at least... buy online :( its sad

I buy at the store cause I like playing there. But if you are looking to make a living by running a game store you will want to offer services more then product.

Run tournaments, big events. You will want to have a computer LAN network for people to game on (use a lease contract from DELL for this)

BUT i have to tell you, you'll be better off opening a bar... much more profitable.

Delephont wrote:

Fafnir wrote:Are you ready to work 3 hours extra every day without overtime because people keep coming in at the last minute and wasting your time?

Are you ready to give up all of your free time for your business?

Are you ready to spend at least 2 years making no money?

Are you ready to make very little money when you actually start to turn a profit?

Are you ready to get out should something go wrong with the business?

Are you ready to accept the responsibility of a $100,000 loan?

To be honest this is the life of the average wage slave, who owns a house ( in the UK at least )!

Sounds like a teacher life :(

clthomps actually mockingly echos a concept my wife had years ago. She wanted me to open up a coffee shop/snack bar thingee next to my FLGS. sell all the stuff gamers eat.