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Made in us
Archmagos Veneratus Extremis






Home Base: Prosper, TX (Dallas)

@chris_valera

If you belive that I've got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

I lived in SoCal till about 2 years ago. GW stores increase sales "if" the local store is smart and works with the store manager. Brookhurst is.....not a clean or organized place. Plenty of other stores have done just fine with GW stores locally.

GW opened the Block because it was at a highend outdoor mall that gave it tons of exposure to a clientelle who could afford to get into the game. This was done after the success of the Glendale Galleria store that had very similar circumstances (less the outdoor part). Can't speak to the Bunker but based on size, cost, metro area, and role that was probably an optimal location for them.

Best Painted (2015 Adepticon 40k Champs)

They Shall Know Fear - Adepticon 40k TT Champion (2012 & 2013) & 40k TT Best Sport (2014), 40k TT Best Tactician (2015 & 2016) 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran






 Hulksmash wrote:
@chris_valera

If you belive that I've got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

I lived in SoCal till about 2 years ago. GW stores increase sales "if" the local store is smart and works with the store manager. Brookhurst is.....not a clean or organized place. Plenty of other stores have done just fine with GW stores locally.

GW opened the Block because it was at a highend outdoor mall that gave it tons of exposure to a clientelle who could afford to get into the game. This was done after the success of the Glendale Galleria store that had very similar circumstances (less the outdoor part). Can't speak to the Bunker but based on size, cost, metro area, and role that was probably an optimal location for them.


Then how come Brookhurst Hobbies is the only one to tell GW to take their policies and cram it, they discount at 20% off, all the time.

GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com

Looking for the Empire spearmen from the Warhammer sixth edition box set (empire vs orcs) Must be unpainted and in good condition. Also looking for MIB Empire State Troops boxes.

Looking for Battle for Macragge and Black Reach Tactical squads, unpainted and unassembled. 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran



South Portsmouth, KY USA

Is everyone just magically forgetting that Mark Wells was just Tom Kirby's sock puppet? Tom Kirby has and always will be the main force behind GW's less than intelligent business decisions.


Armies: Space Marines, IG, Tyranids, Eldar, Necrons, Orks, Dark Eldar.
I am the best 40k player in my town, I always win! Of course, I am the only player of 40k in my town.

Check out my friends over at Sea Dog Game Studios, they always have something cooking: http://www.sailpowergame.com. Or if age of sail isn't your thing check out the rapid fire sci-fi action of Techcommander http://www.techcommandergame.com
 
   
Made in au
Hacking Proxy Mk.1





Australia

xraytango wrote:
Is everyone just magically forgetting that Mark Wells was just Tom Kirby's sock puppet? Tom Kirby has and always will be the main force behind GW's less than intelligent business decisions.



Apparently.

 Fafnir wrote:
Oh, I certainly vote with my dollar, but the problem is that that is not enough. The problem with the 'vote with your dollar' response is that it doesn't take into account why we're not buying the product. I want to enjoy 40k enough to buy back in. It was my introduction to traditional games, and there was a time when I enjoyed it very much. I want to buy 40k, but Gamesworkshop is doing their very best to push me away, and simply not buying their product won't tell them that.
 
   
Made in us
Thinking of Joining a Davinite Loge




 NuggzTheNinja wrote:
We should Kickstart DakkaDakka purchasing a sizeable chunk of GW. Just enough to fix the damn problems.

Considering fans blow $50 on a codex or a box of minis, expecting a $25-50 contribution from every fan...curious what that would net.


Won't work, people here and portent.com tended to want to complain about problems but won't put their money where their mouth is. I bought about 100 shares some 5 - 6 years ago for about $200 when the share price was just over $2. Now my investment is over $1000. It's done better than most of my other investments. If they can't afford the models, they can't afford to buy the stock. Unfortunately, you can't buy that at a discount unless you work for them and you invest in their ESOP then you may get a chance to buy it for a 10-20% discount.

