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malfred wrote:Did any of your PCs win the Millenium Falcon?

You could disguise it and call it the thousand year old bird or something...

Well one of my players walked out of there with 4000 Thrones. I didn't care as I was playing any number of NPC's with unlimited money (which is the only way to play poker, IMO! ).

One could make the argument that the company's performance and the quality of the game has been on a backslide since Jervis reappeared...

I know I would.

Cutting costs and employees is a very smart idea.

Low cost - maximize sales.
Efficiency efficiency efficiency.

We don't.

8-year-old Jimmy might.

True - my bad ;P

Theft will probably increase with that single employee being to busy with 8-year-old Jimmy to notice 14-year-old-craig making off with models.

Tho if they do increase profits through this kind of managing it should help the game and the support for it.... at least thats what I hope.

Shoplifters aren't called Craig, they're called Wayne.

In the "GW's New Buisness Model" thread someone was saying that their online store makes far more then all the real shops put together and that they would be happy with being an online only buisness. This certainly seems like the start of them trying to downsize if not eliminate entirely their highstreet presence.

Ironically things are going the other way for indie retailers, one online only wargames seller here in the UK opened a shop in London just last year and another big one has similar plans.

Personally I'd rather see them succeed then GW on he high street since they can offer more than GW product for one thing! If GW want to just make models then let them, there are other people who will fill the hobby & scoial voids theya re leaving behind in their desperate rush for more money.

Wow! Ian't this a bright and uplifting thread!
We must remember though, how big GW are. They have stores on six continents for gaks sake!
But to improve sales, they shoudl do the following-
1. Kill Jervis in a horrific and gory manner that might even make us fell sorry for the git.
2. Lower prices (au $74 dollars for three raveners! And don't even get me started on termies!)
3. Stop jacking up the cost of everything! (For example- The Foundation Paint Set. In March 2009 it cost $80 dollars, June-$90, January-$96)
4. Start advertising! (even a few basic posters would do!)
But GW won't go belly-up, their fanbase is just to large. Sure the adults are dropping out of it, but there's more than enough Timmies with loaded parents believe me!

*End of Rant*

I'm not surprised they are closing down stores, their overheads in the US must be huge with the cost of transporting their goods all over the US. Also high street sales of everything not just hobby things have dropped in the last few years. Many online sites offer next day delivery and if someone live more then 20 miles from a GW store then I would expect them to order online. Even with my own local store here in South London I have to order character figures direct, although getting them sent to my store is a bonus.

As for mall, staffing etc. I can only speak for the UK but the rental in shopping malls is more expensive because of the security. With staff I could easily see GW chopping out most of the mornings as there is often no-one about as someone mentioned earlier the stores are often only rammed full during school holiday times and while that's a good way to get parents and kids in I think its a bit rude to treat staff like glorified free child care. Christmas and Birthday presents don't event get close to a professional week's childcare in the UK.

I think GW should close their stores and instead concentrate on community events like an East/West coast games day in the US. The interesting dilema they face is do they pander to parents who dont want their kids finding out about the less polite Dark Eldar and Chaos Gods (esp Slaneesh) or do they target young adults with a disposable income? If it were me I'd be pitching myself at the older players who are more likely to spend every month than parents who might only spend twice a year. (more adult males drop out usually because of family commitments)

I'm curious about this happening this year as the rumours strongly suggest that WHF is coming out which would mean a better sales year than most. If GW can time the series revisions every 4 years with 2 year intervals (so you get WHF then 2 years then WH40K then 2 years etc) they coudl keep themselves boyant much better.

During my last visit at the local GW I overheard an employee tell one of the kids, in a friendly way, that he would have to bring his own paints from then on instead of using store paints because of some changing policies.

