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Hello everyone,

Especially hello to any other store owners and operators.

I am on the verge of opening a game and comic book store. We anticipate carrying 40k, some fantasy, Warmahordes, role playing books, dice, board games, MTG, Pokemon, etc, the usual fare.

The lease is to be signed early next week, and the key to the space handed over.

I am very excited and of course quite a bit nervous.

If any of you have any suggestions or advice/help you can offer that will ease some of my tension, I would be grateful.

Even a story of something that happened and what you learned from it to get better would be awesome.

mikhaila and quite a few other shop owners post on here. Best of luck

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

Talked a lot with my local game store owner, some things he mentioned:

-MTG is a big thing at his store, greatest profit, makes use of a cabinet of singles.

-How will you make people aware of your store?
a) Website, look into increasing your Google ranking.
b) Make a facebook group for your store to help coordinate people gaming at your store.
c) Find the closest hobby event and get a booth there and hand out cards, trinkets, free stuff.
d) Post events at your store at the local College or University, find out about their "clubs" there and donate something and get your cards to the members and an email invite if possible.
e) Get people you meet to participate in a draw for a prize and use it for making an email to notify of events, your web site.
f) With permission and politely, post your business at sites like Dakka and look into their advertising (may not cost much)
g) Make it clear what you carry and that it may change as new products come up.
h) Have an easy to remember name that associates a bit with what you sell.

- Try to be located near a university or college.
- Try to be on a main street where people can easily make the turn.
- Try to have a sign that is clearly legible from the street.
- Try to have at least one clear window where people can see in (oddly makes some customers nervous when they cannot see in).
- Have gaming space (I have found few stores survived in my area as just a store that only held stock).
- Fold-up tables (lots for MTG)
- Make different surfaces for those tables (plywood top with 2X4 stops at sides and ends for X-wing, 40k, whatever you carry)
- Find sturdy cushioned chairs that can handle the loading of the more "ample" customers.
- Vending machines for pop and snacks (good money to be made).
- K-cup coffee, some gamers run on caffeine (moahr money).
- Good comfortable side seating, some younger gamers come with a parent for games/tournaments so they may need a place.
- Look into a cash machine. Good for people who want to pay in cash so the "other half" does not see how the gaming habit costs. (more money for you)
- Get oversized lockers and rent out space, regulars do not like carting stuff around and want somewhere safe they can keep things (more moahr money).
- Take lots of photos of events and post them, most people like to see their armies shown off and is good to get others excited.
- Look into how you can provide a wireless connection to host, free or paid: your call (free may suck them in better).
- Later on, you may want to try some kind of internet business as well.

Best I got, good luck.

Location - Check
Name - Check
Ability to put a sign - Check
Vendors located - Check
Fixtures priced and ready to order - Check
Space for gaming tables - Check
Accountant - Check
Bank and credit card processing - Check
Chairs - Check
Advertising - Check

This is all the easy part I found. Pricing things out, seeing what we could afford to begin with.

The nerves are more to do with day to day operations, opening the doors to the public for the first few months, how to get into the groove of not being the gaming consumer but the gaming customer service specialist.

I think I learned a lot via my interactions while a customer in other stores, what worked for me, what did not.

But little things nag to me, like how often to you as a store owner run events? How many days of the week are structured to a game? Like Friday night magic, Saturday 40k, Wednesday night Pokemon, etc.

Do the customers pretty much sort that out, or does it work better to have the store set some days so customers know what to expect on certain days?

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:

But little things nag to me, like how often to you as a store owner run events? How many days of the week are structured to a game? Like Friday night magic, Saturday 40k, Wednesday night Pokemon, etc.

Do the customers pretty much sort that out, or does it work better to have the store set some days so customers know what to expect on certain days?

My local store has sort of roughly defined nights, but you aren't kicked off the table if you are playing 40k on a warmachine night. Tournaments are often made when there are enough people calling for them, and if there is enough support they become semi-regular, for example someone proposed a 25 pt mangled metal tournament on one of the (sort of) warmachine nights, and everyone had good fun, so it happened again in the same week of the next month, and the next.

