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just putting some feelers out there,

Myself and my business partner partner are opening up a war-gaming shop in cheadle Manchester that will also have a on-line shop with massive reductions on everything war-gaming and warhammer.
We will obviously pride ourselves ourself s on customer service and low prices.

But what would you as the buyer want to see from a new company looking to be the best?

K and M Gaming

Customer service that is 2nd to none

Perhaps a painting service ?

Your own one off figures or terrain ?

Create a decent 15mm forum for all products.

Perhaps a Kickstarter prolect.

Organise a huge gaming event.

Hire a very expensive solicitor and see if you can win the intellectual rights to the term ,"Space Marine"

I cannot see how you aim to beat the opposition with reductions as the market is flooded at the moment in my view.

Anyway, good luck.

Hi there, we offer 3 painting services
1. is just a quick standard to get a army done for a game with friends
2. table top quality
3. is competition quality
we offer a online bitz box
we also have a offer on of for the first 3 months we have free shipping on every order.
also in store we will have 4 gaming tables and a small kitchen and toilet facilities as well as many other things.

My own war gaming store has limited space because the also sell all other sorts of games. Therefore it lacks the eye candy display figures and battle boards / tables to inspire, awe and hook (new) players. Their showcase is a small pillar tugged way between the shelves in a corner in the back of the store... And there display battle table is a wooden board with one tone structure paint with a couple basic warhammer scenery on top plus two undersized armies from warhammer and 40K.

What they do really well is that they have a fixed thursday night for wargaming and they organise allot of competitions and events for wargaming. Plus the guy who owns the store is also a very likable guy and always in for a talk or a gossip. He also offered me a refund when I bought the space wolves codex a week before the new one was launched. Or shared his Ice creams with us on a hot summer day.

For the rest, Darkness screamer is spot on.

Good luck and can't wait to see you online shop. One question though you being located in manchester... You also ship to other countries? Like the Netherlands? And do you also have a shipping cost reduction or free shipping cost when ordering above a certain amount?

Hi there thanks for your help for the first 3 months we will be offering free shipping on everything whether it be 1 pot of paint or 20 leman russ's, outside of UK we do post but for the first 3 months would be at a discounted rate as you can understand its more expensive to ship abroad! we are currently working on 4 different boards 1. Urban 2.Jungle 3. Snow and a 4th more dark style board. we will have huge window displays and have a variety of armies on sale on line. the site will be updated daily so your always getting our best offers. I myself collect warhammer 40K (tau) so i am basically trying to bring everything i want of a store plus more!

Wow that sounds my perfect wargaming shop / hangout place / Valhalla!

I must remind myself to visit you guys whenever I'm in manchester!

Definitely mate and as soon as our site/store is up and running ill be posting a 10% discount for everyone who has helped us with some input to make our shop the best place possible!

I'd say make sure you have a good selection of games that people will play, maybe some stuff that hasn't been in the area before (IE Not GW)

Flames of War, malifaux, Bolt Action, Infinity, Saga, Batman, Dead Mans,hand and Battlefront are just a few that we play regularly.

If you want to be a store, then be a Store for the locals - not just discounts online. Your locals will be the ones who keep you afloat whilst the online area is always going to be hard work.

If you get your shop right and get the players from that area involved you'll be going well for a long while. Online - a few bad reviews and you're in trouble. Obviously you need both fronts but having a great LGS is what will work for you long-term. Most people will go to the LGS if they can get what they want at a reasonable price.

We plan on having a store that is friendly and always a smile behind the counter and plenty of cups of tea, as I stated before I myself am a table top player so I'm hoping I do everything right!

We have also just submitted a kickstarter and I will post the link shortly just incase any of you guys are feeling generous

Sounds good, will have to visit when I'm up that way.