The CEO stepping down and the chairmen taking over doesn't signal the end. Most Fortune 500 companies including the one I work at have both positions filled by the same person. GW is such a small company, I thought it was dumb they had the positions split. Kirby won't lose his job due to the fact he owns a substantial amount of GW. Hence the reason Bob from Bob's Plumbing won't lose his job. Unless the institutional investors vote to remove him, he will retire on his own time. It looked like there was some internal conflict between the CEO and the BOD. Hopefully this resolves and we can move past it. If all the commentary on this board was right, we'd only have PP to play because GW would have sunk years ago and we couldn't complain about them because GK wouldn't have been released, CH wouldn't have had a lawsuit because they wouldn't have ever made anything, deldar would still draw blood when you pick them up, and 4th edition would be the last version of the game.

Keep buying their stuff online, in store, or where ever because you indirectly support me and my dividends keep reinvesting so every year I get 1-3 more shares.

[/sarcasm] 
   
Made in gb
Oberstleutnant





Back in the English morass

boyd wrote:

Keep buying their stuff online, in store, or where ever because you indirectly support me and my dividends keep reinvesting so every year I get 1-3 more shares.


Personally I buy all my GW stuff from ebay, most of which look like they were originally painted by on of the growing army of children who have almost certainly dropped GW altogether, and I don't buy anything new from online retailers or anywhere else. How does that help your dividends?

What you have seemingly failed to grasp is that a lot of people have put their money where their mouth is. The majority have moved away from GW altogether while a minority, like myself, use 3rd party miniatures or buy 2nd hand.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/01/22 13:24:30


RegalPhantom wrote:
If your fluff doesn't fit, change your fluff until it does
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog 
   
Made in us
Abhorrent Grotesque Aberration





The level of complaints about GW, their price structure and their business practices is interesting. People only complain when they care. If they stop caring then they stop complaining and just move on.

So, is GW going away soon? Highly unlikely given the number of complainers out there.

------------------
"Why me?" Gideon begged, falling to his knees.
"Why not?" - Asdrubael Vect 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




It certainly true that there are thousands waiting to be GW's customers again. They're just waiting for a real reason to jump back in. I don't think GW will give them one though.
   
Made in de
Decrepit Dakkanaut







-Loki- wrote:Kirby is still on top. So it remains to be seen if it was in fact Wells making the bad desicions.

Kroothawk wrote:GW is now searching for a new strawman posing as a CEO under Tom Kirby

Sheck2 wrote:Hummm...what's the news here? We suspected Kirby never left and was always in control (status quo was maintained and will be maintained). And this confirmed it.
Senator Palpatine was behind Dooku...Dooku departs...who will become Anakin?

n0t_u wrote:One man company.

Harriticus wrote:Anyway there's a saying about changes in leadership on a national level. "Goodbye old boss, hello new boss, same as old boss". Sums up my opinion on this.

jonolikespie wrote:
xraytango wrote:
Is everyone just magically forgetting that Mark Wells was just Tom Kirby's sock puppet? Tom Kirby has and always will be the main force behind GW's less than intelligent business decisions.

Apparently.

Yeah, apparently ... not

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The Dusk-Wraiths of Szith Morcane (my Dark Eldar blog): http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/364786.page
Kroothawk's Malifaux Blog http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/455759.page
If you want to understand the concept of the "Greater Good", read this article, and you never again call Tau commies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism 
   
Made in us
Archmagos Veneratus Extremis






Home Base: Prosper, TX (Dallas)

 chris_valera wrote:
 Hulksmash wrote:
@chris_valera

If you belive that I've got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

I lived in SoCal till about 2 years ago. GW stores increase sales "if" the local store is smart and works with the store manager. Brookhurst is.....not a clean or organized place. Plenty of other stores have done just fine with GW stores locally.

GW opened the Block because it was at a highend outdoor mall that gave it tons of exposure to a clientelle who could afford to get into the game. This was done after the success of the Glendale Galleria store that had very similar circumstances (less the outdoor part). Can't speak to the Bunker but based on size, cost, metro area, and role that was probably an optimal location for them.


Then how come Brookhurst Hobbies is the only one to tell GW to take their policies and cram it, they discount at 20% off, all the time.

GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com


You didn't address a thing I said.

And a ton of stores of sell GW at a standard 20% off. Online and offline. That's not tell GW to take their policies and cram it. That's competiing with online retailers which is a good thing to do if your volume makes up for the loss your taking on each individual product.

