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I suspect this is probably part of a marketing strategy. The criteria to quality for the free stuff is probably high volume+sales.

Absolutely a marketing strategy, but then, so is me having tables in my stores for people to play on.) Anything a business does to increase sales is a marketing strategy.

Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

mikhaila wrote:I suspect this is probably part of a marketing strategy. The criteria to quality for the free stuff is probably high volume+sales.

Absolutely a marketing strategy, but then, so is me having tables in my stores for people to play on.) Anything a business does to increase sales is a marketing strategy.

Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

Yes it makes it harder to balance your different games.
by focusing on GW and the criteria, you'll unknowingly start alienating other systems.

LunaHound wrote:Not cheap for US CuSTOMERs

cheap for them.

I know, just the thought of GW doing something smart and practical that also makes the community happy is a breath and fresh air.


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mikhaila wrote:Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

I have encountered this before at stores, usually ones that do not stock many GW products. I feel for them that it takes investment to have everything on your shelves, but the only reason I would have something shipped in through a physical store is if I really want to support my FLGS. Otherwise it's more effort than ordering online, less convenient/slower than ordering online, and costs more than ordering online.

ph34r wrote:

LunaHound wrote:Not cheap for US CuSTOMERs

cheap for them.

I know, just the thought of GW doing something smart and practical that also makes the community happy is a breath and fresh air.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

mikhaila wrote:Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

I have encountered this before at stores, usually ones that do not stock many GW products. I feel for them that it takes investment to have everything on your shelves, but the only reason I would have something shipped in through a physical store is if I really want to support my FLGS. Otherwise it's more effort than ordering online, less convenient/slower than ordering online, and costs more than ordering online.

This. The game store in my town has almost no GW on the shelves, and only offers to order stuff. What's the point? If I want it now and you don't have it, you don't help me and I'll go get it elsewhere. Also, impulse buys? "I'm going down to the game store to look around...Oooo, they have a box of scouts, and I'm kinda short by 5...hmm, maybe I should snag some." I've been in this position before. Mikhaila, I still really want to visit your store sometime. Convince my boss to have a job that requires me to drive through Philly.

LunaHound wrote:

candy.man wrote:

Fralethepalewhale wrote:My God, it almost seems as if GW is trying to make amends for their crappy public relations.

Never lol!

I suspect this is probably part of a marketing strategy. The criteria to quality for the free stuff is probably high volume+sales. Given that GW probably makes the most revenue on retail sales (as well as the fact that the retail receives heavy competition from online discounters), increasing the focus on retail sales via “grass roots” type schemes is a sound strategy. I personally doubt it will be the winning strategy that GW is hoping for (as Timmy will always choose to save $10-20 and buy his spacemen online).

Don’t get me wrong, it’s awesome that GW is doing this but it’s not because it is from the goodness of their hearts.

GW is re-balancing their sphere of influence in areas.
They were forced to close some stores, they make it back by supporting LFGS.
If some locations are lacking GW, they'll do the same.

They wont need to pay rent to lease a whole new building
or hire a whole new staff.

This is cheap, effective, and smart.

I agree with both postings above and have a few possibilities "cough... cough" on perhaps the reason why this happening right now.

In no apparent order.

1. The Squeaky Wheel Syndrome.

A negative campaign that has many view points on what is wrong with Games Workshop. This does not have to be completely true nor does it have to be the majority of people that agrees with that viewpoint. If that viewpoint is is loud enough, long enough in duration and with some validity, corporations will do something to lessen the noise of whatever negative that is happening.
The interwebs is the great communicator that combine common ideals from people that are global regions apart.

2. Customer Base Erosion.

Regardless of the companies profits, their has been an erosion within their customer base. Some of the reasons have been stated before but regardless people are leaving this hobby. This is a way to help stem the tide of their customer base erosion, keeping their old customers as well as trying to increase newcomers into the hobby.

3. Competition.

Regardless of what people think that GW is the 800 pound gorilla (in 2004 they definitely were), I believe that the 800 pound gorilla has gotten a little lazy as there are now a few healthy companies that are providing a similar service for the same hobby dollars GW gathers. Competition is a good thing for the consumers but for a not for a company that is organized like Games Workshop is.

There are probably more possible reasons why this is happening now. What I can say that this is a good idea to help promote the hobby that some of us old timers (since 87 with this game) have gone cynical towards the corporation's past actions. How long will this policy last will be the direct result on it's success on increasing sales in the short term.

LunaHound wrote:

mikhaila wrote:I suspect this is probably part of a marketing strategy. The criteria to quality for the free stuff is probably high volume+sales.