Nothing wrong with this Imo.

maybe once the outgoings on GWs stores is gone, they will spend it on advertising and pushing more via the FLGS. I never saw the point in going to a GW myself, the one in the Mall of Georgia was tiny and cramped, much better to go somewhere spacious, and if Games Workshop helps promote independants (they do a good job for me tbh) then its going to be fine.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
though i will say I find it hilarious that when GW decides to close stores, everybody gets up and yells , yet when asked if they like going to said stores, they just complain about them!

Maybe GW isn't making enough sales in their stores to justify staying open since everyone is buying from discounters

They won't promote independants, they'll want everyone to buy from their webstore at full price.

Independants have to promote themselves.

Gargskull wrote:They won't promote independants, they'll want everyone to buy from their webstore at full price.

Independants have to promote themselves.

? Then why is there a huge listing of independant stores in the UK White Dwarf every month? They even have a decent size ad for a Dutch Chain that stock their products.

My closest local GW shop in Maryland is going to these hours in about a week:
Mon., Tues.: closed (no change from current)
Wed., Thurs., Fri.: 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Saturday: noon to 8:00 PM
Sunday: noon to 6:00 PM (no change from current)

This represents a cut of 8 operating hours from the current schedule. And it certainly is plausible that this could also mean a forthcoming change to one person per shop for stores that are able to cut their hours this short.

Closing in the middle of the day for 45 minutes for lunch when only one person is running a GW shop is something I've already seen done at times and it is already being done in some shops around the world.

yup, from personal experience, opening before noon in a game store is pointless, and since they want it to be retail rather than hobby in GW stores, opening AFTER 8pm is pointless as well I open until 11 for my customers, I definitely don't make bank in those hours!


also @ Gargskull: I get people in my store all the time that were referred to me via GW Customer Service. Sure they'd love you to buy all their stuff, but I'm pretty sure the company is smart enough that independants make sure people keep playing

GW is doing what most companies are being forced to due in the US/ North America: cutting back. Unfortunately, they are not doing it in a smart way.

The busiest days in the US are weekends: saturday and sunday. Mondays are usually non-shopping days. Tues-Friday 9-5pm is hit or miss. What they need to consider is following the Japan Model:

Closed monday/ tuesday.
Weds-Thurs: open at 1pm, stay open until 8.
Friday: open at 2pm, stay open until 10.
Saturday: 10am- 10pm
Sunday: 11am- 8 pm.

That gives a 36 hr week. And maximizes the gaming time of everyone available. You can keep 2 staff, IE manager and employee. Right now they have wacky times, all the stores are different. They can consider shifting hours during summers. But if they lower their darn prices on stuff maybe we'd buy more stuff and they'd make more money.

Problem is they never attempt to do a sale, sales bump their busy. This last weekend I was at a event, where you paid $20 to get in, that day shop owner at a independent offers a 20% discount. Genius. He's already made 20 bucks a heads for 40 guys. That cover more than the discount for everyone else that bought stuff, PLUS more stuff sold. I didn't have any money on me otherwise i'd have bought paints I needed.

Alpharius wrote:

Ostrakon wrote:I'd be a lot sadder if there were any GWs left in Massachusetts anyway. Good thing I have a good LGS to play at; I feel bad for those who don't.

Agreed!

And, as a resident of Massachusetts, I'm interested to know where your good LGS is!

That cause you need to come down to Rhode Island and check us out. (shameless bump)

Dean

Would it not be best in the long run, for company and gamers, if the GW stores close down and Indy FLGSs open in their stead?

I'm a regular at my GW store (in Delaware), meaning I go down to play 2-3 times a week.

The store, as long as its been open, has always only had 2 employees, a redshirt (who has changed a few times) and a manager, who has been the same. Their schedule has also always been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, open 12-8 all other days of the week including Sat/Sun, or thereabouts (sometimes they stay open till 9 for events).

It's worked out fine so far.. even if they cut a few more hours out of the early afternoons on weekdays, I don't see it effecting much. Most of the regular crowd there are 9-5ers, myself included, so we don't ever show up until after 5 anyway.