And as for opening next to you that doesn't happen to often. There wasn't major gaming store in Northridge when they opened that store. The "FLGS" in Ventura sold GW stuff but it wasn't a spectacular amount of it. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a FLGS locally in Ontario when they opened that store and we already discussed the reason for the Block at Orange opening. There wasn't a seller in Thousand Oaks when they put their new store in there and the same store that sold GW stuff in Ventura is still there and on the opposite side of town from the new GW 1-man they opened there.

Not sure about other Metros they had 10 years ago or more recently as I live in an area with no less than 6 and probably more FLGS that sell GW product and do pretty well with it. It also had one of the largest account holders in the country for several years before he decided to downgrade and move out of downtown. And shockingly, no store in all that time. They are talking about a 1-man store but it'll recruit and won't make a single dent in the local scene. It'll probably only help honestly.

Not sure if a GW store opened next to Mikhaila but he's certainly one of the largest accounts in the country for brick and mortar stores. I don't see him losing existing customers to a GW store.

If your a FLGS and you run a clean shop, give incentives, have gaming space, and are genuinely good at providing customer service a GW store can only benefit you. People don't move over to pay more and play with kids running around their feet if your running a proper business. If you're a whole in the wall that doesn't clean, refuses to take the long view, provide piss poor customer service, or your location is occupied by unchecked grognards then, yeah, a GW store might be a bad thing to have open next to you. And it's even sillier now as GW's are no longer providing gaming space so again, it's a win for local stores that a GW Manager can let people know there is a local store that provides tables to play at. But yeah, conspiracy theories and hating on GW are cool.

Best Painted (2015 Adepticon 40k Champs)

They Shall Know Fear - Adepticon 40k TT Champion (2012 & 2013) & 40k TT Best Sport (2014), 40k TT Best Tactician (2015 & 2016) 
   
Made in us
Thinking of Joining a Davinite Loge




Palindrome wrote:
boyd wrote:

Keep buying their stuff online, in store, or where ever because you indirectly support me and my dividends keep reinvesting so every year I get 1-3 more shares.


Personally I buy all my GW stuff from ebay, most of which look like they were originally painted by on of the growing army of children who have almost certainly dropped GW altogether, and I don't buy anything new from online retailers or anywhere else. How does that help your dividends?

What you have seemingly failed to grasp is that a lot of people have put their money where their mouth is. The majority have moved away from GW altogether while a minority, like myself, use 3rd party miniatures or buy 2nd hand.


Thats fine - at one point in time it was purchased from GW. Personally, I don't care where you buy it as long as it isn't a recasting facility in China. If you go that route, I will just shake my finger at you.

Who is the majority you speak of? Is it the majority of Dakka Members? Are you looking at active members or is it the people that you talk to on a regular basis? Looking at their financial statements, it doesn't look like the majority of the players have moved on - it looks like there is some growth. Their financials show they are consistent. PWC signs off on them. That would indicate there isn't any funny accounting going on unless the Brits (who pretty much developed the double entry accounting system back in the day) don't have beefy policies about the issuing of financial statements. Heck its a hobby - if your hobby brings you that much angst and you feel the need to spout off about how much you dislike one of the larger players in the hobby, you may want to get another hobby. Its akin to me being a big time fan of UCF's football team and then going out and saying how much better my football team is compared to the New York Yankees baseball team because they are the devil and they buy their championships, have the biggest payroll, there is no cap, etc., etc., etc.(* Note I'm actually a Yankees fan when it comes to baseball for no reason other than it was the team I played on when I was in Little League some 20+ years ago since the Marlins didn't exist for most of my Little League career.) UCF Football has nothing to do with the game thats actually being played, has a completely different set of rules for recruitment (NCAA vs MLB), different balls, different number of players on the field, different tactics, etc. etc., etc. This is what I hear when I read these comments about PP vs GW or when people try to become investment analysts when GW puts out their annual statements or when there is a management change. Its not American 24 hour news channels that can repeat something and say its true because they get commentators on that agree with them. Until you've been an auditor or have undergone a financial audit by an international firm, you don't know how those statements are prepared and the level of detail the auditors kick around the different foot notes as well as the formatting for presenting and disclosing information. If you think profit is incremental because you just need to sell more of x to get profit then you absolutely have no idea how the real world works because its never that easy. Selling more its only the first half of the problem its dealing with the incremental costs and determining the most efficient way to do it. Pricing goods and services is very tough because you are trying to hit the sweet spot that maximizes your efforts. Thats what the car manufacturers thought in the 80s - if we automate we can reduce the cost of each unit substantially. Unfortunately, that didn't work. Same with making the stuff cheaper - you will only sell so many units to one person.

