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kronk wrote:Hot naked chicks

will never go anywhere near your store.

thanks for the advice I have been doing a ton of research and I still have a good 6 months of planning before I even start looking for a place to rent. I've been listening to the GAMA industry podcasts while I'm sitting around painting, and reading some retail books like Why we Buy, and next on my list is the be our guest one from Disney.

I don't want one of those little dusty game closets with the simpson's comic book guy playing WOW in the office and not caring who comes in. It's gonna be a genuine retail store like you'd find in a mall but in a place I can afford I'm kind of envisioning it to be like the mall record store I used to work at back in college (I'm an old guy that actually had records!). Or even like a good GW store, only more than just GW stuff. I am hoping to find a good and spacious store that's spotless and bright. I don't want it to be cramped, but inviting. When mom walks in the first thing she'll see is the family & kid games, next to that the gamery board games, then rpg books, and wargames further in since they take up a lot of space. I'd hope to have enough space to keep most games face-out instead of spine-out so those moms can find them easily. I'd also hope to have a couple of demo tables up front, and the gaming tables way in the back. I'm kind of picturing the place as a typical rectangular shaped store.

employees will be there to sell, no gaming permitted on the clock unless doing a legit demo (for a legit customer, not a buddy). When I can afford a staff I'll be hiring people who love games, but who are retail minded. not the stinky kids that wanna work there for a game discount. I will probably steer clear of hiring friends and family whenever possible so that doesn't lead to issues. They'll have to learn a new game or 2 a month (a board game or card game or whatever) so when soccer moms come in, they can make sure they don't leave empty handed. But I hate in-your-face customer service too, I think it hinders rather than helps. So the staff will be required to be friendly, accessible and and easily identified (probably just gonna get T-shirts made and/or name tags). When there's no customers around, they will be in cleaning mode and have to help keep the place organized, etc. if it's really really dead and everything else is done, then it's time to pull out a new demo copy of one of our games and learn it. I'm even thinking of offering employees store-credit-commission bonuses, like they can build up store credit based on what they can sell. Like if they get someone new into 40k and sell them a black reach box, they get $5 credit. or if they sell other big-ticket items like special chess sets, etc.

I've kind of shyed away from model trains now. I may look into it much later after I open but I think I want to keep "games" as the main theme of the store.

I will definitely need an accountant. I hate math

but that's the biz side of things. I also plan to have plenty of gaming space and run regular events like apocalypse mult-player games, tournaments, etc. I dunno how many tables I'd need for one but I'd hope to be able to do a grand opening extravaganza with a big RTT (and get an announcement in WD!). I'll also be doing painting and modeling classes. Maybe I'll call them "Devil's Workshops" if I go with the Idle Hands name..

Got an email back from the arcade game supplier, most of the games I'd want are in the $1000-1500 range. They're more for old nerds to stick in their family room. Might be too much to do when I open, but i could look into later if space and cash permits. Also wondering if I did get some, if it would be worthwhile to charge a quarter to play like the good ole days, or just make them free play more for the fun and atmosphere so that people don't run up and make me open up the cash register to get them quarters over and over while I'm busy selling Parcheesi to a grandma

Make sure they don't try too hard on the sales otherwise that can drive people away, you need finesse.

yeah that's what I meant by the in your face customer service. I don't want sales people ready to pounce on you. Just a hi when a customer comes in, give em a sec then ask if they need help if their lost, but if someone comes in and makes a beeline for the flames of war section, chances are they already know what they want.

Good, hope your store goes well

Dude, this sounds great. I agree with the not doing the model trains thing, as people can easily get them at like Hobby Town USA or something.

BTW, I think if your store reaches a high enough popularity order, a painting bar is in order.

I definitely plan to have space for painting I want to hold regular painting & modeling classes & workshops.

Trying to come up with a good name for the place. What do ya'll think sounds better?

"Tim's Game Shop", "Idle Hands Game Center" or "d6 Games & Stuff" .. I've always liked Games & Stuff for the back end of the name, just sounds more fun to me in a way...

Necros wrote:...
So here's the question... What do you want in a game store?

...
So all that said, any thoughts? What would you do differently if you were gonna open a store?

Good Customer Service!
Clean!
Well Stocked
Space to Play
Has product line(s) not found everywhere

So many game stores I have seen are filthy, poorly stocked, poorly lit, shantys in disrepair, essentially unprofessional little holes in the wall where the service is so bad they often ignore the customers completely, and you would expect bathroom stalls at a prison or gas station to be cleaner. I often can't stand it.