The reason I want a GW within driving distance to me.

I want to be able to buy Specialist games when ever i want to with out having to order online from GW. I also want to be able to pick up an occasional piece of Forge World that they might keep instock.

I don't mind driving 3 hours to do a little shopping and gaming in if I can make a day out of it. Right now the closest GW is about 7 hours away.

US GW stores do not stock Forge World. The Battle Bunkers used to do so, but they no longer stock it either. Bunkers currently allow you to order through them and pay in store, but you have to wait for it to come in and then pick it up.

BrassScorpion wrote:US GW stores do not stock Forge World. The Battle Bunkers used to do so, but they no longer stock it either. Bunkers currently allow you to order through them and pay in store, but you have to wait for it to come in and then pick it up.

I just remember two years ago I was able to get a few bits for my Dred at the one in Chicago, but I guess they changed that.

I personally love my local GW and will miss it dearly when it closes next week. Granted, I hate most of the customers, but the fact that I can go there and have an enjoyable day of painting and chatting about my hobby before all the munchkins attack when school lets out is great.

I avoid my LGS like the plague, and did so even before GW came to town. I have no desire to be in a room full of 30 year old men who have yet to figure out the art of bathing and are prone to peeing a little in excitement when a new Pokemon set comes out. Not to mention, this is a store that once ran a 40K tourney on 3'x3' tables!

I've heard the 1 store, 1 employee thing too. This kinda had to be expected as soon as they announced Kirby was coming to the U.S. There was going to be blood. And since he's going to be the U.S. for quite a while yet, I imagine he isn't done yet.

Most traditional advertising <> good idea for GW. Their product does not and never will appeal to the masses, therefore it's correct not to throw money away advertising on mass media. They could get more creative with their marketing, however.

Does anyone know how much a GW red shirt gets paid?

Of course it maybe varies between state to state. Just curious on the wage rates.

Starting pay for "redshirts" is in the $8-$9 US range. It goes up from there depending on training level. Training programs are on hold at the moment while they are being redesigned and so it now appears, while staff changes are apparently being made.

The could reduce their overhead quickly by.
-make white dwarf mail/ internet order only.
-have army books by downloadable 1x. Most people that get them free somewho have a friend scan it anyway, this won't be able to be stopped.
-make the rule books downloadable.

If they move to electronic quicker, then they can safe on some printing/ hard copies. Plus they could after a white dwarf is out of print for 2 years, charge $2 a down load. Your telling me you wouldn't be downloading old White Dwarves for a $2 because you can??

Canadian red-shirts make a bit more than minimum wage, but not that much. Having worked in small and large retail stores for years, I know one thing; you couldn't pay me enough to be the only employee in a store like GW.

Employee burnout would be huge and turnover even more ridiculous than it already is in most stores

njpc wrote:The could reduce their overhead quickly by.
-make white dwarf mail/ internet order only.
-have army books by downloadable 1x. Most people that get them free somewho have a friend scan it anyway, this won't be able to be stopped.
-make the rule books downloadable.

This assumes that they aren't already covering their costs. At $9/issue and $25/army book, I tend to think both are profitable or at least breakeven. Plus, this is all about U.S. operations.

I think the question people should be asking themselves is where will GW look for additional cost-cutting opportunities? Kirby looks to be cutting U.S. operations down to the bone, which is interesting at a time at which corporate profits are improving, at least in some sectors.

After 1 employee/store goes into effect, there isn't much more to squeeze out there unless they cut wages (and they can hardly go much lower) or close stores (which means a loss in sales that they aren't guaranteed to recoup through local FLGSs, etc.). They're consolidating operations in Memphis, which should help. And they'll probably pick up some additional savings there through attrition as some of those who actually have jobs waiting for them in Memphis decide not to make the move.

I'm concerned that we're still in for some surprises, and maybe even involving some sacred cows.