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Gw are in the process of downsizing staff overheads by laying off large numbers of retail management. The company has downsized retail staff before and introduced one man stores, but are looking to produce even more savings by removing a tier of management and replacing with cheaper staff. That sounds good on paper but many of those going are managers of one man stores. There are also rumours of store closures accompanying this, but I have no confirmation of that.

As for the manager layoffs apparently it occurred this weekend This was sourced by someone who knew two of the manager concerned, but I haven't double sourced this yet..

Forgive me if this questions seems daft, but if you're laying off managers of one man stores, how could you possibly not be closing the stores? Who would be running them?

Without particulars, this seems sort of like "the sky is falling" sort of stuff. It's possible a couple of managers who weren't getting the job done were fired as a normal part of the ongoing business process. Happens all the time.

Maybe it's a ferryman scenario, you buy something you become the manager until you can get someone else to buy. A bold move.

New job title, cheaper salary, same gak.

They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

 Azreal13 wrote:
New job title, cheaper salary, same gak.

I know, right?

[Insert "How exactly does this qualify as news or rumors?" joke here!]

Hasn't this been going on since 2010 at least?

 Orlanth wrote:
Gw are in the process of downsizing staff overheads by laying off large numbers of ....management. ..

Can they start from the top down?

After they relocated prodution in China, increased prices, reduced distribution costs, what comes next ?

Relocating design team in China maybe ? Blister vending machine ? Collectable miniatures ( you don't know what is inside the box ) ?

Sure there is room for creativity ..

eflix29 wrote:
Blister vending machine ?

All stores become automats, you can book tables online and skype with a guy in India if you have rules questions.

eflix29 wrote:
After they relocated prodution in China, increased prices, reduced distribution costs, what comes next ?

Duh, increase prices some more. Someone flunked out of GW executive training school.

eflix29 wrote:
After they relocated prodution in China, increased prices, reduced distribution costs, what comes next ?

Relocating design team in China maybe ? Blister vending machine ? Collectable miniatures ( you don't know what is inside the box ) ?

Sure there is room for creativity ..

Books are done in China, the rest is mostly done in the UK.

 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

This. Getting rid of all of the store management is just the first step, now GW needs to get rid of all of the stores.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:


All stores become automats, you can book tables online and skype with a guy in India if you have rules questions.

That sounds like a significant improvement, at least in terms of getting consistent rulings and FAQ updates.

 Ian Sturrock wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:


All stores become automats, you can book tables online and skype with a guy in India if you have rules questions.

That sounds like a significant improvement, at least in terms of getting consistent rulings and FAQ updates.

Don't be daft, GW would just install a magic 8 ball with a slot to deposit pound coins!

"My sources say no"
"please ask again later"
"Reply hazy try again"

No different really.

"Has a rule dispute? Roll a D6 for it."

True gaming gentlemen should ignore our lack of follow through on rules writing and balance.

Still don't like it? Well you're just not being gentlemanly enough.

All GW stores dying off would benefit the industry more than people realize. The reason why there's mainly localized clubs in the UK is as much because GW has been doing their best to put local stores out of business as it is issues with gaming space.

 Vertrucio wrote:
...All GW stores dying off would benefit the industry more than people realize. The reason why there's mainly localized clubs in the UK is as much because GW has been doing their best to put local stores out of business as it is issues with gaming space.

I think that's a load of old tosh.

The reason why there are so many clubs in the UK is that there is a history of having private clubs in the UK. This is true of all interests. It just take one individual to take up the mantle and do some organising.

Gaming in store is very rare here, the exception being were GW offers demo tables . They still do this even in their one man operations so I'm not sure where you get that from.

 plastictrees wrote:
Maybe it's a ferryman scenario, you buy something you become the manager until you can get someone else to buy. A bold move.

Lol! It would explain why they can be so pushy.

My local store isn't open on Monday or Tuesday.

Sign of the times i guess.

The cost of operating a store with tables is actually pretty pricey.

