New GW policy: Free stuff for stores

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**Surtur**

I approve of this rumor.

**Omegus**

mikhaila wrote:
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.

This post just owned all your faces.

It's a shame so many LGS retailers are so utterly clueless about business.

**spireland**

I find the lack of Skulls in the offer to be disturbing.

**CT GAMER**

pretre wrote:Wow, that's a pretty awesome program

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

**pretre**

CT GAMER wrote:
pretre wrote:Wow, that's a pretty awesome program

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Did you read the thread? According to mikhaila, it has already been going on for quite some time and this is just an enhancement.

**mikhaila**

CT GAMER wrote:
pretre wrote:Wow, that's a pretty awesome program

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Yeah? Is that counting or not counting all the years it's already been going on?

**Kroothawk**

There is nothing like that in Germany. Actually the support decreased since the infamous June 2011. No more Black Boxes, not even a free store WD to show the customers. And what you seem to have in USA wouldn't be "a new GW policy". So we have to find out what this really means.

**CT GAMER**

pretre wrote:
CT GAMER wrote:
pretre wrote:Wow, that's a pretty awesome program

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Did you read the thread? According to mikhaila, it has already been going on for quite some time and this is just an enhancement.

The thread title is a little misleading then isn't it...

**Baldsmug**

Thats pretty cool. wish there was a GW store closer.

**inquisitorlewis**

CT GAMER wrote:
pretre wrote:Wow, that's a pretty awesome program

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

It really has been going on a long time. I used to play a lot of RT tournaments back in 02-06 or so. I played in two different shops that were within 60 miles of me. Both were partner stores, and both had great prize support. In 2 of the tournaments everyone got a miniature, not just winners. I have both a Gideon Lore, and Sergeant Aurelius from those tournies. So not only did we get minis, but they were both Limited Editions.

This could still have been a marketing campaign for GW. Bring the fact into the spotlight etc, but it is nothing new.

**His Imortal Shadow**

The funny part about this is that 20 Years ago this is how GW was

**Adam LongWalker**

inquisitorlewis wrote:
CT GAMER wrote:
pretre wrote:Wow, that's a pretty awesome program

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

It really has been going on a long time. I used to play a lot of RT tournaments back in 02-06 or so. I played in two different shops that were within 60 miles of me. Both were partner stores, and both had great prize support. In 2 of the tournaments everyone got a miniature, not just winners. I have both a Gideon Lore, and Sergeant Aurelius from those tournies. So not only did we get minis, but they were both Limited Editions.

This could still have been a marketing campaign for GW. Bring the fact into the spotlight etc, but it is nothing new.

Perhaps CT gamer is referring to this and only this variation to the prize support?

What I do know that according to my LFGS owner is that in his case, how much sales of GW product he does per month affects his amount of prize support per year. In his case he will get $300.00 per year of GW product prize support. He can use whatever amount per year in his allotted prize support to run his events. The prize support is initially taken from product on hand and replenished by GW on a later date.

**Kroothawk**

More details by xxRavenxx

xxRavenxx wrote:
Wintermute wrote:So what are the actual criteria, because I very much doubt its a simple as you've stated

See. Thats why you's the boss, because you ask the useful questions

From what I remember:

For stocking the core 52 items: Access to mail order items in a limited quantity, Money each year for games tables, demos, etc. Free display racks, no minimum order value on orders.

For stocking most of the paints, glues, and scenery: More money to play with, free racking for the store.

For stocking white dwarf, and ordering one of all new releases: Posters to advertise the new products up front, cash,

For stocking about 200 extra items (which are variable, and aimed at letting stores be flexible): Racking / cash. tournament prizes.

For stocking the last of the painting stuff: Racking/cash.

I think theres overlap on the racking/Cash front to let people get the maximum by following say 3/5 of the criteria. I may have jumbled some of the "prizes" too. I really don't remember which is which. I run a small(ish) store and I had no trouble agreeing to all 5 results. I have to order maybe... a dozen boxed sets I wasn't stocking to get the full perks.

The only milestone I can see is that the 200ish products you stock must include all three ranges, and the core 52 (I think its 52 anyway...) does too. If you didn't like stocking say, LOTR, you'd be stuffed.

