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Made in au
Been Around the Block






Hi guys/gals

I am tinkering with the idea of opening a hobby centre in Sydney. I have actually been in retail for a lot of years and I am looking at winding back my current electronic stores and focusing on one project.
I understand that a lot of gamers passion gets jaded by opening a store, however I know what i'm in for.

Anyways, back to my original question.
What gets you into the store, what do you look for in a hobby store, and most importantly, what makes you open your wallet. Lets face it, without people buying stuff there will be no store.
Also, would you be more likely to approach a franchise hobby store (such as good games in Australia) or a mom and pop store?

As much feedback would be appreciated, please feel free to share some experiences (good or bad) from other stores. However if it is scathing, refrain from naming the store. We do not want this to turn into a hate thread.

Thank you in advance.



GW Fulchester on 12th march wrote:
We are pleased to announce that we have streamlined the miniature collecting process. For a large sum of money we will simply give you an empty box with an exciting picture of a Space Marine on the front.

We call this the "You won't get round to painting it anyway" scheme.

Check out my Warmaster Blog at: www.theultimatewarmaster.wordpress.com
 
   
Made in au
Trustworthy Shas'vre






1) Location. There are a bunch of stores already in Sydney, but when I was there there were none within a reasonable distance of me.

2) Depth of range. This is particularly important to Wargamers - if you decide to stock wargames, having only 20% of the range of a particular army isn't going to cut it. If someone walks down you your store looking for a box of Tau Pathfinders and you don't have any, they're unlikely to go through your in-store ordering system and will just get it online.

3) Accessories. If you sell miniatures, choose at least one range of hobby supplies (paint, brushes, glue). If you sell cards, make sure you sell protector sleeves and binders. If you sell RPG's, sell dice sets.

4) Breadth of range: Don't go overly broad, but don't go too narrow either. Go deep in 3-4 ranges, and get the starter sets in 3-4 other popular ranges.

5) Events. Keep people coming back to your store. Run Magic leagues, Journeyman events for Warmachine, escalation for 40k, netrunner leagues, pathfinder campaigns. When one finishes, make sure that the next one isn't too far off.

6) Be prepared to change your plans for your customers. If you open a store and find out that everyone nearby plays Infinity even though you wanted to be a Warmachine store, tough. Stock Infinity deeply and try to get a Warmachine league going, rather than the other way around.

7) Opening hours. Open late (11am or later), finish late (10pm or later). You will get many more customers after work hours than during.

A mate of mine recently started a Good Games franchise in Perth. We had never had a Good Games before, so there wasn't much brand name recognition. The store really seems to have taken off - it's always got 10+ people in there when I walk by, and the range is really expanding. I don't know about the financial situation though, and I do know that franchising was quite expensive.

   
Made in au
Norn Queen






There's already yhe best hobby center ever in Sydney - The Hall of Heroes.

Pay them a visit, even have a chat to Mat, the owner. Awesome store, awesome staff. If you want a great hobby center, aim for something like this. Huge gaming area, great range of products, super friendly, non pushy staff. Just a great environment to shop and game in.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/05/17 00:00:24


 
   
Made in ca
Judgemental Grey Knight Justicar





Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

I think Trasvi has pretty much nailed it.

The only thing I would add that keeps me personally coming back to a hobby centre is the Staff.

Friendly, attentive and superbly knowledgable staff that are NOT pushy and will not rush you. If you don't have that, people may come in but they're unlikely to come back.

Staff should greet everyone within a reasonable time of entering the store. Even just a "Hey, how are you today?" If they're already with a customer they need to be able to politely excuse themselves for a second to do so and be available as quickly as possible for the next customers.

They should get to know the customers (at least try to remember them by face, if not by name and preferences) as best they can. Knowing your customers by name is a sure way to get them to feel comfortable. They should always introduce themselves by name and get the customers name (first time, minimum).

Polite, Polite, Polite. Nobody likes rude staff and nobody likes staff that ignore them (conversely, nobody likes staff that don't give enough space either).
   