I am friends with the owner of the FLGS and am very familiar with his books. He pays $13 a square foot monthly to rent his location and has 6 gaming tables. That's $312 a month per table, and a total of $22,464 annually just to have tables on the floor. It cuts into his revenue significantly and, some years, means his store is more of a labor of love than a business.

Last I heard, GW store managers are expected to bring in $100,000 per year in revenue. There aren't that many with 6 tables anymore, the most I have seen in the last few years is 2. Either way, a significant amount of operating expenses can be attributed to the costs of in-store gaming. Whether it's a fifth or a tenth, it's still a big figure for a store that's just hitting it's annual revenue quota.

For GW to cut costs while still maintaining an in-store gaming experience, it's hard to see where this happens other than by letting management go. Store managers don't really make a lot more than living expenses, so I don't see where there's much room to cut back at the store level.

The US is cheap!

But you are right. So for UK comparison I have been looking at quite a few commercial properties to rent out over the last 6 months and a price I got for a GW type location (fringe of central shopping district) of a decent size UK town was £22/sqft for 1,560sqft property, that included office floors (so reduced the average £/sqft rate). Add a 1/4 for business rates then convert to your currency of choice.

Actually notprop the $13 a month rent above is much more expensive than secondary UK locations. I'd assume it must be in a mall else it would be lower.

We have been looking at UK retail expansion lately so are sensitive to prices, we also have been looking in the US to open an Operations centre. The cost differences are generally very wide.

One thing you guys are forgetting is a return on that investment. The tables let people play which in many cases means they buy stuff at the store. Even if they are doing their bulk purchases online they are still buying snacks, drinks, some models, paints, etc. I know a guy that broke even on his table top gaming costs but having people in store generated thousands of dollars of revenue on food and drink.

The Order 66 from GW is stupid.

They already gutted themselves to the point of "1 man stores", a euphemism for ferrymen stores. "I don't have it, but I can have it here next week."

They try to pull that "London Business Hours" joke when they ARE open.

They put ridiculous goals on them, creating a perceived challenge, that inexperienced young managers with stars in their eyes are supposed to make.

WHAT WORKED-

Creating a real hobby center, with a couple of tables to model and paint on, a couple to play on.

Knowledgeable staff on the products. some specialized in fantasy, some in 40K, some in other types of gaming.

Rogue Trader events/ special guest stars.

Good locations, and encouraging people to come in the store, look around.

interaction with family oriented fun, talk to parents right there with the kiddies.

Of course LGS's work, but when your working with a one trick pony that has 3 broken legs, you do what you can, you don't just stab it in the neck and kill your golden goose.


I think back in fondness on the old store model. I can't tell you how much fun that stuff used to be.

GW may be onto something here. Just think how many savings they can make by not paying wages at all!

Soon GW stores will be literally empty rooms where you go after ordering and paying online to pickup your parcel.
You walk into the empty store and see your parcel has magically appeared on the floor with your name on it and you can take it.

What movie is this from again? I swear I've seen this before

 plastictrees wrote:
Maybe it's a ferryman scenario, you buy something you become the manager until you can get someone else to buy. A bold move.

If your GW store manager looks like this, don't choose poorly OR wisely...just choose immediate egress.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Peregrine wrote:

 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

This. Getting rid of all of the store management is just the first step, now GW needs to get rid of all of the stores.

I've always felt that a small number of larger, destination stores in selected metro markets could work, though.

Right now it's admittedly hard to see a coherent plan for the GW store chain (at least in the US). I think it gets even more confusing when you factor in their approach toward retailers these days. At some point soon, they'll probably "re-remember" the stuff that's worked for them in the past and return to it. GW seems to operate in cycles with regards to their retail and trade sales operations.

 BrookM wrote:
"Has a rule dispute? Roll a D6 for it."

I've always hated this- you play against an idiot and you have a 50/50 chance of being wrong even if you are right. 'you can't roll 2d6 to assault' ... 'yes you can!' 'judge' 'roll a d6 for it'

Me : WTFBBQ?

"We'll roll a dice, on a 4+ I get to cheat."

I wish I could remember who it was wrote that.