Wintermute wrote:However my cynical side is still asking how does this benefit GW?

Several things, I can think of:

GW giving out prizes encourages people to go to store tournaments. This makes them more likely to buy things. It also is good PR. People like companies who give them free things.
This policy "discriminates" against webstores, who cannot claim any of the benefits, without actually... discriminating. This is probably the best way they can support brick and mortar stores, which they need, to recruit people.
The policy encourages stores to stock more complete GW ranges. No more skipping on pesky stuff like LOTR. GW will like the "enforcement" this gives. I know I spent several years not bothering with LOTR due to lack of local interest.
The demo pack portions of the deal encourage 3rd partes to do painting days, teaching people, etc. This furthers "THE HOBBY" (tm). It helps them set people up with their range as inclusive. For the benefit of the more cynical: "Hi there Little Timmy. Take your GW clippers, and GW glue, and build this. Now get your GW paint and GW brush and paint up your GW space marine. Was that fun? Go get your mother. She'll need her purse."

**PapaPiggy**

Gw being nice to its customers is a first. Can any one say price jump coming? It just seems odd that Gw would give free things to hobby stores that aren't Gw stores. maybe they will be closing some GW stores in the near future.

**LazzurusMan**

Reminds me of the last...line-up-outside-the-store-and-maybe-win-a-battle-force-comp at my local GW...

When they gave the winner the prize...even his friend didn't clap...

**mikhaila**

PapaPiggy wrote:Gw being nice to its customers is a first. Can any one say price jump coming? It just seems odd that Gw would give free things to hobby stores that aren't Gw stores. maybe they will be closing some GW stores in the near future.

GW, at least in the US as I can't speak for other countries, has done this for years. Decades even. My stores have recieved thousands of dollars in GW support every year for over 20 years. It's encouraged me to work on my business model, run events and classes, and work to increas my GW sales. And I apply the lessons learned to supporting Flames of War, Warmahordes, and other games. I've got a much finer game store than I had when I opened, a good deal in part due to help and advice from people at GW. (Some of whom are now in Battlefront, Warlord, Mantic, etc.)

Why help a non GW store? Because it makes them money! US trade sales is doing very good, moreso than similar programs in other countries. This looks to be an overhaul of the US system, and a rolling out of the program to other countries. Not a lot is going to change in the US. This last week was pretty normal, my sales rep reminded me about my monthly support, and we picked out 300.00 in stuff for my two stores, and it shipped to me for free. Been making new terrain all weekend using a lot of the kits we got in.

**Kroothawk**

mikhaila wrote:GW, at least in the US as I can't speak for other countries, has done this for years. Decades even.

As said, nothing at all in that direction in Germany. They even declined to give the stores a free 7€ WD while at the same time urging the stores to have a store copy to show all customers. That's why I believed it is something new worldwide.

**mikhaila**

Kroothawk wrote:
mikhaila wrote:GW, at least in the US as I can't speak for other countries, has done this for years. Decades even.

As said, nothing at all in that direction in Germany. They even declined to give the stores a free 7€ WD while at the same time urging the stores to have a store copy to show all customers. That's why I believed it is something new worldwide.

Definitely knew to rest of world. Over the years, talking to UK stores, it always seemed like I got a ton more support, and could order more products.

**timetowaste85**

Shaozun wrote:
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.

Notice I said game store, not FLGS. This store doesn't deserve my money. They'll happily let you prepay for an item, then not order it for months. And they keep little product on the shelf. This store follows the EXACT formula that Mikhaila is warning against. They order small and order what the owner thinks is cool, not what the customers want. If I had a good store in my town, I'd go there, instead I have to go an hr away for supplies-or online. My friend and I have been talking of opening up a gamestore in town and if these rumors are true, it provides more incentive and more open knowledge as to GW's support for stores.

**palehorse**

Awesome..good move for them

**mattyrm**

CT GAMER wrote: Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Ill take that bet.

mikhaila wrote: My stores have recieved thousands of dollars in GW support every year for over 20 years.

Epic win!