Absolutely a marketing strategy, but then, so is me having tables in my stores for people to play on.) Anything a business does to increase sales is a marketing strategy.

Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

Yes it makes it harder to balance your different games.
by focusing on GW and the criteria, you'll unknowingly start alienating other systems.

Not really at all. The required product is all boxes. You order them in, then re-order what sells. Inventory takes me about 5 minutes on a monday morning, about 5 minutes to place the order, then my rep and I chat for 5 minutes and done.

Then you walk over to the warmachine section and do that inventory, then Flames of War, etc. This is just standard work in a game store. If a store has a POS system, even easier. And once a store realizes that by stocking more GW, they sell more GW, they may even realize that by stocking more Privateer, they sell more Privateer......etc. etc. If you can figure out how to stock, inventory and sell GW, you can apply the same lessons to selling other games.

I see the most 'alienation' of game systems happen when a Retailer can't seperate his own preferences from his store.

mikhaila wrote:It doesn't have anything to do with GW stores at all. This is support for independent gaming stores that order product from GW. (FLGS)

I am not aware of such a support for German stores. Never heard of anything like that nor expected it from GW.

LunaHound wrote:

mikhaila wrote:I suspect this is probably part of a marketing strategy. The criteria to quality for the free stuff is probably high volume+sales.

Absolutely a marketing strategy, but then, so is me having tables in my stores for people to play on.) Anything a business does to increase sales is a marketing strategy.

Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

Yes it makes it harder to balance your different games.
by focusing on GW and the criteria, you'll unknowingly start alienating other systems.

You haven't seen mikhaila's store...

I swear he must wake up from bad dreams yelling things like "No your dreadnought doesn't have boosted attack rolls!"

Did they change the minimum stock requirements? That is what keeps GW out of some local stores.


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That and order requirements, you can't order one blister, but 3 of each.

jabbakahut wrote:Did they change the minimum stock requirements? That is what keeps GW out of some local stores.


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That and order requirements, you can't order one blister, but 3 of each.

There never has been a stock requirement to carry GW, you can have a GW account with no stock requirements. You get the same discount, but have to pay shipping if the order is under about 400.00, which is similar to ordering from about 10 other places that I deal with.

If you carry the bare minimum of plastic boxes, they give you free shipping all the time, no minimum order.

As you agree to carry more product, they will give the store more free terrain, paints, models, etc.

Old requirement on blisters was two. Never three. And has been 1 for about a year.

Stores can also order from distributors rather than GW. Loses them money, as they get no GW support, and loose 5-10% of their discount, which is 11-22% of their profits.

Wow, never ceases to amaze me how many people think that GW's ordering policy is harsh. I happen to know how great mikhaila's stores are (though I have not been to the new one) since he was one of the better retailers when I was a sales rep. And actually, GW's policies have gotten much easier than they were back in 2000. Besides working there, I have helped or run 3 gaming stores, and meeting any minimum requirements (even the older ones) was never a problem. And it would not be, especially if those stores followed mikhaila's advice above about stocking versus ordering. I have a friend who owns a store locally now. He's been getting free stuff for some time (though at the lower level since his store is just about 2 years old). Surely if a store that is just beginning can make purchases easily to qualify for free terrain for the store, then any successful store can do so. If not, I agree, it is probably the owners own prerogatives that hurt or hinder his ability to sell GW. Also, PP's support is not as good for my friend's store here as the GW one is - though he does do well with that line as well.

I have another friend from high school who has a successful comics store. He's never liked wargaming and can't sell it out of his store to save his life. He's smart enough to not "Blame" GW, as he knows this - when he talks to me. Doesn't stop him from talking it down to his customers though (he'd rather sell more magic!). Note - he has also only dabbled in GW from time to time (took a stab at it every few years by buying a few box games).

This policy is great for both the stores (and their PLAYING customers) and for GW. The stores get (if they are smart), free terrain or paints for their players to use in the store, also prize support for the bigger events, etc. And GW gets to have their terrain on a lot of tables (presumably painted up to look good) and helps them highlight and sell more things. After all if a NEW gamer went into mikhaila's store and uses some of the store paints to learn how to paint some models, don't you think they'd be more likely to buy the same paints to take home? Mikhaila gets to use some free paints to get someone firmly into the HOBBY, and then he probably gets to sell them some paint. And remember, regardless if you are different (because you still spend 200-300 a month on GW), every new gamer has LOTS to buy: books, models, paints, tools, terrain or battle mat for home, etc. A "newbie" can and will easily outspend a normal veteran just to get into the hobby. Also note - this is the same for PP, Magic, even a role playing game (to larger or lesser degrees.)

