The perfect gaming store

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**RisingPhoenix**

Elmodiddly wrote:
RisingPhoenix wrote:And, if any gamestore owners are reading this, print out color copies of what each model and figure in those stupid little bubble packs look like, so we can see what we're buying. Why the hell wouldn't you do this? Yet I've NEVER SEEN IT! You're single handedly condemning them to only be bought by people who know EXACTLY what they want.

....because we already know what it's supposed to look like from other photo's......and the codex.....and the official websites......and conversions and stuff in WD Mag? Otherwise we wouldn't know we wanted it in the first place.

Which is great and all if you're an established player.

If you're a new player? Well, better go flipping through your codex or browse the internet, or hope someone in your store plays it. No walking in and seeing an awesome looking picture below the metal models and going 'holy gak, I want that in my army.' No small card with a guide on how to put together those obnoxious models that completely suck. Just some metal in a small plastic box. Yeeaaaah, that's enticing.

Then again, this game loves to spit on new players at every opportunity, so why should THAT be any different.

**UsdiThunder**

If I had the capital I'd open the gaming store I've been dreaming about since I was a teenager.

Well Lit
Seperate gaming areas for CCG/RPG and Wargames
Food
Clean bathrooms, with urinals for the guys, automatic airfreshner for when papa nurgle visits.

The big money in owning and running a store is not on product as much as environment (ie: tourneys, contests, release parties, etc...) A healthy gaming community = $$$. You can buy models anywhere, but you cannot buy the experience.

**Ensis Ferrae**

RisingPhoenix wrote:
If you're a new player? Well, better go flipping through your codex or browse the internet, or hope someone in your store plays it. No walking in and seeing an awesome looking picture below the metal models and going 'holy gak, I want that in my army.' No small card with a guide on how to put together those obnoxious models that completely suck. Just some metal in a small plastic box. Yeeaaaah, that's enticing.

Then again, this game loves to spit on new players at every opportunity, so why should THAT be any different.

Actually, when i was stationed at Fort Carson, the better of the 2 local shops had a Citadel Catalog, that if you had a question about what a blister looked like assembled normally, you could see it in there, the one shop in my home town does this as well.. especially since if you want to order something specific, like Captain Shrike or a Lord Commissar, the store needed their catalog to order from.

What i would like in a "perfect" game store.... Like most have said, a wide variety of stock.. the complete GW range (as in, a good portion of 40k, fantasy and LotR), reaper minis, warmachine/hordes.. flames of war, etc. Of course, stock is only one part of the equation, and like Gamer's Haven, gaming tables and scheduled game times is a must. Clearly posted "league" nights and specific games would be nice, and if you have people who show up for a different game, if theres an empty table then they can play (of course, i mean, if a couple guys in the WHFB league cant make it on "fantasy night" then they could try and make up that game on another night, provided theres space).. an "open food policy" (ie, we might not sell much/any food, but you're welcome to bring it so long as you dont make a mess of things)

Gaming after hours.. the store may close at 7 or 8 pm.. but if we're a hobby much like a pool hall or bowling alley, why shouldnt we have similar hours to those establishments?

So, in short... Store space/stock, Gaming space, league nights/schedule, good hours for gaming/selling, open food policies.

**keezus**

It is difficult to list the things in list of priority, though I can list things in tiers:

Tier 1: MANDATORY
Knowledgable, friendly and responsive staff.
Stock isn't initially so important as long as there are quick turnaround times for orders
Gaming space
A moderate level of cleanliness (These seldom are spotless, as it is a game store afterall)
Air conditioning and good ventilation. (This is MAJOR)
Parking

Tier 2: A BIG PLUS
Carry day-to-day stock in main systems
In-store events with a defined SCHEDULE
Snacks/Drinks
Washroom (clean)

Tier 3: NICE TO HAVES
Expanded stock - most of the range in main systems.
Diverse stock that appeals outside the gamer demographic and won't scare women away (i.e. board games, nerd plushes etc)
High level of cleanliness (not having the invisible wall of BO +5 and clean sale space helps with not scaring non-hardcore gaming customers away)
Professional appearance of staff (Not having a huge sweaty bearded dude with manboobs behind the counter helps with not scaring non-hardcore gaming customers away)
Chairs at the tables (old knees ain't what they used to be)

**DJ66**

Tanhausen wrote:I guess the store concept is a bit different depending on the country/area.

For me, I live in an urban area, so parking is usually a no-no. You either pay to park the car or you simply get there by public transport.

Also, in Barcelona, the shops are extremely concentrated in what we call the "freak mile", because the 4-6 major freak-goods are within 5 minutes walking distance from each other.

You have a long-lasting store (20+ years) that started out being the sole importer of RPG games/novels and later evolved into bringing MTG also. They split the shop, kept the original for books only and the new one for MTG/RPG.

Then you have another that was the sole importer of Manga and similar, evolving into also bringing comics (huge selection) and merchandise. They tried GW but failed.

The best GW related perfoming is only like 4 years old, move into a new place 1 year ago and they have a pretty solid core stock plus RPG plus board games plus freak-merchandise (vampire teddy bears and similars, you get the idea). AND, they have a small cafeteria (6 tables?), quite simple with just sandwiches and drinks to affordable prices. They run a tourny a month (1 month WFB, 1 month 40k) and have something like 10 tables, with decent scenary.