Done with my rant. Probably won't be back on here for a couple weeks since I've got CPE that needs to come first.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/01/22 19:16:14


[/sarcasm] 
   
Made in us
Crushing Black Templar Crusader Pilot





New Hampster, USA

Ill just open up the old Dakka Dakka store here in Manchester NH and single-handedly revitalize the biz. Wish me luck!

BLACK TEMPLARS - 2000 0RkZ - 2000 NIDZ - WIP STEEL LEGION - WIP
 
   
Made in gb
Oberstleutnant





Back in the English morass

boyd wrote:

Who is the majority you speak of?


Those who have already given up on GW.

RegalPhantom wrote:
If your fluff doesn't fit, change your fluff until it does
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran






 NuggzTheNinja wrote:

Keep buying their stuff online, in store, or where ever because you indirectly support me and my dividends keep reinvesting so every year I get 1-3 more shares.


Except they're not buying, prices have gone up while the customer base has dwindled and turnover has gone down. There's a point where GW won't have a usable customer base.

Same with me. I admit I bought Dark Angels, but I skipped out on buying both the Chaos and DA book, even though I was excited about both. Same with the models. I skipped out on buying a $50 dino-zord model and the prices of the new Deathwing Knights was just too much. I skipped out on buying The Hobbit altogether. Any further pruchases I make are going to be for D&D/d20

clively wrote:
The level of complaints about GW, their price structure and their business practices is interesting. People only complain when they care. If they stop caring then they stop complaining and just move on.

So, is GW going away soon? Highly unlikely given the number of complainers out there.


People may stick around because they already have an army, but they may not buy a new one. That's something to be concerned about.

 Hulksmash wrote:
 chris_valera wrote:
 Hulksmash wrote:
@chris_valera

If you belive that I've got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

I lived in SoCal till about 2 years ago. GW stores increase sales "if" the local store is smart and works with the store manager. Brookhurst is.....not a clean or organized place. Plenty of other stores have done just fine with GW stores locally.

GW opened the Block because it was at a highend outdoor mall that gave it tons of exposure to a clientelle who could afford to get into the game. This was done after the success of the Glendale Galleria store that had very similar circumstances (less the outdoor part). Can't speak to the Bunker but based on size, cost, metro area, and role that was probably an optimal location for them.


Then how come Brookhurst Hobbies is the only one to tell GW to take their policies and cram it, they discount at 20% off, all the time.

GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com


You didn't address a thing I said.

And a ton of stores of sell GW at a standard 20% off. Online and offline. That's not tell GW to take their policies and cram it. That's competiing with online retailers which is a good thing to do if your volume makes up for the loss your taking on each individual product.

And as for opening next to you that doesn't happen to often. There wasn't major gaming store in Northridge when they opened that store. The "FLGS" in Ventura sold GW stuff but it wasn't a spectacular amount of it. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a FLGS locally in Ontario when they opened that store and we already discussed the reason for the Block at Orange opening. There wasn't a seller in Thousand Oaks when they put their new store in there and the same store that sold GW stuff in Ventura is still there and on the opposite side of town from the new GW 1-man they opened there.

Not sure about other Metros they had 10 years ago or more recently as I live in an area with no less than 6 and probably more FLGS that sell GW product and do pretty well with it. It also had one of the largest account holders in the country for several years before he decided to downgrade and move out of downtown. And shockingly, no store in all that time. They are talking about a 1-man store but it'll recruit and won't make a single dent in the local scene. It'll probably only help honestly.

