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My local hobby store does something similar: They have a counter in front of their GW product shelves, so you can only see the front/side of the boxes (depending on how they are stacked on the shelves), and you have to ask if you can see anything closer. I find this off-putting, as I like to be able to look at stuff thoroughly before I buy it. I also like to know how much exactly I am spending, so I like to be able to see price tags on the box, another thing they don't always do here.

To me, a computer screen just won't show detail like the back of the box. Pictures never translate as well as the real thing in your hands.

Insaniak has it right. Staffing has a lot to do with it too.

The only way I could see this working is if you were literally running the business out of a cart or something... like a hot-dog vendor. Actually, that would be pretty fething cool

Now that makes it different. As long as the store let's you play there, I don't think that method will put people off if it frees up room for more tables! Then you can hold tournaments there and make up for it with last-minute tournament purchases!

Ok, I'll give you that. But if a guy in a hot-dog cart walked up and opened the top, and a bunch of GW kits were down inside, wouldn't that be awesome? He could do your Tournament sales, 40k parties, and birthdays!

That's a pretty good idea. Keep the tables, but put boxes out on display when the tables are not in use. Stack up a number of different kits on the table in a pleasant fashion, so people can look at them.

People keep saying "I can do that at home", but one thing occurred to me: You can get your product THAT DAY if you buy it at a store. Isn't that really the only reason we buy from a store in the first place? I know that the reason I go to the store is not to pick up a box and look at it. If I go all the way to the store, its because I want something right away. I generally have an idea of what I want before I even leave the house.

So really, the only thing you might lose out on is impulse sales. But that is where salesmanship really comes into play. It's all about the upsale. Suggesting things to the customer, handing them boxes to look at that would go with the item they want to purchase, reminding them about glues and paints, etc.

Example: People don't always go to the New Car Dealership knowing EXACTLY what they want, all they know is that they want something new. A good salesman will listen to what they are looking for, show them what they want, get them interested in a vehicle, and then try to upsale (option packages, warantees, service packages, etc).

What you are going to do to get the customers to come in the store in the first place is really the biggest part of the battle. I have seen TWO of my local shops close down recently because they only offered 10 percent discount (or none, in the case of one store) on GW prices rather than the standard 20 percent. People are willing to support local businesses, but not to the point where they are paying 20 percent more than they would elsewhere. If you are going to try charging that much, you better have a darn good reason for the customer to come to your store rather than buying stuff online.