If this is just the US policy going to the rest of the world, great! It is a small marketing investment that can easily pay off for the stores and for GW. And it can also be good for the whole hobby, as hopefully more stores with better support means more gamers. Regardless of perceptions, GW is really cooking when LOTS of retailers, the GW stores and word of mouth are bringing in lots of new gamers. Without the retailer portion, even in saturated markets, GW can't afford the overhead for only their stores, and they lose the doorways for someone to discover GW. Anything marketing wise that they do to help prop this up is only good for them and the GAMERS.

Grrr, I just used Mikhaila as example since he owned a store, I guess it doesnt apply to him,
but my point still stands on other stores perhaps?

This program has been around a very VERY long time and has had many faces. I ran a "Chapter Approved" store in AZ back in the mid 90's and back then it was 50/100/150$( at least that is what our store got, cant speak to other or if this was the standard across the board) a year in prize support for events.

We stocked EVERY THING they made at the time because to be "Chapter Approved" its what you had to do. You got a black box at the first of each month that contained all the releases for the month so you could get pre-orders rolling and get guys excited about what was on the way. There were most Definitely min- order requirements back then. 2 on new box sets and 6 on new blisters and if you did not order them on new release day you had to wait a week to order them so that other stores that did get them on release day had a jump on selling them first because you passed on them.

Epic got redone during this time and that game was crazy with the amount of product we had to order. The all out release of product was very large all with min orders, that was painful. I am actually a bit surprised at the 1800$ quote, that's a lot of money but if you supporting the company to that sort of level it make perfect sense.

Also weather its a policy or not for the last 20 or so years I have been with stores or the game as a player there has always been "prize support" officially or not. If your making your rep money, he is making sure you get a little something when you need it, that's just good business.

mikhaila is my hero. For all of you guys assuming the worst, actually read what mikhaila is saying since that is from direct first-hand experience and not 'OMG I HEARD'.

Of all the things GW does wrong, Customer and Retailer support are not it.

This is such a great marketing move (i.e. utterly out-of-character for GW), that I have a hard time believing it.

Omegus wrote:This is such a great marketing move (i.e. utterly out-of-character for GW), that I have a hard time believing it.

If they've been doing it in the US for over a decade, how is it out of character? )

But it is nice to see them recognizing that it's working here in the states, and rolling it out to the rest of the world.

I'm really happy for this. The flgs where I go to school is an amazing place, And he already stocks loads of gw product. the way I see it, The consumer is going to benefit from this in small flgs instances because now the store will be able to field more terrain. I see it as a reward system not only for the store but the customer

This is stupid.
It's just a ploy by GW to have one more thing on their books that costs them money, so they have an excuse to gouge us in the future!

LOL

In all seriousness, I'm glad to see this. I know that GW used to do all this stuff (and, reading Mik's post, it's obvious that they still did, with some retailers). It's nice to see them getting back into something like this on a larger scale. They're at a spot where they (IMO) desperately need to clean up their image. I think this will go a long way.

Eric

MagickalMemories wrote:This is stupid.
It's just a ploy by GW to have one more thing on their books that costs them money, so they have an excuse to gouge us in the future!

LOL

In all seriousness, I'm glad to see this. I know that GW used to do all this stuff (and, reading Mik's post, it's obvious that they still did, with some retailers). It's nice to see them getting back into something like this on a larger scale. They're at a spot where they (IMO) desperately need to clean up their image. I think this will go a long way.

Eric

You laugh and joke, but it all makes sense now.

Mr Hyena wrote:*Waiting to see how long till a person inevitably bitches about this as well*

Its a good idea GW is implementing this.

Not me.

Even I can't bitch about a move like this, but I will buy it when I see it!

PhantomViper wrote:

Mr Hyena wrote:*Waiting to see how long till a person inevitably bitches about this as well*

Its a good idea GW is implementing this.

Not me.

Even I can't bitch about a move like this, but I will buy it when I see it!

Just recieved my monthly alotment of 300.00 in goodies for my two stores. Unpacking it now.)

But he can't see that from where he is! : )


Eric

MagickalMemories wrote:But he can't see that from where he is! : )


Eric

I assume everyone is watching me until I find the wires and tear out their cameras.

Would explain why there is suddenly a 40k Escalation league at my local store. Though, they're still charging a $40 dollar entrance fee.

Sounds cool. This looks like a big year for GW

mikhaila wrote:They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

The counter to this is that some stuff just doesn't sell. Thanks to a minor printing error (Eldar symbol on a Tau box) we've been able to watch a single unit not move at my FLGS for going on 3 years now. Now that may just be Tau, but I'm fairly certain that at least 1/5 of the GW boxes have been sitting on the same shelf since 4th ed.