My ideal game store, would be one that is well lit, clean, well stocked and where the employee/owner is responsive and friendly. That's really it.

I figure anyone with a store can probably get the stock I want ordered, so that's not as big an issue, in fact how a store handles special orders is very important too. But the best stores follow the trends in stock and already have the new product and the related things I need (never run out of black paint, zero brushes, model glue, CCG packs or whatever). I don't even mind the occasional pitch, "hey, have you seen the new Necrotuk Warsquashers yet? They're pretty cool." Often times, I haven't yet.

I've stopped being picky.

*Customer Service (Whatever that means)
*Location

Hobby Haven?

I have learned through the hobby store is not to focus on one thing too deep. I have learned that supplements is what generates revenue, things like glue,polystyrene,paints, and the like go fast and are not much to buy. Arcade machines do help, if you can try to find an entertainment place that can rent space from you. Through experience i have learned this is another headache that you dont need.

I too have come into hands of a hobby and game store. Location is best along with size.

Best bet is to get some vending machine with a lot of little munchies and to set up a deal to get pizzas for special events. Not necessarily free but does get people in. Keep me updated Necros, like i said I am in the same boat as you let me know if you need help advice and ill try my best to help you out.

Game stores have to be one of the hardest businesses to run. 2 stores I've gone to have gone under. 2 others are hanging on by their fingernails because of a core of loyal customers. 2 others cut the living hell out of their gaming inventory and diversified into CDs/DVDs and, oddly enough, scrapbook crap (for one).

Your biggest competition has GOT to be the internet.

I've tried very, very hard to support local places. I don't mind paying comprable prices (shipping hurts a lot of internet sites) but once I start looking at 15%-20% or more above net prices, I'm going to start wondering if its worth it.

What's more burdensome is inventory. I find that most often, I just can't get exactly what I want from the FLGS. Sure, they can order it, but what's the point? I can too, and usually cheaper, faster, and delivered to my door. I used to get what I could at the store and then order what I couldn't get online, but it's gotten to be tiresome to the point where I just tend to order the whole bulk online.

I imagine that to be successful, you'll have to offer what the internet cannot. The deathblow to my FLGS patronage was when the local Magic: The Gathering scene dried up. It used to be I'd go in every wednesday to play. Since I was in the store, I'd buy things that caught my eye or that were convenient. The reason I went there was to play, not to buy, even though I usually spent money regardless. I can't play other people over the internet, so it's a draw to the store.

I imagine the hardest part will be nurturing the gaming scene to the point where it's grown enough that many people are playing and supporting it. I can't even begin to fathom how you can do this. When I do stop in and look at the "LFG" boards at a store (usually I make it over once or twice a year just to look at hte place), they're pretty darn anemic.

Arcade machines can be played on the computer at home, more or less. Pinball machines on the other hand...that's an idea.

I don't know - you have to figure out what your store can provide that the internet can't. A gaming scene is probably best, but the time and capital and risk involved are terrifying.

and don't forget your purpose is to take my money in return for some kind of gaming book or accessory. my local store (where i play every week) has only successfully ordered one out of the three special orders i've placed. when i got together the local GW players to place an order, the manager barely took the time to get me the catalog before going back to watching his tv. what did i do when they screwed up my special orders? i drove 20 miles further to the next closest store and bought the stuff there. people harp that you shouldn't forget the F in FLGS but i'd also like to mention that you should pay most attention to the S.

Yes competing with the internet will be the biggest issue sales-wise but I do intend to have a good sized game room and supporting the local and semi-local community is what it's all about. that and selling. It seems in my not-so-exhaustive research a lot of stores end up being a "Warhammer store" or "magic store" and yeah if/when that scene dries up or your key customers run off to college, you're screwed. So I hope to follow the trends, I want the focus to be minis because that's my thing, but if the customers want something else I have to adjust or I'll never make it. If SolidGoldDancersClix is the next big thing, then I'll ride the wave till the fad is gone, while still supporting the classics for the people that want that. I'll plan to do something like a 40k tourney one saturday, magic the next, and just keep it all mixed up so there's something for everyone. I want to run lots of events and leagues too, it brings the folks in and if they're anything like me, they can't resist buying new toys almost every time they're there even when they were never planning to get anything in the first place and you don't have enough cash left for lunch the next day.