Not sure if a GW store opened next to Mikhaila but he's certainly one of the largest accounts in the country for brick and mortar stores. I don't see him losing existing customers to a GW store.

If your a FLGS and you run a clean shop, give incentives, have gaming space, and are genuinely good at providing customer service a GW store can only benefit you. People don't move over to pay more and play with kids running around their feet if your running a proper business. If you're a whole in the wall that doesn't clean, refuses to take the long view, provide piss poor customer service, or your location is occupied by unchecked grognards then, yeah, a GW store might be a bad thing to have open next to you. And it's even sillier now as GW's are no longer providing gaming space so again, it's a win for local stores that a GW Manager can let people know there is a local store that provides tables to play at. But yeah, conspiracy theories and hating on GW are cool.


Well I guess we're not going to see eye to eye, but GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough. They did it back in the day, don't know if they do it now.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/01/22 22:38:21


Looking for the Empire spearmen from the Warhammer sixth edition box set (empire vs orcs) Must be unpainted and in good condition. Also looking for MIB Empire State Troops boxes.

Looking for Battle for Macragge and Black Reach Tactical squads, unpainted and unassembled. 
   
Made in us
Blood-Raging Khorne Berserker




South Chicago burbs

I can vouch that GW has done it in the past.

There was a hobby shop in a local mall about 10-12 years back that used to sell GW at a discount.

A GW opened up directly across from them in the same mall probably 75' away and from what the hobby shop owner told me, GW cut him off from all GW products saying something to the effect that they don't support retailers within a certain distance of a GW store.

The place had been there long before I had even joined the hobby, but it wen out of business within a year or 2 of that.

Now I avoid GW stores and drive out of my way to buy at local non GW hobby shops.

insaniak wrote:
YMDC has plenty of room for discussion veering away from the RAW, particularly in cases like this where what is being put forward as the RAW is absurd.

11k
4K
4k
 
   
Made in gb
Growlin' Guntrukk Driver with Killacannon





UK

Game Workshop wrote:
For those of you that are using our website via Google Chrome, we have been made aware that there have been issues removing items from shopping carts. We are currently working on a fix for this and in the meantime we would recommend that you use an alternative browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. As soon as this issue has been fixed we'll let you know.


Lies, we know what is going on Kirby....

Probably just a "technical" problem.


This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/01/23 20:15:31


   
Made in us
Badass "Sister Sin"






Camas, WA

 d3m01iti0n wrote:
Ill just open up the old Dakka Dakka store here in Manchester NH and single-handedly revitalize the biz. Wish me luck!

That didn't work out so great the first time.

Looking for great deals on miniatures or have a large pile you are looking to sell off? Checkout Mindtaker Miniatures.
Live in the Pacific NW? Check out http://ordofanaticus.com
 
   
Made in us
Thinking of Joining a Davinite Loge




 chris_valera wrote:
 NuggzTheNinja wrote:

Keep buying their stuff online, in store, or where ever because you indirectly support me and my dividends keep reinvesting so every year I get 1-3 more shares.


Except they're not buying, prices have gone up while the customer base has dwindled and turnover has gone down. There's a point where GW won't have a usable customer base.

Same with me. I admit I bought Dark Angels, but I skipped out on buying both the Chaos and DA book, even though I was excited about both. Same with the models. I skipped out on buying a $50 dino-zord model and the prices of the new Deathwing Knights was just too much. I skipped out on buying The Hobbit altogether. Any further pruchases I make are going to be for D&D/d20

clively wrote:
The level of complaints about GW, their price structure and their business practices is interesting. People only complain when they care. If they stop caring then they stop complaining and just move on.

So, is GW going away soon? Highly unlikely given the number of complainers out there.


People may stick around because they already have an army, but they may not buy a new one. That's something to be concerned about.

 Hulksmash wrote:
 chris_valera wrote:
 Hulksmash wrote:
@chris_valera

If you belive that I've got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

I lived in SoCal till about 2 years ago. GW stores increase sales "if" the local store is smart and works with the store manager. Brookhurst is.....not a clean or organized place. Plenty of other stores have done just fine with GW stores locally.