I would say have competitions. Army showcases. Game demos. Try to hook the local Warcors/Press Gangers to your store. Having a few dedicated gamers can do a lot for the scene. Possibly some discounts for those that are willing to do some demo games.
And do remember the regulars. We appreciate that.
I myself LOVE my FLGS. And that shows in how much monies I leave behind in that store.
Maybe host a painting day.

All great ideas giys, be sure to pop down for your additional dicount and a cuppa tea!

we will always look after our regulars, we are trying to create a family enviroment

Free Beer !

Painting and/or Modeling?

They did some painting classes with guys like Mathieu Fontaine that were a big hit (he is amazing btw).

Knowledgeable, friendly staff is really important to me. Nothing annoys me as much as going to a hobby store, and hearing or receiving really bad advice.

Secondly, having competitive prices is important. I will tend not to buy items from stores where most of the items are more expensive than their competitors.

From a practical perspective, selection is extremely important. My hobby spend is quite high (consistently $500+ every month on models and paint, plus expensive items like airbrushes), and I will spend a lot more at a store with lots of stuff. I don't just mean GW boxes -- I like all the hobby tools like sanding blocks or 8,000 grit sandpaper, vices, decal transfer tools, different cutting implements, awls with nice handles, Kolinsky brushes, brass etch, basing materials, terrain stuff, a selection of tiny drill bits, and all that hobby goodness. I get all giddy when I see a Tamiya tool on the shelf that I don't have, even if it is ridiculously overpriced

Many brands of paint is appreciated as well. I am a paint freak, and I love experimenting with different brands of paint. I don't think it's one brand fits all, and even though my primary brand is Citadel, I really appreciate selection.

Also, a prominent "new stuff" shelf is greatly appreciated. I dislike going to the Privateer Press section, and hunting for the one new release in the Trollbloods section. If I walk into the store and see Borka, I'll be much more likely to simply pick him up and impulse buy him

One thing I look for is bitz that arent very generic. GW has some boring poses for bodies and every weapon looks the same. If you decide or can cast resin models, keep the theme but make some more epic and detailed bits. FW only does so much.

All good advice that is duley noted, if you guys wouldnt mind could you take a look at my kickstaeter and maybe give it a share? https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/789757127/k-and-m-gaming-tabletop-wargaming

Sorry to come in harshly, but that's a terrible Kickstarter page. I had to read it 2/3 times and then come back here to try and decide whether you were seeking funding for a shop or a club (I'm still not 100% sure if it's to fund adding a club to your shop or opening a shop in the first place).

The rewards don't really offer good value which is what most people on Kickstarter look for - you are looking more for people to fund you out of the goodness of the hearts, and I'm not sure KS is the venue to do that.

Have you drawn up full business plans for your shop? You seem to be offering the world to everyone in terms of tables, kitchens, discounts, free shipping, painting services etc and that would require a lot of capital - well above the £4k you are running the KS for.

I salute anyone with the get up and go to start something like this, but having done my time in the worlds of Gaming retail, comics retail and comics distribution I know how tough it really is out there if you don't have (and even if you do have) everything properly prepared. Sometimes the best advice to listen to is "don't do that" - it can save you thousands if you listen to it at the right time.

Ill be the first to admit its not the best KS i could do with some help, Im in the process of writing a full buisness plan up at the minute because its kind of all on diffrent pieces of paper in a folder. We will be offering all that as we already have the tables etc We already have some investment from another backer just need the last bit to get everything going how we want it to. I have dyslexia so find it hard to put down what is in my head

just thought on some other things you could sell besides models, paint, painting / modeling attributes.

Good scenery products are also things I look for... My dream shop would also have a small corner section with scenery products like fine turfs, tufts, snow, water, static grasses, rocks, sand, molding and casting products, realistic miniature trees (kits) (maybe even including lightning materials and foam boards (maybe not on display) but being able to buy them at your place makes you an great one stop shop... and boy do we love convenience).

Also good (Feldherr) cases to transport you mini's in would also be a good addition.

Don't know if airbrushes are products you want to sell but it could complete the picture of a one stop shop.