Made in au
Been Around the Block






Yes the Hall of Heroes is great. Mat is also a great guy.
I was not looking at competing with them, as they are in Campbeltown, I was thinking more in the Hills area. The only thing currently there is GW.

@Trasvi

That is exactly the type of information that I am after. They are all great ideas and have been noted. Thank you for your input.
I have spoken to Good Games already, I am a little hesitant to start a franchisee, as they tend to dictate all aspects of your store.


GW Fulchester on 12th march wrote:
We are pleased to announce that we have streamlined the miniature collecting process. For a large sum of money we will simply give you an empty box with an exciting picture of a Space Marine on the front.

We call this the "You won't get round to painting it anyway" scheme.

Check out my Warmaster Blog at: www.theultimatewarmaster.wordpress.com
 
   
Made in us
Jovial Plaguebearer of Nurgle




Somewhere in GA

Trasvi wrote:
1) Location. There are a bunch of stores already in Sydney, but when I was there there were none within a reasonable distance of me.

2) Depth of range. This is particularly important to Wargamers - if you decide to stock wargames, having only 20% of the range of a particular army isn't going to cut it. If someone walks down you your store looking for a box of Tau Pathfinders and you don't have any, they're unlikely to go through your in-store ordering system and will just get it online.

3) Accessories. If you sell miniatures, choose at least one range of hobby supplies (paint, brushes, glue). If you sell cards, make sure you sell protector sleeves and binders. If you sell RPG's, sell dice sets.

4) Breadth of range: Don't go overly broad, but don't go too narrow either. Go deep in 3-4 ranges, and get the starter sets in 3-4 other popular ranges.

5) Events. Keep people coming back to your store. Run Magic leagues, Journeyman events for Warmachine, escalation for 40k, netrunner leagues, pathfinder campaigns. When one finishes, make sure that the next one isn't too far off.

6) Be prepared to change your plans for your customers. If you open a store and find out that everyone nearby plays Infinity even though you wanted to be a Warmachine store, tough. Stock Infinity deeply and try to get a Warmachine league going, rather than the other way around.

7) Opening hours. Open late (11am or later), finish late (10pm or later). You will get many more customers after work hours than during.

A mate of mine recently started a Good Games franchise in Perth. We had never had a Good Games before, so there wasn't much brand name recognition. The store really seems to have taken off - it's always got 10+ people in there when I walk by, and the range is really expanding. I don't know about the financial situation though, and I do know that franchising was quite expensive.



This is a great list. The some things I would add is food and canned soda/bottles. It keeps folks in the store and spending money instead of walking across the street for pizza. I don't know about Australia, but in the US, cups tend to be free re-fills, so I would stay away from that.

Opening hours are important as well. Most folks work until 5-6 pm, so you want to be open until at least 11pm weeknights and probably later on Friday and Saturday. My FLGS is open noon to 11pm every day, and open until 1am Friday and Saturday and usually has plenty of people playing.

Don't just do a 10-15% discount. Have a club that helps fund terrain. Members of the club pay a $15-$20 fee/year and receive a 10% discount. It keeps people coming back and builds brand loyalty.

Have a Forum on your website. Allow trading of bitz for bitz or store credit. Do not allow whole army trades without prior approval.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/05/17 00:22:24


DS:80S++G++M—IPw40k99/re++D+++A++/sWD-R+++T(T)DM+++

 paulson games wrote:

The makers of finecast proudly present Finelegal. All arguements and filings guaranteed to be full of holes just like their resin.
 
   
Made in gb
[SWAP SHOP MOD]
Killer Klaivex







Browse these:-

http://www.houseofpaincakes.com/search/label/Musings%20of%20a%20Game%20Store%20Owner

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/691669/so-you-want-to-start-a-game-store-recommended-reso

http://www.rpg.net/columns/list-column.phtml?colname=businessofgamingretail

http://www.rpg.net/columns/list-column.phtml?colname=counter


 
   
Made in us
Member of the Ethereal Council






Biggest Rule, Never forsake your customers because of your bias, if you Really like one game, dislike the other, stilll stock it evenly and treat the players with respect, and push both games.