GW opened the Block because it was at a highend outdoor mall that gave it tons of exposure to a clientelle who could afford to get into the game. This was done after the success of the Glendale Galleria store that had very similar circumstances (less the outdoor part). Can't speak to the Bunker but based on size, cost, metro area, and role that was probably an optimal location for them.


Then how come Brookhurst Hobbies is the only one to tell GW to take their policies and cram it, they discount at 20% off, all the time.

GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com


You didn't address a thing I said.

And a ton of stores of sell GW at a standard 20% off. Online and offline. That's not tell GW to take their policies and cram it. That's competiing with online retailers which is a good thing to do if your volume makes up for the loss your taking on each individual product.

And as for opening next to you that doesn't happen to often. There wasn't major gaming store in Northridge when they opened that store. The "FLGS" in Ventura sold GW stuff but it wasn't a spectacular amount of it. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a FLGS locally in Ontario when they opened that store and we already discussed the reason for the Block at Orange opening. There wasn't a seller in Thousand Oaks when they put their new store in there and the same store that sold GW stuff in Ventura is still there and on the opposite side of town from the new GW 1-man they opened there.

Not sure about other Metros they had 10 years ago or more recently as I live in an area with no less than 6 and probably more FLGS that sell GW product and do pretty well with it. It also had one of the largest account holders in the country for several years before he decided to downgrade and move out of downtown. And shockingly, no store in all that time. They are talking about a 1-man store but it'll recruit and won't make a single dent in the local scene. It'll probably only help honestly.

Not sure if a GW store opened next to Mikhaila but he's certainly one of the largest accounts in the country for brick and mortar stores. I don't see him losing existing customers to a GW store.

If your a FLGS and you run a clean shop, give incentives, have gaming space, and are genuinely good at providing customer service a GW store can only benefit you. People don't move over to pay more and play with kids running around their feet if your running a proper business. If you're a whole in the wall that doesn't clean, refuses to take the long view, provide piss poor customer service, or your location is occupied by unchecked grognards then, yeah, a GW store might be a bad thing to have open next to you. And it's even sillier now as GW's are no longer providing gaming space so again, it's a win for local stores that a GW Manager can let people know there is a local store that provides tables to play at. But yeah, conspiracy theories and hating on GW are cool.


Well I guess we're not going to see eye to eye, but GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough. They did it back in the day, don't know if they do it now.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com


They did that in Orlando. We have 5 FLGSs in the metro area. GW moved in to the only area there wasn't a nearby shop. Not sure how successful it is only because I don't want to drive over an hour to visit a store. If it was a bunker or sold FW, it would be different but its not. I have 3 shops to chose from and there are weekly tournies so whenever I have a free weekend, I can get 3 games and lunch in for $10. Which is great for the casual gamer. I've heard the GW shop doesn't attract the locals, only the out of towners so I guess its not really materially affecting anyone. I guess if they were to open up across the street or next door that would be a bigger issue but there should be an agreement in place when you buy wholesale that says they can't open a new location within x miles of your business. If you move or they have an existing location then you are SOL.

[/sarcasm] 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




 Hulksmash wrote:
 chris_valera wrote:
 Hulksmash wrote:
@chris_valera

If you belive that I've got some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

I lived in SoCal till about 2 years ago. GW stores increase sales "if" the local store is smart and works with the store manager. Brookhurst is.....not a clean or organized place. Plenty of other stores have done just fine with GW stores locally.

GW opened the Block because it was at a highend outdoor mall that gave it tons of exposure to a clientelle who could afford to get into the game. This was done after the success of the Glendale Galleria store that had very similar circumstances (less the outdoor part). Can't speak to the Bunker but based on size, cost, metro area, and role that was probably an optimal location for them.


Then how come Brookhurst Hobbies is the only one to tell GW to take their policies and cram it, they discount at 20% off, all the time.

GW will open a store next to you if you're successful enough.

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com


You didn't address a thing I said.

And a ton of stores of sell GW at a standard 20% off. Online and offline. That's not tell GW to take their policies and cram it. That's competiing with online retailers which is a good thing to do if your volume makes up for the loss your taking on each individual product.