But we don't have a big magic crowd, so that may change how many events you hold and what not, since you'd have to work around those deck releases or something that I see people talking about on here, where they line up for ages to get the new decks/drafts/things (sorry, my MTG understanding is beyond limited).

I wouldnt be so worried about what days are for what system, until you get a feel of whats popular in your area. I know card games and singles make good profit like MTG, YUGIOH. I would also be prepaired the first few months of people tying to sell you there stuff. Once the doors first open people think its a nerd pawn shop and come to sell all there hobby stuff off. Events are the key to drawing in new customer and keeping your store alive.

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:

But little things nag to me, like how often to you as a store owner run events? How many days of the week are structured to a game? Like Friday night magic, Saturday 40k, Wednesday night Pokemon, etc.

Do the customers pretty much sort that out, or does it work better to have the store set some days so customers know what to expect on certain days?

The local store I go to has specified nights for certain games, but you won't be booted if you play something else, unless specified game needs more space, only change is for MtG releases and the occasional bigger RPG days.

The owner doesn't really set up events outside of releases. If we as the 40k group want to do a tournament, we have to do more of the legwork, but he does support us through it. I see this as a good thing as it allows your costumer base to be involved in the store and build more than just a buying and playing there relationship. Gives them more of a stake in the success. Also it lets smaller games prevail. Maybe your store will become the store to go to for dreadball, infinity, or some other smaller played game in the area.

Show care for games that even you dont play. At one LGS here has a owner that is 10% games 90% business. He will push other people events off the board if a bigger more popular game wants that spot. Know that even though the smaller games don't have as much revenue, let them play they are people too.
Also, I say this to every one with advice opening a store.
Domestic and foreign ales on tap and busty waitresses that wait your gaming table

Delegate, delegate, delegate.

Not so easy as a one man band, which I assume you will be initially, but sound advice nonetheless.

The hardest thing many people (myself included) find when they are in a position of authority for the first time, or a position of ultimate authority for the first time, is giving yourself permission to tell other people what to do, and letting other people take responsibility for things.

This needn't be as obvious as ordering some lackey about, but may be harnessing an enthusiastic customer. Why spend your time arranging am event, if you have a keen regular who wants to do it?

Do not undervalue your time.

Sure, cleaning the toilet yourself rather than paying a cleaner to save some cash will be a good idea, but there will be a time when that is no longer the case, when doing these jobs will simply prevent you from spending time doing something that will generate more cash for the business than employing someone will cost, look out for that moment.

Don't listen to advice on the Internet.

 azreal13 wrote:

Don't listen to advice on the Internet.

But now you've put Kim in a bind, for him/her to listen to this advice, would itself violate that advice.

One other thing that is hard to discuss... light fingers.

Keep the small expensive items behind the counter or in the glass cabinet near you with progressively larger stuff near the back.

Fake cameras (initially) at the ends of the isle help dissuade casual shoplifting.

A rule of "keep your backpack in the game area" was made when inventories showed shortages with some camera review.

The automated inventory is great so at least you can identify what are the "high shrinkage" items and you can take steps.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Most of the business stuff is done behind the scenes:
- figuring out what interval to fill stock
- what inventory levels to keep
- new "special" release dates for a given game
- when to do a stock count and record adjustments
- Allowing time to research games or explore other methods of supply.
- Hire a student for occasional busy nights (like MTG Fridays) and possibly have a game on occasion (customers like that).
- Skills training nights: sometimes get together to paint brush or airbrush.

You can still act like the fan (one guy is in his 60's and has everything I can think of, he is an insane hobbyist) but the price on the item is what it is.

I want to do this one day but my job pays too well for me to make the jump. Hence why all the thoughts and "advice".


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
But little things nag to me, like how often to you as a store owner run events?

One night / one event every night during work week. X-wing, 40k, MTG,Warmachine/Hordes, Infinity, Flames of War.

Do the customers pretty much sort that out, or does it work better to have the store set some days so customers know what to expect on certain days?

Get people to sign their name, number and what nights available for what games.
Tally the votes, you now have contacts and can then appoint the nights available.
It also give you an unofficial poll of what people play in the area and you can stock accordingly.
Weekends tend to be a free-for-all.
Point to your facebook page for arranging alternate games on those nights if unsuitable to them.