5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
 
   
Made in au
Norn Queen






 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Biggest Rule, Never forsake your customers because of your bias, if you Really like one game, dislike the other, stilll stock it evenly and treat the players with respect, and push both games.


This is pretty big. My FLGS owner tries to play everything, but even if it's something he doesn't play, he stays knowledgdable enough to talk about it with customers.
   
Made in us
Booming Thunderer




Minnesota

atmosphere.
-historic building in downtown neighborhood (probably the most important, and naturally the most expensive)
-hearty and sturdy game tables and chairs, not flimsy folding stuff.
-mazelike with tall isles packed and overflowing with good stuff
-just like some don't trust a skinny cook, i don't trust a skinny non-ponytailed game store staff


While most of my examples were kind of silly, atmosphere is none-the-less very important to me in a hobby/game store.


   
Made in pt
Longtime Dakkanaut





Portugal



Thank you so much for this massive quantity of information

"Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth! These are the truths of this world! Surrender to these truths, you pigs in human clothing!" - Satsuki Kiryuin, Kill la Kill 
   
Made in gb
Mauleed





Strong online community presence. Update a shop blog or Facebook page a couple of times a week with meaningful information, e.g. Now stocking, new league, beginners night, introductions to a new game, painting competitions and general news in the miniatures world. If your store is the main link between people and wargaming, because of the atmosphere and community you have created, you will develop a loyal clientele.
   
Made in us
Member of the Ethereal Council






Dont forget the attractive girls at the registar dressed in german beer server outfits
But seriously, A store that is stock differently is very nice.

5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
 
   
Made in us
Swift Swooping Hawk





Omaha, NE

Friendly workers...
Any store can have good hours and good stock, but if the employee is a jerk, Ill go elsewhere or go without..

-3500+
-1850+
-2500+
-3500+
--3500+ 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




Houston, TX

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Dont forget the attractive girls at the registar dressed in german beer server outfits
But seriously, A store that is stock differently is very nice.


Why not serve beer, or at least have a BYOB event night. I've often wondered how a gaming area that operated partly like a bar/pool hall would work.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/05/17 21:30:41


 
   
Made in au
Been Around the Block








Thankyou Ketara that was a very informative read.

@Hotsauceman1: I love that idea. But in all seriousness, I think having a female gamer worker is a great idea. (Just have to find one)
A lot of years ago my local GW actually had one, she sold ALOT. They had an influx of gamer's from all over the place.
The problem with selling alcohol (as much as I like the idea) is you need to have a licence to do that. And doing BYO could cause a problem. You really dont want roleplayers sitting around drinking whilst playing. Could cause some problems (especially with a female staff member).

GW Fulchester on 12th march wrote:
We are pleased to announce that we have streamlined the miniature collecting process. For a large sum of money we will simply give you an empty box with an exciting picture of a Space Marine on the front.

We call this the "You won't get round to painting it anyway" scheme.

Check out my Warmaster Blog at: www.theultimatewarmaster.wordpress.com
 
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

I'll add good ventilation to the list

I know it's a comedy trope but if a store stinks I'm not going to stick around to browse, at best I'll dash in and buy exactly what I was after and run away, at worst I just won't come back

And even if folk do stay they're not going to bring non gamer friends or significant others in, both of which could become future customers if they like what they see

 
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka






Dorset, Southern England

Community. You could have the literal best gaming store in heaven; 5 star restaurant, exclusive models, the best tables, the best range, the best staff. You could even have an onsite shower. I'm still not going to go there if there's a significant presence of TFG. A few rotters taint the barrel and all that.

BlapBlapBlap: bringing idiocy and mischief where it should never set foot since 2011.

BlapBlapBlap wrote:What sort of idiot quotes themselves in their sigs? Who could possibly be that arrogant?
 
   
 
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