And as for opening next to you that doesn't happen to often. There wasn't major gaming store in Northridge when they opened that store. The "FLGS" in Ventura sold GW stuff but it wasn't a spectacular amount of it. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a FLGS locally in Ontario when they opened that store and we already discussed the reason for the Block at Orange opening. There wasn't a seller in Thousand Oaks when they put their new store in there and the same store that sold GW stuff in Ventura is still there and on the opposite side of town from the new GW 1-man they opened there.

Not sure about other Metros they had 10 years ago or more recently as I live in an area with no less than 6 and probably more FLGS that sell GW product and do pretty well with it. It also had one of the largest account holders in the country for several years before he decided to downgrade and move out of downtown. And shockingly, no store in all that time. They are talking about a 1-man store but it'll recruit and won't make a single dent in the local scene. It'll probably only help honestly.

Not sure if a GW store opened next to Mikhaila but he's certainly one of the largest accounts in the country for brick and mortar stores. I don't see him losing existing customers to a GW store.

If your a FLGS and you run a clean shop, give incentives, have gaming space, and are genuinely good at providing customer service a GW store can only benefit you. People don't move over to pay more and play with kids running around their feet if your running a proper business. If you're a whole in the wall that doesn't clean, refuses to take the long view, provide piss poor customer service, or your location is occupied by unchecked grognards then, yeah, a GW store might be a bad thing to have open next to you. And it's even sillier now as GW's are no longer providing gaming space so again, it's a win for local stores that a GW Manager can let people know there is a local store that provides tables to play at. But yeah, conspiracy theories and hating on GW are cool.


For me it was pretty obvious that GW opened the "Los Angeles" Battle Bunker in Westminster Orange County, and the Block in Orange to position themselves on either side of Brookhurst Hobbies. At that point in time Brookhurt was one of the largest sellers of GW on the West coast.

After I had been open for about 4 years, and had become a somewhat successful "GW partnership" store, I had heard rumors over and over again that GW was going to drop a store right next to me in Brea. I was reassured every time I asked my rep or someone else at GW that that wasn't the case. So ok they didn't put the store in Brea, Just a mile and half from me in Fullerton, right across the Brea border.

I feel I have a nice shop that I have always tried to improve. Large gaming tables, GW fully stocked, terrain for use. We run events and tournaments. And have a fairly mature and fun player base here. But GW has absolutely siphened business from us. I don't feel it form the vets or long time customers, But I think we lost the younger crowd. I have almost zero new young players strarting any GW system these days. Of course it's a tough sell to a new kids parent when you tell them they need a $75 rule book and a $50 army book to play the game before they've bought one model or pot of paint.

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boyd wrote:

Who is the majority you speak of? Is it the majority of Dakka Members? Are you looking at active members or is it the people that you talk to on a regular basis? Looking at their financial statements, it doesn't look like the majority of the players have moved on - it looks like there is some growth. Their financials show they are consistent.


Actually, their financials show a cause for much concern. Especially to a longer term investor such as myself.

Let me explain:

With an average price increase of more than 20% last year coupled with a decrease in manufacturing costs, GW should have shown growth of around 20%-25% if things were flat volume wise, but they only had a 7% gain in revenue which represents a drop of about 15% in actual sales volume. (This is why companies like Apple report both revenue and unit sales so investors can see the forward growth momentum). Anyone who has been on the planet as many years as I have knows this is foreshadowing some serious trouble down the road and when it comes, it comes fast and hard. Also, considering the timing of the recent CEOs departure, I have a sneaking suspicion that the signs are already apparent in the company and this may be a closer event to realization than most realize. Better to get out at the top than wait for the ride down.

Secondly, GW hasn't done much new in the last five years. No new games, no trying to develop new properties, heck, no real new armies, etc. They are milking the cash cow just like Kodak milked the film camera cow while the digital camera age overtook them. To many people's point, GW is a long term investment for a gamer, which means new properties to keep them going - not rehashing the same old ones again and again.

Third, reading their statements is scary in that it is obvious management is completely oblivious to the growing competition out there. This, again, reminds me of Kodak during the waning years of film. All management kept telling the shareholders was that digital would be niche and film would continue to rule the world. In fact, Kodak said this all the way up to their entry into bankruptcy.