I'm sure you've done your homework by now and know much of the important stuff. Just be prepared to allow your store to evolve and grow based on your customer base.

I will offer some specific advice:
1. Don't dedicate all of the gaming area to specific games for specific days. Many older gamers have jobs and families that mean they can only play once or twice a week. If, for example, Tuesday night is the only time I can play 40K, but your store has that set only as War Machine night, then you've lost me as a customer.
2. Be wary of offering discounts. The more you discount, the more you have to sell to make the same profit. But no discount at all means people buying online instead. Other store owners can best advise you on this. I know one store I go to now offers 25% off on Games Workshop products, but they only stock a little of the latest releases, and everything else is order only.
3. Keep the place clean and well lit. Some of us older gamers don't have the best eyesight anymore, and good light is a must.
4. Keep a fridge full of cold sodas. Even selling them at $0.50 a can is a decent profit when Wal-Mart sells them at about $6 a 24-pack. The store I used to go to years back was able to use the soda profits to pay for replacement gaming tables, a painting area, and other supplies over time.
5. Unless you are independently wealthy, be ready to live on ramen noodles and PBJ sandwichs for the next several months.

Best of luck to you.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
I'm sure you've done your homework by now and know much of the important stuff. Just be prepared to allow your store to evolve and grow based on your customer base.

I will offer some specific advice:
1. Don't dedicate all of the gaming area to specific games for specific days. Many older gamers have jobs and families that mean they can only play once or twice a week. If, for example, Tuesday night is the only time I can play 40K, but your store has that set only as War Machine night, then you've lost me as a customer.
2. Be wary of offering discounts. The more you discount, the more you have to sell to make the same profit. But no discount at all means people buying online instead. Other store owners can best advise you on this. I know one store I go to now offers 25% off on Games Workshop products, but they only stock a little of the latest releases, and everything else is order only.
3. Keep the place clean and well lit. Some of us older gamers don't have the best eyesight anymore, and good light is a must.
4. Keep a fridge full of cold sodas. Even selling them at $0.50 a can is a decent profit when Wal-Mart sells them at about $6 a 24-pack. The store I used to go to years back was able to use the soda profits to pay for replacement gaming tables, a painting area, and other supplies over time.
5. Unless you are independently wealthy, be ready to live on ramen noodles and PBJ sandwichs for the next several months.

Best of luck to you.

1) While I kind of agree, a specific game night makes it easier to set a general day when people of that game show up. Those nights should follow what people want, but it is better than free for all gaming. Maybe keep a table open for anything, but specific nights help focus people.
2) Discounts hurt a brick and mortar, unless you are able to push enough stock to make up for the loss. I feel having more stock at MSRP is better than little at a huge discount. People drop money because they feel like a project, not because they get it at a discount. Offer one to customers who are making a big purchase at once, but for one kit, offering a huge discount might as well be the same as losing money.
3) No arguments on this one. Keep it clean and bright. Also don't be afraid to make people shower before allowing them back in. A bright and clean store is more welcoming to customers than dark and dingy. If a couple people don't like it, let them go play in their basement.
4) Cold and variety. Also stock water and things like gatorade. There are plenty of people who won't drink soda but will do other things. Also, check local laws, but frozen food and a microwave can bring in extra cash without being something you need a food license for.
5) this many times over. Now I don't know game business, but if I were you, I would be reinvesting as much as I could in stock when I could over paying myself more than I needed. Branch out into other games. Become a store that people go to for impulse buys of smaller companies. If you ahve some small shelf space, get some smaller and lesser known manufacturers stuff in there. You never know what might sell because you have it.


One other thing that other people seemed to have glossed over, embrace kickstarter. Although most have not focused on stores, expect Reaper Bones 2 to have a pledge level for stores. Bones offered a very cheap buy in for stores, that even if they didn't sell anything for awhile, left a very nice profit margin. Take a chance on pledging for some games that may do well in the store. You never know when you might come upon the next zombicide game and be able to make a nice profit from someone who didn't buy in.

Do not underestimate the effects good hygiene can have on a store. Everybody knows there is always one gamer who never washes and stinks the place up. We all know that guy!