And customer service is going to have to be #1. Seems to be a lot of stores out there that are just dark, cruddy holes in the wall that are club houses for the owner and his buddy. Luckily though the ones I've been to in my area seem like the opposite but I'm sure there's lots of bad ones out there. I intend to run the retail side of my store like any other major "mainstream" retail store. Employees are salesmen and they're there to sell games. Anyone on the clock (including myself) will not be permitted to play games on the clock unless giving a legit demo or there's some special event that warrants it. While I could end up with a healthy group of gamers paying my rent, I feel the best way to have it grow is to go after the soccer mom demographic too. The store will be super clean and friendly looking, and I hope to have the game room separate or if possible in a whole separate section that you probably won't even see from the outside. Don't want the moms scared to come in

And yeah, special orders will be taken care of swiftly I intend to have quite a few things that will likely be special order only like uber expensive chess sets that are hand carved to order, stuff like that. I also hope to donate some board games to local school clubs and libraries to get my name out there among the locals. I've been reading a lot about the donation stuff how it's a super big word of mouth builder among the "normal people".

I want skin mags.
and i want internet access at the ready so i can prove the guy at the store who thinks he knows everything wrong about what a nematcyst is.

Please have a cool game trading policy.
A huge gaming branch in Canada suckered in a lot of folks with a cool "trade one get one" Now their ugh.... so cheap.

Just got back into the hobby.

My FLGS is poorly stocked to say the least. I stopped in to pick up a Trukk. Didn't have it. Ended up buying one at the Calgary GW - THREE HOURS away.

Went to pick up a box of Nobz. Ended up buying those across the US border in Great Falls - 5 HOURS away. Also picked up some black Orcs at the same time for conversion purposes. Worked out well, all things considered. I bought the two boxes for $50. I would have spent $40 after taxes and such for just one of them at my FLGS.

I've been to the store a few times wanting to buy. Only thing I've ever gotten was the main rule book and AoBR. IF they had it, I'd buy it. As it is, I'm ordering my Mega Paint set from Maelstrom.

Oh.. when I originally asked about the Trukk, the guy at the counter (nice enough, but not particularly knowledgeable about the games or card) said if I wanted the owner could order one and I might get it sometime.

My original store down in San Antonio, Central Command, was FULLY stocked. They knew what they were doing. We ran demos, hobby classes, lan parties, did lots of painting and modeling, and could have up to 32 tables (for our first RT.. usually had 9-15 tables on regular nights. And the terrain room was probably 8x15 foot and stacked to the ceiling.

Honestly, if I had started playing at my local store, I'd never have gotten going. With Central Command, I hung out and built terrain for months before I ever bought a single model. Everyone was cool, friendly, helpful... Was a great place to play and learn.

I'm seriously considering opening a store here as well. But it'll be a year or so before I can even start looking for financing. Good luck with yours.

Sorry no skin mags

I do plan to keep stock levels good, by focusing on a few game lines instead of a lot. So for minis it would be GW, PP and FOW. I may hold off on FOW at first to see if people are into it. I will carry other things from other companies here and there, but if I'm going to "feature" a game I need to be able to stock the whole line. There was a FLGS nearby that is closing now, it was a nice place, cool owner who worked hard but it just wasn't meant to be. My club played in his store a few times, and I always like to buy stuff when we play in stores to support the place but he never had anything worth buying. Just a tiny wall about 6 foot across with random blisters and boxes all mixed in for 40k, wm and fow. I think the only thing I ever bought from him was the Watchmen book. Sure he could order anything, but if I need to order something I'd rather get it from my local place that's closer.

So yeah, I want to make sure I have a good amt of stock for games I feature I hope to invest in a good POS system bar code scanner PC thingy also to help me keep track of what's moving so I can reorder it promptly. GW lets you order anything anytime pretty much, so I can place a couple orders a week and always have fresh stuff coming in.

If you're thinking of opening a store, go find the GAMA podcasts on pulpgamer.com ... lots of great info in there from industry vets.

Necros wrote:Sorry no skin mags

But how will your clients know what a naked female looks like?