**PhantomViper**

mattyrm wrote:
CT GAMER wrote: Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Ill take that bet.

mikhaila wrote: My stores have recieved thousands of dollars in GW support every year for over 20 years.

Epic win!

Except that mikhaila is talking about a US store and this is a new policy only for stores outside the US, so completely unrelated.

Got to love white knights...

**mattyrm**

PhantomViper wrote:

Got to love white knights...

Sorry, enlighten me as to what I apparently am please. I'm a white knight?

Based on what exactly?

**mikhaila**

PhantomViper wrote:
mattyrm wrote:
CT GAMER wrote: Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Ill take that bet.

mikhaila wrote: My stores have recieved thousands of dollars in GW support every year for over 20 years.

Epic win!

Except that mikhaila is talking about a US store and this is a new policy only for stores outside the US, so completely unrelated.

Got to love white knights...

Got to love Epic Failures.)

What I was told by my sales rep: This is a new world wide policy based on what the US Trade Sales Team has been doing for over a decade. Not a lot of change for us in the US, lots of change for other parts of the world.

Not sure where you picked up the 'only stores outside the US' bit. I think I've said the same thing several times now. I've got the paperwork for it on my desk in front of me, so fairly sure of my facts that it applies to stores in the US.)

As for the White Knight part, that's amusing.) I yell/curse/criticize/debate/ GW more than you could ever imagine. I just tend to do it directly to them, and not on forums. Far more effective that way. But I'll certainly defend them on this topic. They are going to be literally giving away millions of dollars in product and scenery to trade accounts. (LGS). But some people are so used to complaining that they don't want to believe it.

How often is it discussed on these boards about what the raw materials for their products really cost? Product is cheap for GW to give away, a fraction of the retail value of the product. This is a very effective way to support stores.( Although I have to admit that WOTC does it even better. They can litterally spend less than a penny for a promo card, and had them out for the added cost of 2 bucks for shipping, and pack people in for events to win them.)

**CT GAMER**

mattyrm wrote:

Sorry, enlighten me as to what I apparently am please.

Dakka policy prevents us from telling you what you are mattyrm, you know that...

**mattyrm**

CT GAMER wrote:
mattyrm wrote:

Sorry, enlighten me as to what I apparently am please.

Dakka policy prevents us from telling you what you are mattyrm, you know that...

PM me it, I'm all ears.

Actually, seeing as its you again it might take a while to type, do you want my phone number?

**PhantomViper**

mikhaila wrote:
PhantomViper wrote:
mattyrm wrote:
CT GAMER wrote: Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll give it 1-2 years max.

Ill take that bet.

mikhaila wrote: My stores have recieved thousands of dollars in GW support every year for over 20 years.

Epic win!

Except that mikhaila is talking about a US store and this is a new policy only for stores outside the US, so completely unrelated.

Got to love white knights...

Got to love Epic Failures.)

What I was told by my sales rep: This is a new world wide policy based on what the US Trade Sales Team has been doing for over a decade. Not a lot of change for us in the US, lots of change for other parts of the world.

Not sure where you picked up the 'only stores outside the US' bit. I think I've said the same thing several times now. I've got the paperwork for it on my desk in front of me, so fairly sure of my facts that it applies to stores in the US.)

Re-read what I've wrote, that is exactly what I've said.

PhantomViper wrote:
Except that mikhaila is talking about a US store and this is a new policy only for stores outside the US, so completely unrelated.

Its a new policy for stores outside the US because stores in the US already have this policy in place for decades, like you said.

No one is saying that you are lying about it or anything, just that mattyrm was using a US store (yours), as an example to prove that CT GAMER was wrong, when CT GAMER was referring to a "rest of the world" policy.

**Breotan**

On a side note, this is for non-GW stores only. I was talking to the manager at a GW store and he said he didn't understand how Trade got away with this policy give how much Corporate loaths it. Apparently Corporate is of the opinion that it devalues the product and feels that it should be scrapped altogether. The manager said he knows of instances where other GW staffers have been fired for doing prize support at GW stores. Too bad, really, given that independent stores seem to be unreliable (even for legitimate reasons) in my area.

**Janthkin**