Keep a bucket of water behind the counter, or do what that other guy did in his store and put a sign up on the window. You may think I'm joking, but if you can nip this in the bud from day one, you'll be laughing!

Beware the other guy, the guy that treats your store as a second home, the one that never buys anything, but sits in your store for hours on end, day after day. Politely remind him about overheads.

As mentioned, Mikhaila is a good source for information.

Sergeant Horse also has a successful store that has been open for seven years. Rumor also has it that he's about to expand the store for the second time since it opened, so he must be doing something right.

PM'ing either of those might be a good way to get some ideas.

My store, Greenfield Games, has been chugging away since 1999. We opened a second store a little over 2 years ago.

Things that we've learned over the years:

The store is a business. It's a fun business, but it's a business. If you aren't already well versed in running a retail business, become well versed in it. As soon as possible.

Be diverse and flexible. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it won't sell. Listen to your customers and change with their wants/needs. We started out as a pretty hard core game store with a focus on mini games and Magic. We still do those things, but these days we also carry puzzles, toy trucks, kites, and a large selection of family games (among other things).

If you have gaming space make sure that it's inviting for everybody. We have a no swearing policy, we don't allow bullying or bad behavior or bad hygiene. People understand that there's a code of conduct pretty quickly and our customers help us enforce it. We have rarely had to kick anybody out but when we do it's deserved and everybody appreciates knowing that we stand behind the rules.

Magic: The Gathering is your friend.

Thank you everyone, it sounds like I am on the right track. My business partner has 15 years of solid retail experience, which is why I chose him.

It is a business yes. I feel that is why most of the game stores fail is because the owners treat it more like a private club house.

Code of Conduct. on it. I hate it when people swear at each other even over a friendly game of anything, just uncalled for. Posting a sign and enforcing it should not be too much right?

Seems like I need to dive in and just deal with the jitters until I get acclimated to running it.

Since 1999, congrats, sound like you have done well.

We've actually never posted the rules - aside from a reminder in the bathroom that says "GAMERS MUST WASH" with this photo underneath it:



When we hear swearing from a new person we let them know about the rule (but, more often than not, a customer tells them).

That is an excellent photo.

Here is a question nagging at me. Is it worth the time and trouble to sell magic singles? or single for any card game for that matter.

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
That is an excellent photo.

Here is a question nagging at me. Is it worth the time and trouble to sell magic singles? or single for any card game for that matter.

Maybe you should research your local area?

The store in my town does a roaring trade in magic and magic singles and poor business in GW products, but the other store they own in another town doesn't carry singles and crazy business in TTG.

Each individual area and clientele is different.

Let me share with you the few things that turned us off to the first store we've had in town:

1)Orders taking months, or not coming in at all. I waited 3 months for a thunderfire cannon and when it finally came he threw it at me across the counter. A friend has been waiting 6 months for a box of deathwing knights.
2)No tables. They had folding tables, but they had a single 4x4 gaming board and a mat. Not enough room for 6 people to play 40k every saturday.
3)The TCG crowd only knew a single pejorative, and they shouted it a lot and at each other. No amount of polite asking or stern complaints to either owner or crowd ever lessened this.

As a store owner, don't fall into complacency. What will make your store successful is a bustling community, and you're the only one who is going to build that community.

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
That is an excellent photo.

Here is a question nagging at me. Is it worth the time and trouble to sell magic singles? or single for any card game for that matter.

It's definitely worthwhile to sell singles. It's not actually that hard to do and can be quite lucrative. Depending on your area there might be other games that you could consider selling singles for - but I doubt it. Better to start with Magic and see if there's enough of a demand for other ones (people asking to sell you singles for another game doesn't equal demand).

BTW - Read this blog - http://blackdiamondgames.blogspot.com/

I don't always agree with the bloggers opinions, but I mostly do and his blog is always worth reading.

We have a bit of both a town over. a store that does board games and mostly table top. then they sell role playing and card stuff. then we have a store that deals entirely with MTG. and maybe a couple odd board games sometimes.

So I know either could succeed. I just don't know how I feel about keeping binders and binders and binders full of singles. I am thinking to avoid it in the start at least. and maybe grow into it later.