I don't want them to, then they'll find a girlfriend and give them all their money instead of buying games from me with it.

talk to Mike Clark. he has a wealth of info from running stores for 20+ years. Also, keep your focus early on and don't get distracted with video games or food. Be well stocked and organized and know the products you sell. Consider finding some regulars and offer them discounts or store credit for doing demos. To start off with you're not going to be able to employ too many people and you need to have them watching the store as theft is a big loss. You're a web guy already (and I think a video guy too) so consider setting up a webcam or two around the store to act as surveillance. Embrace new media and consider having a podcast and/or video presence on YouTube. Run regular events with good prize support. As for the name, keep away from the evil sounding things like Devilishly Good Games or Idle Hands or whatever. Names like that won’t help with the soccer moms (especially if you’re selling Chaos Daemons, or something like Helldorado…). Find a location that is close by food establishments and maybe a bar. If you’re going to be carrying FoW and possible some of the great historical plastic kits, think about maybe having some vets or history buffs give talks once in a while. That can be good PR. I really like the idea of doing video demos for board games on-line. If you had a TV in the store you could have a loop going highlighting new releases, events, etc. Just don’t have any sound as it will drive you crazy listening to it all day. Okay, that’s just some random thoughts for you. Best of luck!

Necros wrote:but if I'm going to "feature" a game I need to be able to stock the whole line.

You don't really. You need to be able to stock core product and be very responsive to customers special ordering. I sense you want to hit the ground running with a lot of product to start, but it's mistake prone and not necessary. Hit the high spots, stress your customer service and your willingness to order anything immediately, and you'll slowly build your base. If you order too deep in year one, you'll be scrambling to liquidate a lot of stuff in year two. Let customers know your strategy and encourage them to participate by letting you know what they want. If you're carrying new releases and re-stock core product, they will be happy with you.

Here's what I did with GW: I stocked core 40K product in year one. It moved adequately, but fairly slow the first year as people learned I carried it. As new releases came out, I retained them, regardless of whether they were core or not. When customers special ordered product, which I strongly encouraged, I paid attention and often stocked these items too. A couple years later I had enough customers to bring in the entire 40K line and core fantasy. Now I bring in all new fantasy releases and retain them, along with watching customer special orders. I will probably never carry the full fantasy line, despite good sales.

The biggest threat you'll have in your first year is not losing customers because of low inventory levels, it will be running out of money. Figure you won't break even for at least 12-18 months, and maybe longer. Have a business plan and cash on hand to plan for this. If you make money sooner than expected, hey, more inventory.

Actually I've already been talking to Mike a lot. He's been a huge help so far. Also been chatting with Karl who runs the Games Keep in West Chester and posting on game store resource forums and stuff too. I hope to have my place in a shopping area hopefully by a pizza place (what gamer doesn't love pizza?). I do plan to sell bottle drinks & snacks (probably just vending machines), but not having a coffee shop inside like the rogue's den did. Hopefully said pizza place will be good, and I can work up a relationship with them to get discounts for my gamers, or discounts for getting a bunch of pizzas and provide food for some events.

I do plan to do a lot with the web. definitely podcasts and youtube. I do want to do the game demo videos but also a weekly video podcast just going over the new stuff that came in that week and showing off the cool new models or whatever, and talk about what's coming soon and remind the folks to get their pre-orders in early. I was actually thinking of having a small flat tv behind the register area for people waiting in line to watch, and it will just keep playing those demo videos over and over, so I'd be making the demos be with text & music instead of talking. Just basic stuff like "new this week: this title, that title, buy buy buy". I could just have iTunes running it playing random videos. I'd also be doing modeling demos, painting demos, etc. So over time I'd hope to get a nice collection of our own in store videos to play and feature on the web too.

I do want to stay away from "gamer" sounding store names, to appeal to the "normal" folks. So nothing like Gandalf's Beard Gaming or stuff like that. I like the idle hands name but I think I'm gonna go with just "d6" Probably d6 Game Center, with center to imply you go there to play games... then when I open a 2nd location, I'll call it 2d6 it's a gamery term, but regular folks probably won't know that d6 = 6 sided dice, it could stand for anything.

Or... The Timmah Fan Club

Who wouldn't want to go there?

Necros wrote:I don't want them to, then they'll find a girlfriend and give them all their money instead of buying games from me with it.