For those that have been into the hobby industry for a time like I have, there were similar discussions around TSR when they we the big boys on the block. Everyone said they wouldn't be gone tomorrow, their the kings of the hobby business (and they were at the time). Lo and behold, two years later there were gone. Gone over to WoTC, but gone none the less. Unfortunately, GW is in fact beginning to show the same early warning signs of impending trouble.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2013/01/29 14:24:48


 
   
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Wayshuba, excellent post. Exalted. And I think you hit the nail on the head.

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JSF wrote:... this is really quite an audacious move by GW, throwing out any pretext that this is a game and that its customers exist to do anything other than buy their overpriced products for the sake of it. The naked arrogance, greed and contempt for their audience is shocking.
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My question, Wayshuba is, isn't the big difference between GW and others, that most people involved in GW games for anything more than the 3 'christmas's or birthdays' already know, or at least, believe this?

Or is it a case of something the gamers know, but the investers aren't too interested in at the moment?
   
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boyd wrote:
Keep buying their stuff online, in store, or where ever because you indirectly support me and my dividends keep reinvesting so every year I get 1-3 more shares.

I'm surprised and pleased that a GW defender has the gall/honesty to say up front that he has a direct financial stake in their success.

It is always good to have objective opinions around here.

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Ah, I'd prefer a white knight that's up-front with why (especially such a rational reason, no less!) over one who pretends to be subjective, you ask me.

 lord_blackfang wrote:
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 Salacious Greed wrote:
It sounds like standard media jargon, but the Chairman of the Board has absorbed the CEO position he vacated to bring in Wells 5 years ago. Interesting.

http://natfka.blogspot.com/2013/01/games-workshop-ceo-steps-down.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Faeit212+%28Faeit+212%29



Edited for the link.


OMG! What does it all mean? Sell my minis, the sky is falling! GASP!!!!!!!!!!!

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 krazynadechukr wrote:
 Salacious Greed wrote:
It sounds like standard media jargon, but the Chairman of the Board has absorbed the CEO position he vacated to bring in Wells 5 years ago. Interesting.

http://natfka.blogspot.com/2013/01/games-workshop-ceo-steps-down.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Faeit212+%28Faeit+212%29



Edited for the link.


OMG! What does it all mean? Sell my minis, the sky is falling! GASP!!!!!!!!!!!


Sell them fast! Is GW goes under you won't be able to use your existing minis or play any of their existing games again for some reason!
   
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Brisbane, Australia

Does it reminds anyone else of the time Lord Vandire secured his position as both Master of the Administratum and as Ecclesiarch...


So Basically we are all screwed

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/01/30 02:39:32


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Sooo.. aside from the snide remarks on Tom Kirby, what's his trackrecord like?
I mean, I see a lot of people here thinking they'd make better ceo's.
If it were me, i'd blame the senior and executive producers and not the pencilpushers.

Because, myself, being a CCP alumn, have a really hard time seeing the BOD twirl their poirot moustaches and getting their gimpy mittens involved in game development, aside from nagging about budgets and fields in an excelsheet.


 
   
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 xcasex wrote:
Sooo.. aside from the snide remarks on Tom Kirby, what's his trackrecord like?


He was running GW until he brought in Wells, then went over to the US to help restructure and gave the CEO position to Wells. So basically, more of the same. I'd say Wells might have been even better since he led GW through the LotR bubbles which improved their plastic technology.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/01/30 06:30:09


 
   
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Australia

So anyone else getting out their conspiracy hats and wondering about the timing of Wells leaving/being kicked out and the frankly stupid pricing of the WoC release?

It kinda stinks of Kirby saying "We are rising prices significantly, if you don't like it your fired."

 Fafnir wrote:
Oh, I certainly vote with my dollar, but the problem is that that is not enough. The problem with the 'vote with your dollar' response is that it doesn't take into account why we're not buying the product. I want to enjoy 40k enough to buy back in. It was my introduction to traditional games, and there was a time when I enjoyed it very much. I want to buy 40k, but Gamesworkshop is doing their very best to push me away, and simply not buying their product won't tell them that.
 
   
 
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