The list of closed stores is SO long... and I guess it boiled down to price because, as you have said, they didn't offer many of the other perks stores do.

However, there is a question I'd like to throw: if it isn't from big model sales (you will all agree that most of us "serious" players make big orders from the net)... what is a store supposed to live from? Because you can't tell me that if someone wants to get 2 Battle forces or a small group gets something like 5 BF and a couple vehicles... they are going to go online, for sure!

Two things: Scheduled events and CCGs. CCGs are like a license to print money. Sets come out so often that players are constantly buying new items. The cost to print a playing card is so low that your margin is higher than plastic figures. Scheduled events get your established gamers back in the store. They either buy new stuff (rarely) or they buy little things that have large margins (food, drinks) not to mention the entry fee itself if you charge for the event.

**Wings of Light**

Hot and friendly chicks as staff...
Food allowance...
Air con...
good range of products...
Good amount of game tables...
A little bit less douches(staff and players)

**Chowderhead**

Neconilis wrote:
snurl wrote:
Neconilis wrote:
R3con wrote:One with a liquor license.....sell me beer!

Curiously enough, that is my game store. Best store ever.

Where is that? I am so there.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/core/store_details.jsp?s=124

I love it there. Good people, good games, good food, and a liquor license.

Next time I'm in Williamsburg, I'll have to go. om-nom-noming some pizza while playing? This place is a goldmine!

**oadie**

Unless I somehow glossed over it completely, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned hobby/scratchbuilding supplies. Only been to 3 LGSs, but not a single one of them had anything beyond basic GW supplies (Citadel paints, brushes, maybe a few pairs of clippers, and some plastic glue). I'd want at the very least a rack of Evergreen/Plastruct products, preferably supplemented with terrain kits, basing/flocking material, hobby tools, etc. from multiple manufacturers (Woodland Scenics, GF9, Pegasus, Army Painter... hell, even a wider selection of GW would be a start). Wouldn't mind being able to pick up other brands of paint, as well (although this isn't necessarily unheard of, my stores just don't carry Vallejo :( ).

The rest of my wishlist has been covered by other posts: clean, well-lit, plenty of product and gaming space (without packing all the systems together), friendly and knowledgeable staff, mature (I'm talking about tact, here, not age. Well-adjusted teen? Fine by me. Supervised, unobtrusive child getting an early lesson in wargaming from daddy? Great.) and dedicated (loves the game, not scarily hardcore) player base, reasonable food and drink policies...

Speaking of drink policies, I REALLY envy those who live near the LGS with a liquor license. Then again, the last thing I need is to drop more money on wargaming...

**Field Marshal Wiley**

Later hours 9 a clock are you crazy who closes that early a church i mean come on oh and a guy behind the counter who does not think i am stealing or arguing with him when i ask a question or zone out on a box of miniatures for twenty minutes debating if i can afford it...thank you

oh and maybe dont give all the tables away to magic players every day i mean two of em are being used for there bags!

**Neconilis**

chowderhead13 wrote:Next time I'm in Williamsburg, I'll have to go. om-nom-noming some pizza while playing? This place is a goldmine!

I hope you manage to make it by. We're always glad to see new people interested in the store =)

**poipo32**

A GW store where I can use alternate models would be fine, as they tend to be well lit, have low volume music or none and some great gaming tables.

**Sergeant Horse**

I love my gmaestore, mainly because its mine, and we sell food (real food, sandwiches, panini's, coffee, and smoothies) have tables for modelling, painting. Loaner armies to learn, and 12 gaming tables with enough terrain for everybody and varied enough for different games. Mainly this is due to the great community of gamers who do alot of stuff!

**Karon**

Comintern wrote:-Hand Crafted full regulation Size Boards! But not Static. As in, the boards can be swapped out.

-Plenty of room for Gaming! As in no middle aisles. Just set the merchandise along the walls and leave the center of the table for all kinds of gaming!

-Water at the very least. However, allow food (within reason of course.) This one depends largely on your player base being responsbile about it. It also depends on Location! Multiple establishments in the area. Pizza, Chinese (not the horrible buffet kind) your Fast food joints. However, most important. A subway/quiznos/Publix! And if you are in the north, a Frackin Sheetz would be ideal. All within Easy walking distance.

-Appropriate AC/Heating

-Ambiant Music. Nothing Hard, heavy, or especially Loud. Just gak that can be ignored.

-Plenty of Merchandise for the gamers you service.

-NO Doubling as a Porn Store in the Back!!!! (had a gamestore like this. Its cool in thought, but it kills not only your youth business but your seedier cliental are very very unappealing)

-Though, with all of the above, the final key is an excellent Player base. Not talking about just people who will buy gak. But people and players that care or enjoy the games the play. Enthusaists are a MUST! Not just dick swinging win at all cost Cheese players! Fun Story Driven League play...Campaigns that feel more like Table Top Roleplaying. That kind of play will help. To many dick swingers and its all over.

You just described standard GW stores (give or take the last point)

**Samus_aran115**

Vending machine and painting focused.

**fire4effekt**

Field Marshal Wiley wrote:Later hours 9 a clock are you crazy who closes that early a church i mean come on oh and a guy behind the counter who does not think i am stealing or arguing with him when i ask a question or zone out on a box of miniatures for twenty minutes debating if i can afford it...thank you

oh and maybe dont give all the tables away to magic players every day i mean two of em are being used for there bags!

Ever thought of asking them to move their bags?