Right, and besides these are gamers. They'd look and look and never buy.

hmm, I see what you mean. I'll plan for something like that then. I liked how I can basically order all the core sets and keep them stocked and then add on other things in stages. So I was thinking when I start out I'd do that and just a selection of books and other things, but probably not too many blisters. And I doubt I'd keep every single battleforce on hand when my doors open, maybe just marines and a couple others. I will definitely stress special ordering too. I do want to keep a good selection of Fantasy too though, but I expect my 40k section will end up being bigger.

blackdiamond wrote:

Necros wrote:but if I'm going to "feature" a game I need to be able to stock the whole line.

You don't really. You need to be able to stock core product and be very responsive to customers special ordering. I sense you want to hit the ground running with a lot of product to start, but it's mistake prone and not necessary. Hit the high spots, stress your customer service and your willingness to order anything immediately, and you'll slowly build your base. If you order too deep in year one, you'll be scrambling to liquidate a lot of stuff in year two. Let customers know your strategy and encourage them to participate by letting you know what they want. If you're carrying new releases and re-stock core product, they will be happy with you.

Here's what I did with GW: I stocked core 40K product in year one. It moved adequately, but fairly slow the first year as people learned I carried it. As new releases came out, I retained them, regardless of whether they were core or not. When customers special ordered product, which I strongly encouraged, I paid attention and often stocked these items too. A couple years later I had enough customers to bring in the entire 40K line and core fantasy. Now I bring in all new fantasy releases and retain them, along with watching customer special orders. I will probably never carry the full fantasy line, despite good sales.

The biggest threat you'll have in your first year is not losing customers because of low inventory levels, it will be running out of money. Figure you won't break even for at least 12-18 months, and maybe longer. Have a business plan and cash on hand to plan for this. If you make money sooner than expected, hey, more inventory.

Gaming tables :


Make a 6x4 table:


Then take 1 foot off each side ;

Go to lowes homedepot whatever and buy : Insert groove table leaf ; what this is is basicallly a stabilization board that connects two pieces of table and allowing you to place a leaf in the middle.


The guy there will know what you are talking about.


Hinge the 1 foot pieces underneath. Attach the Leaf et to the bottom with board. Since its 1 foot this will easily stabilize the end pieces.


Now you have a 6x4 table that can be collapsed into a 4x4 table.



Pretty useful and a cheap easy table fix.

As you get closer, talk to your GW rep. They're actually very helpful and can steer you in the right direction. Their sales order form is divided into various stages of product, making ordering "core" very easy. Blisters are slow sellers for sure.

Necros wrote:I do plan to do a lot with the web. definitely podcasts and youtube. I do want to do the game demo videos but also a weekly video podcast just going over the new stuff that came in that week and showing off the cool new models or whatever, and talk about what's coming soon and remind the folks to get their pre-orders in early.

there's a few weekly video news shows you can look at for ideas what's out there.

Beasts of War has tons of content besides their weekly "On the Table" news recap and the best production values.
http://www.youtube.com/BeastsOfWar

Neel from Meeples and Miniatures has two weekly shows called Incoming, that review historical, fantasy and sci-fi miniaturesreleases.
http://www.youtube.com/eqnws

And I've got my own show I just started, Mini News Update.
http://www.youtube.com/mininewsupdate

My only concern: Location.

I live in South Philadelphia currently, and the area has several good quality gaming stores in the area. Within 15-20 minutes of Phildelphia, easily accessible by roads your looking at Showcase in Granite Run Mall, GW Voorhees, GW Frankling Mills, and Ye Olde Hobby in Cinnaminson NJ. Then within 30-45 minutes, there is Jester's Play House, and Portal which i've never made it to because there are closer options.

Showcase is known in the area for quality gaming, tournments, and events, caters to the SE Philly, and regional PA guys. GW Voorhees is there for the occassional GW event, but they don't do tournments that often, focus on the NJ guys in Camden and Bulrington Cty, semi loyal shop goers. GW Mills, supposedly, is being phased out for another GW shop in the area, but its got a loyal following in the NE. Ye Olde is seasonal/ following waxes and wanes

What will be your nitch, what will draw consumers in? Showcase does almost monthy tournaments, has a great location, and awesome shop owner. Voorhees and Mills have great managers, even Ye Olde has a owner who tries to listen and caters events.

My concerns at those shops: local food, drive time/ easy of traffic, annoying teenagers. I'm mainly a tournment guy, i'll spend money, I've been army flipping in Showcase lately, and i've been steered away from GW based on recent events. Lots of local gamers are down on GW lately because they've feel shafted or mainpulated so they like independents.