But even then, is it worth the trouble?

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
That is an excellent photo.

Here is a question nagging at me. Is it worth the time and trouble to sell magic singles? or single for any card game for that matter.

My local store is heavily invested in singles, probably having the second largest collection outside of one other place in the state. He can't compete on packs because of a "game" (video game originally) store was/is selling packs at pennies over cost. Most of the money he makes on MtG comes from singles.

Just be prepared to complain to a lot of people who don't understand the concept of overhead and business are meant to make money. People constantly complain about the internet being cheaper for singles, but they always seem to forget about shipping and the time. All his prices are based on Star City.

Also prepare for a TON of sorting and a ton of junk. Foils and rares are kept behind the counter that is easy to access (in drawers). Uncommons are in bigger boxes still sorted by color and alphabetized, while commons are just stacked into empty boxes the packs come in. If you are lucky they may be sorted by color. Everything is sorted by set obviously. What I would suggest (which is successful here) is "hiring" some regulars that do not play magic or do not know the value of what they are touching to sort. They don't need to know the game to sort out colors and alphabetize. Keeps more pricey cards from walking away unnoticed.

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
We have a bit of both a town over. a store that does board games and mostly table top. then they sell role playing and card stuff. then we have a store that deals entirely with MTG. and maybe a couple odd board games sometimes.

So I know either could succeed. I just don't know how I feel about keeping binders and binders and binders full of singles. I am thinking to avoid it in the start at least. and maybe grow into it later.

But even then, is it worth the trouble?

With any new set, this is what we do:

Create a binder for the set. It's just a D-Ring binder with 9 count card pages. We create a list of the cards from the set broken down by color and then alphabetical. That list is then divided into 8-card chunks that we put onto slips of paper (using Illustrator I think). These little notecards go into the center slot of each page in order.

We then open two boxes of the set. Sort it, and fill the pages making sure that they are properly located in the binder. We usually get some help from our regulars to do this. Everybody likes opening packs. Especially of the new sets.

We base our prices on Star City but our minimum price is $.25 for common, $.50 for Uncommon, $1.00 for rare. At that rate you can't lose money (assuming you sold all of them), Luckily you'll end up with cards that are worth a lot more than that.

BTW - The excess commons usually go into a general $.10 box.

We also tend to take the planeswalker cards out and put them on display. Kids love planswalkers. Anything that sells more more than $10 tends to get pulled and put on display as well.

It's extra work but people will come to your store to look at your singles. That alone makes it worth the effort. The money doesn't hurt either.

When you run MTG drafts and get regulars, they often won't want the commons from the packs they used in the events and will just give them to the store (you can have a common donation box they can just drop them into). Take these and pack them into play sets of 4 of each card in a given release and sell them for $10-15. The cast offs of the serious players can be sold to the casual ones who just want a ton of cards for a good price.

EDIT: I thought I'd mention I'm in the process of transitioning away from being a regular at one local store to checking out others. The cause? Special orders not getting placed or brought in at any sort of timely rate. And it's not that the store is not making orders with a given distributor because they don't have the volume yet, as orders come in all the time. It's just the ordering person is not looking at the special order spreadsheet and they're simply not bringing in the stuff.

Also, pay attention to replen. If something sells well, bring it back in stock. At the store I'm leaving, the person brings in a couple of each new thing for a given product line. If one of them immediately sells out, it doesn't go on any sort of list of things to reorder. It's like the person doing the ordering is paying no attention to what sells or to the special order page. Then if you ask an employee about bringing one in, he'll take your special order and enter it into the computer and then it goes into limbo for a month or two.

I just found out from one of the employees there that the new Flames of War starter sells out within a week of each time they bring in it. Does it get re ordered regularly? Nope. It just gets brought in when someone makes a special order and then they'll bring in one extra. And that's when the person doing the ordering happens to notice that there's a special order for it.

Employees. This can be a tough one. Unless you plan on living in a back room, you'll need to hire a few people to run the register, help with stocking, answering questions.
While it is important the employee have a background in gaming (knowledge in the questions part), you need to be careful that the employee knows he's their to operate the store...not promote "their" favorite game over the competition. A store employee (wearing YOUR shirt) should never be overheard talking about those Magic Morons or LARPer queens.
Adult based conversation is a must. Little Billy just has to have the latest Space Marine Army for Christmas...But its Billy's Mom and Dad who are the customer. Do right by them and when little Amy decides MTG is her thing, guess where mom and dad will be going with ATM card in hand?