Bounty wrote:

mikhaila wrote:They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

The counter to this is that some stuff just doesn't sell. Thanks to a minor printing error (Eldar symbol on a Tau box) we've been able to watch a single unit not move at my FLGS for going on 3 years now. Now that may just be Tau, but I'm fairly certain that at least 1/5 of the GW boxes have been sitting on the same shelf since 4th ed.

Sorry, it's a poor counter.)

The cost of having extra product is far less than the cost of lost sales.

If you order something and don't sell it, it costs you one time. That cost is even recoverable by selling the merchandise at a discount.

If you don't have the product, you lose money every time that product would have sold, and there's no way to recover that profit unless the
person is willing to make a special order with you.

If a product sells twice, it has paid for more than the cost of 3 units. The box on the wall is profit, and the store has some profit in their pocket. At that point, it produces profit every time it sells, whether once a year, or 12 times a year. Product on the wall isn't costing a store money, that money has been spent. The product in the store is the tool a store needs to produce profit. Under inventoried stores will make less profits than stores with a full inventory.

If a store gets in a product that doesn't sell, find out why it didn't sell. You need the information to order better on other products, or to change how you sell the product, or how you promote it. Getting in things that don't sell is quite common, for GW, games in general, or any other type of merchandise. Lets not even go into comic books /shudder.)

As an example, look at every fething store that goes out of business. What do they do when times are tight? Quit ordering. Then next month they have less inventory, less sales, less profits, which then makes the next month harder. I call it a death spiral. I avoid it ever happening to me at all costs. When the economy got bad, I started working 80 hours a week, quit taking days off, skipped some paychecks. Anything EXCEPT lowering inventory. In fact, I increased inventory every year over the past 3 years. Store is much bigger, has metric tons of stuff to sell, and we're in a good financial position after riding out the crappy economy.

As to the box with the printing error: Your store should simply tell their sales rep they have a misprinted box, and GW will ship another one. Problem solved.

mikhaila wrote:As to the box with the printing error: Your store should simply tell their sales rep they have a misprinted box, and GW will ship another one. Problem solved.

I actually plan on buying it before the end of the year. I just don't need it, yet.

mikhaila wrote:When the economy got bad, I started working 80 hours a week, quit taking days off, skipped some paychecks. Anything EXCEPT lowering inventory. In fact, I increased inventory every year over the past 3 years. Store is much bigger, has metric tons of stuff to sell, and we're in a good financial position after riding out the crappy economy.

That's pretty sweet, mikhaila! And I would think, very true... I game at a store regularly, but there's hardly any Privateer Press stock (and what there is is quite random). Wanted to buy a Trollbloods Champions box (the same one that happened to be the only thing you were Out of stock in while I was up at your store ) but they didn't have it... figured I could settle for a Ghordson Basher that I was also looking for, but they didn't have it either. Called around and found another local store that did, and they ended up getting my business...

Having stuff in-stock gives me the opportunity to buy things, not having it takes away that chance for the most part... ordering through a FLGS is possible, but usually more hassle than it's worth where I'm at, unfortunately.

timetowaste85 wrote:

ph34r wrote:

LunaHound wrote:Not cheap for US CuSTOMERs

cheap for them.

I know, just the thought of GW doing something smart and practical that also makes the community happy is a breath and fresh air.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

mikhaila wrote:Criteria is simply having the GW models in your store. Doing 1k a month in business or 10k, you get the same support. They've just found that stores that actually have the items to sell tend to sell more. It's a basic concept in retailing, that it's hard to sell something you don't have in the store. Sadly, I argue with many retailers over this. "If they want it, they have to tell me and I'll order it" is all to common an attitude.

I have encountered this before at stores, usually ones that do not stock many GW products. I feel for them that it takes investment to have everything on your shelves, but the only reason I would have something shipped in through a physical store is if I really want to support my FLGS. Otherwise it's more effort than ordering online, less convenient/slower than ordering online, and costs more than ordering online.

This. The game store in my town has almost no GW on the shelves, and only offers to order stuff. What's the point? If I want it now and you don't have it, you don't help me and I'll go get it elsewhere. Also, impulse buys? "I'm going down to the game store to look around...Oooo, they have a box of scouts, and I'm kinda short by 5...hmm, maybe I should snag some." I've been in this position before. Mikhaila, I still really want to visit your store sometime. Convince my boss to have a job that requires me to drive through Philly.

Be nice to your FLGS. The minimum price I can order at for new products is the same as your retail price if I bulk buy from overseas (or an extra $10/product from an Australian distributor), so be a little grateful for it mate.

I'd kill to be able to use international distributors outside of ebay.