Unsupervised game store kid. We all know about him (my FLGS has one right now). Your business is a game store, not a day care. Be prepared to deal with a parent who dumps their kid on you twice a week (without ever buying anything) while they head off to the nail salon for the next 2 hours.

Hours of operation. Be prepared for flexibility. If your going to open your store to various League and Tourny events, prepare to spend an extra hour or 2 at the store. At my FLGS they close at 10PM. Which means at 9:45 they announce a last call for product and at 10 they lock the doors and close out the register. With all the gamers still inside. They give us an extra hour or so to finish our games and pack things up. That loyalty goes both ways. Not only do we shop at the store, a couple of times a year the players get together at the store for "terrain night" where we pull all the terrain off shelves, repair/replace damaged stuff, then reorganize everything neatly.
Store Credit. What a great idea. All cash entrance fees for events go to the store and winnings are passed out as store credit. For the local customer base its nice because we can build up a nice kitty and then make large purchases "free."
Some sort of Store Generated Gift Certificates would be huge at Christmas and Birthdays. All mom and dad know is Billy wants a Stalker. So is that the new Space Marine tank or the Warmachine Cryx stalker?

Advertise!!!! You would be surprised how cheap a 30 second radio spot can be. The local college bulletin board and forums. FaceBook is a must and it should be updated often. If you end up with various Leagues and events, add a message board system to your website for those groups to use.

 Dullspork wrote:

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
We have a bit of both a town over. a store that does board games and mostly table top. then they sell role playing and card stuff. then we have a store that deals entirely with MTG. and maybe a couple odd board games sometimes.

So I know either could succeed. I just don't know how I feel about keeping binders and binders and binders full of singles. I am thinking to avoid it in the start at least. and maybe grow into it later.

But even then, is it worth the trouble?

With any new set, this is what we do:

Create a binder for the set. It's just a D-Ring binder with 9 count card pages. We create a list of the cards from the set broken down by color and then alphabetical. That list is then divided into 8-card chunks that we put onto slips of paper (using Illustrator I think). These little notecards go into the center slot of each page in order.

We then open two boxes of the set. Sort it, and fill the pages making sure that they are properly located in the binder. We usually get some help from our regulars to do this. Everybody likes opening packs. Especially of the new sets.

We base our prices on Star City but our minimum price is $.25 for common, $.50 for Uncommon, $1.00 for rare. At that rate you can't lose money (assuming you sold all of them), Luckily you'll end up with cards that are worth a lot more than that.

BTW - The excess commons usually go into a general $.10 box.

We also tend to take the planeswalker cards out and put them on display. Kids love planswalkers. Anything that sells more more than $10 tends to get pulled and put on display as well.

It's extra work but people will come to your store to look at your singles. That alone makes it worth the effort. The money doesn't hurt either.

+1'ing this.

Currently working alongside a local independant that is trying to make the jump to a bigger store, and loving these ideas.

Nothing really in our area for MTG (and its something ive always wanted to play).

Is there anywhere with a decent guide on the price value of cards?

 Shadowseer_Kim wrote:
We have a bit of both a town over. a store that does board games and mostly table top. then they sell role playing and card stuff. then we have a store that deals entirely with MTG. and maybe a couple odd board games sometimes.

So I know either could succeed. I just don't know how I feel about keeping binders and binders and binders full of singles. I am thinking to avoid it in the start at least. and maybe grow into it later.

But even then, is it worth the trouble?

I have been buying MTG from stores for nearly 20 years. Every store that I can remember has sold singles (with the exception of Target but they does not really count). There is alot of money to be made on singles. In addition to getting them from opening packs, you can buy them cheap and sell them at market value. You will make money on them from opening packs. You will make even more money on them from buying used.

In terms of prices, most stores these days base theirs off of starcity games.

I do not know what your time commitments will be like, but if you are going to do MTG, you may as well do it right.